God our Father Can Tell Us What Shall Be--and It is Good!

"Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. 7For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?" (Ecclesiastes 8: 6-7)

Any one of us can find great revelation in reading the Book of Ecclesiastes.

Solomon in his old age muses on what a sad and empty life he leads. He acquired great wealth and riches, wives and concubines, children, buildings, a great name and incredible wisdom.

Yet he summed up his life in the first chapter with "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!"

For those of us who know Jesus, who have the Savior and Messiah that he did not know, we can reject his empty cynicism. The questions he poses, we have an answer, because Christ Jesus is our Wisdom and righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Here is another set of questions we can answer:

"Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?" (Ecclesiastes 8:6-7)

Jesus!

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)

and also

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Even Isaiah declared the omnipotence of our Lord:

"Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:" (Isaiah 46:10)

Our Father can declare the end from the beginning. He can relate a matter from the end to the beginning. He is outside of time, and no one can upend His will.

And what is His will for us?

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11)

and

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 2)

While King Solomon, for all of his wisdom. feared for the future, and had no knowledge of what was to come, today because we are in Christ, and Christ is in us (Colossians 1:29), we have nothing to fear, and everything to hope for!

Because of Jesus, We Will Never Again Walk in the Shadow of Death

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.' (Isaiah 9:2)

This prophecy in the Old Testament speaks of Jesus.

The rest of the passage particularly points to His birth:

"6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

"7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." (Isaiah 9:6-7)

During His earthly ministry, He preached the Gospel to great acclaim, specifically to the Gentiles, the people of "the nations":

"Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations." (Isaiah 9:1)

Notice "Galilee of the nations", which speaks of non-Jewish believers.

Jesus is the Light of the World, for Jew and Gentile, for slave and free:

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)

He is our light, and He came into a world covered in darkness, a realm where the pagan Empire of Rome was dominating the people of Israel.

Today, though, let's meditate on how Jesus is the Light of the world for all of us, and how no matter how dark the circumstances may be around us, we will never stumble.

Consider again the prophecy of Isaiah:

"They tat dwell in the land of the shadow of death ..."

Where have we read a passage like this before?

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)

Notice that David wrote this Psalm, long before Jesus arrived. He prophesied of our Savior, specifically detailing the account of His Crucifixion in the previous Psalm.

Today, let us recognize that we can never find ourselves under the shadow of death.

Jesus, the Light of the world, has established His Kingdom. He died for us, He died as us, and He rose again from the dead, now seated at the right hand of His Father (Ephesians 1:21-2)

Looking back over the verse in Psalm 23, notice that David starts with "Yea, though" or "Even though."

This verse does not communicate that some day we may end up in this valley.

Read over his musings in Psalm 139:

"8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;" (Psalm 139:8-9)

The statements are hypothetical, just like in Psalm 23: "Even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death ..."

The truth, the Grace and Truth which came to us in Christ Jesus, we can never walk in the shadow of death ever again!

He is our Light, and He is our Life!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

No Other Law But Faith

Whether we realize it or not, many of us live by internal rules we have set for ourselves.

We tell ourselves what we should and should not do.

When we fail, we miserably attack ourselves, and hold ourselves to high standards.

This was my life.

Many times, I found myself getting so angry with myself. I had failed in many cases. Whatever standards I was living by, I had failed.

Those standards were not even Biblical based on the Old Testament.

I had placed a rugged necessity on myself to right every wrong, to take down and shame anyone who had hurt me or made me feel bad.

Now, today, I realize that in greater measure a lot of our shame and pain comes from not measuring up to standards which ... don't really measure up in the first place!

We are delivered from the law to live under grace:

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6:14)

We are not guided by law, which actually brings out sin:

"But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." (Romans 7:23)

The law is good, but it cannot make me good.

"For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful." (Romans 7: 11-13)

Now, this revelation applies to our own self-imposed rules.

Any standard that is not Jesus does not measure up.

It cannot.

Let's keep it simple, just as Jesus did when explaining to the earnest Israelites during His earthly ministry:

"Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6:28-29)

and then

"23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3: 23-25)

How do we live, then?

No longer by law, or even our own little rules of conduct.

We live by faith!

"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17)

and also

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:23-25)

We are called to live by no other law than faith!

We are dead to the law.

And our rules and standards no longer matter.

Let us trust in His grace and receive His gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17)

Made to Rule Over, Not Ruled By, the Beasts of the Field

4What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

God did create man to fear the beasts of the field.

He intended--and still intends--for man to have full domain over the lesser creation which our Daddy God created.

So, what did Solomon mean when he wrote the following?:

"I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 3:18-19)

At the outset of his book, Solomon declares "All is vanity."

It's all vanity without God's Life in us.

Without Him, we are plants without ground, fish without water, or starts without a sky.

At the end of his long, troubled life, Solomon had done everything by his own hand--so he claimed.

The truth is that we are dead men in need of life. Though Adam. we are all dead, but in Jesus we reign in life (Romans 5:15-17)

Without His life in us, we are no better than the beasts.

But because Jesus gave Himself for us, we reign in His life, seated in Christ at the right hand of the Father! (Ephesians 2: 4-6)

His Death, Our Death--His Life, Our Life

Jesus did not die for us only.

He died as us:

"I 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.' (Galatians 2:20)

When he rose from the dead, we rose with Him:

"Therefore 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 6:4)

and

"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." (Colossians 2:12)

and also

"And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." (2 Corinthians 5:15)

This revelation is crucial (Cross).

Jesus did not come to make bad men good.

He came to bring dead men to life!

Jesus announced who the Devil was and what he wanted to accomplish--but also what He was determined to do for all of us!

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

"When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." (John 11:4)

Jesus is glorified not just because He healed the sick.

The greatest revelation to all that He is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25) because He brought Lazarus back from the dead:

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:" (JOhn 11:25)

We believe on Him -- and we are brought to life!

That is the one work Jesus exhorted the Jews of His day--and all of us--to do:

"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6:29)

Jesus gave life to Lazarus for all to believe:

"And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go." (John 11: 43-44)

Jesus died our death, and we live His life!

We Are Free From Sin When We Know We Are Free to Sin

"Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." (Psalm 32:2)

David calls this man "blessed."

The man whom the LORD does not impute sin.

"Impute" means that he does not punish sin.

Now, the man still commits sin, does he not?

Otherwise, there would be no sin to impute in the first place!

So, what do we have here?

A picture of the Gospel!

Paul announced this clear change in covenants to his people:

"Be 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)

We must understand that righteousness is a gift which God keeps on giving to us:

"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)

This gift is something that we receive, even when we sin (verb):

"7Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." (Romans 4:7-8)

Paul later explains that this gift of righteousness sets us free from sin!

"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? 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 are released from sin, when we recognize that we are released from the penalty and granted a new life!

This Gospel is a deep offense to man.

The moment that we tell people that all their sins are forgiven, they become fearful and indignant.

"You are giving them license to sin!"

Yet Paul knocks down that lie without blinking.

On the contrary--we are giving people the power to overcome sin.

In effect, men and women are set free from sin ... when they know that they are free to sin without punishment.

Let us not forget that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23)

Man needs LIFE!

Jesus came to provide us life--Himself!

I am free to sin?

No thanks!

Life is better! His life is the best!

"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:4)

When I know that there is no longer any condemnation for sin--guess what? I do not want to sin!

I receive His spirit and life, and I have no desire for dead things.

We are truly set free when we know the Truth Who sets us free! (John 8:32)

Christ is Our Wisdom

"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)

Do you need wisdom for a situation you are facing?

I notice that many times when I need direction or guidance, or when other people suggest a certain course of action, they would uote Scriptures from the Bible, specifically the Proverbs.

And yet I would find that the peace of Christ ruling in my heart (Colossians 3:15) did not lead me to follow the suggestions posed by others, even when they were  quoting scripture.

Then I return to what the Bible is all about.

We are called to a Person, not to a set of principles.

We are invited to rest in a Person, not a set of ideas:

"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." (2 John 9)

The Bible is not "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth."

The Bible is book of life, and that life is Jesus (John 14:6)

"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39)

The Bible is not a snippet or a large selection of aphorisms that we apply like a code book to every situation in our lives.

Jesus is our life, and the Bible speaks of Himself!

If we need wisdom for any situation, the solution is not a set of ideas or a prescription or a response.

We need to see more of Him!

Wisdom is a Person, and that Person is Jesus!

Because of the Blood of Jesus, We Can Speak Grace into our Lives

"And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." (Hebrews 12:24)

The blood of Jesus is powerful, and we need to see that because Jesus died for us, we are no longer condemned, but now free to receive the grace of God fully into our lives.

The blood of Jesus speaks, and we can learn more about God's grace operating in our lives by considering the word "mouth" in Hebrew.

The word "mouth" is made of two letters:

פֶּ -- Peh which means "mouth, expression,"
ה -- Heh, which means "grace"


When we see the word "mouth" we need to see how it's all about speaking forth God's grace.

Where is the first mention of "mouth" in the Bible?

"And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;" (Genesis 4:11)

Notice the connection with blood.

Notice that the earth is taking in the blood. In this passage, the blood of Abel condemns man, specifically Abel's brother Cain.

What is the last mention of "mouth" in the Old Testament?

"For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts." (Malachi 2:7)

The previous verse gives greater revelation about this law which the prophet Malachi speaks of:

"The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity." (Malachi 2:6)

"The law of truth." What is that new law?

Grace, for grace and truth is one!

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:17)

We are no longer under line, facing chastisement and punishment for our sins.

Because Jesus died for us, because His blood cleanses us from all sin, we live under His grace.

Let us speak forth the great things that He has done and does for us today!

Living By His Endless Life, Not the Law

"And 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 10: 15-16)

This passage really jumped out at me.

Notice that Jesus is made a High Priest Forever by the law, but rather through the eternal life that He is (John 14:6).

In the same way, every one of us who believes in Jesus--we are made priests, kings and priests, because of Jesus' death and His eternal life.

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" (1 Peter 2:9)

How did we become priests?

Jesus took us into Himself.

We left our dead selves in Adam, and became alive in Christ!

"But 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)

How do we live today?

We live through His life!

"I 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)

We have no life, nor power to live, through the law.

The was never meant to be a guide for living, but rather a standard to show our need for a Savior, and for life!

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3: 20)

and

"[God] also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Corinthians 3:6)

Jesus was made High Priest Forever not through the Old Covenant of the law, but through the New Covenant of grace, in which we receive His life, and all things with it! (Romans 8:32)

Let us receive more of Jesus, allowing Him to flow and bless every aspect of our walk!

Because of Jesus, We Expect Victory

"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." (Hebrew 10: 12-13)

When Jesus sat down, He purged all our sins forever (Hebrews 1:3)

As King of Kings, and our High Priest Forever, He know rests, and watches all things become His footstool.

Did you know that we are also seated in Christ, with Him?

"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)

We are seated with Christ in heavenly places!

John stated more clearly for anyone who still does not understand the new standing, the new glory we have in Christ Jesus:

"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)

So, just like Jesus, we need to trust our loving, heavenly Father, that whatever challenges or problems we face, He is taking care of them, and bringing them under our feet!

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8:37)

Our Father the Husbandman: He Cleanses

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." (John 15:2)

Behold the second part of this blessed page.

The original sense which readers draw from this is a sense of pain, like being cut or buthered.

This verse definitely communicates change, particularly the removal of bad things or impure elements from our lives.

Yet the removal is through cleansing, not cutting.

The word "prune" is the Greek word "cleanse."

We are cleansed as we listen to God's Word!

""You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you." (John 15:3)

And then:

"For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth." (John 17:19)

And also

"Husbands, 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." (Ephesians 5: 25-27)

God is all about cleansing us, not cutting, maiming, or hurting us.

Be cleansed by the washing of His word, and bear more fruit for Him!

Our Father the Husbandman: He Lifts Us Up

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." (John 15:2)

This verse is one of the most misconstrued in the New Testament.

Because of the misunderstanding readers fall into, many come away with a sense of fear, dread, or outright depression.

"If I don't bear fruit, God will remove me! He will take me away!"

The truth is, that work "take away" is from a Greek word which also means "lift up."

Farmers tending a vine do not pull off or throw a part of the vine if it's not bearing fruit.

They lift it out of the dirt, off the ground, and allow it rest on the trellis once again.

In fact, God the Father has lifted us up, and has lift us so high that we are now seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus!

"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)

Notice that God the Father lifted us up, just as Jesus was raised from the dead and seated at His right hand:

"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalm 110:1)

God is not in the business of throwing us away when we are poorly performing.

Why is it that so many struggle? Because they are not resting in His life, power, and grace:

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4:11)

Let us rest in God's power, let us rest in the new life and identity we have through Christ Jesus.

And we will bear much fruit for Him!

Jesus is the Vine: Branches Are One With the Vine

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Many of us--as modern readers rendering an understanding of the ancient agricultural world--will miss a deep revelation in the above passage.

When we think of branches, we think of separate sticks, parts, portions which can exist, or at least fall away, from a tree.

Yet with vines, there is no clear or abrupt distinction between the branches and the vine which holds those branches.

In effect, the branches cannot help but identify completely with the vine, for the branches would not exist.

This issue of identity is crucial to the Christian walk

We are not called to imitate Christ through efforts and physical miming.

We are called to identify with Christ, because we have become partakers of His nature:

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1:4)

and

"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)

and

"And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, You are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God." (Romans 9:26)

Let us not forget that Jesus during His earthly ministry served His Father because He allowed His Father to work through Him:

"17But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

18Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

19Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise" (John 5: 17-19)

Notice that Jesus declares: "The Father works"

He did not see Himself operating in His own effort, but fully identifying with His Father, and His Father working in Him!

There are more statements which affirm this blessed dependence demonstrated by Jesus as the Perfect Man walking in this imperfect earth:

"I and my Father are one." (John 10:30)

and then:

"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." (John 14:10)

Just as Jesus was one with His Father, so today we are one with Jesus!

He is the Vine, and we are completely identified with Him, depending on Him for everything!

We Do Not Repay Debts to Jesus -- For Jesus Paid Every Debt

I was sharing about the wonderful Gospel of our Lord Jesus.

We receive all things from God the Father through His Son Jesus!

Then the man I was talking to told me: "Every day, I wake up with a sense of debt. I owe God so much for everything that He has given me."

I uickly responded: "We cannot repay any debt to God. We never had anything to begin with, and everything we receive now is a gift from Him!"

Nothing we have is based on works we have done, but the Work which Jesus did!

"1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works. "(Romans 4:1-6)

David explained how fruitless it is for anyone of us to claim that we are giving God anything:

"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee." (1 Chronicles 29:14)

and also in the Psalms, God speaks to us:

"I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.

9I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.

10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine." (Psalm 50: 8-11)

Everything belongs to Him!

Let us not think that we did not owe God something.

We all had the debt of sin, through Adam.

But Jesus not only paid for our sin debt, he overpaid, and continues to cleanse us from all sins because of His blood!

"[Jesus is] the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" (Hebrews 1:3)

and

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:13-15)

Instead of thinking of our life as a response of debt to God's goodness, let us keep receiving His twin gifts of righteousness and grace (Romans 5:17), that we may reign in His lie, and bring glory to Him. just as His Son brought glory to God the Father in dying for us, rising for us, and living as our perfect standard at God's right hand!

We Don't Give Our Lives to Christ. He Gives us Life--HIS!

I hear this phrase a lot in churches:

"I just shared the Gospel with this man. He gave his life to Christ."

At the end of services, the pastor will often say to the audience:

"If anyone of you does not know Jesus, I am inviting you to come down today and give your life to Christ."

These statements are well-intentioned.

But the truth is--we do not give our lives to Christ.

We do not have a life to give.

We need life!

"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;" (Ephesians 2:1)

I get such a tingle, such a sense of joy every time I realize that He is my life, and Jesus, the Way the Truth and the Life--is committed to caring for me every step of the way.

We need to wake up every day with a sense of true joy and peace in our lives.

Why would we not? Jesus is our life! He is infusing our day with Himself!

"I 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)

"Yet I live .. yet not I."

What is growing in grace all about? It's about letting His life flow through 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)

Fear and trembling does not mean that we should live every day with a sense of dread and foreboding, but rather excitement and great joy!

Why would we not? For He is working within us!

I can't express my joy about this enough. We are not called to give our lives to Christ.

We don't have any, because of sin.

We receive His Life, because we believe on His sacrifice!

It's More Than Knowing Him--You Need to Know that He Knows You!

In many church circles, we are taught that we need to strive and struggle to know the Lord.

Yet under the  New Covenant, He causes us know to know Him!

"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)

"They shall all know me."

We do not have to strive to know Him. 

We really need to start understanding how much He knows us!

"O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

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.

4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it." (Psalm 139: 1-6)

Indeed, it is too wonderful!

And yet, we need to take in, to meditate on how much our loving Father loves us and cares for us!

Notice what Paul prayed for the Ephesians, who already had a large vision of God's love for them!

"And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3: 19)

Notice also how Paul deliberately corrects himself when addressing the Galatians, who had started going back under law:

"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." (Galatians 4: 9-11)

We need to stop seeing our growing knowledge of God's love for us from the perspective of works, of striving, of a searching effort.

God has been in the goodness, blessing, and loving business of caring for us since the very beginning. Even before God created the heavens and the earth, He prepared His Son to be our redeeming sacrifice!

"18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." (1 Peter 1: 18-21)

Who can forget the blessed affirmation of love and protection which God gave to the prophet Jeremiah--and remember, this was under the Old Covenant of bulls and goats:

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5)

Can you and I even begin to comprehend how great He is? Before Jeremiah was formed in his mother's womb, the LORD knew him!

How much more, then, do you think He knows and cares for us, having given His Son to die for us, to live for us, and to be one with us?!

Why Jesus Asked the Healed Man to Stay in the Gadarenes

Jesus had just rescued His disciples from a fearsome storm.

Yet they still feared Him, wondering "What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him!" (Luke 8: 25)

They saw Jesus as a man, not a Savior.

They did not see Him as someone who keep them safe, either.

Then Jesus healed a demon-possessed man:

"34When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. 35Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid." Luke 8:34-35)

Now, the disciples started to see Jesus as having great power, and power to do good for us!

They trusted him, but those who did not see what good things Jesus was doing, would still be afraid.

Notice that the people of the Gadarenes were very fearful of Jesus.

This man beat out the demons inside of that possessed man. Who knows what else he would do?

They had no knowledge, no relationship with Jesus, to see that His heart is nothing but love and grace for us.

They then asked him to depart from their city!

Can you imagine that?!

Then the healed man asked to go with Jesus. What did He tell him to do?

"Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him." (Luke 8:39)

The inhabitants of the Gadarenes needed to hear the good news from the person who has healed. They needed to see the heart of Jesus, that He cares for us, that He is interesting in saving us, and to continue saving us!

Most of us still believe that Jesus will heal a part of broken condition, but He will not take care of every part. He will not condemn us ever!

"For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. (Isaiah 54:9)

and

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54:17)

and also

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus," (Romans 8:1)

Jesus asked the healed man, who had been possessed with devils, to stay and share what Jesus had done for him. so that everyone could see that Jesus not only had power, but that His power was to heal, forgive, and save!

What Healed the Woman with the Blood Flow: Assurance of Whole Salvation

"43And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." (Luke 8: 43-48)

In two scenes before this magnificent healing, we read about Jesus who stopped a terrifying storm, then cast a demon out of a possessed man.

The reaction from all those who were delivered, including Jesus' disciples and the residents of the Gadarenes?

Fear!

Even though Jesus had this incredible power to stop destructive nature and cast out destroying demons, they did not trust Him to do good for them.

They feared Him!

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)

None of us are perfected in His love until we receive the full sacrifice of what Jesus did for us--and still does for us.

Most importantly, we have to know that there is no judgement for us.

And that was a big problem facing this woman.

She had a blood flow for twelve years!

Such a state made her unclean!

"And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even." (Leviticus 15:19)

But the extent of the uncleanness spreads further than the person that she touched:

"'Everything also on which she lies during her menstrual impurity shall be unclean, and everything on which she sits shall be unclean." (Leviticus 15:20)

This woman was taking on an incredible risk!

Still, she not only believed that Jesus could heal her, but she needed to believe that she would not make others unclean!

And that assurance was exactly what Jesus gave her!

"48And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." (Luke 8:48)

Jesus did not just heal the flow of blood. She was pronounced "whole",  or that her faith had "sozo"ed her.

What does that mean? That Greek word "sozo" means  more than physical healing:

4982 sṓzō (from sōs, "safe, rescued") – properly, deliver out of danger and into safety; used principally of God rescuing believers from the penalty and power of sin – and into His provisions (safety).

Jesus assured this woman of complete salvation, not just from her disease, but also protection from an angry crowd, perhaps insensed that an "unclean woman" had pressed into the throng and potentially made everyone else unclean.

Most importantly, she was delivered from sin and condemnation! Notice that Jesus is our Savior, taking away our sin, not just atoning for it.

Jesus granted the woman with the blood flow full assurance that in receiving her healing, she would receive no condemnation for violating the strictures laid out in the Mosaic Law.

For he would fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17) and bring us into the New Covenant! (Hebrews 8:6-13)

What Healed the Woman with Blood Flow: The Spirit of Adoption

"43And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." (Luke 8: 43-48)

This account should be read and reread as much as possible.

We see the heart of our Loving Father in heaven.

How much he cares for us.

How much he wants us to be well, healthy and able.

He revealed His heart through the Apostle John at the end of the Beloved Disciple's life:

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 2)

Evidently, the woman with a non-stop flow of blood was not prospering.

What was going on?

She had gone to doctors of all kinds, had spent all she had, and was still sick, still unclean.

Then she heard about Jesus, and she knew that just touching the hem of his garment would heal her.

Jesus knew that virtue--literally power--had gone out of her.

She was healed but not made whole, since she was still trembling.

Then Jesus called her "Daughter".

When Jesus died on the Cross, He did not just die for us, He did not just die as us, but He brought us into Himself and granted us a new identity in Himself!!

"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)

And also

"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)

and also

"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4:6)

Because He is our Daddy, and we are His children, we can know that He is caring for us and wants us well. We should not have to wonder if He will care for us, or have to strive for His love and attention.

Jesus Remembers Us and Blesses Us

On September 11, 2001 the United States endured four Islamic terrorist attacks on native soil.

Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center.

Another plane crashed into the Pentagon.

A fourth plane was grounded in the fields of Shankville, PA, destined for the White House.

Let us never forget that the price for liberty requires eternal vigilance.

Yet let us also never forget that our Heavenly Father is watching over us.

For those who believe on Jesus, who trust in Him, they can rest assured that they are protected.

God our Father is in the Remembering business.

He remembers us in our times of great hurt:

"And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob." (Exodus 2:24)

He remembers us!

"Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown." (Jeremiah 2:2)

We just need to stop thinking that we can fight,win, and protect ourselves.

We have no life apart from Him!

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

and

"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:4)

"The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron." (Psalm 115:12)

And remember, in Hebrew, there is no future tense. God is actively blessing us!

He remembers you, Beloved, and He blesses us!

Jesus Humbled Himself, So that He Could Exalt You and Me

"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 2:8-11)

God the Father sent His Son, and His Son was obedient, all the way to the Cross, and from the Cross, He ascended to  Heaven, to be seated in full honor and glory at His Father's right hand:

"19So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." (Mark 16: 19-20)

Did you know that He was brought low, to exalt us -- with Him?

"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)

But also:

"4But 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)

There is a great passage in the Psalms about our wonderful God, who comes down to our level:

"Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,

"6Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

"7He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;" (Psalm 113: 5-7)

Jesus did not come down to our level just to feel what we feel, and then feel sorry for us.

He came down to our level to bring us back up to His level!

"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)

We reign, in life, In His Life!

Jesus humbled Himself, and today because of His willing submission to His Father, we are seated with Him today!

"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)

Jesus Humbled Himself, So That He Knows What We Go Through

"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:" (Philippians 2: 7)

Jesus, the Son of God, God Himself, became a servant.

He came down to our level!

He experienced what we experienced!

He endured what we go through.

And yet He did no sin!

"For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4: 15)

He knew what was in man:

"23Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man." (John 2: 23-25)

He understood the sin and frality because of Adam's fall.

He experienced the hardships which we face.

He was tempted:

"1Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4: 1-4)

He was tired:

"Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour." (John 4: 6)

He also felt the same grief we feel in the face of death:

"33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35Jesus wept. 36Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!" (John 11: 33-36)

Jesus knows what you and I have gone through, and are going through.

He has felt the same pains and set-backs you have felt.

Your High Priest today knows everything yo have been through!