11-16-2024      Puddle, pond, lake, ocean

 

How deep is our faith in Jesus?

In 1054, Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches split and the protestant reformation began in 1517.  According to the National Congregational Study Survey, in the U.S. alone, there are more than 200 Christian denominations.  All declaring allegiance to Jesus Christ, our Lord.  These splits all came from ‘theological differences.  Everybody didn’t believe exactly the same.  Many claiming that if one didn’t believe exactly as they declared, that soul was not saved.  We are one body and that body has many parts (1 Corinth. 12:14-27).

So!

What did Paul tell the Romans?  When we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe with our heart that God has raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved (Rom. 10:9). Then he clarified that those stronger in the Lord should bear the infirmities of the weak (Rom.15:1).  Our job is not to tear down but edify the church, the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-12).  We all may not sit as one of the 5-fold offices, but we all do have a part in the 5-fold ‘ministry’.  Everything that we do stems from the 5-fold ministry – Evangelist, Apostle, Pastor, Teacher and yes, even the Prophet.  We are God’s tabernacle!  In his eyes, the devil has done well in dividing the body of Christ.

Note that Romans 10:9 says ‘shall’, not ‘are’.  Paul cautions the Romans that “it is impossible for those who once enlightened, have tastes heavenly gifts or are partakers of the Holy Ghost (associated with, partnered with, allowed into our lives) and tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come, that they should fall away, then renew repentance seeing that they (then) crucify the lord Jesus again putting Him to shame” (Heb. 6:4-6).  What this passage tells is that when we truly love the Lord, with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, we will not turn from Him. 

However, there is a flip-side to this coin.  Should we turn away from Jesus, after we have confessed and were baptized, our original confession is in jeopardy because it implies that we may truly have not given our hearts to Jesus.  Note the commitment to depth of faith in this passage, it is secured in ‘as we believe’.  If we profess Jesus, then turn back to the old ways, how sincere was our original commitment?

(1) Just knowing about Jesus (being enlightened) is not a guarantee for our salvation.  Satan and his devils believe and know that God exists (James 2:19).  In fact, the first two chapters of “Job”, God issues a challenge to Satan concerning Job (Job 1:6-12, Job 2:1-6).  Satan believes, what about us?  Ananias and his wife Sapphira showed their true hearts when they lied to the Holy Spirit by holding back part of what they promised (God-Acts 5:1-11).  Man can believe in and be baptized in Jesus but that is just the beginning.  Jesus tells us that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15).  His commandment is to LOVE (Matt. 22:36-38) and as we love Him, we will do so with all our heart, mind, soul and strength (Mark 12:30).  That means with everything that we are!  That lack of true commitment was displayed when many of the people decided to no longer follow Jesus because they felt His teachings were too hard (John 6:59-66).

Paul tells the Corinthians that even though only one crosses the finish line first, all run the race expecting to win.  A man strives to master all things he encounters (resist the devil’s attacks) to receive an incorruptible crown.  Know what our goal is and don’t be like a boxer who shadow boxes, punching the air,  but bring our bodies under subjection (of our heart) so we will not have not run the race in vain (1 Corinth. 9:24-27).

Have we confessed Jesus, been baptized in water then come to a screeching halt in our relationship?  Have we become content with where we are at?  Are we still living in the puddle?

(2) Even though we have received blessings from Father, that does not guarantee our eternal life.  Later in life, I realized how Father has been watching over me.  Blessing me even when I didn’t acknowledge Him.  My dad worked for the department of Interior and would occasionally go to audit various national parks.  When I was going into the third grade (@ 7 years old), that summer, he brought the family to come be with him in Boulder City, Nevada.  There was a rock formation protruding into Lake Mead called Black Rock which, as a family, we walked up the path.  Dad had gone a little farther ahead and I was with mom and my sister when I decided to go catch up with my dad.  But as I went up the path I found a split in the path so I stretched my seven year old legs across the gap to the other side.  U oh!  I spanned the gap but I could neither pull myself forward nor could I back up.  I don’t know how high we were up on Black Rock, I just knew I was higher than I cared for being in my predicament.  Mom yelled for dad and honestly, the last thing I remember is seeing my dad running back to get me.  I know I didn’t fall because I’m here writing about this today.  Thinking back, that was a huge blessing for me – I’m still here (Psalm 121:5-8)!  Father knew me and He was watching over me.

Father will bless us to get our attention, even when we don’t acknowledge Him (personal life experiences), yet He does tell us that as we obey Him, blessings will come our way (Deut. 28:11-14).  Jesus tells us those who hear the Word of God and do it shall be blessed (Luke 11:28).  As we keep God’s law and keep His commandments Father will bless us with long life and peace (Prov. 3:1-2) and more.

Father keeps bringing Job to mind.  A man who endured much hardship without denying God and though he lost all that he had, in the end, Father blessed Him many times over because of his dedication and obedience (Job 42:10-17).  Father can and does bless us for our obedience.

But bear in mind, Father does bless us according to His will but those blessings don’t bring us a guarantee salvation nor are they a guaranteed product of professions of faith, but Father uses them as encouragement for our continuing obedience to our Lord Jesus!  Blessings are great but How long will we stay wading in the pond?

(3) Even if we’ve memorized passages from (or even) the whole bible, it is not a guarantee for a blessed life ‘ever after’. 

Isaac was the son of Abraham, and Abraham was considered the ‘founding’ patriarch of Judaism and Christianity sprang from Judaism.  In the natural, Jesus was born into this world a ‘Jew’ via his mother Mary.  He was obedient to His Father (God).  As we confess and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become His brothers, therefore we fall into that Spiritual lineage in our rebirth into the New Covenant (in Jesus).  In his old age, Isaac’s eyesight dimmed which enabled Jacob (his son) to trick him into receiving the blessing of the eldest son (Gen. 27:15-30).  In short, we age and often natural, physical attributes slow down or fail.  We may assume that it is by Father’s design, for whatever His reason, our life flows as it does.

In our youth (in church) we are encouraged to read and memorize bible verses and this continues into our adulthood.   This is good!  The more Word we have in our heart and mind, the better for us.  Paul encourages us, in his letter to the Romans, to present our bodies a living sacrifice to the Lord by renewing our minds as an expression of our faithfulness (Rom. 1:1-2).  Father also tells us to receive His Words, know His commandments, desire understanding and seek knowledge with all our heart, so we will come to understand who God is and we will gain His wisdom (Prov. 2:1-5).  Father has given us the written Word for our learning that through our patience in so doing, we find comfort and our hope is reinforced (Rom. 15:4)

A parrot can resound the words which we teach it.  The bird knows the words, but he has no understanding of what they mean, it is just imitating sounds.  We go to school to, among other things, learn words and basically, their meaning so we can properly use them in life. 

Most biblical speakers cite ‘book, chapter and verse’ but how many actually help us understand what God is truly saying?  Knowing the words and being able to use them correctly in a sentence is good, but if someone asks us “what do you mean?’, do we just give them a blank stare?  Or are we able to help them get a deeper understanding of what is being said?  Do we have that deeper meaning of what Father is saying in our heart?

It is great to have read the whole bible (Genesis to Revelation) once, twice ten times or more.  What I am asking is ‘what are we retaining’?  For myself, I have learned that reading a verse, a passage, a chapter, a book, etc. I learn.  PTL!  But I have found that each time I’ve read that verse, passage, chapter or book, Father takes me to a deeper understanding of what that portion of the bible which  I’ve read means.  He shows me something more, something deeper than what I have seen in all the times before.  AND, even though I made no deliberate attempt to memorize many of these passages, I find Father brings them back to my memory when needed!  The Holy Ghost will give us what to say (Mark 13:11).

We’ve grown in knowledge and, at least, a basic understanding but are we still just neck deep in the lake of our understanding?

(4) Even as we have learned about future heavenly existence, it is not an indication that we are signed, sealed or delivered.  Understand that ‘delivered’ implies that we would then be in the literal presence of Father.

No one knows when the lord is coming back (Matt.24:44).  For this reason, we should always be ready and watching (Matt. 25:13).  However, Jesus does give us some things that might give us a hint.  False prophets, wars and rumors of wars, nations, kingdoms and even families divided, disease, famines, earthquakes in unusual places, and Jesus says the end is not yet (Matt. 24:4-8).  Look at history, these things have been happening ever since Jesus ascended (Acts 1:9), even since the beginning of the world (2 Peter 3:4).  How many people have tried to predict when the tribulation period will be (it signals Jesus’ return) - ?  Even today, how many of us look at the world situation and say “the end times are near?  Even before, but certainly since Jesus’s time, there have been false prophets, wars, famines, etc. and still we are waiting.  When Jerusalem is surrounded by the armies (Luke 21:20-28) the Lord will come with the shout of the archangel and the trump of God (1 Thess. 416-18),

In the meantime, are we yet totally immersed in Jesus’ ocean of love?  totally committed in living for Him?

Getting our feet wet is just the beginning.  Waist deep, we are learning.  Neck deep shows our commitment.  Totally immersed?  Knowing and living in God’s Word and sharing it with those whom we encounter, is this total immersion?  Absolutely land completely Are we totally immersed – in God’s eyes? 

Enoch pleased God, so God took him form the earthly realm (Gen. 5:21-24).  Neither did Elijah see an earthly death (2 Kings2:11-12).  The testimony of both men is that they pleased God, yet God took Enoch but Elijah had to wait until his mission was complete.  Have we actually given our complete heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30) over to the Lord?

When we willfully sin and turn our backs on Jesus, the odds of our repentance becomes less and less a possibility.  The farther we stray, the harder it will be to come back.  For when we turn from Father, we put Jesus to shame because we have called Him a liar – He didn’t really save us!

Jesus says “Abide in Me (John 15:4).  As we grow in Christ Jesus, we venture farther and farther out into the water.  Endeavoring to become totally immersed in His love.

Peter walked on the water (Matt. 14:22-33), but Father promised Isaiah to be with him through the waters and fire and he would not be harmed (Isaiah 43:2-3a).  This promise is also ours.

So, just how deep is our water?  Do we get our feet damp by walking in a puddle?  How about waist deep in the pond as we grow?  Is the knowledge of God up to our neck in the waters of the lake?  Or are we totally immersed as walking into and being overcome by the ocean of Father’s love? 

Father brings to my mind the song “Rush” by the group Voux.  I first heard this song at church and I was so-so with it.  Later, I looked up the lyrics and then I understood.

Amen

attach Rush

11-2-2024 Faith and Works 

         

           Faith with works

James 2:14-26

I’ve discovered that faith and works work hand in hand in building a thankful heart.

Who and/or what is profited if a man says he has faith but stays to himself?  What good does it do a man if he does all kinds of wonderful works but does them just so others might give you a pat on the back and say “Good job!”? 

The apostle Paul tells us that whatsoever we do, we should do to edify others (Eph. 4:29).  He also tells us that whatsoever we do, do with all our heart for we serve God and as we do, we do to please Him and not man.  However, man might just benefit from what we do (Col.3:23).

This passage gives us some examples of how we can serve God by serving our fellow man (Matt. 14:15-20):  feed one who is hungry.  Years ago, when my wife and I were yet ‘newly-weds’, I was waiting for her in the parking lot of a shopping center in Ocean City, Md.  A man approached me and asked for money to buy some food.  I am aware that many drug or alcohol addicts approach for money to bolster their habit.  So I said to the man “I won’t give you any money, but I will take you to get something to eat.”  There was a shop right near where we were standing.  The man agreed.  I bought him something to eat, he thanked me, he left and I went back to waiting for my wife.  A simple act of kindness.  PS: as I am writing this down, more than fifty years later, after the incident.  Father asked me ‘do you know who that man was?’  I said no.  Father then Father said “You never know when you might be entertaining angels” (Heb. 13:2).  This knowledge makes more thankful that I was obedient because I felt pretty good about it.

Paul reminds us to treat everyone the same, remembering that no matter how they look or act, we are all ’human beings’.  We all have feelings, emotions, doubts or fears or even opinions.  No matter how deep we may hide them, we ALL have them.  By the grace of God, I’ve never had an issue with a person’s race.  When I was (probably) between ten to twelve, my mother had a coworker’s husband came repair our kitchen ceiling.  You may ask why didn’t my dad do it?  He left the home when I was about nine.  Anyway, he was a black man (Africa American).  Oh, when I was a kid growing up here were only three races – black, white and yellow (Asiatic). 

It was summer so I was a home and as the day progressed he decided to take a lunch break.  He looked at me as asked if I wanted to join him for lunch?  McDonalds had just recently opened up in our suburban neighborhood and I had never been there so this was a no-brainer for me.  I don’t remember if we ate in the car or went inside but it was my first ‘sandwich, drink and fries and was only $1.00!  Later, after he had finished the job and left and my mom had come home from her government job in DC (she rode the Greyhound bus), I told her how I enjoyed my first McD’s burger.  She looked at me and said “Son, it always good to be friendly with all people and be nice, but it isn’t good to ‘hang around’ with everybody.”  “????”  I was surprised to hear my mom say that, I knew what she meant.  She was always polite and friendly – no matter whom she encountered.  Didn’t change my mind.  I still thought he was a pretty neat guy AND I was thankful that I got a burger fries and a drink out of the deal to boot!  I didn’t really know God back then, but He was I am lthankful tht He was already teaching me to take a person for who they are – not what they looked like

However, later in life after I had received Jesus into my life, Father brought this lesson home to me again.  Not as a ‘race’ issue but with an ‘image’ issue.  I owned two motorcycles in my young adult life, a 250cc Triumph dirt bike (a quick little bugger) and a 650 BSA road bike.  I knew about the Hell’s Angels (1% bikers), but it seemed as though they were far to the west of our east coast location.  But a group called the Pagans (also 1% bikers) had risen up on the eastern seaboard and that was a bit closer to home.  Never had a personal encounter with either but I decided that I could witness to anyone – except a 1% biker.  These are the guys who had the reputation of being involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities, were reported to be mean sons of a gun and to be downright anti society.  So I decided to stay clear of them.  As I said, knowingly, I have never encountered a 1%er  (though I have seen many who appeared to be so on the road at times), So, Father had me address my frame of mind in this area.  This is when Father showed me about truly accepting a person for who they are and not what they looked or acted like.  Father helped me understand that no matter how hard a person looked or how tough they may act they are still people underneath that harsh exterior.  Father shared with me that the ‘tough’ exterior most likely was hiding hurts, disappointment or even the person’s own fears, whatever they may be.  Father showed me to accept a person simply because he/she is a human being, just like me, not matter how deep they may hide who they truly are.  I was thankful Father shared this lesson for it helped me put a lot of other things into proper perspective.

Father asks us to put our faith to the test (Mal. 3:10).  Two blind men came to Jesus.  They asked Jesus to heal their blindness and Jesus asked if they believed that He could.  They replied “yes”, then Jesus said “according to our faith, be it unto you.”  They received their sight and praised God (Math 9:29).  Peter and John encountered a lame at the ‘Beautiful Gate’ at the temple.  The man looked at them expecting to receive money but Peter said “I don’t have silver nor gold, but what I do have I will give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”  Peter then reached down with his right hand and lifted the man up.  The man’s feet and ankles immediately received strength and he leaped up and walked around praising God (Acts 3:1-8).  Do you think this man might have been just a tad thankful for his healing?

Our faith does require an action on our part and if another person is involved, their faith also matters. They must receive what Father is giving them.  We receive as we believe Father will do it for us (Mark:11:24).

I encountered a man in the neighborhood in which I lived.  He explained the he and his wife had no food.  I took them to the grocery store bought some food for them.  We continually encountered each other over time and I helped him as I could, but after a while, I realized that he was not doing much to help himself.  Lesson learned?  Was I thankful for this lesson?  Of course!  Don’t cast your pearls before swine (Matt. 7:6).  We’re to help people but not let them attempt to bleed us dry.

Abraham demonstrated his faith in God as he took his only son Isaac to be sacrificed on an altar.  Yes, Father did provide a lamb for sacrifice instead of Isaac (Gen. 22:1-13).  Father was testing Abraham’s faith, yet He was not allowing Abraham to make an unnecessary sacrifice.  Do any of us think that Abraham was thankful that God spared his son?  Yet, Father was showing Abraham how much He loved us and what He would to for man through Jesus. Abraham was taking an action, showing his faith in God.  We must believe and receive Jesus, otherwise we are no better than the seaweed that washes up onto the shore.  How can we receive from one in whom we don’t believe?

The Lord said to share this as well.  Even before I had given my heart to Jesus, I owned that Triumph 250 cc dirt bike.  Coming home from my sister’s house via the Baltimore/Washington Parkway, I rounded a sharp curve not far from my exit.  This was a ‘blind curve’ so you couldn’t see much until you passed around the arc of the curve and were coming out of it.  And then I saw the traffic at a standstill, about thirty yards ahead (almost a third of an NFL football field).  I was travelling at the posted speed of 65 mph so I had to choose my action quickly.  Do I slam into the last car in line or lay the bike down and slide under the rear bumper taking my chances and hoping for the best, in either case.  I couldn’t fly like superman, for I’d have to land someplace nor did I cherish having the skin of my leg possibly peeled like a potato. Suddenly, I heard a voice “Get off the gas, do not hit the brake and steer over onto the gravel shoulder and let the bike slow down on its own until you can safely stop.”  I knew I wasn’t me telling myself this, so I obeyed the instructions, steered over onto the shoulder and slowed down until I could safely stop.  I was obedient to ‘the Voice’ and was spared from what could have been a very disastrous accident.  How thankful do you think I was?  Yet, it was still about three years before I gave my heart to the Lord.  In retrospect, I discovered that He was watching over me, even then.  Thank you Jesus!

Our passage, in James, goes on to mention Rahab the harlot.   Two Israeli men had come to ‘spy out’ Jericho.  She helped the two me escape danger then she, herself, was spared when Israel took the city (Josh. 6:22-23).  Rahab took a positive action believing that she would remain safe.  And she did!  Do we suspect that she might have been thankful that her life and those in her house were spared?

Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood saying “Daughter, be comforted, your faith has made you whole”.  For twelve years the doctors couldn’t help this woman but she believed Jesus could and would heal her so she touched His garment and was healed (Luke 8:43-48).  Jesus’ reaction?  Who touched Me?  Do we really think He didn’t know?  The woman believed and took an action of her faith and Jesus obliged her.  I wonder if she was thankful that Jesus healed her?  lol

I could go on with other examples from the bible or even my own life, but consider this: it is good that we believe in God, but the devils believe and tremble (v19 in our passage).  The devils know that God exists, but they refuse to yield to Him and do His works.  We have that option - to believe, as the devils do or that Father can and will do what He says.  Then act on that faith.  Thanking God for all that He does for us (Eph. 5:19-20).

God called Job a perfect and upright man (Job 1:8, 2:3).   I love Job (Job 42:5) where Job comes to understand his relationship with the Lord.  Job was a faithful Jew so He knew ‘all about’ God, but he says, “I have seen you with my own eye” (face to face).  Through his experiences, loss of all that he had, his buddies trying to convince him that he must have sinned and not repented Job had come to know God – personally.  Job never lost his perspective on God and in the end,  though things got pretty rough, Job never doubted God and God blessed him many times over (Job 42:12-13).    Hmmm.  I wonder, in the end, if Job was thankful?

Faith without works is dead (v17).  We can tell people all about our faith in God, but if we don’t back it up with our actions, why should they believe us?  So, we show our faith through our works.  I don’t know about anyone else, but in the end, I’m so thankful that when I exercise my faith, things work out in my favor.

This personal relationship is what enables us to effectively put our faith into action and those actions bring positive rewards – and glory to God!  Praise His holy name!

Amen 

10-20-2024         Why Jesus waited to go home

      

I started seeing posts from a man, who lives in Australia, on ‘Quora’ a few years ago.  It seems that his goal in life is to be to discredit the bible.  He uses ‘scientific’ concepts and human rationale to prove his points.  But, as I said, all to discredit the bible.

Occasionally, his posts pop on the ‘Quora’, posts that come into my email, but anymore I don’t read them unless I ‘get a feeling’ to see how he is debunking the bible now. Occasionally he starts off sounding well but then tapers off into his usual spiel.  This happened a couple of times over the past six months.  On Aug. 16^th he posted something that I felt I needed to see what he was up to and see exactly how he explained it.

He focused on Luke 12:47-54.  The first two verses correlate how a servant’s punishment is administered according to his knowledge of his lord’s will.  Then in verses 51-53 Luke talks about how Jesus will divide a house, two against three, etc., even parents, siblings, children, etc..  A comment on the last verse:  One must also look at Matt. 10:31-40.  Here Jesus says what Luke says in chapter 12 but expands it out for understanding.  Matthew explains that a man’s foes shall be in his own household.  Then Matthew Goes on to explain that our love for Jesus should be total and absolute.  That is, as we live for God, nothing should come before God and, whosoever receives Jesus also receives the Father (Matt. 10:40).  You shall have no other gods before Me (Exod. 20:3).

Often, when we accept Jesus into our heart, those who oppose us the most are members of our own family – mother, father, siblings, spouse, children and we are not to consider any of them ahead of Jesus for then we are not worthy of Him.  In fact, when we don’t take up our own cross and follow Him, we are not worthy of Him (Matt. 10:36-38).  Our own cross?  That is to live our lives according the will and love of God.  However, we discover, that as we grow in Christ, we haven’t actually rejected family.  Instead, we discover Father provides ways to bring even family into God’s eternal kingdom mending their lives and in so doing, we discover those broken relationships will also mend.

The man also says that Jesus contradicts himself by being declared the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6, 2 Thess. 3:16) yet He declares to bring division to families.  Now, I have a personal experience that a God-led divisions can and does bring unity.  After about ten years of marriage, my wife and I were separated for almost a year.  My bullheadedness, not hers.  After much individual prayer and some counselling, we came back together for about another twenty-three years, that is until she went home to be with the Lord.  What our issues were is not the point.  The point is that after assuring Jesus Christ was truly first in our lives (and keeping Him there), our marriage became stronger and survived twice as long as before the situation.

Now, because of the post, I checked some commentaries on the Luke passage, especially verses 49 - 50.  I found it interesting that both the man and the commentaries, that I had available to me, just sort of passed over these two  verses focusing more on Jesus’s suffering and how He would bring division, even into households.  In those verses, Jesus says in Luke “I am come to send a fire upon the earth and what will I (do), if it be already kindled?  But I have a baptism to be baptized with (us) and how am I straitened (determined) until it is accomplished!

Look at what Jesus is saying here.  There are divisions because the world is at odds with God, therefore it is at odds with Jesus and therefore with us as Christians because we follow Jesus. 

The Word was in the beginning and was with God and was God (John 1:1).  That’s why Jesus said “He who receives Me, receives Him who sent Me (Matt. 10:40).  Father and Son and with the Holy Ghost in the Godhead (Col. 2:8-9) are ONE.  Father IS, Father spoke words (Jesus) and the breath of God carried those Words into action (Gen. 1:1-2).  Think, how many of us have ‘friends’ who no longer wanted to hang with us because we have accepted Jesus?  world at odds with us? 

But look further into this passage (49-50).  Jesus says that He has come to set a fire (in us).  Jesus asks His disciples to receive the Holy Ghost (John 20:22).  Yet, He tells them later, just before He ascends into heaven, “Wait for the promise of the Father which you have heard from Me.  John truly baptized with water, but not many days from now, you shall be baptized in the Holy Ghost” (Acts 1:4-5).  Then He told them “But you shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you. And you shall be witnesses …” (Acts 1:8). This is dunamis power, explosive power, the power to get the job done!  The same power Jesus abided in!  And just how did the disciples receive the Holy Ghost?  A sound, like a mighty, rushing wind filled the house in which they sat and what looked like cloven tongues of fire sat upon each one of them and they were all filled with the Holy ghost …(Acts 2:1-4).  What did John say about his baptism and Jesus’ baptism?  I baptize with water for the remission of sin, He (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire (Matt. 3:11)!  The fire IS the Holy Ghost.      

Is it mere coincidence that Jesus said He would send a fire upon the earth and that’s exactly what appeared as cloven tongues of fire baptized each of the apostles and disciples (all 120 souls)? 

Go back to verse 49, if the fire is already kindled (Luke 12).  At that moment or later, as in John when Jesus tells the disciples to receive the Holy Ghost and breathed upon them (John 20:22), His full task then would already be filled and nothing would’ve restrained Him from going home at that moment.  He had already endured the cross.  But He had not yet baptized us with fire (the Holy Ghost) as He still spent some time with His disciples before ‘going home’.  His ministry included not just the Word He brought, but the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension) as well.  Returning to the Father His mission on earth would then be fully completed.  After His ascension, He was free to give ‘us’ the Holy Ghost. 

When Jesus breathed on the disciples and told them to receive the Holy Ghost (John 2:22), it was a command which wouldn’t be realized until the upper room (Acts 2:1-4). 

Again, why did Jesus wait to give ‘us’ the Holy Ghost?  To give us the Holy Ghost, Jesus needed the fullness of the Holy Ghost in His life to finalize His final hours on planet earth – the arrest in the garden, humiliation before the priests & romans, the scourging, physical death, shedding His blood on the cross, cleansing us from our sin, His resurrection from the grave and finally His ascension back unto the Father.

So, why did Jesus wait to go home?  He had to complete His mission, here on earth, so we could learn to totally put our trust in Him.  To realize that through His life, ministry and death, He is our gateway into eternity.  Then through His resurrection and ascension, we have the power to walk through that gateway.  Glory to God!

Amen

Luke 12:47-54 (paraphrased)

The servant who knew his Lord’s will but did not study and do it, shall be beaten with  many stripes.  But the man who didn’t know his Lord’s will and did contrary shall receive only a few (in comparison).  To whom much is given, much shall be required (expected) and because he has accepted greater responsibility, more shall be required of him.  I’m sent to set a fire upon the earth and what can I do if it is already kindled?  I have a baptism (for you) which I am bound to accomplish.  Do you suppose I’ve come to bring peace upon the earth?  No!  Rather division!  From now on, every household shall be divided, two against three and three against two.  The family will no longer be in unity but split.  You can see a cloud rise up out of the west and say “It will rain”, and so sit will.  Hypocrites!  You can discern the face of skies but you cannot understand the times you are in.   

Last comment for clarity:  Once we’ve been exposed to God’s will and don’t continue with Him than to turn back to our old ways we’re like the dog that returns to his vomit (2Peter 2:21-22).  Satan is the prince and power of the air (Eph. 2:2).  God is above he air and everything else (Heb. 1:1-14). We follow whom we love (Matt. 6:24).  The world and God are always against each other (2 Corinth. 6:14-18).  Who do we follow?

Jesus fully completed His mission here on earth so that we might live in His love for ever!

 10-5-2024           Living for Jesus Romans 12:1-21

               

                            Whose reflection do others see in us?          

Throughout the Old Testament in the bible, we see the ups and downs of Israel.  They love God, they become discouraged and stray away from God.  Even as we look at world history, where most cultures have believed in a god (of some sort), man has strayed from his religious beliefs and come back.  Yes, conquest does play a role in some of this yet as conquest forces itself upon others true faith should be a free choice. 

As a rule, man has a revolving door relationship with any deity. Wanting to do ‘his own thing’ does play a huge factor in this situation.  Point, this situation is not just in Judeo-Christian culture, but a human condition.  Where rules are enforced through power, those rules are generally obeyed for fear of retaliation.  Yet our God, Yaweh, the Great I AM, gives us the freedom to make our own choices in life – right or wrong and there are consequences, good or bad, to our choices. 

As with all religions, our heavenly Father does give us a set of rules to follow, but His rule is actually one, two-fold rule.  To love!   Two fold because He asks us to love Him in a similar fashion as He loves us, with all our heart.   And the second is to love our fellow man in the same manner.  This means not having to  follow a set of rules, but desiring to obey them – with all our heart.  We have to make decisions to do the ‘right’ thing!  According to the rules.

In the civil law, we break even one statute and are caught, we pay the penalty.  As it is with man, Father is not asking us to figure out how we can avoid the penalty but rather not break the statute to begin with.  And, Father carries that action one step farther – not to even consider going against His Law!

We are entering our fall season, the old season is passing away to make way for a new season in the spring.  We can collect and enjoy the good fruits of our labors over the past year. This is also a time we can reevaluate the ‘old man’.  The number ten (October) represents ‘divine order’.  So this is also a time (fall and winter) when Father is helping us to reorganize our lives to prepare for that which lies ahead, bursting forth in new energies and new life in the coming spring. 

Let’s take a look at how Paul describes man’s situation.

1          I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Simple, we live our lives to please God and in order to do that, we have to discover exactly what does please God.  Our discovery is based upon reading our ‘guide book’ (the bible) and communing (talking) with our heavenly Father.  The Holy Ghost will lead us into all truth (John 16:13-15).  This we do with all our heart and to the best of our ability.  Our attempts and successes are what are pleasing to Father.

2          And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Again, I say, we have to know what pleases God in order to please Him.  We know that the ways

of the world don’t please Him so we renew our minds through reading His Word (the bible) and

communing with Him (prayer).

3          For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

We shouldn’t get wrapped up in our own egos but remember who God is, our relationship with

Him and that all of ‘man’ are our brothers and sisters and to treat them accordingly and Father

gives us the ability to do so.

4          For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5          So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6          Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

We are all members of humanity and as Christians, we are baptized into one body in Christ.  Yet, being many members we all have our own gift, talent or ability.  And these gifts all work together to edify (benefit) the body of Christ.  Therefore, we exercise our gifts by allowing Father to mold us into all that for which He has intended.  After all He did know us, even before we were conceived (Jer. 1:5).

7          Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

8          Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let us serve, in our gift, in a simple way that all can understand and benefit.  The word ‘wait’ is

the Greek word apekdechomai (G553).  It does mean wait but it carries the connotation of

expecting or perhaps to even search for.  Our gift may not ‘just fall’ into our laps!

9          Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

God loves us not regarding who we are or our position or status in this life.  He loves (meets) us where we are and then helps us to grow considering those things which are pleasing to Him and shedding things which are not.  Shouldn’t we do the same?

10        Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Set our own ego aside and do what is best for others.  What can we do for others to help them

grow?

11        Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

No matter what our occupation (job) is in this world, we do perform our tasks to the best of our ability.  We truly don’t work for whomever or ‘boss’ may be, but we work for our Lord Jesus and He will help us to accomplish our tasks.  Our human bosses just benefit from our diligence on the job.  And Father will bless us for our efforts.  (Ask me about my time with FDA)

12        Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Always rejoice in the Lord (Phil. 4:4) no matter what situation we find ourselves in continually seeking Father’s direction for resolution.

13        Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Abraham and Lot are examples for us as to how we should treat everyone but especially our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Gen. 18:11-8, Gen. 19:1-3).

14        Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

When someone ‘does us wrong’, attacks in any form or fashion, is our first response “Oh, yeah!  Well, take this!”?  If Father reacted to us in this fashion, no one would ever have access to eternal life.  Thank God that He is gracious and longsuffering – even for all those times, after we have received Jesus – for those times we have thrown mud back in God’s face.  Paul tells us to follow his example as he follows Christ Jesus (1 Corinth. 11:1).  

15        Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Many years ago, when my son was not yet two, I found a friend of mine kneeling on the front walk with my son.  They both were crying.  My friend told me he wanted my son to know that someone else felt his pain.  I don’t know what started it all, but soon, the both stopped crying.  As I’m jotting this down, Father is reminding of the poor woman who found her lost coin, her friends rejoiced with her (Luke 15:8-10).

16        Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

In case you missed this one, treat others as you desire to be treated.  We are no better than

anyone else, nor are we any worse than anyone else.  Without Jesus, we all would be doomed

to the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10-15).  But in Jesus, we can rise to a higher level and treat everyone

with dignity and respect.

17        Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

What did we say earlier?  If someone slaps us, our ‘knee jerk’ response is to slap them back, but we should deal honestly and in love with all people.  No, it ain’t always easy, but how do you think God feels when we act contrary to how He has taught us? 

18        f it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Father knows that this isn’t easy, but we are called, first, to be peacemakers for that is the way of God’ (Matt. 5:9).  That means even if we have to grit our teeth to keep the peace.  It is better to walk away than to be a part of a most intense confrontation.  In short, don’t stand and argue!

19        Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give no place unto wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine; I will repay saith the lord.

Whoa!  This is the third time this has been said!  Maybe we should pay close attention

concerning vengeance and showing Father’s love?

20        Therefore if thine enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21        Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

So what should we do? Give our enemy what he needs!  I didn’t say ‘wants’ but ‘needs’.  When an enemy means evil towards us we repay him with kindness and love.  Why?  A – He may not understand what is actually stirring up his actions (negative powers or principalities Eph. 6:12) and B -He has no idea what Father will do when someone picks on one of His kids (us - Matt. 18:6, Jesus is the first of many brothers Rom. 8:29).

So, Romans chapter twelve gives us qualities and characteristics of the Christian life.  Father never said it would be easy.  Paul mentions the afflictions he has suffered ‘walking the walk’.  Yet, he tells us to persevere (1 Corinth. 9:24-26) in God’s love, for it is our salvation and wisdom (2 Tim. 3:10-17). 

In the end?  God’s obedient children (us) we win!

Amen