God loves you.
Three simple words but some are going through life truly misunderstanding and missing the point of them. How many of us understand what love is?
"Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." - Psalm 2:10-12 ESV
Some read that and say, 'No No No. That is not love.' but, 'Yes Yes Yes it is.'
I think of the person who finds out at a high school reunion that the beautiful girl he secretly loved but was too scared to approach had a crush on him. But now they are both married to other people and have children. The window was forever missed.
Don't miss the window with God. Psalm 2 speaks of God's Son. It is no mystery who that Is. It is Jesus. Don't let theologians mix up your head with mumbo jumbo. Kiss Jesus. Kiss Him like you would kiss the ring of a King. Give Him his due. Don't die and then stand before Him and have him say...
"And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' " - Matthew 7:23 ESV
God loves you... really He does. Kiss Him while you can. No one knows how much time they have to respond. You can do it today. Consider the cross. Jesus died there for you. Resist the resistance of pride and respond to God's love... a day more may be too late.
--
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Catharsis
"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete." - 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 ESV
The Greek word in verse 4 & 5 translated 'destroy' is kathairesis (Strong's G2506). Is where we get the word catharsis which is means purge.
I imagine all those summer mornings I spent as a child cleaning off the sidewalk with a hose. It worked so much better than a broom and dustpan. All the muck, grime and sand was just washed down the drain.
God has given us words of divine power that purge.
When truth has washed everything thoroughly then we do what needs to be done.
--
The Greek word in verse 4 & 5 translated 'destroy' is kathairesis (Strong's G2506). Is where we get the word catharsis which is means purge.
I imagine all those summer mornings I spent as a child cleaning off the sidewalk with a hose. It worked so much better than a broom and dustpan. All the muck, grime and sand was just washed down the drain.
God has given us words of divine power that purge.
When truth has washed everything thoroughly then we do what needs to be done.
--
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
The Messiah In Isaiah Chapter 50
I am listening to Isaiah 50 this morning. The Messiah is speaking...
"The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment." - Isaiah 50:5-11 ESV
There is so much here!
The voice of reason is right there. Jesus is the lamb of God (John 1:29, 36) and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5).
I don't want to say much. I just want to go phrase by phrase and let His logic and heart attitude wash over me.
The mind of The Lamb. The courage of The Lion.
--
"The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment." - Isaiah 50:5-11 ESV
There is so much here!
The voice of reason is right there. Jesus is the lamb of God (John 1:29, 36) and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5).
I don't want to say much. I just want to go phrase by phrase and let His logic and heart attitude wash over me.
The mind of The Lamb. The courage of The Lion.
--
Monday, February 6, 2017
Disciples Or Believers
This morning I am reading passage after passage where the word 'disciple' (Mathetes - Strong's G3101) is used.
"Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple... So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:27, 33 ESV
It is pretty clear that there are some groups that believe that the word disciple is synonymous with the word believer and others that don't. The passages above are the primary reason. Today, I wanted to read the other passages, especially in the book of Acts, to see for myself.
"Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:" - Acts 11:29 KJV
One trend you see clearly is that these disciples have unity. They band together to do things. Even when there are differences they go to God and work them out.
"Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" - Acts 15:10 KJV
Leadership was very concerned about them and they were concerned about the leadership.
"But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him." - Acts 19:30 ESV
"I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them." - Acts 20:29-30 ESV
We know that a believer is 'one' who believes. The scripture is clear on this but from the context of word usage we can see that a disciple is someone who bands together with other disciples and things get accomplished.
Missions is done by disciples.
Some believers seem to do fine on their own... others really don't. The cohesive group dynamic provides stability. The shared vision gives focus. Grace is given and received in the group. Jesus is lifted up and present in a special way.
"Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." - Matthew 18:19-20 ESV
Dying to self is not automatic. We pick up Christ's cross and self is negated. If we don't or won't it isn't going to affect our position in Christ but it sure will affect our experience. The group is where the rubber hits the road. The band of brothers and sisters is where words are spoken that come from Heaven.
If you know me you know I am very pro-Church but what I see in Acts isn't a Church dynamic per se. The Church has seeds in the Gospels and is defined in the epistles and this Greek word is only used in the Gospels and the book of Acts. These disciples become the engine of the Church. They are the core that makes things happen because God uses the life they have laid down in the group. The Church then serves the community and has an impact on the world. The Church gives God's work a name in that community so that people know where to go and find Him.
I decided I would be a disciple long ago and I reaffirm that decision again day after day. When the group I am with blesses me or rubs me the wrong way I decide again that I won't go solo. I will take up my cross and let God move me if that is what is needed. That is what I see in the scriptures. That is my model. If I am isolated by circumstances beyond my control then I won't go negative against the other disciples of Christ. I will pray and consider myself as counted among them. I will repent to God on their behalf and choose to love and serve. My Bible shows me a life like this. I have seen people live like this. Some have been loved and some hated but they lived before God as men and women of integrity. It is possible because God is in it.
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." - Matthew 18:20 ESV
Amen.
--
"Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple... So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:27, 33 ESV
It is pretty clear that there are some groups that believe that the word disciple is synonymous with the word believer and others that don't. The passages above are the primary reason. Today, I wanted to read the other passages, especially in the book of Acts, to see for myself.
"Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:" - Acts 11:29 KJV
One trend you see clearly is that these disciples have unity. They band together to do things. Even when there are differences they go to God and work them out.
"Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" - Acts 15:10 KJV
Leadership was very concerned about them and they were concerned about the leadership.
"But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him." - Acts 19:30 ESV
"I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them." - Acts 20:29-30 ESV
We know that a believer is 'one' who believes. The scripture is clear on this but from the context of word usage we can see that a disciple is someone who bands together with other disciples and things get accomplished.
Missions is done by disciples.
Some believers seem to do fine on their own... others really don't. The cohesive group dynamic provides stability. The shared vision gives focus. Grace is given and received in the group. Jesus is lifted up and present in a special way.
"Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." - Matthew 18:19-20 ESV
Dying to self is not automatic. We pick up Christ's cross and self is negated. If we don't or won't it isn't going to affect our position in Christ but it sure will affect our experience. The group is where the rubber hits the road. The band of brothers and sisters is where words are spoken that come from Heaven.
If you know me you know I am very pro-Church but what I see in Acts isn't a Church dynamic per se. The Church has seeds in the Gospels and is defined in the epistles and this Greek word is only used in the Gospels and the book of Acts. These disciples become the engine of the Church. They are the core that makes things happen because God uses the life they have laid down in the group. The Church then serves the community and has an impact on the world. The Church gives God's work a name in that community so that people know where to go and find Him.
I decided I would be a disciple long ago and I reaffirm that decision again day after day. When the group I am with blesses me or rubs me the wrong way I decide again that I won't go solo. I will take up my cross and let God move me if that is what is needed. That is what I see in the scriptures. That is my model. If I am isolated by circumstances beyond my control then I won't go negative against the other disciples of Christ. I will pray and consider myself as counted among them. I will repent to God on their behalf and choose to love and serve. My Bible shows me a life like this. I have seen people live like this. Some have been loved and some hated but they lived before God as men and women of integrity. It is possible because God is in it.
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." - Matthew 18:20 ESV
Amen.
--
Friday, February 3, 2017
Three Living Witnesses
Mulling over the concept of a 'witness.'
"A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established." - Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV
A witness is someone who saw something so they say something. God required witnesses for certain legal proceedings. A notary is a kind of witness. They sign to say someone else was present.
"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." - 1 John 5:4-13 ESV
I have to say... this is not an easy passage. For a long time it came across to me as legal jargon. I had a person tell me the Gospel. How are the water, blood and Spirit involved? Ok... Maybe I could begin to grasp how the Spirit was involved but the water and blood part made little sense to me.
Perhaps this refers to the Gospels? I think it has a dual reference... the Gospels and now. Jesus was baptized... water. Jesus shed His blood. He was born of a virgin and had pure blood uncorrupted by sin. Those things speak historically.
"For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son." - 1 John 5:7-9 ESV
This is a right now kind of believing from witnesses that are speaking now in a courtroom of sorts. That means they are living witnesses. Wow.
The Spirit is speaking. The water is living and speaking. Water is often a picture of truth... pure, clear, flowing and cleansing...
"...by the washing of water with the word," - Ephesians 5:26b ESV
Then there is the blood we spoke about yesterday. It is a living witness. It experienced all our sin on the cross and was poured out as a remedy.
"...and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." - Hebrews 12:24 ESV
Abel was the first murder victim and his blood cried out asking for revenge. Jesus' blood asks the Father if He would forgive us.
Believers in Jesus have living witnesses that speak. That is unique. No other philosophy or religion has this threefold correlation.
"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." - 1 John 5:13 ESV
If we have seen and believed then we can become witnesses of redemption if we open our mouths and recount what we saw.
P Butch Veader has been speaking about this concept for the last few weeks with the Evangelistes and it is really revolutionary. The passage isn't jargon to me anymore. It is starting to sink in.
In the courtroom when a witness opens their mouth things become real. That person is alive with perceptions and feelings. Then another totally different person takes the stand with a different but correlating point of view... then another. What happens? We are convinced. We need to be convinced in order to have hope.
There are three witnesses... Hear what they say today... weight their words against your evaluations. They were there in history and they are here right now speaking.
--
"A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established." - Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV
A witness is someone who saw something so they say something. God required witnesses for certain legal proceedings. A notary is a kind of witness. They sign to say someone else was present.
"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." - 1 John 5:4-13 ESV
I have to say... this is not an easy passage. For a long time it came across to me as legal jargon. I had a person tell me the Gospel. How are the water, blood and Spirit involved? Ok... Maybe I could begin to grasp how the Spirit was involved but the water and blood part made little sense to me.
Perhaps this refers to the Gospels? I think it has a dual reference... the Gospels and now. Jesus was baptized... water. Jesus shed His blood. He was born of a virgin and had pure blood uncorrupted by sin. Those things speak historically.
"For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son." - 1 John 5:7-9 ESV
This is a right now kind of believing from witnesses that are speaking now in a courtroom of sorts. That means they are living witnesses. Wow.
The Spirit is speaking. The water is living and speaking. Water is often a picture of truth... pure, clear, flowing and cleansing...
"...by the washing of water with the word," - Ephesians 5:26b ESV
Then there is the blood we spoke about yesterday. It is a living witness. It experienced all our sin on the cross and was poured out as a remedy.
"...and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." - Hebrews 12:24 ESV
Abel was the first murder victim and his blood cried out asking for revenge. Jesus' blood asks the Father if He would forgive us.
Believers in Jesus have living witnesses that speak. That is unique. No other philosophy or religion has this threefold correlation.
"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." - 1 John 5:13 ESV
If we have seen and believed then we can become witnesses of redemption if we open our mouths and recount what we saw.
P Butch Veader has been speaking about this concept for the last few weeks with the Evangelistes and it is really revolutionary. The passage isn't jargon to me anymore. It is starting to sink in.
In the courtroom when a witness opens their mouth things become real. That person is alive with perceptions and feelings. Then another totally different person takes the stand with a different but correlating point of view... then another. What happens? We are convinced. We need to be convinced in order to have hope.
There are three witnesses... Hear what they say today... weight their words against your evaluations. They were there in history and they are here right now speaking.
--
Thursday, February 2, 2017
The Touch That Gives Words
I find that I have certain 'pet doctrines'. They are things I like to talk about and I could go on endlessly about them.
But then I remember the old men at the nursing home with their practiced accounts. I would go and hear the same tales again and again. Sometimes with more embellishments and sometimes less. If I live that long I will be old like those men but I want to have words from God and not just polished accounts that I pull out again and again.
If we know God then we are ambassadors for Him. We don't retire from that role. That means we need to be up on current events. Our conversation must be engaging. We are people who 'have the power to make an offer of amnesty.'
We open God's book and find Jesus. In prayer we quiet our minds and listen. We bring issues to our sovereign about the the places we are sent to.
"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth." - Jeremiah 1:8-9 KJV
No. I won't have pet doctrines that I give to people again and again. I need the touch that gives me words.
This body may grow old but the touch never grows old.
Those men in the nursing home do have wisdom. I love to listen to them... but I want what I have to be fresh.
--
But then I remember the old men at the nursing home with their practiced accounts. I would go and hear the same tales again and again. Sometimes with more embellishments and sometimes less. If I live that long I will be old like those men but I want to have words from God and not just polished accounts that I pull out again and again.
If we know God then we are ambassadors for Him. We don't retire from that role. That means we need to be up on current events. Our conversation must be engaging. We are people who 'have the power to make an offer of amnesty.'
We open God's book and find Jesus. In prayer we quiet our minds and listen. We bring issues to our sovereign about the the places we are sent to.
"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth." - Jeremiah 1:8-9 KJV
No. I won't have pet doctrines that I give to people again and again. I need the touch that gives me words.
This body may grow old but the touch never grows old.
Those men in the nursing home do have wisdom. I love to listen to them... but I want what I have to be fresh.
--
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
White As Snow
The conscience is a funny thing.
"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
-
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" - Hebrews 9:13-14 KJV
Unlike material objects the conscience isn't cleaned by soap or detergent.
Did blood purify? Why? An eye for an eye works on the conscience. You hurt me so I hurt you and balance is preserved. Even children get this. No one needs to teach it. Children need to unlearn it.
Adam's wounds are incurable. He wounds others to balance things out. Terrible... but true.
'I'm sorry.' is a substitute but often a poor one for aching Adam.
God gave an animal sacrifice to Adam. Blood was spilled. It is terrible really it is. An innocent thing dying because of his mistake or just outright transgression... but it is that way. Innocents suffer because of mistakes and that old conscience gets stains no on can seem to reach.
If blood for blood worked, and it did to a degree, then how much more does what Jesus did work?
Like I said the conscience isn't like an object. We can clean something even if it doesn't want to be clean with soap but the conscience must believe that the substitute is good enough.
"For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,' " - 2 Peter 1:16-17 ESV
God the Father thinks His Son is good enough. He raised him from the dead because He found Him more than acceptable.
Do we?
I think we lapse in this and start to 'do things.' What things? The bible calls them 'dead works' and they are all the things that a person who has a dirty conscience does.
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2 KJV
Jesus isn't just the beginning of our faith. He Is the finisher also. We can live with a clean conscience and have it cleansed again and again.
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" - Hebrews 9:14 KJV
An eye for an eye just made everyone hurt. Jesus gives all the parties who believe peace without retaliation. No one else can reach that far into a man or woman.
No one else can clean the soul.
--
"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
-
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" - Hebrews 9:13-14 KJV
Unlike material objects the conscience isn't cleaned by soap or detergent.
Did blood purify? Why? An eye for an eye works on the conscience. You hurt me so I hurt you and balance is preserved. Even children get this. No one needs to teach it. Children need to unlearn it.
Adam's wounds are incurable. He wounds others to balance things out. Terrible... but true.
'I'm sorry.' is a substitute but often a poor one for aching Adam.
God gave an animal sacrifice to Adam. Blood was spilled. It is terrible really it is. An innocent thing dying because of his mistake or just outright transgression... but it is that way. Innocents suffer because of mistakes and that old conscience gets stains no on can seem to reach.
If blood for blood worked, and it did to a degree, then how much more does what Jesus did work?
Like I said the conscience isn't like an object. We can clean something even if it doesn't want to be clean with soap but the conscience must believe that the substitute is good enough.
"For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,' " - 2 Peter 1:16-17 ESV
God the Father thinks His Son is good enough. He raised him from the dead because He found Him more than acceptable.
Do we?
I think we lapse in this and start to 'do things.' What things? The bible calls them 'dead works' and they are all the things that a person who has a dirty conscience does.
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2 KJV
Jesus isn't just the beginning of our faith. He Is the finisher also. We can live with a clean conscience and have it cleansed again and again.
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" - Hebrews 9:14 KJV
An eye for an eye just made everyone hurt. Jesus gives all the parties who believe peace without retaliation. No one else can reach that far into a man or woman.
No one else can clean the soul.
--
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