Who Is This King of Glory?
Words from song by Third Day.
Who is this King of Glory that persues me with his love
And haunts me with each hearing of His softly spoken words
My conscience, a reminder of forgiveness that I need
Who is this King of Glory who offers it to me
Who is this King of angels, O blessed Prince of Peace
Revealing things of Heaven and all its mysteries
My spirit¹s ever longing for His grace in which to stand
Who's this King of glory, Son of God and son of man
His name is Jesus, precious Jesus
The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart
The King of glory
Who is this King of Glory with strength and majesty
And wisdom beyond measure, the graceous King of kings
the Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things
Who is this King of Glory, He's everything to me
The Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things
He is the King of glory, He's everything to me
(Song by Third Day) Click link to hear song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqo-adRyM_k
“Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.” (Psalm 24:9) So the psalmist writes, and then he adds this question, calling for our reflection: “Who is this King of glory?” (Psalm 24:10a) That is our question this morning. Today we look upon this man Jesus, riding into Jerusalem, and we ask, “Who Is This King of Glory?”
Well, on Palm Sunday, he certainly looks like a king of glory. Cheering crowds, palm branches, cloaks spread on the road--a triumphal entry into the royal city, Jerusalem. What a scene of joy and triumph it is, fulfilling the ancient prophecy: “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt..” (Zechariah 9:9)
But by the end of the week, that Holy Week, instead of a triumphal entry, there is a tearful exit. The daughters of Jerusalem who were rejoicing on Sunday are weeping on Friday, as the King of glory is led out of town in shame and sorrow. Who is this King of glory?
On Sunday Jesus is acclaimed as the messianic king: “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38) On Friday he is accused of claiming to be that king: “This man has been leading our people astray …. claiming he is the Messiah, a king.” (Luke 23:2)And Jesus doesn’t deny it: “So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “You have said it.” (Luke 23:3) Who is this King of glory? Soldiers array him in splendid clothing, only to beat him up and mock him. Who is this King of glory?
Glory? Glory, you say? Where is the glory in being nailed to a cross, and having a sign placed over your head, “This is the King of the Jews”? (Luke 23:37b) No garments strewn before him, now his own garments are stripped from him.
Strange king, indeed. On Sunday he rides in triumph on the Way of Glory. On Friday he staggers, condemned, on the Way of Sorrows, the way of the cross and darkness and degradation. Who is this King of glory?
The world today would just as soon forget about this king, this puzzling man, Jesus. They want to put him on the shelf, push him out of sight, out of mind, and get on with their lives--their busy, distracted, no-need-for-God lives. Instead of cheering crowds--or hostile crowds, either, for that matter--now there are just busy crowds, bustling crowds, too-busy-to-be-bothered and too-bored-to-care crowds. What a vacuous lot we have become! Overloaded with information, but starved for wisdom. All too busy, and yet filling our lives with nothing. Junk food for the mind. Junk food for the soul. No time or need for this man Jesus. Who is this King of glory? “Don’t bother me, I don’t want to know.”
Ah, poor Jesus! Poor, neglected, forgotten, obsolete Jesus! Shed a tear of nostalgia for those days of yesteryear, when religion was important and people cared about Jesus. Shed a tear, and then let me get back to my I-Phone. I-Phone, I-Pod, I-Pad--I, I, I. Ay, ay, ay, what fools we have become!
No, do not shed a tear for Jesus. Jesus would tell our TMZ culture: Shed a tear for yourselves! Weep and mourn, and let your laughter turn to lament! Do you think you will escape judgment, you who have no need for God’s mercy and his Messiah? How will you escape? When death intrudes, when cancer comes calling, when judgment comes crashing down, how will you stand? What will be your support to lean on, to enable you to stand in the day of God’s judgment? Will it be your inherent goodness? Your pleasing personality? Don’t kid yourself. Those supports are all too flimsy. They will collapse and crumble. You need some stronger stuff than that. What we e all need to lean on in the Day of Judgment is the cross of Christ my Savior. He is our only hope. And that’s the only hope and support we need, is this one with which God supplies us.
So maybe we should take a second look at that man Jesus and ask again the question, “Who is this King of glory?” There’s something special about him, something unique that takes hold of us. The more we look, the closer we look, the more we realize we need him.
What is special about this man? We pick up some clues from the story. When Jesus is about to enter Jerusalem, he tells two of his disciples: “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.” (Luke 19:30-31) A colt no one has ever ridden. And the Lord has need of it. Hmm. . . .
Then on Friday, after the crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea takes down the body of Jesus and lays him in a tomb cut in stone, “a new tomb, never used before.” (John 19:41)Hmm. . . . A colt no one has ridden. And a tomb that has never been used. What’s going on here?
It appears there are some divine arrangements going on here. That’s what it is. God has set apart some divine preparations, some never-used vessels, a colt and a tomb, set apart and reserved for a most special purpose, a most special guest. These are vessels fit for a king, this colt and this tomb. Yes, both the colt and the tomb, set apart and planned by God. That’s the point: Both Sunday and Friday are part of God’s plan.
The plan all along was for this Jesus to ride in glory into Jerusalem, and his glory, God’s glory, would be seen and shown and brought to fulfillment precisely in Jesus going to the cross. The cross and tomb are part of the plan--indeed, the heart of God’s plan, his plan for us! Who is this King of glory? He is the King who suffers and dies for us.
Yes, us the sinner. Us the “die-ers,” the person who dies. We, who would come under God’s judgment ourselves--we need Jesus to bear our sins and die for us and suffer that judgment in our place. That’s why he rides into town. Only Jesus could do that job.
Who is this King of glory? Some more clues from our text: Pilate, the judge, says of Jesus, “I find nothing wrong with this man!” (Luke 23:4b) A second time Pilate tells the accusers, “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent.” (Luke 23:14) Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him.” And then a third time Pilate said to them, “What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death.” (Luke 23:22)
Even the thief on the cross can see this truth about Jesus: “this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Luke 23:41b) And the Roman centurion likewise: “Certainly this man was innocent!” (Luke 23:47b) Now Pilate and the thief and the centurion all spoke truer than they realized. Not only was Jesus not guilty of any crime, not only was he innocent by the world’s standards, Jesus was even innocent and righteous by God’s standards. Truly righteous, totally innocent, no sin or guilt that he should die in any way, much less die the death of a criminal.
But you and I--we cannot manufacture a verdict like that for ourselves. You and I have done wrong, we have sinned, in a hundred ways, a hundred times a thousand. Maybe not capital crimes in the world’s eyes, but sins, grievous sins nonetheless, in God’s sight. In countless ways, we have sinned against God--in thought, in word, in deed, from as far back as we can remember, all the way to the grave--we have made false gods for ourselves, worshiping the idols of our own making, our own opinions and ideas of right and wrong. And the Lord God looks down on this folly and says of all those who would trust in themselves, “Where are their gods, the rocks they fled to for refuge?” (Deuteronomy 32:37)
No, only God, the true God, can deliver us. Who is this King of glory? The psalmist tells us: “The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!” (Psalm 24:8) “Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24:10) Yes, only God can deliver us. And that is why he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to do the job we couldn’t do. The holy Son of God, true God from eternity, born of the virgin Mary--this Jesus, God in the flesh, Jesus, the God-man Savior--he is the King of glory who saves us from sin and death.
We need to cling to him in faith, lean upon his cross as our only support, and we will be strong to stand in the day of trouble. In Christ, for us the Day of Judgment becomes the day of our salvation.
This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:15-17)
Who is the King of glory? He is Jesus Christ, our Savior and your King! (Luke 19:38)
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Lay Aside the Weight of Sluggishness
Lay Aside the Weight of Sluggishness
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:11–12)
Sluggishness in a runner signals danger to a coach. Something isn’t right. Something is causing uncertainty, draining confidence. The runner is losing heart. Half-hearted running leads to quitting.
That’s when a caring coach intervenes. Every athlete, even a super star, loses focus or desire and at times wants to give up in the stress and strain of training and competition. All successful athletes have a coach who pushed them when they got discouraged, lost confidence, wanted to quit — pushed them beyond what they thought possible.
The best coaches don’t just encourage; they also can come down hard on their athletes. Coaches sometimes come on strong. They get angry if they must. They warn against the dangers of foolishness, laziness, or losing sight of the goal. And that’s because they know that humans are not only motivated by reward, we are also motivated by fear. It’s how we are designed. God is the ultimate reward. The writer of Hebrews said this of Moses, ”It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter . ….. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.” (Hebrews 11:24,26) Then there is a “fear” factor. Jesus was speaking to thousands of people as recorded by Luke. Jesus told the people, “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.” (Luke 12:4–5) and we are equipped to understand, be awed by, and be motivated by both aspects of him. As a side note, a lot of people don’t want to teach anything about this “fear” but if we don’t we are not teaching the “full” gospel of Jesus Christ.
And Jesus is the best, most caring coach there is. When we are injured, helpless, legitimately tired, or ashamed, our Coach is almost always comforting and encouraging. “He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.” (Matthew 12:20). But he also loves us enough to get in our face when we need it. And that’s usually what we need when we feel sluggish.
Spiritual sluggishness is evidence of unbelief. It’s a sign that there’s something about God that we doubt and it’s draining our hope, which means it’s draining our energy and drive. We’re not giving it all we have because we doubt it’s worth the effort.
When we feel like this we typically want an arm around the shoulder and a gentle word of understanding and sympathy. What we typically need are loving rebukes, like these:
“Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.” (Hebrews 3:12)
“God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.” (Hebrews 4:1)
“Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies” (Hebrews 10:26-27)
Spiritual sluggishness is not to be tolerated; it’s to be fought. It’s potentially a faith-race “stopper”. We see a very serious warning from this verse from Hebrews, “So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.” (Hebrews 3:19). It’s a weight that needs to be laid aside. And “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy[ awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” (Hebrews 12:2).
So how what can we do?
1. Identify the doubt. Sluggishness has a cause. What is sapping our faith?
2. Repent. Unbelief is a sin. Seek to actively turn from it.
3. Target that unbelief with biblical truth. Stop whatever else we may be doing for some Bible reading and maybe get a good devotional book or an “ap” for your smart phone. (“Jesus Calling” is an excellent devotional that is available in book form or as an “ap”.) and focus on and pray through texts that deal directly with this issue. Lay aside your other book reading and read things that address this doubt.
Don’t go it alone. Humble yourself and share your struggle with trusted counselors God has given you. Our great Coach often speaks through assistant coaches. “You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.” (Hebrews 3:13).
Spiritual sluggishness is common to man. The Apostle Paul writes, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (1 Corinthians 10:13). We all experience it. In the serious and sustained effort of our long faith-race and the adversity we encounter from the world, our flesh, and the devil there are times the reward gets obscured by confusion and discouragements. Paul reminds the church at Ephesus, “You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.” (Ephesians 2:2–3),
Though we may not want them, there are times when we most need our Coach to get “in our face” or give us some honest tough “suggestions”. They may sting, they may humble us, but they are laced with mercy because they help clear our muddled minds, shake off the laziness, and run again with endurance.
“So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.” (Hebrews 12:12–13)
In his letter to Timothy, Paul is nearing the end of his ministry and writes these words: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:11–12)
Sluggishness in a runner signals danger to a coach. Something isn’t right. Something is causing uncertainty, draining confidence. The runner is losing heart. Half-hearted running leads to quitting.
That’s when a caring coach intervenes. Every athlete, even a super star, loses focus or desire and at times wants to give up in the stress and strain of training and competition. All successful athletes have a coach who pushed them when they got discouraged, lost confidence, wanted to quit — pushed them beyond what they thought possible.
The best coaches don’t just encourage; they also can come down hard on their athletes. Coaches sometimes come on strong. They get angry if they must. They warn against the dangers of foolishness, laziness, or losing sight of the goal. And that’s because they know that humans are not only motivated by reward, we are also motivated by fear. It’s how we are designed. God is the ultimate reward. The writer of Hebrews said this of Moses, ”It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter . ….. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.” (Hebrews 11:24,26) Then there is a “fear” factor. Jesus was speaking to thousands of people as recorded by Luke. Jesus told the people, “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.” (Luke 12:4–5) and we are equipped to understand, be awed by, and be motivated by both aspects of him. As a side note, a lot of people don’t want to teach anything about this “fear” but if we don’t we are not teaching the “full” gospel of Jesus Christ.
And Jesus is the best, most caring coach there is. When we are injured, helpless, legitimately tired, or ashamed, our Coach is almost always comforting and encouraging. “He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.” (Matthew 12:20). But he also loves us enough to get in our face when we need it. And that’s usually what we need when we feel sluggish.
Spiritual sluggishness is evidence of unbelief. It’s a sign that there’s something about God that we doubt and it’s draining our hope, which means it’s draining our energy and drive. We’re not giving it all we have because we doubt it’s worth the effort.
When we feel like this we typically want an arm around the shoulder and a gentle word of understanding and sympathy. What we typically need are loving rebukes, like these:
“Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.” (Hebrews 3:12)
“God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.” (Hebrews 4:1)
“Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies” (Hebrews 10:26-27)
Spiritual sluggishness is not to be tolerated; it’s to be fought. It’s potentially a faith-race “stopper”. We see a very serious warning from this verse from Hebrews, “So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.” (Hebrews 3:19). It’s a weight that needs to be laid aside. And “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy[ awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” (Hebrews 12:2).
So how what can we do?
1. Identify the doubt. Sluggishness has a cause. What is sapping our faith?
2. Repent. Unbelief is a sin. Seek to actively turn from it.
3. Target that unbelief with biblical truth. Stop whatever else we may be doing for some Bible reading and maybe get a good devotional book or an “ap” for your smart phone. (“Jesus Calling” is an excellent devotional that is available in book form or as an “ap”.) and focus on and pray through texts that deal directly with this issue. Lay aside your other book reading and read things that address this doubt.
Don’t go it alone. Humble yourself and share your struggle with trusted counselors God has given you. Our great Coach often speaks through assistant coaches. “You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.” (Hebrews 3:13).
Spiritual sluggishness is common to man. The Apostle Paul writes, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (1 Corinthians 10:13). We all experience it. In the serious and sustained effort of our long faith-race and the adversity we encounter from the world, our flesh, and the devil there are times the reward gets obscured by confusion and discouragements. Paul reminds the church at Ephesus, “You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.” (Ephesians 2:2–3),
Though we may not want them, there are times when we most need our Coach to get “in our face” or give us some honest tough “suggestions”. They may sting, they may humble us, but they are laced with mercy because they help clear our muddled minds, shake off the laziness, and run again with endurance.
“So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.” (Hebrews 12:12–13)
In his letter to Timothy, Paul is nearing the end of his ministry and writes these words: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
Monday, June 10, 2013
The Demands of Being a Disciple of Jesus
In the Gospels our Savior reveals what it means to be His disciple. In spite of the clarity and force of His words; however, they are often ignored today. The demands of discipleship are tremendous. They are astronomical. Jesus doesn’t want some or most. He wants all. According to Jesus, anything less than all, than everything, is not worthy of Him and places one’s relationship with Him in question.
As I often say in class, I understand that what Jesus wants from us as his “follower” is a lot easy to talk about that do. Especially in today’s world! But is what He tells us and we should make ever attempt to do what He says. We are blessed that we have a forgiving Savior because we will all fall short.
If we have placed repentant faith in Jesus Christ we are His disciple. Understand a disciple not just the 12 apostles/disciples!. Disciple simply means “follower”. We gave ourselves to Him in order to be like Him and to please Him. As we go over these four passages and their ramifications for daily life, we need do so prayerfully. We need to compare our present commitment to Jesus with what He says it ought to be. We need to do everything possible to dedicate ourselves to truly and faithfully following the One who gave Himself for us.
Jesus’ Disciples Renounce Control Over Their Lives and Give Control to Jesus.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)
• Since I am called turn from my “selfish” ways and follow Christ, I will no longer see my time, abilities, money and possessions as mine. I will understand all I have is God’s.
• Since I am called turn from my “selfish” ways and follow Christ, I will budget my time and energy in such a way that I can significantly serve the Lord in His church and invest myself in those who are in bondage to sin.
• Since I am called turn from my “selfish” ways and follow Christ, I will be careful not to waste my time on sinful or earthly things, or on things that have no eternal value.
• Since I am called turn from my “selfish” ways and follow Christ, I will live within my means and not live extravagantly.
• Since I am called turn from my “selfish” ways and follow Christ, I will give faithfully and sacrificially to the Lord’s work in our church and in mission works around the world.
• Since I am called turn from my “selfish” ways and follow Christ, I will teach my children, by example and careful instruction, to give their lives wholly to the Lord.
• Since I am called turn from my “selfish” ways and follow Christ, I recognize that my greatest joy on earth will be found in fulfilling that calling.
Jesus’ Disciples Love Him With Unmatched Affection and Passion.
“If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26-27)
• I cannot be Jesus’ disciple unless pleasing Him is more important than pleasing others, including myself. That means I am constantly asking myself “Is Jesus pleased by this?” “Is Jesus honored by this?”
• I cannot be Jesus’ disciple if I am motivated by the fear of men and if the opinion of others matters more to me than the opinion of God.
• I cannot be Jesus’ disciple unless I relish and savor Him more than any earthly being; unless Jesus is the focal point of my spiritual eyes. Such a focus will enable me to love others as Christ loves them.
• I cannot be Jesus’ disciple unless Jesus means more to me than people; unless Jesus’ glory means more to me than anything.
Jesus’ Disciples Sit At His Feet to Learn and Obey His Wisdom.
“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.” (John 8:31)
• Because I am Jesus’ disciple, I set myself at His feet each day by prayerfully studying the Scriptures.
• Because I am Jesus’ disciple, I will seek to understand the beauty and wonder of God’s grace as revealed in Scripture; I will ask the Lord to “open my eyes that I may see wonderful truths” in His Word. (Psalm 119:18)
• Because I am Jesus’ disciple, I will not only listen to Jesus speak through the Word, but will devote myself to heeding His Word and becoming like Him in every area of life. I will keep no part of my life from Him and will indulge in no secret sin.
• Because I am Jesus’ disciple, I resolve to set my family at His feet by means of faithful and meaningful family worship and faithful church attendance and involvement.
• Because I am Jesus’ disciple, I will obey the biblical admonitions to be in the Lord’s House on the Lord’s Day in order to worship Him and be encouraged through the teaching of Scripture. I will devote Sunday to the Lord, to His Church, and to His Word because God established Sunday and local churches to aid in my Christian growth. God designs that my family and I be in His House 52 Sundays a year and apart from significant unforeseen hindrances we will be.
• Because I am Jesus’ disciple and no longer a disciple of Satan and the world, I will no longer listen to the world’s voice, seek the world’s approval, or be driven by the world’s philosophies, priorities and passions.
• Because I am Jesus’ disciple, I expect the world’s disapproval, rejection and mistreatment. As Jesus’ disciple I rejoice when I am treated as my Master was treated.
Jesus’ Disciples Love Each Other and “Advertise” Their Commitment to Jesus By Means of That Love.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35)
• Because I am Jesus’ disciple, I will foster and express a love for fellow believers that imitates Jesus’ love for them.
• Because I am Jesus’ disciple, I will express my love for my brothers and sisters by faithfully praying for them and ministering to them. I will sacrifice my time and resources to care for them.
• Because I am Jesus’ disciple, I will give faithfully to the ministry of our church. By doing so I am expressing love to my Christian brothers and sisters by supporting ministry that is spiritually nourishing to them.
• Because I am Jesus’ disciple, I will reach out to other believers in our family in order to know them, understand them, and serve them.
• Because I am Jesus’ disciple, I will always seek unity, harmony and intimacy with fellow disciples. I will therefore forgive those who sin against me and have patience those with whom I disagree.
• Because I am Jesus’ disciple, my communication with believers will always be uplifting/encouraging and spiritually helpful. I will not engage in gossip, slander or criticism that does not “encourage” .
• Because I am Jesus’ disciple, one of my greatest joys is found in ministry to those for whom He died.
“But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” (John 15:7-8)
May the Spirit of God use the words of Jesus to increase our love for Him and prod us to live lives of self-denial, submission and service. May Jesus’ name be exalted and fame be spread. May His followers follow Him and by so doing bring Him the glory He deserves.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
The Peace of God
The Peace of God
The Peace that I give you transcends your intellect. When most of your mental energy goes into efforts to figure things out, you are unable to receive this glorious gift. I look into your mind and see thoughts spinning round and round: going nowhere, accomplishing nothing. All the while, My Peace hovers over you, searching for a place to land.
Be still in My Presence, inviting Me to control your thoughts. Let My Light soak into your mind and heart, until you are aglow with My very Being. This is the most effective way to receive My Peace.
May 31 Devotion from “Jesus Calling”.
Peace means, “Quietness or rest,” and it’s a word Jesus frequently used in His ministry. Peace is used over 100 times in the New Testament and practically every time it’s used it speaks of this “quietness or repose of the soul. That’s exactly how Jesus defined it in our text.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27)
In John 14 Jesus pulled aside His disciples and prepared them for His crucifixion. He told them that He would leave to prepare a place for them but assured them He would return. He told them that during His absence from them “the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit”. (John 14:26) John 14 is an example of the great love Jesus had for His disciples and all humanity.
Now, let’s talk about this peace Jesus intended for His disciples to secure. There are three points Jesus emphasizes here. Keep in mind this incident occurs immediately before His crucifixion. Jesus wanted His followers to know they could expect the Holy Spirit to appear shortly after His ascension. Jesus knew the trouble they would face after His resurrection, so He provided them with a promise to comfort them during times of turmoil and trouble. This promise was His peace:
1. This is a peace cannot be found in the world:
Look at the second part of His statement, “the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.” The world can’t give quietness or rest.
This kinda’ leads to the question, what kind of peace do we find in the world? Guess what, not much. In fact, most of the world is looking for peace in pills, beverages, medication, money, power and the list goes on and on..
It seems that every time we look at television we hear something about the quest for peace in the Middle East, in China, in South America or in other parts of the world. It is being sought everywhere and found nowhere. The world offers peace in terms of achievement, pleasure, possessions, prestige, position, power, or wealth. They call this the American Dream!
But Jesus disagreed with the world’s method of obtaining peace. He even says that the world cannot provide real peace! Nothing the world offers assures us of a lasting peace. Here is how the world thinks peace is achieved:
The world believes if it could eliminate war that peace would prevail.
The world thinks if it eliminated poverty and everyone had enough, peace would prevail.
The world thinks if it could eliminate suffering peace would prevail. Without suffering we could have peace.
The world thinks if it could eliminate strife and conflict between individuals and nations…. then peace would flourish.
But the fact is - peace isn’t found in absence of anything! It’s not found in Peace Treaties, or National Summits, or Arms Agreements between nations. It is only found in the presence of Someone! And that someone is the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
So in the midst of war, poverty, suffering, or conflict, Jesus, in the form of a Person, the Holy Spirit, is present with us and providing a sense of well being amidst every problem. Christ is with us through the wind, the flood, and the fire and He said “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5b)
Peace is exactly what the Man of Sin, the Antichrist, will promise to a strife-filled world. This will be his delusion, his lie, and his promise. And though millions will pursue this false peace, they will come to realize its phony boasts as the Antichrist leads them astray. His peace will be temporary, much less eternal!
But notice the peace that Christ offers:
“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:7)
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.”, (2 Thess 3:16) and I might add, in the midst of every problem we will encounter.
The world cannot give this kind of peace!
2. In times of trouble His peace will overcome fear:
Fear is a natural result of trouble and strife. We can become fearful when unsettling events suddenly strike us. It’s only natural to be afraid.
It is very likely that Jesus, knowing what was soon coming, was trying to instill peace into His disciples. He knew they were about to face great turmoil and stress and the only way to overcome it was to partake of His peace.
The Apostle Paul writes to the church at Philippi, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (Philippians 4:6) and “Then you will experience God’s peace”. (Phil. 4:7a) The Prince of Peace will be with us. With Him is the only place to find true peace.
3. True peace comes only from God
Look again at our text: “the peace I give you”. Because Jesus could see the future as well as He could see the past, He knew that in a few days the disciples would be pressured from every side. The Pharisees would hunt them and they would seek refuge behind locked doors. He knew they would sleep when He asked them to pray in Gethsemane. He knew they would desert Him when the soldiers arrested Him and that He would stand alone at His Trial.
Their guilt and regret had to be almost unbearable! Can you imagine the emotions they must have been dealing with? Just a few days earlier they declared to Jesus that they would never desert him. Peter even said he would die rather than deny Him. He said in Mark 14:29, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will” and in verse 31, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” Then all the others jumped on the bandwagon in the last part of this verse: “And all the others vowed the same.”
But none of those bold and brave words came to pass. When Jesus was arrested, the disciples scattered like rat’s from a sinking ship. Each one wanting to save their own hides—fearful, uncertain, and wondering if it had all been a dream.
When Jesus was dragged before Pilate, Peter hid and peered from a distance. He took courage, inched closer, but when challenged by a servant girl Peter disavowed his Savior. “Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.” (Matthew 16:72)
Besides John, none of the apostles showed up until after Christ’s burial. He was at the cross when Jesus was crucified and when He died. Just a footnote to this, John is the only Apostle that died of old age, all the others died a martyr’s death.
In spite of all this, what did Jesus do? He appeared to them as they were hiding behind the locked door and simply said, “Peace be with you” (Luke 24:36). Needless to say, they were startled and frightened; thinking they had seen a ghost. No words of rebuke, no words of condemnation, no attitude of anger or resentment, only words of peace and love.
Then they had a meal together. Isn’t that what friends do?
Conclusion:
THERE ARE MANY VERSES IN THE BIBLE THAT TALK ABOUT THE PEACE OF GOD AND HOW THIS PEACE WILL PASS EVERY HUMAN UNDERSTANDING. IT IS A PROMISE AND GOD’S PROMISES ARE ALWAYS KEPT.
TRUE PEACE DOESN’T COME FROM THE WORLD; IT COMES AS A GIFT FROM GOD.
True peace will overcome fear. True peace will sustain you in all situations.
We will close with this scripture that Paul writes to the Thessalonians, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
The Peace that I give you transcends your intellect. When most of your mental energy goes into efforts to figure things out, you are unable to receive this glorious gift. I look into your mind and see thoughts spinning round and round: going nowhere, accomplishing nothing. All the while, My Peace hovers over you, searching for a place to land.
Be still in My Presence, inviting Me to control your thoughts. Let My Light soak into your mind and heart, until you are aglow with My very Being. This is the most effective way to receive My Peace.
May 31 Devotion from “Jesus Calling”.
Peace means, “Quietness or rest,” and it’s a word Jesus frequently used in His ministry. Peace is used over 100 times in the New Testament and practically every time it’s used it speaks of this “quietness or repose of the soul. That’s exactly how Jesus defined it in our text.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27)
In John 14 Jesus pulled aside His disciples and prepared them for His crucifixion. He told them that He would leave to prepare a place for them but assured them He would return. He told them that during His absence from them “the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit”. (John 14:26) John 14 is an example of the great love Jesus had for His disciples and all humanity.
Now, let’s talk about this peace Jesus intended for His disciples to secure. There are three points Jesus emphasizes here. Keep in mind this incident occurs immediately before His crucifixion. Jesus wanted His followers to know they could expect the Holy Spirit to appear shortly after His ascension. Jesus knew the trouble they would face after His resurrection, so He provided them with a promise to comfort them during times of turmoil and trouble. This promise was His peace:
1. This is a peace cannot be found in the world:
Look at the second part of His statement, “the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.” The world can’t give quietness or rest.
This kinda’ leads to the question, what kind of peace do we find in the world? Guess what, not much. In fact, most of the world is looking for peace in pills, beverages, medication, money, power and the list goes on and on..
It seems that every time we look at television we hear something about the quest for peace in the Middle East, in China, in South America or in other parts of the world. It is being sought everywhere and found nowhere. The world offers peace in terms of achievement, pleasure, possessions, prestige, position, power, or wealth. They call this the American Dream!
But Jesus disagreed with the world’s method of obtaining peace. He even says that the world cannot provide real peace! Nothing the world offers assures us of a lasting peace. Here is how the world thinks peace is achieved:
The world believes if it could eliminate war that peace would prevail.
The world thinks if it eliminated poverty and everyone had enough, peace would prevail.
The world thinks if it could eliminate suffering peace would prevail. Without suffering we could have peace.
The world thinks if it could eliminate strife and conflict between individuals and nations…. then peace would flourish.
But the fact is - peace isn’t found in absence of anything! It’s not found in Peace Treaties, or National Summits, or Arms Agreements between nations. It is only found in the presence of Someone! And that someone is the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
So in the midst of war, poverty, suffering, or conflict, Jesus, in the form of a Person, the Holy Spirit, is present with us and providing a sense of well being amidst every problem. Christ is with us through the wind, the flood, and the fire and He said “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5b)
Peace is exactly what the Man of Sin, the Antichrist, will promise to a strife-filled world. This will be his delusion, his lie, and his promise. And though millions will pursue this false peace, they will come to realize its phony boasts as the Antichrist leads them astray. His peace will be temporary, much less eternal!
But notice the peace that Christ offers:
“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:7)
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.”, (2 Thess 3:16) and I might add, in the midst of every problem we will encounter.
The world cannot give this kind of peace!
2. In times of trouble His peace will overcome fear:
Fear is a natural result of trouble and strife. We can become fearful when unsettling events suddenly strike us. It’s only natural to be afraid.
It is very likely that Jesus, knowing what was soon coming, was trying to instill peace into His disciples. He knew they were about to face great turmoil and stress and the only way to overcome it was to partake of His peace.
The Apostle Paul writes to the church at Philippi, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (Philippians 4:6) and “Then you will experience God’s peace”. (Phil. 4:7a) The Prince of Peace will be with us. With Him is the only place to find true peace.
3. True peace comes only from God
Look again at our text: “the peace I give you”. Because Jesus could see the future as well as He could see the past, He knew that in a few days the disciples would be pressured from every side. The Pharisees would hunt them and they would seek refuge behind locked doors. He knew they would sleep when He asked them to pray in Gethsemane. He knew they would desert Him when the soldiers arrested Him and that He would stand alone at His Trial.
Their guilt and regret had to be almost unbearable! Can you imagine the emotions they must have been dealing with? Just a few days earlier they declared to Jesus that they would never desert him. Peter even said he would die rather than deny Him. He said in Mark 14:29, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will” and in verse 31, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” Then all the others jumped on the bandwagon in the last part of this verse: “And all the others vowed the same.”
But none of those bold and brave words came to pass. When Jesus was arrested, the disciples scattered like rat’s from a sinking ship. Each one wanting to save their own hides—fearful, uncertain, and wondering if it had all been a dream.
When Jesus was dragged before Pilate, Peter hid and peered from a distance. He took courage, inched closer, but when challenged by a servant girl Peter disavowed his Savior. “Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.” (Matthew 16:72)
Besides John, none of the apostles showed up until after Christ’s burial. He was at the cross when Jesus was crucified and when He died. Just a footnote to this, John is the only Apostle that died of old age, all the others died a martyr’s death.
In spite of all this, what did Jesus do? He appeared to them as they were hiding behind the locked door and simply said, “Peace be with you” (Luke 24:36). Needless to say, they were startled and frightened; thinking they had seen a ghost. No words of rebuke, no words of condemnation, no attitude of anger or resentment, only words of peace and love.
Then they had a meal together. Isn’t that what friends do?
Conclusion:
THERE ARE MANY VERSES IN THE BIBLE THAT TALK ABOUT THE PEACE OF GOD AND HOW THIS PEACE WILL PASS EVERY HUMAN UNDERSTANDING. IT IS A PROMISE AND GOD’S PROMISES ARE ALWAYS KEPT.
TRUE PEACE DOESN’T COME FROM THE WORLD; IT COMES AS A GIFT FROM GOD.
True peace will overcome fear. True peace will sustain you in all situations.
We will close with this scripture that Paul writes to the Thessalonians, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
“How does God speak to us today?”
Interesting way that this lesson topic was given to me. A Facebook friend posted this today. Her two year old son “woke up from his nap and said, "Jesus talk to me", "I talk Jesus." My answer was “Wow”!. The mom then messaged me and asked what I thought about this. My answer was that I totally think that there is no reason that Jesus would quit talking to little children since he loved them and talked to them so much when he was physically on earth. Matthew writes “One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” (Matthew 19:13-14). Luke also relates this incident in Luke 18:16, “Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.”
Just for a moment let’s look at what Jesus meant by “For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”. I believe that he means that if we don’t come to Jesus as a child, trusting in Him even though we can’t see him and don’t understand everything and “believe in Him” by FAITH we will not inherit the Kingdom of God.. This little 2 year believes that Jesus talked to Him and he talked to Jesus. Do we have this faith?
Soooo, this just “stuck” with me all day and I kept thinking about “How does God speak to us today?”Us – Hebrews 1:1-3
If you have any type of a relationship with another person – be it husband-wife, be it parent-child, be it friend-friend – how is it that you come to know that person and become closer to them? You communicate with them – you talk and express thoughts and feelings. And, very often, when the relationship breaks down, there has been a problem in communication. Communication is the primary way by which you know somebody else. You gain knowledge and become more intimate with another person through communicating with that person. Communication is an act whereby a person reveals themselves to you and you reveal yourself to them. Now, in a very real sense, knowing God isn’t much different in principle. We start with the question, “How does God speak to us?” because all of our knowledge about him, and all of our intimacy with him comes through communication with him. Communication is fundamental to any relationship – and if we are going to know God, we have to know how he communicates with us. We all have this innate desire to want to get in touch with God, know him better. We all really want God to speak to us in a very personal way. So, how is it that God speaks and communicates to us? How has God revealed himself to us?
Christian teaching says that there are two ways in which God communicates himself – two ways in which he reveals himself to us. The first way is what is called “general revelation.” “General” here means how God has communicated himself to everybody who has ever lived. And the primary way God has communicated himself generally to all people is in the creation itself. Romans 1:20 tells us that God has communicated himself to all people through the creation; people have been able to perceive God’s eternal power and divine nature simply by looking at the creation. Psalm 19 also tells us about God speaking to all people generally through the creation: “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.”
Do you see the connection between the creation and speech? If you want to know more about God, go look at the creation and hear the words of creation. So, the first way God communicates to us is through general revelation.
But, it is the second way of God communicating to us that we want to focus on. The second way Christian teaching describes God’s communication to us is “special revelation.” Whereas general revelation is God speaking to all people who have ever lived, special revelation is God speaking to his own people – first to the nation of Israel and then to Christians. God communicates to Christians not only generally in creation, but also in a special way. And here in this passage we see how God specially speaks to his people. If you want to know how God speaks to you as a Christian, here it is. “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:1-3)
This passage shows us the two primary ways that God speaks to Christians: 1) Scripture; and 2) Jesus Christ. God communicates to us, reveals himself to us, speaks to us specially in Scripture and in the person of Jesus Christ. Both the person of Jesus Christ and the 66 books of the Bible are the ways God speaks to Christians specially.
Now, very practically, what does that mean? That means if you want God to hear God speak, open up your Bible! These are the very words of God. This is God speaking specially to Christians. When we ask the question, “What is God’s will about x?” we go to the Bible because the Bible is his word. The Bible is fundamental to your relationship with God. He communicates to you through the Bible. God expresses himself through the words of scripture. That’s why, as we begin thinking through the truth about God, we need to go to the place where he has communicated himself. That is the Bible. This is why we confess that we have a high view of scripture – these are the words of God. God has revealed himself and communicated to us in the Bible.
Second, God speaks to us in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” This is not referring to only the words that Jesus spoke while here on earth. It doesn’t mean less than that – but it means much more. What does it mean then? We’ve all heard the phrase, “A picture is a thousand words.” What is that saying meant to convey? It’s meant to convey the idea that if you look at a picture of something, you see much more meaning and communication in the picture than if you were to merely speak words about whatever is in the picture. Pictures tell the whole story without words – and often, they communicate something more complete than words can communicate. And, that is getting close to what the Hebrew writer is saying here. The word “by” his Son can also be understood as “he has spoken to us in his Son.” When God wanted to communicate to us most clearly who he is, what he is like, when God decided that he wanted to completely open himself up and reveal the very heart of who he is – he didn’t communicate it in words only – he provided a picture of himself. That picture is Jesus Christ. He has spoken to us in everything that Jesus is, does, and said. The whole person of Jesus – his person and work – is the ultimate way that God has specially communicated to us. Do you see why John will describe Jesus as the “Word?” “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jesus is the ultimate expression and communication of who God is.” (John1:1)
Third and very important , God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. Before he left the earth, Jesus promised His followers that God would send “the helper, the Holy Spirit,” and he “will teach you everything”. (John 14:25)
He promised that they would never be left alone. He will send in his place the best of friends, the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells his disciples (and this applies to us as Believers because the Holy Spirit comes to “live in us” when we accept Christ as our Savior.) three very important things about the work of the Holy Spirit -- to convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. The original word for convince also means convict. The Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier. He makes us holy as God is holy. He does this first by convicting us of our sin and by bringing us humbly to the foot of the Cross. The Spirit convinces us of God's love and forgiveness and of our utter dependence on God for his mercy and grace. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us from the error of our sinful ways and to show us the way of love and truth. We just need to listen.
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” (2 Peter 1:3) So why would we need anything else from God? The answer is simple: we don't! We have all we need to live a faithful life to the Lord. People need to stop wondering when God is going to tell them what to do and look at what He has told them to do through His word. When Jesus took Peter, James and John up on the mountain “a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5b).
Just for a moment let’s look at what Jesus meant by “For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”. I believe that he means that if we don’t come to Jesus as a child, trusting in Him even though we can’t see him and don’t understand everything and “believe in Him” by FAITH we will not inherit the Kingdom of God.. This little 2 year believes that Jesus talked to Him and he talked to Jesus. Do we have this faith?
Soooo, this just “stuck” with me all day and I kept thinking about “How does God speak to us today?”Us – Hebrews 1:1-3
If you have any type of a relationship with another person – be it husband-wife, be it parent-child, be it friend-friend – how is it that you come to know that person and become closer to them? You communicate with them – you talk and express thoughts and feelings. And, very often, when the relationship breaks down, there has been a problem in communication. Communication is the primary way by which you know somebody else. You gain knowledge and become more intimate with another person through communicating with that person. Communication is an act whereby a person reveals themselves to you and you reveal yourself to them. Now, in a very real sense, knowing God isn’t much different in principle. We start with the question, “How does God speak to us?” because all of our knowledge about him, and all of our intimacy with him comes through communication with him. Communication is fundamental to any relationship – and if we are going to know God, we have to know how he communicates with us. We all have this innate desire to want to get in touch with God, know him better. We all really want God to speak to us in a very personal way. So, how is it that God speaks and communicates to us? How has God revealed himself to us?
Christian teaching says that there are two ways in which God communicates himself – two ways in which he reveals himself to us. The first way is what is called “general revelation.” “General” here means how God has communicated himself to everybody who has ever lived. And the primary way God has communicated himself generally to all people is in the creation itself. Romans 1:20 tells us that God has communicated himself to all people through the creation; people have been able to perceive God’s eternal power and divine nature simply by looking at the creation. Psalm 19 also tells us about God speaking to all people generally through the creation: “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.”
Do you see the connection between the creation and speech? If you want to know more about God, go look at the creation and hear the words of creation. So, the first way God communicates to us is through general revelation.
But, it is the second way of God communicating to us that we want to focus on. The second way Christian teaching describes God’s communication to us is “special revelation.” Whereas general revelation is God speaking to all people who have ever lived, special revelation is God speaking to his own people – first to the nation of Israel and then to Christians. God communicates to Christians not only generally in creation, but also in a special way. And here in this passage we see how God specially speaks to his people. If you want to know how God speaks to you as a Christian, here it is. “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:1-3)
This passage shows us the two primary ways that God speaks to Christians: 1) Scripture; and 2) Jesus Christ. God communicates to us, reveals himself to us, speaks to us specially in Scripture and in the person of Jesus Christ. Both the person of Jesus Christ and the 66 books of the Bible are the ways God speaks to Christians specially.
Now, very practically, what does that mean? That means if you want God to hear God speak, open up your Bible! These are the very words of God. This is God speaking specially to Christians. When we ask the question, “What is God’s will about x?” we go to the Bible because the Bible is his word. The Bible is fundamental to your relationship with God. He communicates to you through the Bible. God expresses himself through the words of scripture. That’s why, as we begin thinking through the truth about God, we need to go to the place where he has communicated himself. That is the Bible. This is why we confess that we have a high view of scripture – these are the words of God. God has revealed himself and communicated to us in the Bible.
Second, God speaks to us in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” This is not referring to only the words that Jesus spoke while here on earth. It doesn’t mean less than that – but it means much more. What does it mean then? We’ve all heard the phrase, “A picture is a thousand words.” What is that saying meant to convey? It’s meant to convey the idea that if you look at a picture of something, you see much more meaning and communication in the picture than if you were to merely speak words about whatever is in the picture. Pictures tell the whole story without words – and often, they communicate something more complete than words can communicate. And, that is getting close to what the Hebrew writer is saying here. The word “by” his Son can also be understood as “he has spoken to us in his Son.” When God wanted to communicate to us most clearly who he is, what he is like, when God decided that he wanted to completely open himself up and reveal the very heart of who he is – he didn’t communicate it in words only – he provided a picture of himself. That picture is Jesus Christ. He has spoken to us in everything that Jesus is, does, and said. The whole person of Jesus – his person and work – is the ultimate way that God has specially communicated to us. Do you see why John will describe Jesus as the “Word?” “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jesus is the ultimate expression and communication of who God is.” (John1:1)
Third and very important , God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. Before he left the earth, Jesus promised His followers that God would send “the helper, the Holy Spirit,” and he “will teach you everything”. (John 14:25)
He promised that they would never be left alone. He will send in his place the best of friends, the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells his disciples (and this applies to us as Believers because the Holy Spirit comes to “live in us” when we accept Christ as our Savior.) three very important things about the work of the Holy Spirit -- to convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. The original word for convince also means convict. The Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier. He makes us holy as God is holy. He does this first by convicting us of our sin and by bringing us humbly to the foot of the Cross. The Spirit convinces us of God's love and forgiveness and of our utter dependence on God for his mercy and grace. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us from the error of our sinful ways and to show us the way of love and truth. We just need to listen.
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” (2 Peter 1:3) So why would we need anything else from God? The answer is simple: we don't! We have all we need to live a faithful life to the Lord. People need to stop wondering when God is going to tell them what to do and look at what He has told them to do through His word. When Jesus took Peter, James and John up on the mountain “a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5b).
Monday, May 20, 2013
DisArmed, Not ready to Arm!
DisArmed, Not ready to Arm!
We all know what it means to have your feet kicked out from under us, to have the wind knocked out of our sail, to be out of our own resources and be down to nothing, to be running on empty.
How many of you have ever experienced a God moment, and He met your need at just the right time in just the right way?
But there are a lot of people who never have, they are running on empty, discouraged and in depression over issues the devil has thrown at them
They are disarmed and disengaged from Gods presence, and they are in a state to where they are not ready to be rearmed.
Christians and non believers alike who, over certain circumstances, have been beat down by the devil and the world, to the point of exhaustion.
They are so discouraged in their personal life, spiritually they have been disarmed, and they are not ready to arm. They have been discouraged almost to the point of no return.
After 1,000’s of years of modern medical discoveries, doctors still dispense medicine that can help but often it only treats the symptom and masks what’s going on, the treatment and real cure can only be found in the presence and strength of the Lord God Almighty…
Discouraged means: to tend to prevent something from happening by making it more difficult or unpleasant make somebody less optimistic: to make somebody feel less motivated, confident, or optimistic.
You see, the devil never cares how or what it takes to get to you, just as long as it does.
Discouragement and depression are some of the best tools, the devil has in his bag of tricks.
Here are a few facts found online;
Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults or about 9.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. Everyone, will at some time in their life be affected by depression -- their own or someone else’s
Pre-schoolers are the fastest-growing market for antidepressants. At least four percent of preschoolers -- over a million -- are clinically depressed. The rate of increase of depression among children is an astounding 23%.
15% of the population of most developed countries suffers severe depression.
80% of depressed people are not currently having any treatment.
Depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease by 2020 -- and studies show depression is a contributory factor to fatal coronary disease.
Depression results in more absenteeism than almost any other physical disorder and costs employers more than US$51 billion per year in absenteeism and lost productivity, not including high medical and pharmaceutical bills.
There is a story about a man who tried to sell a product to a certain customer. He started going to the customer in the morning and continued until the customer got wearied and said, “You are the tenth salesman that has come here selling he same thing. Okay how much is it? I will buy one so that they stop bothering me.” And he bought one. The man then said, proudly “Point of correction sir, I am the only one that has been coming. In the morning, I wore a suit and you turned me away. I went and changed each time and came back. I have been here ten times. Thank you for buying.”
The devil doesn’t care how many times it takes to get you were he wants you or how many times he has to change “appearances”. If there is one thing he’s consistent at and very good at is knocking on our door.
But the fact is, now and for future reference, we don’t have to answer the door!
Discouraged people snatch defeat from certain victory. They see victory coming down the road and somehow by the time it has gotten to them, it’s been turned it into defeat several times over.
They are worried about tomorrow even though they do not know what will even happen tomorrow.
They are and have been disarmed, and are not ready to arm.
People in that state of mind have faith alright, but their faith is in failure.
You know the ones that claim “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.”
Discouragement and the depression that goes with it, makes it hard and almost impossible to hear God, it consumes you!
At some point, you have to make a stand, you’ve got to shake off the dust from yourself and stand up and say: I don’t care what happens, I’m not living here anymore!
Paul writes to the church at Ephesus to “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12
In this day and age you have to be ready for anything and everything the devil throws your way. Because he will throw everything at you that he can, even the kitchen sink!
And Paul goes on to say, “Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up, so that no one falls behind or drops out.” Eph. 6:13-18 from the Message Translation
We need to realize the following important truth: discouragement is and always has been a personal decision...Only you can keep you there, only you get to decide if you go there in the first place,
only you get to decide how long you allow yourself to stay there. Only You! No one else, only you. Now this is often easier to say than to really do this but with the help of God you can get rid of it.
You have to make a conscious decision not to be discouraged any longer. Always encourage yourself in the Lord, so you can hear Him clearly. Do not wait for somebody to come around and encourage you. Because it’s probably not going to happen, there’s not many people who encourage others.
Oh, you might think that they are listening to your plight, but soon as you take a breathe, they’ll be telling you all about their own problems, not having the slightest problem one up’ing you in the least!
Whatever your need is, pray about it and lay it at the Saviors feet, and leave it there. Let Jesus do the worrying. But, wait, He‘s not worried about it. And if He’s not worried about it, why should you be, if He’s not!
And one other thing, closing your prayer in Jesus name is not just a popular ending of a prayer, like a lot of people think. It’s a proclamation that you believe by His finished work on Calvary, that He makes all things possible that you pray about to come about! Praise The Lord!!
God is not a respecter of persons, He will do the same for each one of us, Why? Because He loves His Children.
No matter how it may ever look to us as Christians, God is always, repeat always, working on the behalf of His Children. Romans 8:28:. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Aren’t we glad, that we are children of God this morning!
God has already supplied the solution for any and every situation we will ever face! He always comes through for us. Whether it’s the 1st time or 100th time,
He will be at the right place, at the right time, each and every time, when you need Him.
.
If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31b
Disarmed, not ready to arm and all the things that go with it, child of God. If you ever find yourself headed there, remember it’s just a trick of the enemy. It’s the same old song and dance routine he‘s been doing for 1,000“s of years,
But praise the Lord God Almighty, Jesus has already disarmed him and every one of those things associated with him on the cross and won the victory for you.
You don’t have fight for victory, its already been done, you as one of His very own, get the privilege to claim victory.
His Word says: God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Its completely up to you, as to whether you want to possess all of the blessings that you are entitled to, or not.
You don’t have to go through life disarmed, not ready to arm. You, through Jesus finished work on the cross, can stand Armed, ready to disarm!!
Jesus, Thank You for the Cross!
We all know what it means to have your feet kicked out from under us, to have the wind knocked out of our sail, to be out of our own resources and be down to nothing, to be running on empty.
How many of you have ever experienced a God moment, and He met your need at just the right time in just the right way?
But there are a lot of people who never have, they are running on empty, discouraged and in depression over issues the devil has thrown at them
They are disarmed and disengaged from Gods presence, and they are in a state to where they are not ready to be rearmed.
Christians and non believers alike who, over certain circumstances, have been beat down by the devil and the world, to the point of exhaustion.
They are so discouraged in their personal life, spiritually they have been disarmed, and they are not ready to arm. They have been discouraged almost to the point of no return.
After 1,000’s of years of modern medical discoveries, doctors still dispense medicine that can help but often it only treats the symptom and masks what’s going on, the treatment and real cure can only be found in the presence and strength of the Lord God Almighty…
Discouraged means: to tend to prevent something from happening by making it more difficult or unpleasant make somebody less optimistic: to make somebody feel less motivated, confident, or optimistic.
You see, the devil never cares how or what it takes to get to you, just as long as it does.
Discouragement and depression are some of the best tools, the devil has in his bag of tricks.
Here are a few facts found online;
Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults or about 9.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. Everyone, will at some time in their life be affected by depression -- their own or someone else’s
Pre-schoolers are the fastest-growing market for antidepressants. At least four percent of preschoolers -- over a million -- are clinically depressed. The rate of increase of depression among children is an astounding 23%.
15% of the population of most developed countries suffers severe depression.
80% of depressed people are not currently having any treatment.
Depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease by 2020 -- and studies show depression is a contributory factor to fatal coronary disease.
Depression results in more absenteeism than almost any other physical disorder and costs employers more than US$51 billion per year in absenteeism and lost productivity, not including high medical and pharmaceutical bills.
There is a story about a man who tried to sell a product to a certain customer. He started going to the customer in the morning and continued until the customer got wearied and said, “You are the tenth salesman that has come here selling he same thing. Okay how much is it? I will buy one so that they stop bothering me.” And he bought one. The man then said, proudly “Point of correction sir, I am the only one that has been coming. In the morning, I wore a suit and you turned me away. I went and changed each time and came back. I have been here ten times. Thank you for buying.”
The devil doesn’t care how many times it takes to get you were he wants you or how many times he has to change “appearances”. If there is one thing he’s consistent at and very good at is knocking on our door.
But the fact is, now and for future reference, we don’t have to answer the door!
Discouraged people snatch defeat from certain victory. They see victory coming down the road and somehow by the time it has gotten to them, it’s been turned it into defeat several times over.
They are worried about tomorrow even though they do not know what will even happen tomorrow.
They are and have been disarmed, and are not ready to arm.
People in that state of mind have faith alright, but their faith is in failure.
You know the ones that claim “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.”
Discouragement and the depression that goes with it, makes it hard and almost impossible to hear God, it consumes you!
At some point, you have to make a stand, you’ve got to shake off the dust from yourself and stand up and say: I don’t care what happens, I’m not living here anymore!
Paul writes to the church at Ephesus to “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12
In this day and age you have to be ready for anything and everything the devil throws your way. Because he will throw everything at you that he can, even the kitchen sink!
And Paul goes on to say, “Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up, so that no one falls behind or drops out.” Eph. 6:13-18 from the Message Translation
We need to realize the following important truth: discouragement is and always has been a personal decision...Only you can keep you there, only you get to decide if you go there in the first place,
only you get to decide how long you allow yourself to stay there. Only You! No one else, only you. Now this is often easier to say than to really do this but with the help of God you can get rid of it.
You have to make a conscious decision not to be discouraged any longer. Always encourage yourself in the Lord, so you can hear Him clearly. Do not wait for somebody to come around and encourage you. Because it’s probably not going to happen, there’s not many people who encourage others.
Oh, you might think that they are listening to your plight, but soon as you take a breathe, they’ll be telling you all about their own problems, not having the slightest problem one up’ing you in the least!
Whatever your need is, pray about it and lay it at the Saviors feet, and leave it there. Let Jesus do the worrying. But, wait, He‘s not worried about it. And if He’s not worried about it, why should you be, if He’s not!
And one other thing, closing your prayer in Jesus name is not just a popular ending of a prayer, like a lot of people think. It’s a proclamation that you believe by His finished work on Calvary, that He makes all things possible that you pray about to come about! Praise The Lord!!
God is not a respecter of persons, He will do the same for each one of us, Why? Because He loves His Children.
No matter how it may ever look to us as Christians, God is always, repeat always, working on the behalf of His Children. Romans 8:28:. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Aren’t we glad, that we are children of God this morning!
God has already supplied the solution for any and every situation we will ever face! He always comes through for us. Whether it’s the 1st time or 100th time,
He will be at the right place, at the right time, each and every time, when you need Him.
.
If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31b
Disarmed, not ready to arm and all the things that go with it, child of God. If you ever find yourself headed there, remember it’s just a trick of the enemy. It’s the same old song and dance routine he‘s been doing for 1,000“s of years,
But praise the Lord God Almighty, Jesus has already disarmed him and every one of those things associated with him on the cross and won the victory for you.
You don’t have fight for victory, its already been done, you as one of His very own, get the privilege to claim victory.
His Word says: God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Its completely up to you, as to whether you want to possess all of the blessings that you are entitled to, or not.
You don’t have to go through life disarmed, not ready to arm. You, through Jesus finished work on the cross, can stand Armed, ready to disarm!!
Jesus, Thank You for the Cross!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
How should Christians live? Redeemed
How should Christians live? Redeemed
Seems like all I can see was the struggle
Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past
Bound up in shackles of all my failures
Wondering how long is this gonna last
Then You look at this prisoner and say to me "son
Stop fighting a fight that's already been won"
I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off theses heavy chains
Wipe away every stain now I'm not who I used to be
I am redeemed
All my life I have been called unworthy
Named by the voice of my shame and regret
But when I hear You whisper, "Child lift up your head"
I remember oh God, You're not done with me yet
I don't have to be the old man inside of me
Cause his day is long dead and gone
I've got a new name, a new life I'm not the same
And a hope that will carry me home (song by Big Daddy Weave)
Click link to listen to song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEChKo--jdc
Jesus loves the song of the redeemed. The bible teaches us that the angels have a party when one soul is saved. Heaven has a victory party when one person becomes redeemed from their lost lifestyle! God redeemed the Israelites from the chains and bondage of Egypt. It wasn’t long afterwards that the Israelites wanted to go back to their old lifestyle. How many times did they ask Moses, “Were there not enough graves in Egypt?”
Let’s looks at some definitions of redeemed:
1. To recover ownership of by paying a specified sum.
2. To pay off (a promissory note, for example).
3. To turn in (coupons, for example) and receive something in exchange.
4. To fulfill (a pledge, for example).
5. To convert into cash. As in bonds or stocks..
6. To set free; rescue or ransom.
7. To save from a state of sinfulness and its consequences.
8. To make up for:
9. To restore the honor, worth, or reputation of:.
How many know that we are redeemed? How many of us actually live redeemed life styles? Free from sin. Free from old habits, or addictions. Today, let’s expand our thought patterns. We need to realize that God has a party every time that He redeems one of us from an old habit. God celebrates every time that He gives us victory over our addictions, bad habits, and any other sin! Here is something you already know, but forget to easily. Once you have been saved, the victory is ours for the taking. Let’s discover how.
When we are “redeemed” we have support: My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. (1 John 2:1) John tells the people that they should not sin. Did he give them a chemical equation that they couldn’t figure out? No. That is about as plain as you can get. We all know now that as Christians, we choose to sin. So if we are truly redeemed, set free, why do we still sin?
How many of you would buy a computer (or a “smart” phone) without a support group to call if you needed support or help? Not many would do that. Why? Because these things ae complicated, and the average Joe needs help figuring them out. What kind of God would send His people out into life without a support group? Life is much more complicated than a computer. After all, man made the computer; only God created and gives life! If we can figure out that we need support, wouldn’t an all knowing God know this as well? The answer is yes! So how does this support group work? First we need to realize that do we get support from the Father. “Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father…” (James 1:17). In 1 John 2:1 we see that it says, “we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father”. Again, just to reiterate that God is supreme, in control, and all powerful, He sends us Himself, our support in time of need.
We get support in the form of His Son. Philippians 4:13 tells us that we “can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength”. We get support in the form of His Spirit. Jesus said that He wouldn’t leave us alone, but that He would send a helper (John 15:26). Romans 8:26 tells us that ”we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us”.
We get support through God’s throne. The writer of Hebrews writes: “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16)
Is all this provided so that we can get what we want? No. It is provided so that we can obtain God’s perspective. So that we can obtain God’s vision. So that we can obtain God’s victory. It doesn’t make it easy. It doesn’t make it always fun. It probably won’t make us popular with the world. But it will make us right with God. How much more faithful can we be then when we have taken God at His word to the point that we are applying it to our life, living our life as a living sacrifice that is Holy and acceptable to Him?
John commands us not to sin, but when we do to realize that we have help. Help to enable us to overcome. Help to enable us to get back up and try again and not quit. Help to give us hope. Help to give us His perspective. And ultimately help for us to live redeemed lives!
To many Christians speak of grace, teach of God’s unfailing love, and try to exemplify forgiveness without ever quite experiencing it themselves. To many Christians aren’t living redeemed lifestyles. They are redeemed by the blood, but they are NOT living redeemed lifestyles!
Often our churches are unfulfilling because we are unfulfilled. We are unfulfilled because we haven’t trusted in the redemption of God. We are trying to earn our salvation. Paul says to “Work hard to show the results of your salvation”, not to “earn it”. (Philippians 2:12) We do this because we are REDEEMED. We need to improve ourselves spiritually because God “loved us first”. (1 John 4:19). We want to show our love for Him by living closer to Him. We want to show our love for Him by allowing Him to change us. We want to know more about Him, and experience Him in our lives.
Seems like all I can see was the struggle
Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past
Bound up in shackles of all my failures
Wondering how long is this gonna last
Then You look at this prisoner and say to me "son
Stop fighting a fight that's already been won"
I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off theses heavy chains
Wipe away every stain now I'm not who I used to be
I am redeemed
All my life I have been called unworthy
Named by the voice of my shame and regret
But when I hear You whisper, "Child lift up your head"
I remember oh God, You're not done with me yet
I don't have to be the old man inside of me
Cause his day is long dead and gone
I've got a new name, a new life I'm not the same
And a hope that will carry me home (song by Big Daddy Weave)
Click link to listen to song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEChKo--jdc
Jesus loves the song of the redeemed. The bible teaches us that the angels have a party when one soul is saved. Heaven has a victory party when one person becomes redeemed from their lost lifestyle! God redeemed the Israelites from the chains and bondage of Egypt. It wasn’t long afterwards that the Israelites wanted to go back to their old lifestyle. How many times did they ask Moses, “Were there not enough graves in Egypt?”
Let’s looks at some definitions of redeemed:
1. To recover ownership of by paying a specified sum.
2. To pay off (a promissory note, for example).
3. To turn in (coupons, for example) and receive something in exchange.
4. To fulfill (a pledge, for example).
5. To convert into cash. As in bonds or stocks..
6. To set free; rescue or ransom.
7. To save from a state of sinfulness and its consequences.
8. To make up for:
9. To restore the honor, worth, or reputation of:.
How many know that we are redeemed? How many of us actually live redeemed life styles? Free from sin. Free from old habits, or addictions. Today, let’s expand our thought patterns. We need to realize that God has a party every time that He redeems one of us from an old habit. God celebrates every time that He gives us victory over our addictions, bad habits, and any other sin! Here is something you already know, but forget to easily. Once you have been saved, the victory is ours for the taking. Let’s discover how.
When we are “redeemed” we have support: My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. (1 John 2:1) John tells the people that they should not sin. Did he give them a chemical equation that they couldn’t figure out? No. That is about as plain as you can get. We all know now that as Christians, we choose to sin. So if we are truly redeemed, set free, why do we still sin?
How many of you would buy a computer (or a “smart” phone) without a support group to call if you needed support or help? Not many would do that. Why? Because these things ae complicated, and the average Joe needs help figuring them out. What kind of God would send His people out into life without a support group? Life is much more complicated than a computer. After all, man made the computer; only God created and gives life! If we can figure out that we need support, wouldn’t an all knowing God know this as well? The answer is yes! So how does this support group work? First we need to realize that do we get support from the Father. “Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father…” (James 1:17). In 1 John 2:1 we see that it says, “we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father”. Again, just to reiterate that God is supreme, in control, and all powerful, He sends us Himself, our support in time of need.
We get support in the form of His Son. Philippians 4:13 tells us that we “can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength”. We get support in the form of His Spirit. Jesus said that He wouldn’t leave us alone, but that He would send a helper (John 15:26). Romans 8:26 tells us that ”we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us”.
We get support through God’s throne. The writer of Hebrews writes: “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16)
Is all this provided so that we can get what we want? No. It is provided so that we can obtain God’s perspective. So that we can obtain God’s vision. So that we can obtain God’s victory. It doesn’t make it easy. It doesn’t make it always fun. It probably won’t make us popular with the world. But it will make us right with God. How much more faithful can we be then when we have taken God at His word to the point that we are applying it to our life, living our life as a living sacrifice that is Holy and acceptable to Him?
John commands us not to sin, but when we do to realize that we have help. Help to enable us to overcome. Help to enable us to get back up and try again and not quit. Help to give us hope. Help to give us His perspective. And ultimately help for us to live redeemed lives!
To many Christians speak of grace, teach of God’s unfailing love, and try to exemplify forgiveness without ever quite experiencing it themselves. To many Christians aren’t living redeemed lifestyles. They are redeemed by the blood, but they are NOT living redeemed lifestyles!
Often our churches are unfulfilling because we are unfulfilled. We are unfulfilled because we haven’t trusted in the redemption of God. We are trying to earn our salvation. Paul says to “Work hard to show the results of your salvation”, not to “earn it”. (Philippians 2:12) We do this because we are REDEEMED. We need to improve ourselves spiritually because God “loved us first”. (1 John 4:19). We want to show our love for Him by living closer to Him. We want to show our love for Him by allowing Him to change us. We want to know more about Him, and experience Him in our lives.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
