1-25-2025 Our relationship with Go

Do we really have a relationship with our heavenly Father?

In the womb, we have a relationship only with mom.  She gives us a place to live and grow.  She feeds us.  As a fetus grows, it is constantly getting messages from its mother. It's not just hearing her heartbeat, her voice and whatever music she might play near her belly; it also gets chemical signals through the placenta. A new study finds that this also includes signals about the mother's mental state (Science Daily.com).  We communicate with mom even before we are born into this world!

The first time baby ‘sees’ mom is after birth as mom holds baby in her arms.  I remember when they wheeled my wife and baby daughter out of the delivery room.  In her mother’s arms, she looked at me as if to say “whoooo are yoooou?”.  Yes, babies can sense the presence of their father while still in the womb, primarily through hearing his voice and feeling his touch on the mother's belly, with some research it is suggested that they may start recognizing dad’s voice as early as around 25-32 weeks of pregnancy.  This allows for early bonding between father and child even before birth (sorry, this is all I could find and this was this on ‘google search’).  So maybe my newborn daughter wasn’t wondering who I was but rather “Ooooh!  That’s what you look like!”

When we are new-bon Christians, all we know is that Jesus has provided us the route to eternal fellowship with the father.  Aside from man-made pictures, we still don’t know what Father or Jesus truly look like.  John tells us that we shall see Him (God) as He is (1 John 3:1-3). 

As we grow in the Lord, we come to ‘know’ who He is.  In the bible, we read about His love, how he cares for us, provides for us, gives us direction and how He communicates with us through the Holy Ghost.  On a more personal level, the Holy Ghost becomes our comforter (John 14:15-18).  He will lead us into all truth and understanding (John 16:13-15).  He will give us the power to live for Jesus (Acts 1:8) so we can take authority (in His stead) over the power of all devils and to cure all diseases (Luke 9:1).  For what more could we ask?  Of course, if/when we quench the Holy Ghost, we miss out on some these powers (1 Thess. 5:19).  Quench is the Greek word abennumi (G4570) which is to quench, put out or extinguish.  To these descriptions, Webster’s adds subdue overcome, or destroy, along with some indications which satisfy physical needs or desires (like a drink of water).  In other words, if we quench the Spirit, we don’t allow the Holy Ghost to operate within us, that is we stick Him in a cubby hole, a drawer, a closet, in the attic, basement or whatever or just turn a deaf ear to His direction.  We will miss out on what He has to offer.  We are cautioned not to grieve the Holy Ghost (Eph.4:30), which implies we have a choice to allow Him to work in our lives or not.  Grieving makes Him sad.  Being sorrowful that we prohibit what He can do for us, in us and through us.  And He is our assurance of our eternity (Rom. 8:14-17).  Allowing the Holy Ghost freedom to operate in our lives, gives us the opportunity, not just the ability, to grow in our relationship with the Lord. 

As we grow as children, dad and mom give us a place to live, feed us and take care of us until we are able to ‘fend’ for ourselves (sound like pregnancy?).  They give us direction to help us live a reasonably decent and respectful life (love our neighbor as ourselves – Lev. 19:18, Mark 12:30-31).  As the ‘head honcho (figure) dad should be responsible for teaching us about and abiding in God’s love.  Mom should be backing dad up and picking up the slack when dad’s not around (ideally).  Dad should also be teaching us to gain and maintain our relationship with our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Again, they give us guidance for living this life in this world.  Doesn’t God do the same (read the bible)?  There should also be encouragement to read the scriptures for ourselves, not relying on ‘just’ what we learn from ‘man’ though all the input should be helping us to develop a healthy communication link with our heavenly Father.  That means direction on praising God, setting our petitions before our Lord and just having a loving Father to child talk – “what a lovely day today is.  How about You, Lord ? (Yes we need to listen to hear from Father), thank you Father”, etc.  Yes, a conversation as you might have with your best friend.  Yes, communication is a two-way undertaking. Becoming an adult is a huge responsibility in our relationship with our heavenly Father and that responsibility carries over to us as we become parents.  The parent-child relationship is an indication of our relationship with Father.    

However, we have to let Jesus into our heart first, then we learn how to live in, with and for Him as well as communicate with Him.  It doesn’t happen automatically.  Why?  Roughly, only about 1/3 of the world population claims to be Christian (statista.com) and wikkipedia tells us that about 65% of adults in the U.S. identify as Christian.  Webster says that ‘identify’ means to cause or to become identical, conceive as united (with), associate with some interest or to be or become the same.  Do we mirror Father’s image?  Bear in mind that there are those who have come into the church (unfortunately) which look like the real deal but may not be (Jude 1:4).  So we have to pass on what we learn.  We also need to test the spirit to assure whether that person (or issue) is of God or not (1 John 4:1-3) and that includes our reading matter.  We need proper direction for our lives so we need to make sure of what or who we listen to or see to get the proper Spiritual nutrition.  Amen?

As I said, dad and mom help us to be who we become in this world.  That means good direction, bad direction or no direction at all.  So through our relationship with dad and mom, in part, we become who we are as an adult. 

Now, I’m not saying that outside influences don’t or won’t affect us.  We are individuals who can learn so what we see, read or hear does have an impact on us, but I am saying we make our own choices. Yet, as we have a ‘solid foundation’ installed in our childhood, we can learn to grow from those good things which come our way and reject that which is detrimental.  When dad and mom give us that solid foundation, we not only develop a good relationship with them, but also come to understand the relationship we should have with our heavenly Father. And this relational experience should spill over into the church or fellowship we attend.  Yes, we have to learn from the world around us, but prefer Godly input.

Did we feel free to talk openly with dad and mom?  Did they comfort us when we hurt (feelings or physical)?  Did we seek their advice or direction on things we didn’t understand (Matt. 7:7-8)?  When we spoke to them, did they listen (1 Peter 3:12)?  Did we socialize with dad and mom, that is play games, relax in the backyard, take vacations, etc. (Psalm 23:1-6)?  How well did we communicate with our parents?  Or did we did we communicate with them at all (Prov. 15:8)?  Have we ever thanked our parents for all they had done for us (Phil. 4:6-7)?  Or did we say to ourselves “They just don’t understand me!”  When we ‘messed up’, did our parents reprimand (punish) us (2 Sam. 7:13-15, Eph. 6:4, Col.3:21)?  Somewhere along the line, we should have said ‘I’m sorry I did that’ (repent) whatever we have done.  But did all our parents do was continually remind us of how ‘bad’ we were? Or did they show us forgiveness for our misdeed (1 John 1:9-10)?  Just don’t do it again (John 8:11)!  We need to ask.  Father forgives us of any sin we may have committed and yes, we should intend not do repeat our error (Acts 3:19).  God then sets that sin behind His back (Isa. 38:17) and that sin slides into the sea of forgetfulness (Micah 7:19), God no longer remembers our sin!  Neither should we.

Father created us to be communal beings (Gen. 2:18, Heb. 10:25).  That is we need others around us so we can connect and communicate, in a positive fashion (Eph. 4:29), with someone other than ourselves.  Not to be alone or lonely.  We do need ‘alone time’, maybe to collect our  thoughts or be with the Lord, but not alone all the time. Father gave Eve to Adam, not just so they could have children, but that Adam would have a companion as well,  that is someone to communicate with, on his level.  Share this life with (Gen. 2:20-23).  Yet, maintain communication with our Lord?  Isn’t the same true for us?

When we don’t communicate, how can we develop a relationship with anyone, much less God? 

So now, we ask ourselves “How do I communicate with my Lord?  Do I have a relationship with the Creator of all things?”

Stanford University says: Positive human connection plays an important role in maintaining our emotional-physical health, well-being, and growth. Whether it be with friends, peers, or a significant other, relationships often allow us to forge deep and meaningful bonds that can result in a sense of purpose, great joy, and satisfaction (https://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/)

Several sources imply that a good relationship is characterized by qualities like mutual respect, open communication, trust, honesty, empathy, commitment, individual growth support, shared values, the ability to compromise, and healthy boundaries, where all feel valued and empowered within the relationship. 

The Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians to do that which edifies so we can grow (1 Thess. 5:11, 1 Corinth. 14:26-40).  In other words, say and do those things which, instead of tearing down, others are building them up so they are encouraged by what we say and do.   And that even means bringing them back onto the ‘straight and narrow (Matt. 7:13-14) they have strayed, but whatever we do, do always in love (1 Corinth. 16:13-14).

So, just where is our relationship with God?  Do we even have a true relationship with Him?  Are we basking in His love enjoying the confidence that we are on the right track?  As my relationship with the Lord improves, my relationship with those around me also gets better.

My relationship with the Lord has grown over the years.  In the beginning I prayed and read the bible AND I went to church (for more input).  I thought I was doing pretty good.  Then Father baptized me in the Holy Ghost.  A whole new world started to open up for me!  I was reading the scriptures with more understanding and I was learning better to pray on my own, with others and with my heavenly Father.  As my relationship improved (over the years) and as I drew closer to the Lord, not was I just seeing truths in the bible, Father was showing me the depth of the meaning of those words I was reading.  Father has helped me write many ‘song-poems’ about our relationship and as I sing them back to Father, the Holy Ghost rises up within me.  Anymore, as I am singing I get “weak in the knees and shivers if you please” (as one of the songs says).  This has also spilled over into church services where I get the same feeling singing most of the songs we sing in the church, which I attend.  This also happens also during bible studies (whether I’m teaching or some else is) and even as the Pastor presents the Word in our fellowship, I get weak in the knees and shivers, if you please.  It’s awesome!  There are benefits in walking with our Lord.

Through prayer, reading my bible and interaction with other Christians, I learn who God really is and what my relationship should be.  I remember Job.  Early in life, both natural and Spiritual.  I’ve come to realize that in my life, I knew about God, but as I grow, I am coming to know WHO God truly is.  Job knew who God was, but then he saw Him ‘face to face! (Job 42:5).  He came to truly know Him!

As I said, there are many benefits to having good interpersonal relationships in the natural as well as the Spiritual and that increases many times over, as we strengthen our relationship with our growth in our heavenly Father.

So, just where is our relationship with YAWEH, I AM, the Lord God Almighty, the Everlasting King, my Savior?   

Amen

12-28-2024         1 John 4:1-21 – The love God       

              

Talking about 1 John chapter four, here’s the passage with my comments in italics.

Beloved, don’t believe every spirit but try the spirits to see whether they are for God because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

This is how we know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.

Every spirit that does snot confess that Jesus is come in the flesh is not of God and this spirit is of the anti-Christ, which you have heard would come and is even now already is in the world.

As we acknowledge that Jesus is exactly who He said He is, we can only do so by the Holt Ghost (1 Corinth. 12:3).  And, as the passage says our enemy (the devil) has been at work for over 2000 years trying to convince us otherwise.

Little children you are of God and overcome them (those spirits) because He who is in you is greater that he who is in the world.  (True, the Jews had conflict with Satan prior to Bethlehem but the Messiah (Jesus) had not yet manifested Himself).

God created all things so who or what could possibly be greater? (Gen. 1:1-31).  And, because we are in Christ Jesus, we are greater than the things of the world.  Jesus gave us authority over sickness, disease and devils (Matt.10:1).   And because He goes to the Father, we can do the same works He does as we believe (John 14:12).  Jesus then tells us, just before He ascended back unto the Father, we shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon us (Acts 1:8).  And Acts describes that event (Acts 2:1-18).  This power (dumanis) is the power Jesus operated in – absolute power from on High (the Father).

They (the spirits) are of the world therefore they speak of the world and the world listens to them.

Look around you today.  The world has been busy (under Satan’s guidance) to take references to God out of everything and anything.  The Supreme Court of the United States says that religion, if organized by the school is largely banned from public elementary, middle, and high schools by a series of Supreme Court decisions since 1962. Students may pray privately, and join religious clubs in after-school hours. Public schools, such as local school districts, are banned from conducting religious observances such as prayer. Private and parochial schools are not covered by these rulings, nor are colleges and universities.   Elementary and secondary schools are covered because students are required to attend, and are considered more at risk from official pressure than are older students and adults. The Constitutional basis for this prohibition is the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which requires that: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof (Wikki Free Encyclopedia).  Our enemy has been at work for a long time trying to separate God and man. The less the world hears of God, the less the world is likely to listen to its Creator.

We are of God and he who knows God hears us but he who is not of God does not hear us and this is how we distinguish the Spirit of truth from the spirit of error.

As Christians, those who listen to us know God and they who don’t have no clue who He really is because they haven’t truly heard about Him.

Beloved, let us love one another for love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

He who does not love does not know God for God is love.

Observe the contrast, without God, there is no true love!

The manifestation of God’s love towards us is because God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him.

And this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins.

Jesus came into this world to give us life – eternal life (John 17:3), that is to live forever in  God’s kingdom (Luke 1:27-33).  However, His kingdom has already begun in us (Luke 17:20-21).  Jesus is our propitiation and that means that He has taken our place in death by dying on the cross, cleansing us from our responsibility for sin which separates us from God.

Beloved, if God loved us so much, ought we not also love one another?

No man has seen God at any time.  If we love one another, God lives in us and His love is perfected in us.

This is how we know that we dwell in Him and He in us because He has given us His Spirit.

We said that in Acts chapter two that the Holy Ghost has come into our heart.  The Holy Ghost is God’s breath (or Spirit) and confirms with our spirit, in our own heart, that we are God’s and have been cleansed.

We have seen and testify that the Father has sent Hs Son to be the Savior of the world.

Whoever will confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him and he in Father. 

This is how our love is made perfect, that we have boldness in the day of judgment, because as He (God) is, so are we in this world.

We should always be the reflection of His love as we abide in this world so when the day of judgment comes, because of God’s love in us, we may be bold knowing that our name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life and we will be with Him forever (Rev. 21:27).

There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear because fear has torment. Therefore, he who has fear is not made perfect in love.

As God’s love is perfected in us we discover that we fear no evil for we know that God is with us (Psalm 23:4).

  We love Him because He first loved us.

So, if a man says ”I love God” but hates his brother is a liar, for if he can’t love the brother whom he has seen, how can he love God, whom he has not seen?

This is the commandment that we have from Him – that he who loves God also loves his brother.

And such is the love of God – and we are in God’s image, are we not?

Amen

 

11-30-2024         Are we truly thankful for what Father has done for us?                                

Most of us in the U.S. have just celebrated thanksgiving with our families.

As a child, and frankly into my early adult life, at dinner time I sat at the table and devoured what was set before me (even if I cooked it myself).  No thought as to where the food really came from.  When something good happened to me I assumed that it was because of something I had done or just ‘pure luck’. 

Mom provided a place for me to live, food and clothing until my buddy and I got an apartment together.  Not a care in the world or even considering what mom had to go through to provide for me.  She provided for my older sister and me from when I was still in single digits (age-wise).  Sadly, I have to admit that, even into my early adult life, I never really understood what mom had done for my sister and me.  And, even sadder to have to admit, even after I had gave my life to Jesus, it was still a while before I truly realized all that mom had done for us. 

How often has any of us just taken our parents for granted?  Even sadder yet.  It wasn’t until I started ‘walking’ with the Lord, not ‘just’ knowing Him, but making efforts to abide in His love, that I realized all that He had been doing for me - all my life!

When I first truly gave my life to Jesus (I was in my mid-twenties), I knew He had come into my life.  As I sat and invited Jesus in, I felt a huge weight being lifted up off of my body.  Literally!  I could literally feel that weight being lifted up off of me!  Yet, I had not yet truly started walking with the Lord.  I was signed but not yet ‘sealed’ (fully) nor delivered at that time.  Though I was now attending church on a regular basis again (I attended as a youth) I was just ‘crawling along’.  Six years later I invited the Holy Ghost to become a part of my life and that’s when Father gave me my ‘Spiritual’ language so I could start communicating with Him at a higher level.  Sealed, but not yet ‘delivered’.  Over time, I have come to realize that ‘delivered’ means actually being in the presence of our Creator, so I’m looking forward to finally ‘being delivered’!  (just not yet)

Jesus says that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5) and even through the tough times, I’ve seen this to be true for He has comforted me and guided me through this life’s walk – as long as I listen to Him and do what He says.  Yes, I’m hard-headed and it has taken time and I’m still growing, but Father has hung in there with me through it all!

When I’ve fallen down, He has picked me up.  When I’ve stumbled, it is Jesus who grabbed my arm and helped me get my act together again.  He has blessed me on the job with many promotions – once I gave it to Him.  Even though I haven’t always been a tither, Father has always met my needs through the years – and when I started tithing, things got a whole lot better.  No, I don’t live like a rich guy, but Father continues to meet my needs.  Am I thankful for what He has done for me over the years?  You better believe it!  And I’m learning in recent years, that Father loves me so much, He’s giving me a much deeper understanding of His Word than I ever dreamed.

Father says to thank Him in all things (1 Thess. 5:18) for He is the one orchestrating the events in our life (Lam. 3:37, Matt. 10:30) and through our obedience, He’s the one who brings our positive results (1 Corinth. 10:13). 

Consider Nebuchadnezzar, though blessed by God, rejoiced in his own strength.  God took Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity and throne from him for a season. But when Nebuchadnezzar came to his senses, God returned his throne and his sanity (Dan. 4:30-37)

How many of us woke up this morning?  AND thanked God for being able to see the sunlight peek through the blinds or walked to the kitchen because we smelled breakfast cooking?

Again, I say that most of us have just celebrated Thanksgiving with our families.  How many of us remembered to thank Father for all that wonderful food set before us?  How many of us remembered to be thankful for our families?  How many of us remembered to thank God for all the blessings He has given us this past year – up to date?  Or all the blessings in all the years before?

When I get dressed, I always slip into a pair of jeans but when I look at my shirts?  Father often helps me with the selection, especially on Sundays.  Yes, Father can help even with the simple things – if we let Him

How many of us reflect on the love, blessings and just plain goodness Father bestows upon us each and every day?

At church, we have ‘testimony time’ an opportunity to share what Father has been doing for us over the past week – or even longer.  We overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony (Rev. 12:11).  By sharing the victories God has given us, we help others to overcome the trials they face!  Has Father done anything for us since we last gathered with other believers?  Do we share what Father has done for us even with those outside the body of Christ?  Do we thank God every day for His goodness, graces and mercies which He bestows upon us?

Father (Yaweh) is a good God and as we continue to be faithful in His love, seeking His direction and following it, He will continue to bless us through the years to come.  

He loves us that much!

Amen

 

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!