"And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
"And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. (1 Chronicles 4: 9-10)
Jabez became more honorable than his brethren because of his faith. He is a type and shadow of Christ, who became Sorrow -- Sin -- for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
Now, the elements of Jabez' Prayer have already been answered for us:
"For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the
glory of God by us." (2 Corinthians 1: 20)
"Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed." In the original Hebrew, this passage reads "Bless Bless" or ""superlatively bless me"
In Christ, we have received this consummate favor:
"Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord
Jesus Christ.
"Blessed 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)
"All spiritual blessings:" No one can top that, and in Christ, you already have it!
Not only do you have these blessings, but by abiding in Him, you are already bearing fruit:
"John 15: 1-15)
and
(Galatians 5: 22-23)
It is important
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
The Prayer of Jabez: Jabez Exceeded in Christ
"And Jabez was
more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying,
Because I bare him with sorrow.
"And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. (1 Chronicles 4: 9-10)
As mentioned in a previous posting, a proper rending of verse nine indicates that Jabez "became more honorable" than his brethren.
Now, Jabez is a type of our Lord, Savior, and Benefactor Jesus Christ.
The name "Jabez" means "sorrow" according to Bruce Wilkinson. Scripturetext.com comments that "Jabez" is actually of uncertain origin. In this wise, He is like Jesus, our High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek:
"For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
"And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
"Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
"For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (/Hebrews 7: 14-17)
Wilkinson even elaborates at length about the stinging irony of a child being named "sorrow" or "pain". One name-origin site cites that "Jabez" means "born in pain." Imagine indeed what that young boy must have endured, going through life being called, "Come here, sorrow. Sorrow, take this to your mother."
But in fact another Man, Jesus Christ, did live this humiliation. God set aside His divinity, became a man and suffered for us:
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (Philippians 2: 5-9)
He also took our pains, took our hurts, became the personification of our sorrows. Isaiah prophesied:
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53: 3)
If He who has endured so much pain, sorrow, humiliation, and trauma still enjoyed the favor of God,
f he could ask for the greatest blessings, if he could ask for supreme protection, if he could ask for God to extend then all the more can we believers trust that God will answer our prayers:
"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)
"And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. (1 Chronicles 4: 9-10)
As mentioned in a previous posting, a proper rending of verse nine indicates that Jabez "became more honorable" than his brethren.
Now, Jabez is a type of our Lord, Savior, and Benefactor Jesus Christ.
The name "Jabez" means "sorrow" according to Bruce Wilkinson. Scripturetext.com comments that "Jabez" is actually of uncertain origin. In this wise, He is like Jesus, our High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek:
"For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
"And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
"Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
"For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (/Hebrews 7: 14-17)
Wilkinson even elaborates at length about the stinging irony of a child being named "sorrow" or "pain". One name-origin site cites that "Jabez" means "born in pain." Imagine indeed what that young boy must have endured, going through life being called, "Come here, sorrow. Sorrow, take this to your mother."
But in fact another Man, Jesus Christ, did live this humiliation. God set aside His divinity, became a man and suffered for us:
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (Philippians 2: 5-9)
He also took our pains, took our hurts, became the personification of our sorrows. Isaiah prophesied:
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53: 3)
If He who has endured so much pain, sorrow, humiliation, and trauma still enjoyed the favor of God,
f he could ask for the greatest blessings, if he could ask for supreme protection, if he could ask for God to extend then all the more can we believers trust that God will answer our prayers:
"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)
Thursday, July 5, 2012
The Prayer of Jabez: Honorable Through Faith in Christ
We have the authority to ask for anything because Jesus Christ is our representative in heaven, and we are his representative here on earth:
"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)
We bear His Name and His Life within us -- how much more do we need to know and believe that we have every right to come before Him and ask for what we need.
However, let's take a closer look at the Prayer of Jabez. Through the Finished Work of Jesus Christ, we no longer have to exhort God to bless us, but rather we can rejoice in the Work that He has done and walk in the faith that He is working in us (Philippians 2: 12-13):
"And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
"And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested." (1 Chronicles 4: 9-10)
A few notes about the translations. In verse 9, it would more accurately read "became honorable" -- he was not honorable just because, for in the God's presence no flesh will be justified.
How did Abraham become righteous? By praying a big prayer? By praying it a bunch of times? Not at all:
"And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
"And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15: 5-6)
Why did he become honorable (lit. glorious, weighed with honor? Because Jabez trusted God enough to ask Him for the most and the best -- yet for believers, He still outdoes the biggest requests that we can ask:
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
"Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.(Ephesians 3: 20-21)
So so not be discouraged if God does not give you what you initially requested, for He has something better in store for you. Ask, and you shall receive! (Matthew 7: 14)
"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)
We bear His Name and His Life within us -- how much more do we need to know and believe that we have every right to come before Him and ask for what we need.
However, let's take a closer look at the Prayer of Jabez. Through the Finished Work of Jesus Christ, we no longer have to exhort God to bless us, but rather we can rejoice in the Work that He has done and walk in the faith that He is working in us (Philippians 2: 12-13):
"And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
"And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested." (1 Chronicles 4: 9-10)
A few notes about the translations. In verse 9, it would more accurately read "became honorable" -- he was not honorable just because, for in the God's presence no flesh will be justified.
How did Abraham become righteous? By praying a big prayer? By praying it a bunch of times? Not at all:
"And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
"And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15: 5-6)
Why did he become honorable (lit. glorious, weighed with honor? Because Jabez trusted God enough to ask Him for the most and the best -- yet for believers, He still outdoes the biggest requests that we can ask:
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
"Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.(Ephesians 3: 20-21)
So so not be discouraged if God does not give you what you initially requested, for He has something better in store for you. Ask, and you shall receive! (Matthew 7: 14)
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
The Prayer of Jabez: Faith In Christ, Not in Prayer
"The Prayer of Jabez" was a popular devotional piece released by Bruce Wilkinson in 2000.
There, he analyzes the little-known, or at least easily-overlooked, prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4: 9-10.
In his book, he encouraged believers to pray big prayers, to believe great things from God, and that he would use every believer willing to trust him.
Of course, the notion that we should pray anything for a number of times flies contrary to Jesus' teachings in the Sermon:
"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." (Matthew 6: 7)
Then why does God hear us? Because He has promised to do so, because of the death of His Son:
"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:" (1 John 5: 14)
We know that we ask things according to His will because He has written His laws on our hearts and mind (Hebrews 8: 10).
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8: 26)
and
"Who 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: 34)
We need not worry that the things that we want in our heart will be contrary to the will of God:
"Wherefore, 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.
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2: 12-13)
We have the confidence to enter boldly into the throne of grace and request what is on our hearts because of Jesus, our high priest who sits at the right hand of the father and makes intercession for us to His Father and our Father:
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4: 14-16)
It is because of Jesus Christ, who has imparted to every believer His Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 33), that He is within us (Colossians 1: 27), and that we may become sons of God like the First-born from the dead (John 1: 12)
There, he analyzes the little-known, or at least easily-overlooked, prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4: 9-10.
In his book, he encouraged believers to pray big prayers, to believe great things from God, and that he would use every believer willing to trust him.
Of course, the notion that we should pray anything for a number of times flies contrary to Jesus' teachings in the Sermon:
"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." (Matthew 6: 7)
Then why does God hear us? Because He has promised to do so, because of the death of His Son:
"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:" (1 John 5: 14)
We know that we ask things according to His will because He has written His laws on our hearts and mind (Hebrews 8: 10).
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8: 26)
and
"Who 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: 34)
We need not worry that the things that we want in our heart will be contrary to the will of God:
"Wherefore, 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.
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2: 12-13)
We have the confidence to enter boldly into the throne of grace and request what is on our hearts because of Jesus, our high priest who sits at the right hand of the father and makes intercession for us to His Father and our Father:
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4: 14-16)
It is because of Jesus Christ, who has imparted to every believer His Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 33), that He is within us (Colossians 1: 27), and that we may become sons of God like the First-born from the dead (John 1: 12)
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
It's About Your Heart -- and In Christ, Your Heart is Just Fine
In the Body of Christ, we tend to spend more time dealing with the outside. We focus on behaving, outer obedience. God is more concerned with the heart:
"But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16: 7)
Later, one of the Psalmists writes:
"His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. " (Psalm 112: 8)
God judges us not for our actions, but for the condition of our heart:
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matthew 5: 28)
and later
"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man." (Matthew 15: 18)
Believers in Christ have nothing to worry about, however. We cannot change our heart, but we can believe the Gospel, receive repentance and remission of sins, and receive a new heart:
"And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
"That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God." (Ezekiel 11: 19-20)
This covenant in confirmed for us in Hebrews:
"For 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:
"And 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.
"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
Who makes this happen? The Holy Spirit:
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
"But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5: 16-18)
How do we know that we have His Spirit? John explains how:
"Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
"And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
"Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." (1 John 4: 13-15)
We believe on Him, we receive Him, we are transformed from glory to glory by the renewing of our minds. Therefore, we can rest assured that we are in good standing:
"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein." (Hebrews 13: 9)
We have God's unmerited favor -- that is more than enough to establish our hearts. God looks at your heart, Beloved. and your heart is just fine!
"But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16: 7)
Later, one of the Psalmists writes:
"His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. " (Psalm 112: 8)
God judges us not for our actions, but for the condition of our heart:
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matthew 5: 28)
and later
"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man." (Matthew 15: 18)
Believers in Christ have nothing to worry about, however. We cannot change our heart, but we can believe the Gospel, receive repentance and remission of sins, and receive a new heart:
"And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
"That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God." (Ezekiel 11: 19-20)
This covenant in confirmed for us in Hebrews:
"For 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:
"And 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.
"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
Who makes this happen? The Holy Spirit:
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
"But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5: 16-18)
How do we know that we have His Spirit? John explains how:
"Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
"And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
"Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." (1 John 4: 13-15)
We believe on Him, we receive Him, we are transformed from glory to glory by the renewing of our minds. Therefore, we can rest assured that we are in good standing:
"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein." (Hebrews 13: 9)
We have God's unmerited favor -- that is more than enough to establish our hearts. God looks at your heart, Beloved. and your heart is just fine!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Rest in Him (And He Means It!)
"It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever." (Leviticus 16: 3)
In this fascinating verse, "Sabbath of rest" is actually "shabbat shabbatown", or "The most restful of rests". When the Hebrew repeats a word, that makes it a superlative, just like Isaiah 26: 3:
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Here, "perfect peace" is actually "shalom shalom".
Back to Leviticus 16: 3, the repetition of "shabbat shabbat" could also be read as: "Chill out! And I mean it!"
In this fascinating verse, "Sabbath of rest" is actually "shabbat shabbatown", or "The most restful of rests". When the Hebrew repeats a word, that makes it a superlative, just like Isaiah 26: 3:
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Here, "perfect peace" is actually "shalom shalom".
Back to Leviticus 16: 3, the repetition of "shabbat shabbat" could also be read as: "Chill out! And I mean it!"
This passage reminds me of Moses’ command to the Israelites’ fleeing from Egypt:
“Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever.”(Exodus 14: 13)
The word "afflict" in the verse from Leviticus has a double meaning, for those who do not see how "afflicting one's soul" would qualify as resting. The double meaning embedded in "v'initem", "afflict" means "humble yourselves", that we may receive more of God's grace and goodness in our lives.
The word "afflict" in the verse from Leviticus has a double meaning, for those who do not see how "afflicting one's soul" would qualify as resting. The double meaning embedded in "v'initem", "afflict" means "humble yourselves", that we may receive more of God's grace and goodness in our lives.
The Holy Spirit speaking through Isaiah explicitly denounces such voluntary humility:
"Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?" (Isaiah 58: 5)
Instead, He wants us to draw out what we have to others:
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
"Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" (Isaiah 58: 6-7)
This passage accords with Isaiah's later prophecies, which Jesus the Messiah confirmed before His hearers in Luke 4:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
"To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
"And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down." (Luke 4: 18-20)
We accomplish these blessed works through Jesus Christ, our righteousness, who lives and works in every believer. This truth connects with the promise of the Holy Spirit delivered to us in Isaiah 58:
"Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward." (Isaiah 58: 8)
Notice how it says that our righteousness will "break forth." We do not create our righteousness, but receive it by faith (Genesis 15: 6; Ephesians 2: 4-10), but it breaks forth through our outward imputation of faith:
"Wherefore, 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.
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2: 12-13)
And what's the key element that enables our righteousness, and for it to break forth as the morning:
"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:"
(Isaiah 58: 13)
By resting in Christ, we effect our faith into obedience. And for the believer in Christ, we receive this rest for ever:
"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
"For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 9-11)
We rest in Him, and He works through us: What’s not to like?
Sunday, July 1, 2012
What to do? Rest in Him!
I used to puzzle within myself when I was disturbed about something.
I knew that I did not have to fight bad or pernicious thoughts. but I was always afflicted with the question: "Well, then, what do I do?" The Bible provides the answer:
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Ephesians 6: 13)
In Ephesians, we learn how to sit, walk, and then stand, all by the power of the Holy Spirit, who grants t to us the strength to receive greater knowledge of His love for us, the perfect love of God that casts our all fear.
Jesus Himself told His disciples to rest, or abide, in Him:
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
"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: 4-5)
We are called to rest in Him, for He is at work, bearing fruit through us and in us.
"Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." (1 John 4: 13)
and then
"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 John 4: 16)
Followed by
"We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 19)
And now we can fulfill the new commandment which Jesus gave His disciples, including us:
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." (John 13: 34)
We fulfill the law through God's love ( Romans 13: 10), and through God's love our faith is activated:
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." (Galatians5: 6)
Rest in His Love, He works through us, and we bear much fruit for Him!
What to do? Rest in Him!
I knew that I did not have to fight bad or pernicious thoughts. but I was always afflicted with the question: "Well, then, what do I do?" The Bible provides the answer:
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Ephesians 6: 13)
In Ephesians, we learn how to sit, walk, and then stand, all by the power of the Holy Spirit, who grants t to us the strength to receive greater knowledge of His love for us, the perfect love of God that casts our all fear.
Jesus Himself told His disciples to rest, or abide, in Him:
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
"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: 4-5)
We are called to rest in Him, for He is at work, bearing fruit through us and in us.
"Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." (1 John 4: 13)
and then
"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 John 4: 16)
Followed by
"We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 19)
And now we can fulfill the new commandment which Jesus gave His disciples, including us:
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." (John 13: 34)
We fulfill the law through God's love ( Romans 13: 10), and through God's love our faith is activated:
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." (Galatians5: 6)
Rest in His Love, He works through us, and we bear much fruit for Him!
What to do? Rest in Him!
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