Not to long after the birth of Jesus, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and says, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." (Matthew 2:13) So Joseph takes Mary and Jesus to Egypt. After the death of Herod the king the angel of the Lord appears again to Joseph in a dream saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." (Matthew 2:20) and so he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. Luke adds something that is interesting to this account, "And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him." (Luke 2:40)
Next, Luke tells us that Joseph and Mary take Jesus, who was twelve at the time, to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. (Luke 2:41-42), and again we see something very interesting concerning Jesus, He was "...in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers." (Luke 46-47) Luke records once again, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52) Point being, we see that from childhood Jesus increased in wisdom.
As we look through the Gospels, we see that the religious leaders who were in office during the time that Jesus walked the earth as the Son of Man were always looking for a way to discredit Jesus. Every time they did so, the wisdom of God in Jesus defused the entire situation and put the religious leaders to shame. Jesus certainly did not respond to their evil with any malice in His heart. He responses to them was because He was "...grieved due to the hardness of their hearts..." (Mark 3:5) One particular time, Jesus got into a boat and went into His own city, "Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!" But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" — then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." And he arose and departed to his house." (Matthew 9:1-7)
There are a few lessons that we can learn from this situation. One of them is that many Christians for some time have been taught erroneous doctrine that have caused them to not believe God's Word. However, their are many other Christians who believe that God has not changed nor His Word. What He did through Jesus and the early church still applies today. Jesus tells the scribes that their hearts think evil. But look at the wisdom of God in operation. Of course it would be easier to say to someone "Your sins are forgiven you" because things are "easier said then done." But are they? Although the scribes do not respond to His question, Jesus says to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." The paralytic responds to Jesus' Word, "And he arose and departed to his house."
Jesus tells us, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23) Today, as it was for Jesus then, it should be no more difficult to say, "Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk." The problem that many Christians have with such things as these, is something that has not changed since the fall of man. It is a lack of faith in the integrity of God's Word. Although the disciples that Jesus chose and named apostles observed His ministry for over three years, they too dealt with the same issue prior to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. They did not believe. Not only did Thomas need tangible evidence of the resurrection (John 20:24-25) but Jesus rebuked all the disciples after His resurrection due to the unbelief and hardness of heart. (Mark 16:14) Even though Jesus foretold the apostles of His death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21); even though Mary Magdalene and the two disciples that Jesus met on the Emmaus Road told the apostles that Jesus was alive (Mark 16:9-13); it was a lack of faith in God's Word (Jesus' Words to them) that caused them to easily dismiss the will of God.
Sadly enough in many sections of the church today the same thing happens. There is an unpersuadableness, a lack of true Bible faith in the Word of God. Look at how the multitude responded to what Jesus did for the paralytic, "Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men." (Matthew 9:8) What a drawing card for those who do not know the Lord. Letting God perform the supernatural through His children as evidence of His great love and all that Jesus did for humanity. However, the only way that these things can be a part of the church today, is the doctrines of man that have created doubts and unscriptural mind sets must be dealt with and put to an end. They must be replaced with the revelation knowledge of the Word of God. Let us pray the prayer that Paul prayed for the church and believe, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened..." (Ephesians 1:17-18) and then be a doer of the Word...
Monday, August 13, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
A Conquerors Prayer
The most incredible and most moving prayer spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane. After celebrating the Passover, Jesus and His disciples, minus Judas Iscariot, sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:30) Jesus' earthly ministry as the Son of Man is winding down. He knew why
He had come from God and He knows what is about to happen. He takes His
disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, which He did often. He then takes
Peter, John and James a little further into the garden to pray and says to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." (Matthew 26:38) Jesus then leaves Peter, John and James, goes a little farther into the
garden, falls on His face and begins to pray. These men have seen Jesus
pray many times but something was different. They must have noticed the
sorrow and distress that was upon Him. What they didn’t know, was Jesus
was facing the fact that He would soon be made sin. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us…” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Next, "Jesus came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:40-41) He warns them to watch, literally, to abstain from sleep; to be vigilant, to guard against danger, and pray that they do not enter into temptation. He knew the danger that was coming and how the flesh might possibly give in to temptation. He knew that He was about to take the place of every human being and endure the punishment that was required to meet man’s greatest need, redemption.
In the incarnation, deity and humanity coming together, Jesus was not mortal or immortal, but a perfect human being as Adam was before the fall. However, as man’s substitute, He would become mortal the moment sin was placed upon Him in the same way that Adam became mortal when he sinned. Jesus knew that the moment He would be made sin, He would experience what Adam experience when he himself sinned. He would spiritually die, be forsaken by the Father and then physically die. He knew that as Adam’s sin made him subject to Satan, it would be the same for Him. He knew that He would suffer in hell until the entire debt that humanity owed justice was paid in full.
Some may have trouble comprehending these things, but they are facts, "And they made His grave with the wicked, but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand." (Isaiah 53:9-10) The word death is plural in the original Hebrew and like Adam, Jesus died twice, spiritually and physically. Isaiah also tells us, "He has put Him to grief…" The word grief here means, to make sick, to be diseased, to afflict. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.) (Galatians 3:13) We see that Jesus was made sin with our sin, was made sick with our sicknesses and a curse.
This should gives us a greater understanding as to what Jesus was going through in the Garden. "Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:43-44) He alone must pay the penalty for humanity or humanity would be eternally lost. Did you ever notice that angels never came and ministered to Him while He was on the cross. I believe there was more spiritual agony here than there was on the cross. Three times He prayed a prayer of dedication and consecration, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." (Luke 22:42) A more literal rendering: “If it be possible, take this cup from Me, not my will, but yours be carried through to completion and save humanity.”
After Jesus finishes praying, "He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand." (Matthew 26:45-46) As Jesus emerged from prayer He had already won the the first part of the battle. He was no longer in sorrow and distress, but He was the Conqueror. He was ready for the trial; He was ready for the scourging; He was ready for the cross; He was ready to conquer sin and death; He was ready to redeem humanity from the hands of the enemy; He was ready to destroy sin, disease, poverty and everything that was set against humanity by Satan all due to Adam's transgression. Jesus emerged from prayer as the righteous, conquering King of kings and Lord of lords.
The apostle Paul tells us, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37) As conquerors our prayer is to be one that is rooted in the Word of God. It is based on the believer knowing that their faith in Christ has already given them the victory over the circumstances that life may bring. It is one that is conceived within the believer that gives them the confidence that in Christ they are independent of their circumstances and, in a personal sense, "can do all things through Christ who strengthens." (Philippians 4:13) It is the assured confidence that God is able to do what He said He would do. (Numbers 23:19) So, let us pray like Jesus our Conqueror, especially when we are faced with seemingly insurmountable circumstance, knowing that we can, "Cast the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." (1 Peter 5:7)
Next, "Jesus came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:40-41) He warns them to watch, literally, to abstain from sleep; to be vigilant, to guard against danger, and pray that they do not enter into temptation. He knew the danger that was coming and how the flesh might possibly give in to temptation. He knew that He was about to take the place of every human being and endure the punishment that was required to meet man’s greatest need, redemption.
In the incarnation, deity and humanity coming together, Jesus was not mortal or immortal, but a perfect human being as Adam was before the fall. However, as man’s substitute, He would become mortal the moment sin was placed upon Him in the same way that Adam became mortal when he sinned. Jesus knew that the moment He would be made sin, He would experience what Adam experience when he himself sinned. He would spiritually die, be forsaken by the Father and then physically die. He knew that as Adam’s sin made him subject to Satan, it would be the same for Him. He knew that He would suffer in hell until the entire debt that humanity owed justice was paid in full.
Some may have trouble comprehending these things, but they are facts, "And they made His grave with the wicked, but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand." (Isaiah 53:9-10) The word death is plural in the original Hebrew and like Adam, Jesus died twice, spiritually and physically. Isaiah also tells us, "He has put Him to grief…" The word grief here means, to make sick, to be diseased, to afflict. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.) (Galatians 3:13) We see that Jesus was made sin with our sin, was made sick with our sicknesses and a curse.
This should gives us a greater understanding as to what Jesus was going through in the Garden. "Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:43-44) He alone must pay the penalty for humanity or humanity would be eternally lost. Did you ever notice that angels never came and ministered to Him while He was on the cross. I believe there was more spiritual agony here than there was on the cross. Three times He prayed a prayer of dedication and consecration, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." (Luke 22:42) A more literal rendering: “If it be possible, take this cup from Me, not my will, but yours be carried through to completion and save humanity.”
After Jesus finishes praying, "He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand." (Matthew 26:45-46) As Jesus emerged from prayer He had already won the the first part of the battle. He was no longer in sorrow and distress, but He was the Conqueror. He was ready for the trial; He was ready for the scourging; He was ready for the cross; He was ready to conquer sin and death; He was ready to redeem humanity from the hands of the enemy; He was ready to destroy sin, disease, poverty and everything that was set against humanity by Satan all due to Adam's transgression. Jesus emerged from prayer as the righteous, conquering King of kings and Lord of lords.
The apostle Paul tells us, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37) As conquerors our prayer is to be one that is rooted in the Word of God. It is based on the believer knowing that their faith in Christ has already given them the victory over the circumstances that life may bring. It is one that is conceived within the believer that gives them the confidence that in Christ they are independent of their circumstances and, in a personal sense, "can do all things through Christ who strengthens." (Philippians 4:13) It is the assured confidence that God is able to do what He said He would do. (Numbers 23:19) So, let us pray like Jesus our Conqueror, especially when we are faced with seemingly insurmountable circumstance, knowing that we can, "Cast the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." (1 Peter 5:7)
Monday, July 30, 2012
He Doesn't Know The Plan
The moment that Adam committed treason by selling out his God given authority to Satan through disobedience to God's command, he died spiritually. It wasn't for another 930 years that Adam's body had finally succumb to physical death. The apostles Paul reveals mans fallen condition, "among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others..."...having no hope and without God in the world." (Ephesian 2:3, 12)
However, immediately after the fall, God through His love and mercy spoke the promise of the incarnation. "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (Genesis 3:15) Notice that there are four important parts of this prophetic promise. First, I will put enmity between you and the woman. Of course this has been realized throughout history with the physical and emotional abuse of women. Second, and between your seed and her Seed. We know that the woman's Seed refers to Christ, but what about Satan's seed; who or what does this refer to? Well, Satan does not have the ability to reproduce, that is create other demon spirits, so who or what is his seed? It is unregenerate, fallen man. Those by nature are children of wrath. Third, we also see that the woman's Seed shall bruise your (Satan's) head. In other words the woman's Seed, Christ, would break Satan's lordship over humanity. Finally, we see that Satan would bruise His heel. This refers to the church, the Body of Christ, that would face persecution throughout the ages at the hands of Satan's seed, unregenerate, fallen man, nevertheless, Satan and his gang are under our feet.
It is apparent that throughout man's history, Satan did not (nor does not) know God's plan. However, we do know if he did understand it, he certainly would not have had Christ killed. "...which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1 Corinthians 2:8) Remember the prophecy, "...He shall bruise your head..." Satan must have thought that by destroying the life of Jesus, he was stopping God's plan from coming to pass. However, what he actually did was become a key player in God's plan by putting to death the one that God chose to bring redemption to humanity, Jesus. Now man's greatest need was met and at the same time, Satan was stripped of his authority over him. In fact, through ones faith in Jesus Christ, man has now been restored to his rightful position in God and through the name of Jesus has the authority over Satan and all of his works, "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19)
What wonderful news. No longer does sickness, disease, poverty and all manner of sin have dominion, jurisdiction or authority over believers. (Romans 6:14) Now believers can live on planet earth as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17); now believers are free from there past as new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17); now believers can have right standing with God (2 Corinthians 5:21); now believers can live knowing that in Christ they lack nothing (1 Thessalonians 4:12) all because we are complete in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:10). One of the interesting things about God's wonderful plan of redemption is that throughout man's history Satan must of thought that he was winning when in fact Jesus has absolutely and thoroughly defeated him. (Colossians 2:15) Now it is up to the church to uphold and enforce what Jesus has accomplished for humanity. PTL
However, immediately after the fall, God through His love and mercy spoke the promise of the incarnation. "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (Genesis 3:15) Notice that there are four important parts of this prophetic promise. First, I will put enmity between you and the woman. Of course this has been realized throughout history with the physical and emotional abuse of women. Second, and between your seed and her Seed. We know that the woman's Seed refers to Christ, but what about Satan's seed; who or what does this refer to? Well, Satan does not have the ability to reproduce, that is create other demon spirits, so who or what is his seed? It is unregenerate, fallen man. Those by nature are children of wrath. Third, we also see that the woman's Seed shall bruise your (Satan's) head. In other words the woman's Seed, Christ, would break Satan's lordship over humanity. Finally, we see that Satan would bruise His heel. This refers to the church, the Body of Christ, that would face persecution throughout the ages at the hands of Satan's seed, unregenerate, fallen man, nevertheless, Satan and his gang are under our feet.
It is apparent that throughout man's history, Satan did not (nor does not) know God's plan. However, we do know if he did understand it, he certainly would not have had Christ killed. "...which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1 Corinthians 2:8) Remember the prophecy, "...He shall bruise your head..." Satan must have thought that by destroying the life of Jesus, he was stopping God's plan from coming to pass. However, what he actually did was become a key player in God's plan by putting to death the one that God chose to bring redemption to humanity, Jesus. Now man's greatest need was met and at the same time, Satan was stripped of his authority over him. In fact, through ones faith in Jesus Christ, man has now been restored to his rightful position in God and through the name of Jesus has the authority over Satan and all of his works, "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19)
What wonderful news. No longer does sickness, disease, poverty and all manner of sin have dominion, jurisdiction or authority over believers. (Romans 6:14) Now believers can live on planet earth as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17); now believers are free from there past as new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17); now believers can have right standing with God (2 Corinthians 5:21); now believers can live knowing that in Christ they lack nothing (1 Thessalonians 4:12) all because we are complete in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:10). One of the interesting things about God's wonderful plan of redemption is that throughout man's history Satan must of thought that he was winning when in fact Jesus has absolutely and thoroughly defeated him. (Colossians 2:15) Now it is up to the church to uphold and enforce what Jesus has accomplished for humanity. PTL
Monday, July 23, 2012
Let's Get Together and Talk
One of the main ingredients that gave the early church such great success was they engaged in fellowship with one another daily. The word fellowship has many expressions: a partnership; to partner together as one; to participate; to communicate; to have common interest; a state of being together; communion; community; association for religious and spiritual purposes. It is noteworthy to understand that believer’s in the early church did not function independently. They recognized the power, life, and unity that’s released through true Christian fellowship, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity…For there the LORD commanded the blessing, life forevermore.” (Psalm 133) Jesus said it this way, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18.20)
The nature of fellowship or community was first established within the three persons of the Godhead; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God desired to establish community on earth and He did so through the first family, Adam and Eve. Man was given the choice to enjoy community on earth with one another, and also with God. Choice is at the center of community and is what makes it a powerful experience. It is not something that can be forced into operation; on the contrary, it must be something that one desires. Knowing this, we can better understand God's desire to create community on earth. We also can see the destructive nature of broken fellowship that the first community on earth experienced which has affected the entire human race.
Today, in our individual lives we are faced with the issue of fellowship/community once again. Our busy lives can become a crutch that keeps us focused on our own kingdom and not see the power and life that can be experienced through daily fellowship with one another. After God had established community on earth, Satan came along and proposes his own plan to Eve which Adam also bought into. Satan's plan seemed to be attractive to Eve but in fact was full of deception. Man was now faced with choice; and the choice that he made was an act of disobedience so tragic it caused the breakdown of community and fellowship.
Not only had community been twisted between God and man, but also between man and woman, “And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis . 3.8) The fellowship which God intended between Himself and man was now broken and the very essence of community on earth would suffer unimaginable consequences, “Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him." (Genesis. 4.8) Can you fathom that? By the second generation of man, the first murder has taken place. Not only did Cain kill his brother Able, but Cain was driven away and became a fugitive and a vagabond. (Genesis. 4.14)
We must come to understand that Satan continues to work at keeping the children of God from fellowship and community because he knows the power that is released. Look at Gods response to the people in the land of Shinar when they came as one to build a tower and make a name for themselves, "And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them." (Genesis 11:6) Look at the power releases in community. These people were spiritually dead yet they saw what community could accomplish. The church has the Holy Spirit, so now think how much more power can be released in just one congregation functioning this way. Now, think how much power would be released if the entire church would come into fellowship/community with one another.
It takes individual choice to build community. It also takes a desire to see the church become even more powerful and influential than it has ever been. The creation of man reveals an important key to living in fellowship/community, "Then God said,"Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..." (Genesis 1:26) The apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children." (Ephesians 5:1) Man was made in the image and likeness of God so with that in mind believers should then talk and act like God. One of the ways we imitate God is through community. As mentioned above, the nature of fellowship or community was first established within the three persons of the Godhead; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So let's imitate God by choosing to be an active part of Christian community.
The nature of fellowship or community was first established within the three persons of the Godhead; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God desired to establish community on earth and He did so through the first family, Adam and Eve. Man was given the choice to enjoy community on earth with one another, and also with God. Choice is at the center of community and is what makes it a powerful experience. It is not something that can be forced into operation; on the contrary, it must be something that one desires. Knowing this, we can better understand God's desire to create community on earth. We also can see the destructive nature of broken fellowship that the first community on earth experienced which has affected the entire human race.
Today, in our individual lives we are faced with the issue of fellowship/community once again. Our busy lives can become a crutch that keeps us focused on our own kingdom and not see the power and life that can be experienced through daily fellowship with one another. After God had established community on earth, Satan came along and proposes his own plan to Eve which Adam also bought into. Satan's plan seemed to be attractive to Eve but in fact was full of deception. Man was now faced with choice; and the choice that he made was an act of disobedience so tragic it caused the breakdown of community and fellowship.
Not only had community been twisted between God and man, but also between man and woman, “And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis . 3.8) The fellowship which God intended between Himself and man was now broken and the very essence of community on earth would suffer unimaginable consequences, “Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him." (Genesis. 4.8) Can you fathom that? By the second generation of man, the first murder has taken place. Not only did Cain kill his brother Able, but Cain was driven away and became a fugitive and a vagabond. (Genesis. 4.14)
We must come to understand that Satan continues to work at keeping the children of God from fellowship and community because he knows the power that is released. Look at Gods response to the people in the land of Shinar when they came as one to build a tower and make a name for themselves, "And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them." (Genesis 11:6) Look at the power releases in community. These people were spiritually dead yet they saw what community could accomplish. The church has the Holy Spirit, so now think how much more power can be released in just one congregation functioning this way. Now, think how much power would be released if the entire church would come into fellowship/community with one another.
It takes individual choice to build community. It also takes a desire to see the church become even more powerful and influential than it has ever been. The creation of man reveals an important key to living in fellowship/community, "Then God said,"Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..." (Genesis 1:26) The apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children." (Ephesians 5:1) Man was made in the image and likeness of God so with that in mind believers should then talk and act like God. One of the ways we imitate God is through community. As mentioned above, the nature of fellowship or community was first established within the three persons of the Godhead; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So let's imitate God by choosing to be an active part of Christian community.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Let's Get Down to Business
Prayer is a vital part of the believers life. In his book, E.M. Bounds on Prayer, Bounds states, “Prayer is the medium of divine revelation. It is through prayer that God reveals Himself to the spiritual soul today, just as in the Old Testament days He made His revelations to the people who prayed. God shows Himself to the person who prays.” The Lord desires, not only to have His children pray to Him, but have communion with Him through prayer. Prayer has many meanings such as: to ask; to beseech; to call to one’s aid; communicating with God; an act of communion with God.
The act of communion with God involves more than just praying in a general sense. In fact Jesus tells us what ineffective prayer is, "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words." (Matthew 6:7) He also tells us how to pray effectively,
"For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (Mark 11:23-24)
The apostle John reveals a very important key for us when it comes to asking the Lord for anything, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."(1 John 5:14-15) So how can we know that what we ask Him is according to His will? How can we move from hoping that He will answer our request to having assured confidence that He will answer?
Peter says it this way, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." (2 Peter 1:2-3) and the writer of Hebrews says, "Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1:3)
Take notice to two important things here. First we see that "His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." So when we pray we must believe that He has given us "all things that pertain to life and godliness." But how do we acquire "all things that pertain to life and godliness?" Through having knowledge of Jesus Christ. This is not sense knowledge, that which we understand in our minds, but revelation knowledge, that which is conceived in the spirit.
The other thing that we must understand is, upholding all things by the word of His power. Notice that it does not say that power of His word. Literally, God's Word is His power or His power is manifest by His Word(s). A great example of this is in creation, "Then God said...and it was so." (Genesis 1). So, if His power is in His Word(s) (which it is) and His power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Christ, (which He has) then praying the Word of God is the way that we can, as John said, "...that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.". His Word is His Will and His Will is His Word.
So, let us no longer just talk at the Lord with many words, but pray His word knowing, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) God's Word get results every time if, one, "does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them..." In short, we pray His Word, believing that we have already received the petitions that we have asked of Him and His promise is, you will have them.
The act of communion with God involves more than just praying in a general sense. In fact Jesus tells us what ineffective prayer is, "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words." (Matthew 6:7) He also tells us how to pray effectively,
"For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (Mark 11:23-24)
The apostle John reveals a very important key for us when it comes to asking the Lord for anything, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."(1 John 5:14-15) So how can we know that what we ask Him is according to His will? How can we move from hoping that He will answer our request to having assured confidence that He will answer?
Peter says it this way, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." (2 Peter 1:2-3) and the writer of Hebrews says, "Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1:3)
Take notice to two important things here. First we see that "His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." So when we pray we must believe that He has given us "all things that pertain to life and godliness." But how do we acquire "all things that pertain to life and godliness?" Through having knowledge of Jesus Christ. This is not sense knowledge, that which we understand in our minds, but revelation knowledge, that which is conceived in the spirit.
The other thing that we must understand is, upholding all things by the word of His power. Notice that it does not say that power of His word. Literally, God's Word is His power or His power is manifest by His Word(s). A great example of this is in creation, "Then God said...and it was so." (Genesis 1). So, if His power is in His Word(s) (which it is) and His power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Christ, (which He has) then praying the Word of God is the way that we can, as John said, "...that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.". His Word is His Will and His Will is His Word.
So, let us no longer just talk at the Lord with many words, but pray His word knowing, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) God's Word get results every time if, one, "does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them..." In short, we pray His Word, believing that we have already received the petitions that we have asked of Him and His promise is, you will have them.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Do You Have Any ID?
In the natural realm, there are various forms of identification (id) that are used as a legal means of proving a person's identity. Some forms of identification that are acceptable are such things as; a Picture Divers License, US Military Card, Social Security Card, Birth Certificate or a Passport. In the spiritual realm, people also have an identification. A person has either confessed Jesus as Lord and received Him as Savior, which identifies him/her with Christ and is spiritually alive or a person has not made a profession of faith in Christ, is identified with Satan and is spiritually dead. For you who have made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, do you really understand the scope of what that means? Do you know that it means more that just a ticket to heaven?
The church has been strong in much of its teaching on man's need of righteousness. However, many believers are taught over and over that they are no more than sinners saved by grace. They are taught that God is righteous, holy, just and unapproachable and is always on "the look out" to discover sin and then lower the hammer of condemnation. This kind of teaching has painted a wrong picture of God and has cause numerous believers to live out their Christianity under the burden of thinking that they will never be able to please God. Even many of the songs put redemption off until the believer passes from this life to the next. Many songs say such things as; when we get to heaven we will have rest or victory or we will finally be an overcomer or finally have peace. There seems to be an underlying current that says in this life all we get to experience is failure, misery and disappointment. These things have kept believers filled with sin consciousness which erodes the little faith that they have. However, the Word of God is truth and the truth shall set you free.
The following verses are what are called identification scriptures. Although not all inclusive, take your time reading and meditating on them. As you do, you will start to identify with who you really are in Christ and begin living the abundant life that Jesus promises right here on earth for all people who come to Him as Lord and Savior...
The church has been strong in much of its teaching on man's need of righteousness. However, many believers are taught over and over that they are no more than sinners saved by grace. They are taught that God is righteous, holy, just and unapproachable and is always on "the look out" to discover sin and then lower the hammer of condemnation. This kind of teaching has painted a wrong picture of God and has cause numerous believers to live out their Christianity under the burden of thinking that they will never be able to please God. Even many of the songs put redemption off until the believer passes from this life to the next. Many songs say such things as; when we get to heaven we will have rest or victory or we will finally be an overcomer or finally have peace. There seems to be an underlying current that says in this life all we get to experience is failure, misery and disappointment. These things have kept believers filled with sin consciousness which erodes the little faith that they have. However, the Word of God is truth and the truth shall set you free.
The following verses are what are called identification scriptures. Although not all inclusive, take your time reading and meditating on them. As you do, you will start to identify with who you really are in Christ and begin living the abundant life that Jesus promises right here on earth for all people who come to Him as Lord and Savior...
- I am fearfully and wonderfully made through Jesus Christ (Psalm 139:14)
- I am a child of God through Jesus Christ (John 1:12)
- I am chosen by Jesus Christ (John 15:16)
- I am Justified and have right standing with God through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1)
- I am free from sin through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:18)
- I am free from condemnation in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1)
- I am an heir with God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17)
- I am free from any condemning charges against me in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:31-34)
- I am free from the lie of not being loved through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:38-39)
- I am the temple of God through Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:16)
- I am joined to the Lord Jesus Christ and I am one spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17)
- I am able to live victorious through Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57)
- I am a new creature in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- I am the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- I am free from the yoke of bondage through Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:1)
- I am adopted by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:5)
- I am redeemed, and forgiven because of the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7)
- I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6)
- I am a citizen of heaven through Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20)
- I am able to do all things through Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:13)
- I am redeemed and forgiven in Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:14)
- I am complete in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:10)
- I am hidden with Jesus Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)
- I am permitted access into the presence of God through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 5:16)
- I am chosen, royal, holy and special to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:9)
- I am a partaker of Gods divine nature through Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4)
Monday, July 2, 2012
Play it Again Sam
I wrote a recent article entitled "I Really Doubt It." In it I share a story of a women who became so discouraged that she left the church and began to blame the LORD when things did not go right. The discouragement had left her in a place where she did not expect God to fix any of her problems. This came as a result of reading a book by a well know Christian author who basically discredits the supernatural as not being a part of the church today as it was in the early church. Unfortunately, this very issue has cropped up again and brought to my attention by another believer who struggles with understanding God's will when it comes to healing.
I received an email from a believer that asked me if I would watch a particular video that they included in their email which was linked to a particular website. The video was a discussion between two well known figures from Christian circles. As I watched and listened, I was excited to hear their opening statements concerning the power of God. The one person was praising God for all the supernatural things that He is doing around the world. All kinds of miracles, healing and deliverance from demons. However, shortly after all the praises of the wonderful things of God, (which happened to be what the video was really about) was this, "God doesn't heal everybody. He chooses who He wants to heal and who He doesn't want healed." This statement was based on a young Christian woman that was seriously injured, received pray and was not healed. We must ask ourselves, "Why does God seem to do the supernatural all around the world but little to none in the USA?" There are many answers to this question, but the one that I believe is at the top of the list is a statement that Jesus made, "...Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)
According to Numbers 19:23, "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" In other words, God is incapable of saying anything but the truth. Jesus said, "...Your word (God's Word) is truth." (John 17:17) Furthermore, Numbers says, "...Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" In other words, God does exactly what His Word says. As He is eternal, so His Word is also eternal. It does not change with time and space nor does it change because people choose not to believe it or negotiate it away do to their personal belief or actually their unbelief.
The people in the video, like many others in the church today, made their statements about God not always healing with no regard to scripture, but personal experience. If this is not sad enough, they also indirectly made the church in the USA out to be an organization where healing is unpredictable because God picks and chooses who He wants to heal. Keep in mind Numbers 23:19 and look at what Jesus says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:7-11)
Take notice to the words in this passage, "For EVERYONE who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Does this sound like a God who picks and chooses who receives healing and who doesn't? Next, Jesus asks some questions concerning the care and desire of human parents to their children. He then concludes with a powerful statement and promise, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Look what the apostle John tells us, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14-15) Observing these two passages (there are numerous other with the same thought) it should be obvious and unfortunate, that many believers do not know the will of God and therefore do not have the faith to believe Him for what He has given to the redeemed through Jesus Christ.
If we could take the best of the best parents on the entire earth and mold them into one super parent they would fall millions of miles short of the greatest parent of all, our Heavenly Father. Let's look at the statement again that was spoken on the video, "but God doesn't heal everybody. He chooses who He wants to heal and who He doesn't want healed." How many parents who had just given birth to twins would say to one, "I am going to make sure that you are always provided for and protected" and then say to another child "I chose not to provide for you or protect you." Of course no parent in their right mind would say something so ridiculous. The Bible repeated tells us that the believer is a child of God. (John 1:12, Romans 8:15-16,
1 John 3:1) Do we some how suppose that God will take care of one of His children and heal them and not another? Do we suppose that God is a respecter of persons when scripture says the contrary? (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11) Can you see the twisted human logic in a statement such as "God doesn't heal everybody. He chooses who He wants to heal and who He doesn't want healed." Notice that I said "human logic." There is certainly no faith in a statement like that, only human logic or reasoning.
Why is it that Christians do not want to admit that it is not God who is holding back, but a lack of faith in their own life. I believe the root stems from pride. Why do I say pride? James and Peter tells us, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5) Grace is the ability and desire to do God's Will (Philippians 2:13) A lack of grace due to pride results in a lack of the ability and desire to do God's Will. Plus there is one other thing to consider. It is difficult, especially for church leaders to admit that they do not have enough faith to lay hands on the sick for them to recover. They look for a disclaimer, that is, someone or something to blame (in this case the LORD, although indirectly) by saying that no one truly understands His ways. Of course they site Isaiah 55:8-9 which was 750 years before the restoration of humanity through Christ. They should consider what the apostle Paul says, "...but we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:16)
It grieves me to hear believers say that God's Will is a mystery when Jesus said, "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also...He who has seen Me has seen the Father..." (John 14:7, 9) and the apostle Paul tells us, "having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself." (Ephesians 1:9) Honestly, God's Will is not a mystery. It's that God's children do not exercise faith by acting on God's Word. Instead of having an excuse let practice building up our faith in His Word, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
(Romans 10:17) and watch Him do the supernatural through the entire world using ordinary people like you and me who must have this one thing in place in our lives. We must believe and act on God's Word, period!!!
I received an email from a believer that asked me if I would watch a particular video that they included in their email which was linked to a particular website. The video was a discussion between two well known figures from Christian circles. As I watched and listened, I was excited to hear their opening statements concerning the power of God. The one person was praising God for all the supernatural things that He is doing around the world. All kinds of miracles, healing and deliverance from demons. However, shortly after all the praises of the wonderful things of God, (which happened to be what the video was really about) was this, "God doesn't heal everybody. He chooses who He wants to heal and who He doesn't want healed." This statement was based on a young Christian woman that was seriously injured, received pray and was not healed. We must ask ourselves, "Why does God seem to do the supernatural all around the world but little to none in the USA?" There are many answers to this question, but the one that I believe is at the top of the list is a statement that Jesus made, "...Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)
According to Numbers 19:23, "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" In other words, God is incapable of saying anything but the truth. Jesus said, "...Your word (God's Word) is truth." (John 17:17) Furthermore, Numbers says, "...Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" In other words, God does exactly what His Word says. As He is eternal, so His Word is also eternal. It does not change with time and space nor does it change because people choose not to believe it or negotiate it away do to their personal belief or actually their unbelief.
The people in the video, like many others in the church today, made their statements about God not always healing with no regard to scripture, but personal experience. If this is not sad enough, they also indirectly made the church in the USA out to be an organization where healing is unpredictable because God picks and chooses who He wants to heal. Keep in mind Numbers 23:19 and look at what Jesus says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:7-11)
Take notice to the words in this passage, "For EVERYONE who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Does this sound like a God who picks and chooses who receives healing and who doesn't? Next, Jesus asks some questions concerning the care and desire of human parents to their children. He then concludes with a powerful statement and promise, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Look what the apostle John tells us, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14-15) Observing these two passages (there are numerous other with the same thought) it should be obvious and unfortunate, that many believers do not know the will of God and therefore do not have the faith to believe Him for what He has given to the redeemed through Jesus Christ.
If we could take the best of the best parents on the entire earth and mold them into one super parent they would fall millions of miles short of the greatest parent of all, our Heavenly Father. Let's look at the statement again that was spoken on the video, "but God doesn't heal everybody. He chooses who He wants to heal and who He doesn't want healed." How many parents who had just given birth to twins would say to one, "I am going to make sure that you are always provided for and protected" and then say to another child "I chose not to provide for you or protect you." Of course no parent in their right mind would say something so ridiculous. The Bible repeated tells us that the believer is a child of God. (John 1:12, Romans 8:15-16,
1 John 3:1) Do we some how suppose that God will take care of one of His children and heal them and not another? Do we suppose that God is a respecter of persons when scripture says the contrary? (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11) Can you see the twisted human logic in a statement such as "God doesn't heal everybody. He chooses who He wants to heal and who He doesn't want healed." Notice that I said "human logic." There is certainly no faith in a statement like that, only human logic or reasoning.
Why is it that Christians do not want to admit that it is not God who is holding back, but a lack of faith in their own life. I believe the root stems from pride. Why do I say pride? James and Peter tells us, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5) Grace is the ability and desire to do God's Will (Philippians 2:13) A lack of grace due to pride results in a lack of the ability and desire to do God's Will. Plus there is one other thing to consider. It is difficult, especially for church leaders to admit that they do not have enough faith to lay hands on the sick for them to recover. They look for a disclaimer, that is, someone or something to blame (in this case the LORD, although indirectly) by saying that no one truly understands His ways. Of course they site Isaiah 55:8-9 which was 750 years before the restoration of humanity through Christ. They should consider what the apostle Paul says, "...but we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:16)
It grieves me to hear believers say that God's Will is a mystery when Jesus said, "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also...He who has seen Me has seen the Father..." (John 14:7, 9) and the apostle Paul tells us, "having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself." (Ephesians 1:9) Honestly, God's Will is not a mystery. It's that God's children do not exercise faith by acting on God's Word. Instead of having an excuse let practice building up our faith in His Word, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
(Romans 10:17) and watch Him do the supernatural through the entire world using ordinary people like you and me who must have this one thing in place in our lives. We must believe and act on God's Word, period!!!
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