Winning, Giving And Worship

Worshiping this morning... Jesus is amazing... He has put His righteousness on our account... we can be winners in Him and there don't need to be any losers in order for us to win...

"And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death...' " - Revelation 12:10-11 ESV

The accuser has not been cast down yet. This is a future event but the path to victory is the same.

"He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes." - Mark 6:38 KJV

I'm looking at my lunch and I have a little but not much... still... I'm worshiping and giving it to Jesus to bless.

The accusation is that we only have enough for ourselves and even then it may not be enough. The promise is that we win by... 'the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death'... my life... my lunch... my bread... my fish... or we can give it to Jesus.

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Fellowship That Illuminates Truth

Jesus is sitting on a throne in Heaven right now and the people that have gone before us who believed in Him are there also. I often wonder what that must be like. It must make Jesus very happy that those people are there. He Is God who forever took on the 'form' of a man and people need people no matter who you are.

Jesus really had no one to fellowship with on Earth that understood Him. You can see His frustration at times...

"And Jesus answered, "O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me."" - Matthew 17:17 ESV

"Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?" - John 14:8-9 ESV

So many things must have seemed 'self-evident' to Him but the people around Him were blind to those realities.

As a thirty year old man He met with an older teacher in Israel that seemed to know some things. Most of the other teachers stood against Him but not this one. This one wanted to meet and talk...

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" - John 3:1-12 ESV

I read this and see Jesus as a 30 year old man hoping to connect with an older respected person but they hit a wall because the older man is blind to what Jesus plainly sees as true.

Ministry is often filled with times when we converse with others and find that they know something deeply that we were blind to. Then on other days we know something that the Spirit taught us that the other person is blind to and gracious interaction is needed to bridge that gap.

"Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." - Matthew 15:14 ESV

So true.

If we find someone who sees beyond what we see it is wise to be quiet and listen. The Spirit will give witness and we have scripture to act as a guide. Real wisdom will never fall outside what scripture says. Wisdom from above will be illuminated by scripture and will connect concept to concept. Jesus will be central. Grace will be in the mix. God will become bigger and Heaven will seem closer.

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Seven Attributes Of Jesus Revealed To Seven Churches

In order to have eternal perspective in any given situation you and I need to know something specific about God. We need to know who He Is and how He functions...

"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works..." - Revelation 2:1-2a KJV

"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works..." - Revelation 2:8-9a KJV

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works..." - Revelation 2:12-13a KJV

"And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass; I know thy works.." - Revelation 2:18-19a KJV

"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works..." - Revelation 3:1 KJV

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works..." - Revelation 3:7-8 KJV

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works..." - Revelation 3:14-15 KJV

Seven is a number representing completion is the Bible. That concept comes from the Hebrew. It is why we have seven days in a week. Seven days give us a complete cycle. God is addressing seven Churches in these chapters for a reason. These seven statements are things that the 'angel' (leader/representative) needed to know about Jesus. Putting them all together gives us a complete view of what we need to know to handle every problem we face.

Every statement is followed by 'I know thy works'. Jesus is telling us and them who He Is and that He sees what they are doing. That order is important because we need to think that way also. We are wise if we look at Jesus to see who His Is first then put what we are doing second and in the context of who He Is.

I'm going to read these seven statements again and again today because they are special. You can't see this in nature, anthropology or through self examination. This is who Jesus Is and only He can tell us that and He does so we can be equipped. It will change what we do and when we do it if we know what God says here about Himself.

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Good, Pleasing And Perfect

I really like how this translation treats the second part of this passage...

"... Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." - Romans 12:2 NLT

That word translated 'perfect' is teleios (Strong's G5046) and it comes from the same root as...

"When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit." - John 19:30 NLT - teleō (Strong's G5055)

Who is the one who is going to be pleased when you look back at your life? You are.

Who is going to say 'God was good and He had a good will towards me every step of the way.' You are.

Who is going to say, 'God's will was perfect lacking nothing. He had every detail covered.' You and I will.

Say those things now by faith. They are true statements. Your emotions will start to respond if you say them out loud.

"Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful." - Psalm 33:1 NKJV

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;" - Philippians 4:4-5 ESV

"My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed." - Psalm 71:23 KJV

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Finding Jesus In Revelations

"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near." - Revelation 1:1-3 ESV

I have studied this book before. I read some of it days after I became a Christian and had nightmares about it. It has been decades since then. I have taken classes focused on this book... heard sermons... preached messages focused on passages.

Still. Today as I read the first few verses they seem fresh to me.

This book can seem like a puzzle. Names. Events. References to other parts of the Bible. Mysteries. 

The other day I got before God and said something like, 'I want to come at this book like I know 'nothing as I ought to' and have you teach me.' then I started to just look for Jesus in each chapter. What was God saying? What is His attitude? What was His tone? I skipped the names and events and just looked for Him.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."" - Revelation 1:1-8 ESV

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last," - Revelation 1:1-17 ESV

"'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary." - Revelation 2:2-3 ESV

"And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."" - Revelation 4:9-11 ESV

"...saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."" - Revelation 7:3 ESV

There is more, so much more, but Who do you see reading this? I see someone who cares deeply and knows people. He sees, observes and rewards. Those who experience Him can't say enough about Him. He is sensitive to pain and suffering. He times things and doesn't rush.

This is MY Jesus. I am His and He has become mine. 

The events are important... sure they are... but Jesus is revealed here and those things blur in the backround as He comes into focus for me.

This book scared me but now I want to eat it like candy.

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen." - Revelation 22:16-21 ESV

Come quickly Lord! Thank you for this book. It is a great gift.

Think On These Things

 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things." - Philippians 4:8 KJV

How needed this is when it seems like we see so much of this in the world...

"He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law..." - Daniel 7:25a ESV

This is one of the potions in the Hebrew scriptures that isn't written in Hebrew. Many of the words used can only be found in Ezra and Daniel.

'... times and the law...' is interesting because 'law' here is not one of the Hebrew words for law. It means 'a decree for or against a person'. It basicly means that the people who have favor one day are reviled and the ones who don't are suddenly applauded.

We need this...

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:7-9 ESV

Wrongs need to be made right but rebellion is never the answer. If we live on the eternal foundation we will have peace not bloodshed.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28 KJV

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Help My Unbelief

"Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!' " - Mark 9:24 ESV

Many things have been said about this passage. I see one detail that really puts this passage into context.

"And someone from the crowd answered him, 'Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.' " - Mark 9:17-18 ESV

...So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able...

I have prayed, 'Help my unbelief!' many times. I think it is a good honest prayer that God will answer and wants to answer. What causes this 'unbelief'. I think we could point at many things. Lack of trust. Lack of knowledge. Uncertainty about God's will in a situation. Other People... yes... it could be that other well meaning people have failed us because or their weakness, ignorance or lack of faith.

In a way I think the man was saying, 'I wanted to bring my child to you but I got them instead.'

Jesus says this...

"And he answered them, 'O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.' " - Mark 9:19 ESV

I think He was talking more about His disciples than about this father who was 'faltering' in faith.

"And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, 'You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.' And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, 'He is dead.' But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose." - Mark 9:25-27 ESV

God's plan is so interesting to me. Jesus sent people out to cast out evil spirits but then they run up against this and their failure shakes things up.

He sends out you and i also and we mess things up. Then people have to choose based on our often imperfect witness. Still... God sends us and we are accountable.

"And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, 'Why could we not cast it out?' And he said to them, 'This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.' " - Mark 9:28-29 ESV

Some translations say 'prayer and fasting'.

I imagine these disciples were hungry for this answer with an urgency. I am hungry for the answer. I am hungry to be so centered in on Jesus that I am not hindered. I don't want people to doubt because of me. God knows. He knows. That comforts me.

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.' " - Mark 16:15-16 ESV

We go knowing our focus and prayer life is important. The stakes couldn't be higher.

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