05-16-26    I Represent the Resurrection

This is a revisit from a lesson from 1/12/2020, over 6 years ago.

 

Jesus sent the twelve apostles out two by two giving them ‘power’ over unclean spirits and sickness and disease (Matt. 10:1, Luke 9:1-2).  Later, He gave another seventy disciples instructions on how they should proceed (Luke 10:1-16).  The seventy returned, amazed that even the devils were subject to their commands in Jesus’ name (Luke 10:17).

Jesus also tells us that as we believe on Him, we can do the same works He did because the Father is in Him and He is in the Father (John 14:10-12).  How do we know this?  How do we know we have this ability as well?  Because Jesus gave this ability not to just the apostles, but to seventy of His disciples as well.  Note that the apostles were specifically chosen by Jesus to be prime examples His Word.  But the seventy disciples, also believers, were ‘regular guys’, just like you and me.

Now Jesus knew that they had to be equipped so after His resurrection, He had His disciples gather around Him and He breathed upon them and said “Receive the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22).  Did they receive the Holy Ghost at that time?  No because Jesus told them (later) to wait for the promise from the Father and when the Holy Ghost is come upon them (us) they shall have power (Acts 1:4-8).  We are talking about two different Greek words here being translated as ‘power’.  Matthew 10 and Luke 9 both use the Greek word exousia (G1849), which is translated ‘power’ but carries more of the connotation of ‘authority’.  In Acts chapter1, power is the Greek word dunamis (G1411) which means miraculous or explosive power.  A quick comparison is if someone commits a crime, the police officer can come and arrest him and put him in jail.  However, the judge can put him in prison for as long as the penalty requires.  Get the picture?

So back to being equipped.  Jesus promises us that the Holy Ghost will be our comforter and He will be in us (John 14: 16-17).  This brings us to Acts chapter two.  The apostles and disciples were in the upper room, in one accord when what sounded like a mighty rushing wind filled the house in which they were sitting.  Then what appeared as cloven tongues of fire sat upon each one of them and they were filled with the Holy Ghost and they began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance (Acts 2:1-4).  Also read Acts 2:5-18 for a more complete picture of what happened. 

Are we clear on what we have to work with?  Our title is “I Represent the Resurrection”, so let’s see how this can be.

John 11:1-45, focus v20-26

Martha, her sister Mary and their brother Lazarus lived in the town of Bethany, just about two miles outside Jerusalem on the hillside of the Mt. of Olives.  Lazarus had become ill so they sent for Jesus.  Lazarus died.  Jesus lingered where He was, then arrived in Bethany four days later.

When Martha heard Jesus was coming, she went out to greet Him and said “Lord, had you been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that whatever you ask of God, He will give you.”

Jesus said to her “Your brother shall rise again.”

Martha replied “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.”

Suddenly, I can feel everything coming to a standstill.  Perhaps the birds quit singing in the treetops.  Maybe the breeze stops whispering across the cheeks of our face.  I can see Jesus pausing here for a moment.  Maybe he takes a deep sigh.  Maybe a slight smile parts his lips.  Maybe His head moves slightly left to right.  Perhaps even leans forward a bit, maybe He looks Martha right in the eye.  (I don’t know, I wasn’t there and the bible doesn’t say) but then Jesus does say to Martha:

“I AM the resurrection and the life.  He who believes on Me though he may be dead, yet He shall live.  He who believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?”

Jesus tells Martha that He IS the resurrection.  Father let that sink into my heart for a while then He started me thinking, more than once, that is many times over the years.

Hmmm. I am a Christian.  That being so, I represent Jesus here in this world.  For some, I may be the only representative of Jesus they may encounter.  I represent Jesus who is the resurrection, therefore I represent the resurrection.  I am not the resurrection but because I do represent Jesus who is the resurrection, I DO represent the resurrection.

Father got me to thinking about being a representative of Jesus.  A representative is (if you will) like an ambassador.  The US sends ambassadors to other nations to discuss our (and their) best interests in their relationship with us.  The ambassador operates in full authority and power of the US in that other country.  Of course, there may be matters he may have to refer back to the president and congress (he cannot declare war), but he does have the authority and power to make decisions and agreements with the other nation.  The ambassador acts on behalf of our nation in that other country. We act on behalf of Jesus in this world!

We are ambassadors for Jesus Christ in this world.  Jesus is currently in heaven and He has given us authority to operate on His behalf, in this world. 

Jesus tells His disciples that He will give them another comforter. Jesus promises us that same Comforter shall be in us (John 14:15-18) and the Comforter (Holy Ghost) will give us power (Acts 1:8).  So we have authority and we have power to operate as an ambassador for Jesus Christ in this world.  He also tells the tjem that the Comforter was “with” them (His disciples)  and shall be “in them”.  Jesus, as the fullness of the Godhead (Col. 2:8-10), was the presence of the Holy Ghost as He walked among the disciples, but Jesus was not ‘in’ them.  So Jesus promised them (and us) that the Holy Ghost would take up residence in them (us).  Jesus needed the fullness of the Holy Ghost so He could accomplish His mission (the cross/resurrection/ascension).  It would have been difficult for the Holy Ghost to minimize His work in Jesus to enter the disciples – at that time.  But, after the ascension – no problemo!

Whoa!  So I am an ambassador for Jesus!  I am acting in His stead, in this world!  I represent Jesus in this world and as I represent Jesus (who is the Resurrection), that means I represent the resurrection!  As John (the Baptist) professed that he wasn’t the Messiah (John 3:28), I profess that I am (clearly) not the resurrection but I DO represent the resurrection (Jesus).  Jesus says that we will do all that He did and greater (John 14:12).  So we walk in full authority and, through the Holy Ghost, the power that Jesus gives us!  WOW!

Now, I’m sharing with you something in which I am still growing and trying to put into action in my own life.  I know, in my head, what this means but the process is translating it’s reality into my heart and then into my actions …  Even today I’ve seen progress, but I’m not where I’d like to be (how about you?).

Father would like to see ALL His children come into this mode where we can absolutely trust Him in and for all things.  He desires for each and every one of us to operate in the full authority and power through (the Holy Ghost) which He has granted us.

As I said, I’m still growing with the translating this into my heart, my own life.  I find myself, oft times needing to go into the “Job mode”.  Remember his problems?  Yet, through it all, Job never doubted who God is.  He may have thought God unfair (Job 23:1-5), yet in the end, he came to a clear understanding of who God is and what his relationship should be with the Creator of all things (Job 42:1-5).  Yes, many times Father has answered my prayers on the spot, but more often, there’s a process involved – at least for me.  He’s teaching me and I am learning the depth and breadth of what He is expecting from me.

In my head, I set something before the Lord and I expect to see it done.  Yet, I always try to make sure I have no hindrances.  I try to clear the air before I ask.  That is assure that there is no ‘open’ sin in my life.  But, when I don’t see the answer coming right away, I have to go into the “Job mode”, that is knowing that God is God no matter what I see (or don’t see),  I continue trusting in Him. At times, I may have to go into the Daniel mode.  The answer to Daniel’s prayer was delayed as the angel, bringing the response, was delayed by the Prince of Persia (a demonic entity) for twenty-one days (Dan. 10:12-14).  We may experience spiritual interference in our prayers.  That’s why ‘we don’t give up the ship’ but keep pressing forward.  Intellectually, I know Father always has my best interests at His heart, yet the task is translating that knowledge into my heart isn’t always easy.  Coming to where I have absolutely no fear nor doubt.  God speaks, I do. I know His Word, but bringing it into a personal realization (reality) isn’t always so easy for me.    

And yet another thing to consider is God’s timing.  He has selected a task for me (and for all of us) even from before birth (Jer. 1:5).  He has ordered my steps (Psalm 37:23).  All is done in His timing (Eccl. 3:1).  He may show us something today but is not meant, perhaps, for many years as with Joseph, from the dream to the second in command in Egypt (Gen. 37:5-11, 42:5-6). [Gen. 37:2, Gen. 41:46, about 13 years].  And yes, Joseph experienced some negative things in those years.

And, of course, there is our own doubt.  Jesus says to believe and don’t doubt (James 1:5-8).  Too many times I’ve doubted would God really use me?  Or there are others present with greater authority than I.  I have doubted with ‘will people really listen to me?’ after all, I am a ‘nobody’ (I am not well known outside of my circle of friends).  I still wrestle with my own insecurities trusting Father to implement what He has said.

For years, Father has been drilling this into my head:  Trust Him, learn what He teaches me, then go forth when He says it is time to go carrying the message He has given me.  I’m actually already operating in the ministry Father has given me, – through the blog.  Those entries are what the Holy Ghost gives me.  I used to be concerned whether or not people would actually read the blog.  Now, I’m concerned with ‘not if’ but rather that those who do read it would be blessed, encouraged and/or edified!  Through doubt, we are our own worst enemies. 

Today, too many Christians serve God intellectually.  For the most part, they know the Word (or at least what the words say) and many have some understanding.  The key is moving that knowledge into our hearts so we can confidently act on it.  Satan knows the Word, too.  He knows it better than any of us.  He just chooses not to live it (Isa. 14:12-14, Ezek. 28:15-17, Eph. 2:2). 

So, not because of ‘who we are’ but rather ‘Who is inside us’, we discover the blind can see, the lame can walk, sick are healed, devils are cast out, etc., etc.  The Words in the bible are supposed to become more than just words but a reality in our lives.  As we represent the resurrection, our Lord desires us to operate as He did.  Signs and wonders shall follow those who believe (Mark 16:17-18).  AND He gives us His strength (via the HG) to do it! (Psalm 28:7-8, Isa. 40:31, Acts 1:8).

I have seen answered prayers for a ton of little’ things that come into my life– even on a  daily basis.  I regularly pray for the growth of others and over time, Father has shown me physical evidence of those prayers being answered.  He has also shown me how He has spared me from potential disaster, more than once.

The closer we draw to the Lord, the greater the reality of His Word becomes in our lives.  It moves from head knowledge to absolute trust from our heart.  The closer we walk with the Lord, the greater the reality of these things coming to pass in our own lives.  That God will use us – as we allow Him!      

  Drawing closer to our Lord is growth and that should be our goal.  We do represent the resurrection.  How good of a representative are we?  How close do we dare walk with Jesus?

Note:  Father actually gave me a song “I Represent the Resurrection” in 2017.  Here we are nine years later.  #9 = fruit of the Spirit; Divine completeness from the Father, God’s Visitation. Father is showing me, in the world around me, how this is unfolding today.  No, I didn’t include the lyrics but as a clue – in Christ Jesus, as a steamroller we are capable of rolling over the deeds of Satan and his cohorts; better than a steam shovel, Jesus has dug our way out of the pits of Hell; and as a cement mixer Jesus is telling us that though we are all different, in His love we are all uniting under the banner of ‘Jesus Christ, our Lord’.  We need to make this personal.

So, is Father truly bringing full fruition of the song “I Represent the Resurrection?  I see it unfolding around me.  I found it interesting that a song written about construction equipment, released  by James Taylor in 1970 and also in 1973 by Elvis Presley, can bring to us the a reality of Jesus in our hearts.

Amen

 

 5-2-2026    Let’s Get a Handle

     

I just read some stats the other day which stated that approximately one-third of the world’s 8 billion people population profess to be Christian.  Actually lit gave a range between 28% to 31% and that was ‘professing’ Christians.  Again, that is that they said they attended church somewhere, sometime or another.  Okay, for a lot of people life isn’t always so good, so let us pull a ‘Job’ here. 

My question is “How many people really know what – excuse me – Who God is?”

I said that I’m pulling a “Job” here.  The book of Job has 42 chapters.  Chapter one and two set the stage then for 30 ½ chapters Job and his three friends argued as to whether or not Job needed to confess his sin.  Then Elihu, a man much younger than the four, reminded everybody who God is and the things He has done.  Now Job had previously challenged God (Job 13:1-3) and God responds to Job’s challenge from chapter 38-41.  Finally Job says “I have heard of You by the things people have said, but now my eye has seen you.” (Job 42:5)  Job had a personal encounter with the Lord and then realized who the lord truly is.  Read Job, then read Job again, and ask the Holy Ghost to lead you through the passages.  Read the aloud so you can hear AND see what is being said. What we see, what we hear and what we speak, we retain.

Now, we’re going to look at some passages which will help us in our understanding.  Father actually started me on this quest several years ago when He pointed out John 1:1 to me.  John 1:1, of course says: “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God.”  The New World translation says that “the Word was a God.”

Father took me back to Genesis 1:1-2: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and the earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”  Let’s look at the definition of some words used in John 1 and Genesis 1. 

In John 1:1 the Word is the Greek word logos (G3056) something said or thought, have intent, having to do, matter, say or speak.  Basically, something one intends to say.  Or we might say “what God intends to say”.    

The Greek word for form is tehuw (8414) which means desolate, without form, empty or nothing.

Void is the Hebrew word bohuw *H922) which is emptiness or undistinguishable.

Darkness is the Hebrew word  chushek (H2822) which is dark, misery, ignorance, death or dim.

Deep is the Hebrew word is tehowm (H8415) which an abyss, a surging mass of water, or subterranean water.

The Hebrew word for Spirit is ruwach (H7307) which means breath, exhalation, wind, spirit of a rational being or blast of air.

Face is the Greek word paniym (G6440) which is face (appearance), forefront

Waters is the Greek word mayim (H4325) which means water, juice, urine or semen.

Looking at these definitions, we see that the world was dark and that darkness had great depth and the darkness could even refer to a mental condition. The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters which could be H2o, urine or even semen (the seeds of life) and God’s Spirit moved across what we could see of the waters.

We know that God is Spirit those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth (John 4:24).  So we see that this beginning there is nothing (for God to work with) and for God, there is nothing impossible to accomplish (Luke 1:37).  

So God spoke and brought everything into existence.  God tells Moses to tell Israel ‘I AM that I AM’ so tell them ‘I AM’ has sent you (Exod. 3:14).  He is ‘Alpha and Omega’, the First and the Last’ (Rev. 1:11).  Before His throne, the three beasts praise God continually saying that God is Holy for He was, is and is yet to come (Rev. 4:8).

Are we getting the picture of God’s totality, here?

I mentioned Job earlier.  Chapters 33 – 37 give Elihu’s take on the situation and describe many of the qualitied of the living God.  Chapter 38 – 41, God steps in and asks Job where was he as he  (God) was creating everything and interacting with man.  The in chapter 42, Job gets the picture and realizes who God really is.  Remember, job knew all about God from what men have told him, but he got up close and personal with the creator of all things and came to know who God actually is (Job 42:5).

Have we had a personal revelation of this in our own lives?

The unity of God.

In the garden, God gave Adam and Eve one commandment “You may eat of every tree freely, but you shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 2:9 & 2:17).  Later, God gave Moses Ten Commandments of which the first is: You shall have no other God’s before me; you shall not make an image of anything above the earth, upon the earth or beneath the earth; you shall not bow down ad worship before them (Gen 20:3-6).  In his letters, John tells us that we should love, for God is love (1 John 4:7-8).  John 4 told us that we worship God in Spirit and in truth because, in part, this is how we express our love towards our heavenly Father. We show our love through our worshipping Him and we learn that being obedient to God’s Word is better than sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22).  Sacrifice is what we do for God where obedience comes from our heart.

God gave us the 10 Commandments (Exod. 20:3-17) for the ‘dos’ and don’ts provide a basic description of love.  Read them!  We do what we do to please Father because we love Him.  Read and understand what each commandment says and that light in the darkness just might start getting a bit brighter.

The people, with whom Jesus was speaking, asked “What is the greatest commandment” and Jesus responded “Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul and mind and the second is like it – love your neighbor as yourself for the Law and the prophets(everything)  depends on these two commandments” (Matt. 22:36-40).   The situation is reversed when a lawyer ask Jesus how can he obtain eternal life and Jesus asks him “How do you read the Law?”  The lawyer, essentially cited what was in Matthew 22, “Love the Lord God with ...”  The lawyer knew what the Law said (Luke 10:25-28).

We’ve established that God is Spirit and that God is Love but we’re not done yet.  Now we get  to the icing on the cake – Jesus.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God! (John 1:1)  Jesus was at the feast of the dedication, in the temple on Solomon’s porch, Jesus was challenged.  Jesus declares knowledge of His sheep and that He and the Father are one (John 10:30).  Jesus was accused of having a devil but can a devil do the miracles Jesus did?  His works speak for themselves (John 10:38).  Jesus declared God as His Father and was accused of blasphemy (John 10:19-39).  The Jews claimed that Jesus claimed to be God.  No wonder they were upset with Jesus with His claim to be the Messiah.  They just couldn’t accept it.

God claimed in His Law that we should not bow down before other Gods (Exod. 20:5).  Yet the magi came to the young child Jesus (about two years old) and worshipped Him (Matt. 2:11).  A man, blind from birth, was healed by Jesus and he bowed down and worshipped him (John 9:1-38).   We also see where Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, as they rushed to tell the other disciples about the resurrection, encountered Jesus and worshipped Him (Matt. 28:9) and the eleven apostles worshipped Him (Matt. 28:16-17).  Here, the word ‘worshipped is the Greek word proakuneo (G4352) which means to kiss one’s hand, lay prostrate in homage as in reverence or adoration or worship. Yet, we see Jesus being worshipped at least, by the magi, a blind man as well as His disciples.  The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) declares Jesus was ‘a god’ (John 1:1), yet in King James, and other modern translation such as New American Bible, The Message and the New International Bible (NIV) all read ‘the Word was God”.  Just a few examples.  Are we starting to see the connection?  To keep things in perspective that in the Book of Revelation, we see that John fell down at the feet of the angel, who had been sharing this information with him, to worship (also proakuneo) Him.  The angel said “Don’t do this for I am a fellow servant as well as your brothers the prophets who keep what this book is saying and worship God.” (Rev. 22:8-9)

What we have now seen is the Spirit is the Father, Jesus is the Word of God and the Holy Ghost is the breath of God.  Father tells us that only He is worthy of our worship yet we see where people who were healed, His apostles and His disciples all worshipped Jesus and Father tells us in the first Commandment not to have any other Gods before him – and that means beside Him as well.  Are we seeing unity here? 

We’ve already read where the Jews protested Jesus because they saw the evidence where He said He was equal to God and the Jews knew that no ‘man’ could be equal to God (Isa. 40:21-5) .

Also consider this – Adam was created so even though He was considered a son (Gen. 1:26-28, Luke 3:38), he was made from the dust of the earth (Gen.1:26-27), he was not begotten.   With no earthly Father, Jesus was born into this world (Matt. 1:18-25) to redeem us, out of a sinful nature (Eph. 1:3-7), into an eternal existence with or Father (John 17:26). We see in Genesis that when God spoke, His breath (the Holy Ghost) put His Words into action so God spoke Jesus (His Word) into Mary’s womb and the Holy Ghost carried out the command.

So as we receive Jesus into our hearts, we boldly look forward to being with Father/Son and Holy Ghost throughout eternity.

Amen

 

4-18-2026           1 JOHN 5:5-8

V5-6

Who is it that overcomes the world?  He who believes Jesus IS the Son of God.

That is he who has come by water and blood, even Jesus Christ.  Not just by water but water and blood.  And it is the Spirit that bears witness, because the Spirit is truth

V7-8

There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one. 

There are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, the water and the blood and these three agree in one.

 Okay, let’s take a look at the definitions of some of the words used in this passage:

Overcomes = nikao (G3528) = subdue, conquer, overcome, prevail, gain v victory

World =           kosmos (2889) =  world (including inhabitants), orderly arrangement

Believes=         pisteuo (4100) = believe, put trust in

Father  =          Pater (3962) = Father or parent, could be immediate or ancestoral (aka

                        Grandfather, etc.

Word   =          Logomachia (3056) =  something said or thought as in reasoning, a divine

                        expression, (as in Christ), or a speaking of doctrine.

Ghost   =          Pneuma (4151) current of air (as a forceful blast), spirit, breath, rational soul,

                        something superhuman (aka angel).

Holy     =          Hagios (40) = sacred, pure

Spirit    =          Pneuma (4151) current of air, breath, spirit, rational soul

Water  =          Hudor (5204) = water (as in rainy or coming down)

Blood   =          Haima (129) = blood (especially as in human) or juice of the grape, implies

                        bloodshed or kindred (family)

Agree  =          Eisi (1526 = agree, are (as in Christ – as ‘one’)

Effectively victory is to gain victory over or defeat. The Greek word (kosmos) refers to the natural world, but we can also relate this to the ‘spiritual’ world. Like as in what we know now but more so when Satan was cast out of heaven, he was cast into our world, planet earth (Rev. 12:9) and has become the prince and power of ‘our air’ and who works disobedience in the children of this world (Eph. 2:2).  We live in this world through God’s grace because we believe that Jesus IS the Son of God, come into this world by water and blood so we gain victory over Satan and what he does in or to this world.

Okay, water and blood, why?  Our sins are washed away by water (Acts 22:16).  Our sins are cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:22, 1John 1:7).  When Israel was in Egypt, the Hebrews put blood on the door jamb and side posts so when the angle of death came to destroy the first born in Egypt, he would pass over those doors marked with the blood of the lamb (Exod. 12:1-14).  Jesus has become our Passover lamb and through our acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior, His blood marks us (spiritually) so that we are ‘passed over’ from condemnation of eternal death into eternal life!

As we believe in Jesus, that is put our full trust in Him as our Lord and Savior, we have eternal fellowship with the Creator of all things (Psalm 23:6, John 3:16) in this world (John 17:9-12) or the next (John 14:3).  

Three witnesses in Heaven

We receive witness from men but God’s witness is greater than man’s (1John 5:9). 

God’s witness is the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.  Father is just what it says, a male parent, even going back through the generations.  Let’s go back through the generations: our dad, grandad, great-granddad and if we could all the way back do Noah.  Than we start tracing back from Noah through Lamech, Methuselah, Enoch … (Gen. 5:1-32) Seth and Adam and God created Adam (Gen. 26-27), technically becoming his Father.  There were no Fathers before God yet Adam was a creation of God.  Now, Jesus was born of woman, Mary (Matt. 1:18-25).  Note in Matt. 1:18, Mary w found to be with child of the Holy Ghost.  Note that Luke says that “the Holy Ghost shall come upon you and the power of the Highest shall over shadow you” (Luke 1:35).  How did God create the World?  “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:2) and then God said …(Gen. 1:3 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24 & 26).  God spoke and the Holy Ghost put it into action (moved across the face of the waters, in this case it was Mary).  What did the Holy Ghost put into action?  God’s Words and Who is God Words?  In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1).  In Genesis chapter one we see that God spoke everything into existence.  As we see, everything came into existence though the Word and the Word is the light for man (John 1:3-4) and-- Jesus declared Himself to be that light (John 8:12).  Father created Adam from the dust of the earth but He ‘fathered’ Jesus through the Holy Ghost’s overshadowing of Mary, so Jesus was ‘born’ onto the earth through one of God’s creations.  

Three witness on earth

The Spirit testifies within our own hearts that Jesus is the Messiah (Gal. 4:6) and scriptures tell us that no man can call Jesus Lord with having the Spirit of God within him (1 Corinth. 12:3).  As we keep Father’s commandments we testify that the Spirit of the Father is in us because Father’s love is clearly seen in our lives (1 John 4:12-16) because God is love (1 John 4:8).

Blood is life of the creature (Lev. 17:11).  Forgiveness of sin requires the shedding of blood (Heb. 9:22).  In Exodus, the Hebrews were saved from the Angel of Death by shedding the blood of a lamb and putting that blood on their doorways (Exod. 12:1-14).  The blood of a lamb was a sign of protection, or covering, over them so they wouldn’t die.  When the Hebrews brought their sacrifices, the blood was offered for the covering of their sin (Lev. 4:2--35).  Jesus cleansed, or covered, our sin, on the cross (Col. 1:20), so that we might have eternal life (1 John 1:7, Eph. 1:5-7).

The Greek word used for water is hudor - water, H2O.   Before the Chief Priest could enter the Holy of Holies he had to go through a cleansing process (Lev. 16:23-24).  When we confess our sins, Jesus forgives us those sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  Understand that the high priest had to be clean before entering the presence of God (Lev. 4) indicating his complete trust in the Lord.  When the veil before the Holy of Holies was torn (Matt. 27:51), Jesus was giving us direct access to God’s presence through His sacrifice. Jesus is our High Priest so we can come boldly into His presence (Heb. 4:14-16).  When we are baptized in water, we are declaring our complete trust in the Lord by identifying ourselves with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:3-5).  So through Jesus we are now a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).  That means that by cleansing ourselves by the confession of our sin, we may enter into the presence of God – directly, no go-beteen.  We do that through prayer with Father, through Jesus Christ (we do all things in Jesus’ name –Col. 3:17 ) because we have received the Holy Ghost into our lives (John 20:22, Acts 1:8 & Acts 2:1-18).  We have that direct connection, because the Holy Ghost intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26-27). 

So we see that Father (Himself, the Word (Jesus) and the Spirit (The Holy Ghost or breath of God) all testify who God is.  We also see that the blood (Jesus’ love for us), the water (our spiritual cleansing) and the Spirit (the Holy Ghost in us) all testify that God IS who He says He is.

The testimony of two or three witnesses establishes a thing (Deut. 19:15, Matt. 18:16).

As a professional athlete from years ago said “And that’s the bottom line!”

Amen

4-4-2026          Three pearls: Wisdom, Knowledge & Understanding   

                            

Just what does a pearl represent?

The word ‘pearl’ or ‘pearls’ is used nine times in the New Testament and the same words used Each time appears as either:

Margarites G3135 – pearl (as in from an oyster)

Gabiyah H1378 – pearl or ice-like - Job 28:1-18, Job explains the value of wisdom,  appears once in the Old Testament.

Matt.13:44-45            Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, when a man finds it and hides it, it he sells all that he has so he can buy the field.  He becomes like a merchant who seeks only the best pearls.  Wisdom is ls like a pearl and should be sought after as the most precious thing which exists.  Why?  Because it is precious and desirable.

Okay so we understand the ‘value’ of the pearl.

Job tells us that wisdom is more precious than the finest metals or most exquisite gems.  To be desired more than anything.  He tells us that the fear of the Lord is Wisdom and that departing from evil is Understanding (Job 28:1-29).

Pearls know no race, gender nor age and guess what?  Neither does wisdom, nor does knowledge nor does understanding. 

Now let’s take a look at wisdom.

Wisdom

The Hebrew word chokma H2451 – is wisdom, skillful, wisely or wit.  It appears in the Old Testament over 200 times, mostly in the Book of Proverbs (The Book of Wisdom). 

No, this not a study of the Book of Proverbs, but let us look at a few examples of wisdom.   Proverbs starts off with the right phrase: To know wisdom and instruction and to perceive the words of understanding (Prov. 1:1, 1 Chron.22:12).  So the Book of Proverbs, in part, is about how Father teaches us wisdom.  Get wisdom and understanding and never part from what God says (Prov. 4:5).  Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction (Prov. 1:7).  Should we lack wisdom, ask God for He will give it liberally and not look down on us for asking (James 1:5).  The world’s wisdom is foolishness with God for He judges the world by their own deceit (James 3:19).  The world gains its wisdom via the prince and power of the air (Eph. 2:2).  Satan is the Prince and power of the air for when God cast him out of heaven, it was down to the earth to deceive the world (Rev. 12:9).  Don’t Fret, Satan’s earthly rule is not eternal for he will be cast out (John 12:31).  So we see that God is the only true source of wisdom and those who don’t seek Father and His wisdom are foolish (Prov. 12:15).  (read the whole book)

Knowledge

God is Spirit and we must worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24).  To get to know God, our hearts and minds must be directed towards Him.

So to find wisdom, we need to have knowledge of God the Father.

Daath H1847 – know, be aware of (Gen. 2:9)

Gnosis G1108 – knowledge (scientific) (Romans 11:33)

Epignosis G1922 – full discernment, knowledge (2 Peter 1:2)

Sunesis Gl4907 – intellect, understanding, knowledge (Eph. 3:4)

 To gain knowledge, we must have resources and there are various means of communication sources available to us.

Going to a church which preaches God’s love is a good beginning.  After all, faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17).  However, reading or hearing the bible preached is not the initial source for most people.  Family, friends and neighbors are possible sources.  Even media might publish something that ignites a spark for the Lord in us.  Perhaps a Christian concert or a rally or gathering where Christ is promoted, the ‘light’ comes on.   

However, once we commit our lives to Jesus, we have to learn about Him.  We have to learn what type of relationship does He want and that, my friends, is a life-long experience.  Father shows us that He does desire a relationship with each and every one of us.  He came to visit with Adam and Eve in the Garden (Gen. 3:8-10).  Is this the only time God came to talk with Adam and Eve.  Scripture doesn’t say, but I personally believe that God communed with Adam and Eve on a regular basis. And I know that He communes with His creation, as often as we let Him.  Think about it.  As a child we had a favorite toy. Did we play with it just once and then forget about it?  No.  We played with it a lot.  Have we met someone with whom we would like be friends with, then never talk with them after that initial meeting?  Of course not.  We pursue the relationship because we enjoy their fellowship.

As we submit ourselves to God and draw near to Him, God will draw near to us (James 7-9).  When we open the door to Jesus, He will come in and ‘sup’ (fellowship) with us (Rev. 3:20).

As believers, God is always with us and His right hand holds us up, He councils us, then receives us into glory.  He is the strength of our heart (Psalm 73:23-26).   After all, didn’t Jesus give His life for us on Calvary, while we were till in our sin (Romans 5:8)?

We need the knowledge knowing that God does cares for us and He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deut. 3:16, Heb. 13:5).

Understanding

We’ve gained knowledge through the words we are looking at, but we need understanding of what those words are really saying to us in order to gain wisdom from what are discovering.

In order to grow in our relationship with the Lord, we have to understand so we can truly grow in our relationship with the Creator of all things.

In my reading of the bible, Father has shown me that how we understand a word today may not carry the same intent as it did 2000 or 3500 years ago. 

I’ve used two Hebrew and two Greek words translated as understanding to help us to ‘understand’ what we’re talking about.

Tabuwa H8394 – intelligence, reason, discretion, wisdom, understanding (Exod.31:3)

Biyn H995 – teach, inform, instruct, help to understand (Deut. 1:13)

Parakoloutheo G3877 – attain, fully know, understand (Luke 1:3)

Sunesis G4907 –  intellect, knowledge, understanding( Mark 12:33)

As an example, in Matthew 16:18  Jesus says “…You are Peter ,  and upon this rock I will build my church …”.  Here, Peter’s name means rock, petros (G1074) which means a ‘piece’ of a rock, whereas the rock upon which the church is built is petra (G1073) a mass of rock).  The bible rightfully  translates them both as ‘rock’ but petra would seem to be a bigger than petros, much bigger, which could change our perception of what this passage is saying. 

Another example are the Greek words exousia  and dunamis.  Exousia is the Greek word G1849 used in Matthew 10:1.  It is translated ‘power but carries the connotation more of authority, jurisdiction, as well as power or strength.  In Acts 1:8, dunamis is explosive strength, violent, or mighty (wonderful) work, we might even say ‘absolute’ power.  In Jesus’ name, the apostles had the authority to do mighty works but Jesus was the power. because the Holy Ghost had not yet infilled the Apostles.  In Acts 1:8, the Holy Ghost becomes Jesus’ power in us, a promise to accomplish tasks He did (John 14:12-13).  The Holy Ghost has been made available to us from the upper room until now (Acts 2:1-16).

We also have to look at the context within a passage in which words are used.  We may even have to read the full passage, or perhaps a whole chapter or a whole book to obtain a more complete understanding.  Understanding is not just knowing what the word says, but come to know their application and intention in the passage.

SO

Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding all help us to attain what Father wants us to know and how He expects us to accomplish our tasks

Knowledge works so we can grow in wisdom so we can use the words properly.  But understand that as we grow in wisdom, wisdom increases our knowledge, knowledge increases our understanding.  And as wisdom, knowledge and understanding grow, they feed off of each other, working in a circular fashion to become a perpetual growth within us.  This will help us reach our full potential to which Father has planned for us.

Love, peace and joy become byproducts as our wisdom, knowledge and understanding increase.  Why?  Because we are growing in our relationship with our heavenly Father.  We grow in His love so we can truly come to know who Father, Yahweh, the Great I AM truly is.

So ‘rest, reset and recalibrate’ move into our crossroads which sets us at a turning point so we can have the wisdom, knowledge and understanding to understand our direction as we draw ever closer to our Lord.

And every time we experience growth, we experience a crossroad and a crossroad brings a need to make a decision and decisions bring the need for wisdom knowledge and understanding so we make right decision to continues our Spiritual growth. 

Amen

 

 

3-8-2026    The Lord’s Prayer 

           

Most people have some awareness concerning the Lord’s Prayer.  How many of us can recite the Lord’s Prayer?

 Prayers Jesus actually prayed for Himself were the burden on His heart can be found in Matthew and John.  Jesus prayed for strength to complete His mission on earth (Matt. 26:36-42) and when Jesus asked Father to help us to get through life while we remained in this world (John 17:1-26). Read them.

 What we refer to as the “Lord’s Prayer” is actually a prayer Jesus gives us to sustain us each day.

 Let’s take a look at the elements of this prayer

Matthew 6:9-13 KJV

 9          After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

 We start the day by acknowledging that through ‘big brother’ Jesus, God is our heavenly Father (Matt. 23:8-9).  So to whom are we speaking? God the Father!  He is Father because He created all things (Gen 1:1-31) and there is nothing made that He did not make (John 1:3).  Hallowed is he Greek word hagizo (G37) which means to be holy, sanctify or hallow.  Its root word hagios (G40) brings in pure, holy and consecrated or to venerate which s utmost respect, love or admire His Holy name.  The bible says to ‘fear’ the Lord.  Though there several Hebrew words used in the bible for fear yare and yirah carry the basic meaning which is to fear, hold dread for or have reverence towards.  Again there are words describing specific fear but two Greek words phobeo (G5399) and phobos (G5401) are used in fear as in being deathly afraid, And again, two Greek words eulabeia (G2124,\ and eulobemai G2125) express reverence.  So we realize God is capable of destroying this world and making a new one as He pleases (Isa. 65:16-17, Rev. 21:1-27). We give reverential respect to the Lord but we also fear Him knowing all things are in His hand (Psalm 24:1-2).                                                                                                                                                                          10        Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

We desire that things, here on earth, would be as they are in Heaven. Humbly we endure in love and one Spirit seeking to do God’s will as He has enables us (Eph. 4:1-7).  We can bring the kingdom of God through our living in and through Jesus in today’s world (1 John 4:9-11), and we still have the eternal kingdom (New Jerusalem) to look forward to (Rev. 21:2-3).

 11        Give us this day our daily bread.

 We need food so God will give us sustenance to live.  He fed Israel manna in the wilderness (Exod. 16:14-35) and likewise He will provide for us (Matt. 6:25-31) for He knows what we need and as we seek His kingdom and His righteousness, Father will provide all our needs (Phil. 4:19).

 12         And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

 We ask God to forgive us the sins we commit but how often do we consider what we may have done to others knowingly or unknowingly?  It is human nature to sin (Rom. 3:23, 5:12) and as Christians, when we do go against God’s love and commandments we have an advocate with Father and that is, of course, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 John 2:1-2).  Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross that we might be cleansed of our sin nature (Eph. 4:22-24), but how many of us have truly never sinned after salvation?  That is why we need an advocate.  Jesus says that if say we have never sinned, we make God a liar (1 John 1:10). Thank you for the blood (Heb. 9:22).  The thought itself is not guilt but when we have determined to do something in our heart, the sin is committed whether we take action on it or not (James 1:13-15, James 4:17).   Jesus also tell us that if we don’t forgive sins of others, He won’t forgive us our sin (Matt. 6:14-15). Forgiving and being forgiven is necessary for continued Spiritual growth.

 13        And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

 

Again as James said God will not tempt man but when man is drawn away by his own lust, in his

own heart, and he decides to do it, that lust brings forth death (James 1:13-15).  God has an

eternal kingdom (Dan. 2:44) and God is from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:12), He has all

power and His glory and He is everlasting (1 Chron. 29:11).

 

Now Luke chapter eleven (KJV) and Matthew chapter six (NIV) vary slightly but say the same thing.  Let’s take a look at some of the differences.

Luke 11:2-4 (KJV)

2          And he said unto them, when ye pray, say,

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 

 

Luke asks Father that as it is in heaven, let it be so on earth. a reversal of words, but the same thing.

3          Give us day by day our daily bread. 

4          Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who are indebted to us and lead us not into

temptation but deliver us from evil

 Luke says ‘as those who are indebted to us’.  And Luke does not include ‘for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever’.

 Matthew 6:9-13

NIV

9          “This, then, is how you should pray:

10          Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come, your will be done,
 on earth as it is in heaven.

11        Give us today our daily bread.

12        And forgive us our debts,
            as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13        And lead us not into temptation,^[a]

            but deliver us from the evil one.^[b]’

 note that the NIV version, also, does not include ‘for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever’.

 

I also have a bible which is supposed to be an accurate reproduction of the 1611 King James Bible.  The bible l have is not a complete reproduction because the 1611 included what we refer as the apocrypha which are seven books from the Old Testament.  Church scholars decided that these seven books of the apocrypha were not inspired by God so as of the 1639 King James Bible, they were no longer included.  Though it does not have the apocrypha but it does include ‘for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever’ at the end of ‘Our Father’ in Matthew chapter 6.  I’ve never seen any ‘original documents so I don’t feel qualified to make any further comments – just food for thought and not argument. Another comment, the copy of the 1611 KJV which I have is written in 16^th century English.  You think our ‘modern KJV is hard to read?  Check this one out.

 

So why should we be concerned about the prayer which Jesus has given us for ‘daily prayer’? This is the foundation of our relationship with our heavenly Father. It is the foundation of our prayer life and if our prayer life should not be in alignment with what Father desires, the rest of our prayer life could be negatively impacted.   As our spiritual growth changes, the shift we are beginning to experience could be operating at a serious handicap. 

 

Reading our bible and our prayer life are a major part of our overall spiritual growth.   As we grow in our Lord, He is changing our ways and habits over to His guidelines.  We will discover that we have been and are continuing to grow in His Spirit, lining up in His will.  The Holy Ghost is He who truly guides us.  Don’t quench the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19) but allow Him to work in us and through us.  After all it is His strength which enables to do what we do (Acts 1:8).  Ask and receive, He is waiting (Matt. 7:7).  His desire is to help us do greater things than what Jesus did because we have received Jesus in Jesus into our heart (John 14:12).

 

Amen