Month: October 2012

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things?Romans 8:31-32

The apostle Paul closes his teaching in this great chapter about the believer’s security in Christ with a crescendo of questions and answers for the concerns his readers might still have. The result is an almost poetic expression of praise for God’s grace in bringing salvation and security for all who have come to faith in Christ. If God is for us—The Greek word is better translated “Since God is for us.” Paul’s point is: Would God do less for His children than He did for His enemies? The answer is an emphatic “No.” He bestows out of grace not only His forgiveness, but also a security for the believer that is unlike no other. For since God the Father has said that He would, there is nothing higher from which we can turn to for learning truth, and by believing in faith receive the promises. The Spirit of God makes the love of God real to us (Romans 5:5), God the Father is for us (8:31-32) our text, and the Holy Spirit is for us (Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27) Let us not think that the saints are some super Christian from our past, every believer that is sanctified in Christ, are called to be saints (1 Corinthians 1:2). God’s purpose is to make His children like His Son, and He will succeed. The Spirit intercedes for us and guides us as we pray, and the circumstances of life work for our good (v.28) no matter how painful they may be.

Beloved friend, God has given to us all things freely that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him (2 Peter 1:3), And He declares from His Word that we can have assurance through faith in His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:11-13) A reassurrance indeed because God knows in these end times that it is our faith in Him that will help us continue in His name.

May the Lord bless your walk!

 

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not easily broken.Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” (Genesis 2:18)  Loneliness is the first thing God’s eye saw that was not good at creation. Solomon here writes in our text that when one is alone without a companion in life, it’s hard for that person to go through life. We all need solitude at times, but no one is meant to be independent. The solitary worker may get all the profits, but he is so busy making money that he has no time to enjoy it. And what good will his riches be to him if it has driven him to an early grave? There are risks in our world as well as rewards, but well is your reward by the company of friends. Especially in the family of God. Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. (John 15:14-15) Just as Abraham was called the “the friend of God” (James 2:23) because he enjoyed extraordinary access to the mind of God through God’s revelation to him which he believed, so also those who follow Christ are priviledged with extraordinary revelation through the Messiah and Son of God and believing, become “friends” of God also. It was for His friends that Jesus laid down His life. You can see the irony when you learn that the commands required of us by Jesus to obey, is tolove one another as I have loved you(John 15:12) which is a definite quality of true friendship, or marriage companionship. The Lord wants to bring blessings into our lives if we would only take the time and read His Word. Study it for ourselves and not be so dependent on man’s interupretation, a good pastor/teacher would want his church congregation not to just take his word for it, but to read and study the text themselves. I would not want anyone who were to read these blogs, to accept my teaching without at least looking at it for themselves. The Bible is it’s own interupreter, can be easily verified by others Scriptures for its truth and authenticity. The Holy Spirit is the third part of a threefold cord.

Beloved friend, Solomon also wrote, A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24) Jesus Christ is that Friend who is always with us. He is the One who sticks closer than a brother because He has told us in His Word.And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.(Matthew 28:18-20)

May the Lord bless your walk with Him!

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet, and wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him,  “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”John 13:1-8

With perfection God loves us. And here Jesus is demonstrating for us the depths for which He not only loves us, as He is headed for the cross, but also how we ought to love one another. What Jesus knew—It was because of what Jesus knew that He did what He did: He washed the disciples’ feet. Jesus knew where He came from and where He was going, He knew that the Father had given Him all things into His hands. If you have all things in your hand, you will have no problem picking up a towel and serving others, even if it was washing their feet. Knowing ultimately that He would soon purchase them with His own blood. I’m sure the disciples would have surely washed Jesus’ feet, but they could not conceive washing each other’s feet. This was during a time in their society that footwashing was reserved for the lowliest of menial servants. When Jesus stooped to wash their feet, they were shocked at His actions which was symbolic of spiritual cleansing and a model of Christ’s love and what Christian humilty should look like. Through this lesson Jesus taught through His example selfless service that was supremely exemplified by His death on the cross. Jesus also taught them the lesson in fellowship and how to keep themselves clean before the Lord. Jesus reminds us that the most miraculous and amazing things in life are all invisible until we bring forth demonstrations of His love, His compassion, His humility in how we serve Him, by serving others. True Christianity doesn’t waver at these virtues, but rather is empowered through the Holy Spirit when our life is in complete surrender and submits to the authority of His Word.

Beloved friend, Isn’t it obvious that Jesus did not have die on the cross for us? But He willingly submitted to the Father’s will and laid down His life for our salvation. How can anyone think that God doesn’t love them? Look to the cross and see that He fulfilled the will of His Father’s perfect love while on this earth, and continues through His followers by the power of His Holy Spirit in and through them this same love. For what we do for the least of men, He says we have done it as unto Him (Matthew 25:40).

May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!

After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, then it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’  Luke 10:1-9

The commissioning of the seventy is recorded only in Luke. Moses also appointed seventy elders as his representatives (Numbers 11:16) the twelve disciples had been sent to Galilee (Luke 9:1-6), the seventy were sent into every city and place where Jesus was about to go. Two by two —As the twelve had been sent, possibily because they would face hostility and persecution, with spiritual warfare. Yet, they were to be as lambs among wolves, meaning innocent about matters of their day, leaving the results of their circumstances to the Lord. The disciples were not to pack any extra clothing nor baggage for their journey, but merely the clothes on their backs. Greet no one—A typical greeting of that day was a cultural elaborate ceremony, involving many formalities. Jesus’ instructions were spoken in terms of shortness of time and the greater need of urgency for their task without seeming rude.

Pray to the Lord of the harvest—The Lord spoke of the spiritual harvest of souls for salvation. Jesus also affirms the fact that believer’s prayers play a very important part in the fulfillment of God’s plans. With these instructions these early Christians were going to be demonstrating the power of God and bring refreshing good news to the lost and lowly people of their day. We today are doing the same things when we pray ahead of us, that what were are doing this day would be to further the gospel message of Jesus Christ. He is what people in our lives today need more than anything else. People ask me to pray for someone who is sick, or suffering from injury, but what often I find myself praying is for their heart’s most deepest spiritual need to be met first. Then, it is to glory of God that healing and deliverance would come. But our faith and trust has to be in the Lord first and foremost, seeking His will above all matters.

The apostle Peter wrote, But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all else have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone minsters, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:7-11).

Beloved friend, accept Jesus invitation of eternal life through faith in Him. Come to that place of  determining that the Bible is God’s Word of knowledge and truth about Him, and our need for Him, and is for everyone to know. That we may say as the psalmist David, “ O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; My soul thirst for You; My flesh longs for You, in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1)

May the Lord bless your walk today!

” Do not labor for food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:27-29

Jesus response here is to a people who were earlier fed by the miracle of God when Jesus fed the 5 thousand with a little boy’s lunch of 5 barley loaves and two small fish (John 6:8-13). Jesus rebuked the crowd for purely materialistic notions of the messianic kingdom, although the Messiah’s kingdom would be literal and physical someday, the people failed to see the overriding spiritual character and blessing of “everlasting life” given immediately to those who believe the witness of God through His Son. For Food everlasting is Jesus Himself. Who was right before them witnessing the glorious kingdom that still awaits those who come into the family of God through faith in His Son. What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?— A good question. The people of that time thought Jesus was saying that God required them to do some works to earn everlasting life, which they thought they would be able to do. The crowd misunderstood Jesus’ stance on work, “Do not labor” which prompted Jesus to remind them that an exclusive focus on material blessings is wrong. The only work God desired was faith and trust in Jesus as the promised Messiah and Son of God. Yes, the work that God required was to believe in His Son.

We need to take extreme caution and use our resources wisely, with the knowledge of biblical wisdom and application, otherwise we can have something in our lives the may edge out our commitment to God. Like money and power, authority, sexual pleasures outside of marriage, or even or own staus and titles in the church. You cannot serve two masters (at the same time). You will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to one and not care about the other. You cannot serve and God and money (at the same time) It amounts to hatred of God, and not caring about His kingdom and righteousness, and living the spiritual life(Matthew 6:24)ERV. We are meant to work, it is biblical and ordained by God that we should labor in this life. But the difference in the Christian’s life, is that we do all of our labor as unto the Lord, and not unto men. We will have spiritual treasure awaiting us when we get to heaven. The Lord’s promise to us is that none should lose their reward. But we must have the right biblical perspective and know that everything belongs to God, no matter who’s name is on the deed, it all belongs to God.

Beloved friend, What are you working for? A paycheck of earthly treasure, or are you adding to your treasures in heaven? The lesson for us all is to keep our love for the Savior, Jesus Christ, as the top priority of our lives.

Lord, thank You for placing us into Your family and giving us the abilities to serve You, the One true God, in all of our work, may it bring glory and honor and praise to You! Amen.

May the Lord bless your walk today!

“But when he came to himself (his senses), he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ‘  “And he arose and came to His father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.     Luke 15:17-23

The story of the prodigal son is intriguing because it mirrors God’s view of us. His eyes are always fixed on the crest of the hill, longing to see us coming from afar over the horizon and walking closer to Him. The prodigal remembered his Father when he had spent his all. God isn’t the least bit concerned about whether your worthy to return to Him, although it’s natural for us think and feel that way. Twice in our text, the prodigal mentions that his sin was against heaven first, and then before his Father. The son was certain that his sinful lifestyle made him unworthy to be called his father’s son. But the father in the story, like our Father in heaven, quickly brushed that aside. “What’s all this talk about worthiness? You’re back! That’s all that matters!” He slipped a ring on his son’s hand clothed him with a clean garment robe, and even included new sandals for his feet. Their relationship was restored instantly. No paybacks. No shame. No looking back!

There is a magnificent attribute of God that sets Him apart from any other false god invented by men, He is not indifferent or hostile with our inability to live righteously before Him, but like a Savior by nature, longing to see sinners repent and rejoicing to restore all that was lost and dead in sin, but now is alive and born again. God gives to us all things richly to enjoy, and in our youth heaps precious treasures of assurance upon us. But God must be remembered during even the good times and not taken for granted His grace filled blessings. Without a single word of rebuke, for the past, the father pours out his love for the son, and expresses his joy that what was lost had now been found. And each of the father’s gifts said something unique about his acceptance of the son: Robe: Reserved for the guest of honor. Ring: A symbol of authority. Sandals: These were not given nor worn by slaves, and therefore signified his full restoration to sonship.

Beloved friend, Ask your yourself these questions: Am I able to learn from good things or just from bad experiences? What lessons would be less painful if I were more attentive to God when life is going well? The prodigal could have benefitted had he remembered gratefully, with increasing understanding of his Father’s love and care. And so can we.

May the Lord bless your walk with Him!

 

You have ravashed my heart, My sister, my spouse; You have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes, with one link of your necklace. How fair is your love, My sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is your love, and the scent of your perfumes than all spices! Your lips, O my spouse, drip as the honeycomb; Honey and milk are under your tongue; and frangrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.  Song of Solomon 4:9-12

These words were from a husband Solomon, to his Shulamite bride and contain a ancient Near Eastern term of endearment by a husband for his wife, which expresses closeness and permanence of relationship. Solomon testifies that whereas she was closed to his physical love before marriage (v.12) she is appropriately open to it now. Alot can be learned by us today by what God’s Word says about marriage and commitment. The marriage covenant was created by God to freely express unconditional love for your spouse both intimately as well as for their companionship. Men today are often tongued tied when it comes to expressing their love for their wives, in fact it’s easier for them to say why they love objects like the style of a car, or a sports team, than to open up to their depths of feelings of love for their wives. The few sentences in a birthday or Valentine’s card is about all the practice they get. Well, far be it from me to show judgment, as I fit right in with these men. But one thing I do know, is that the expression “My sister, my spouse,” is the proper order for all Christian marriages. We must first be reconciled to God and become born-again into the family of God, where now all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17) the believer’s new spiritual perception of everything is a constant reality for them. For they now live for eternal purposes of glorifying God, and not just temporal things of this earth. Ideally, a Christian marriage, is a picture of both husband and wife having been reconciled to God, now living together as one, glorifying God the Father, through the relationship in Jesus Christ, and living in His righteousness. Though not perfect, yet being perfected in the sanctifying process of which we are growing into Christ-likeness in the reading and studying of His Word, which we live out its biblical meaning of marital love to lost world that is living apart from Christ.

Beloved friend, every Christian marriage already has what it takes to sculpt a glorious image of Christ’s relationship to the church, a masterpiece so lovely it will draw men and women to Christ simply by their looking at the two of you together. When Michelangelo was lauded for his famous sculptural masterpiece David, he refused the praise, replying that he had really done nothing at all. He said that the image of David was in that rock from the time of creation—that his hands were merely the tools to chip away the excess stone that revealed the beauty placed their by God eons ago. For the Christian whose married, you/we must chip away the stony “flesh” of attitudes that overlay your marriage and block the beauty God placed there when you first said “I do” on the day when you were married.

May the Lord bless your walk with Him!

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. John 17:1-5

Christ prays for Himself. And in this intimate conversation with His Father, we see that ” this hour which has come,” indicates the time of His death on the cross. For this very event that would glorify the Son was His death by which He fulfilled the Father’s plan of redemption for sinful man. The goal was that the Father would be glorified for His redemptive plan in the Son, who accepted this path to glory, knowing that by it, He would also be exalted to the Father. With the mention of “as many as You have given Him,” Jesus is refering to the sovereign will of His Father in the selection of those who come to Him for salvation. The Father has predestined those who are being saved: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and I will by no means cast out “ (John 6:37). And this is eternal life— The Christian life, is a life of faith and trust in the salvation that is offered in Christ’s sacrifice for the sins of man. But also Christians enter a relationship with Christ, as Savior and Lord, and also with their heavenly Father, as His adoptive child who is loved by Him. True and intimate fellowship comes to us through Christ, who is fulfilling the Father’s will that we may know Him, as the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.

Having completed His work, Jesus looked past the cross and asked to be returned to the glory that He shared with the Father before the world began. The actual completion of bearing judgment wrath for sinners was declared by Christ in the cry, “It is finished “ (John 19:30).

Beloved friend, Do you know Christ as your Savior and Lord? Is God from the Bible your Father? Did you know that He wants you to choose freely to come to Him, yet, He knows who actually will. For God so loved the world . . . can you finish the biblical quote? that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

May the Lord bless your walk with Him!