As believers, we can get caught up in the many activities that our congregation may have. But are there true disciple being made? "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 the 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." (Matthew 28:18-20) A disciple is a follower of Jesus and His teachings. However, the word disciple also means, a pupil, student, adherent, learner and apprentice. With this in mind, let's look at the command that Jesus gave His disciples concerning making other disciples.
The reality is, this is not a suggestion or an option. Jesus is giving a command. He is saying, go make pupils, students, adherents, learners and or apprentices to follow Me and my teachings. Notice, that Jesus is talking to His pupils, students, adherents, learners and or apprentices, disciples. He tells them to go and do what He had taught them and emulated before them. In the gospel of Mark, Jesus puts it this way, "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18) Again, this is a command. Every one who believes, is to emulate Jesus and His earthly ministry.
The apostle Paul said, "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1) This is a key to understanding the importance of discipleship for today because it falls in line with what Jesus spoke to His disciples in Matthew 28:18-20. Paul is telling the church, to follow him as an example of one who is following Christ. He is saying that he has made Christ his example and model in all things, and if the church were to follow Christ as he follows Him, they will not fall into error. Notice that Paul is only using himself as an example of one sold out to Christ and that if believers were to follow his example, they will never go astray. This is one of the reason why discipleship is so important, especially in the church today.
We must also note that not all of Paul's letters were written to a church, but also to individuals that he personally discipled, like Timothy and Titus. Paul is not using his position as a means of control or abuse, but he is very personal in his approach to them, "To Timothy, a true son in the faith:" (1 Timothy 1:2), "To Titus, a true son in our common faith:" (Titus 1:4) Paul gives these men personal counsel which in a sense demands these two men to keep moving towards Christ. He also gives them (us) some of the best information on church structure and order. Again, the focus is on intimating Christ not Paul.
For the church to become the "Bride" without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, it must become a church of faith, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6) Not some general faith where we say we believe God's Word and never act on it, but a faith that produces fruit and pleases God. The church must become a place where making disciples is a way of life and that it is more important than all the other programs and activities. Jesus tells His disciples (us), "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)
The day of "Go, make disciples" is upon us and if we truly want to see revival, this is the way it will happen, obeying Jesus' command. We see this clearly in the ministry of the early church, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers...many wonders and signs were done through the apostles...And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:42-43, 47) "And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women." (Acts 5:14) "Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number..." (Acts 6:1) "The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples
continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the
priests were becoming obedient to the faith." (Acts 6:7) "Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied." (Acts 9:31) "And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord." (Acts 11:21) "For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord." (Acts 11:24) "So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily." (Acts 16:5)
Seeing these wonderful example of church growth, or better yet, kingdom expansion, through discipleship is exciting. Let us all latch onto the commandment of the Lord and Go, make disciples. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all...
Monday, September 24, 2018
Monday, September 17, 2018
What's The Report
The Prophet Isaiah brings us, most likely, the greatest revelation of Messiah prior to His advent. Although he is used of God to announce the purpose of Messiah, God knows the heart of man and begins one of the passages of scripture revealing the Messiah by asking a very important question, "Who has believed our report?" (Isaiah 53:1) Basically, the Holy Spirit, in speaking to Isaiah is saying, "What I AM saying and about to say, would scarcely be believed by anyone." Isaiah refers to the fact that his message and those of the other prophets, "our report" had been for the most part rejected. He groups himself with the other prophets, and says that the Word of the Lord which they had spoken concerning Messiah had been, for the most part, disregarded.
Interestingly enough, Isaiah's question appears two more times in scripture. Once in John 12:38 and again in Romans 10:16. This time, like in the past, it is focused around people not believing in, Messiah, Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself faced unbelief mostly from the religious community, especially the religious leaders of the time. In the account in Romans 10, the Apostle Paul was also dealing with unbelief among the Jews concerning Christ. Unfortunately today, in many sectors of the church, unbelief has also infiltrated the ranks of church leaders who pass it along to the church. Sure most evangelicals believe that rebirth is only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, but what about healing of the body and mind or deliverance from being demonized. Why are these things pasted off as not Gods will for today when they are clearly as much of a part of redemption as rebirth?
The problem is revealed in the ministry of Jesus, "Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again, He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them." (John 12:39-40) The writer of Hebrews also sheds some Light on this, "For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it." (Hebrews 4:2) The problem is a lack of faith. This same question is significant to us today if we are to see and experience Gods entire redemptive plan manifest on the earth. However, the only way that believers will see and experience Gods entire plan of redemption is to see it through the eyes of faith.
Isaiah tells us, "Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all...Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief and made Him sick..." (Isaiah 53:4-6, 10 AMP)
This passage reveals to us a good portion of God's brilliant, merciful, glorious plan of redemption. Although many today have limited redemption to only regeneration, the fact is, regeneration is only a small part of the total plan of redemption. The Hebrew words borne, griefs, carried, wounded, transgressions, bruised, iniquities, chastisement, stripes and healed opens a wonderful picture of what Messiah would come to earth to do. This was not simply for a season or for a particular dispensation, but for eternity. God's complete, comprehensive plan of Redemption, in which some things have been revealed by Isaiah, is eternal and available to all who put faith in Jesus Christ. The following is a compilation of the definitions of these words placed in sentence form.
Surely He has taken away, carried away, cast away, all of our anxieties, calamities, diseases and sicknesses (pains of the body). He has taken the burden of our pains of the mind, yet we esteemed Him stricken by Gods divine judgment and afflicted as though He had sinned. His skin was breached by violence because of our rebellion, sin and trespasses. He was beaten to pieces because of our perversity, evil and sin. Discipline and correction was brought upon Him so that Gods peace and favor would be upon us, and by His bruises, hurts and wounds we are cured, repaired and thoroughly made whole. This is the report and it is as true and available today as it was when it was spoken by Isaiah. PTL
So, let us all, every believer, come to the place where faith in God's Word is above all reasoning, intellectualism and logic and simply "Believe God's Report!"
Interestingly enough, Isaiah's question appears two more times in scripture. Once in John 12:38 and again in Romans 10:16. This time, like in the past, it is focused around people not believing in, Messiah, Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself faced unbelief mostly from the religious community, especially the religious leaders of the time. In the account in Romans 10, the Apostle Paul was also dealing with unbelief among the Jews concerning Christ. Unfortunately today, in many sectors of the church, unbelief has also infiltrated the ranks of church leaders who pass it along to the church. Sure most evangelicals believe that rebirth is only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, but what about healing of the body and mind or deliverance from being demonized. Why are these things pasted off as not Gods will for today when they are clearly as much of a part of redemption as rebirth?
The problem is revealed in the ministry of Jesus, "Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again, He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them." (John 12:39-40) The writer of Hebrews also sheds some Light on this, "For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it." (Hebrews 4:2) The problem is a lack of faith. This same question is significant to us today if we are to see and experience Gods entire redemptive plan manifest on the earth. However, the only way that believers will see and experience Gods entire plan of redemption is to see it through the eyes of faith.
Isaiah tells us, "Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all...Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief and made Him sick..." (Isaiah 53:4-6, 10 AMP)
This passage reveals to us a good portion of God's brilliant, merciful, glorious plan of redemption. Although many today have limited redemption to only regeneration, the fact is, regeneration is only a small part of the total plan of redemption. The Hebrew words borne, griefs, carried, wounded, transgressions, bruised, iniquities, chastisement, stripes and healed opens a wonderful picture of what Messiah would come to earth to do. This was not simply for a season or for a particular dispensation, but for eternity. God's complete, comprehensive plan of Redemption, in which some things have been revealed by Isaiah, is eternal and available to all who put faith in Jesus Christ. The following is a compilation of the definitions of these words placed in sentence form.
Surely He has taken away, carried away, cast away, all of our anxieties, calamities, diseases and sicknesses (pains of the body). He has taken the burden of our pains of the mind, yet we esteemed Him stricken by Gods divine judgment and afflicted as though He had sinned. His skin was breached by violence because of our rebellion, sin and trespasses. He was beaten to pieces because of our perversity, evil and sin. Discipline and correction was brought upon Him so that Gods peace and favor would be upon us, and by His bruises, hurts and wounds we are cured, repaired and thoroughly made whole. This is the report and it is as true and available today as it was when it was spoken by Isaiah. PTL
So, let us all, every believer, come to the place where faith in God's Word is above all reasoning, intellectualism and logic and simply "Believe God's Report!"
Monday, September 10, 2018
What Problem
In a quick summary of Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus tells us that worry robs us of life because when we worry it shows a lack of faith, "...O you of little faith." Jesus tells us that we are not to place our affections on material things, not even our very life, "Therefore I say to you, do
not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink;
nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food
and the body more than clothing?" What He does tell us, is that our focus is to be on "seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." Why? Because "your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." Jesus also tells us that we are of more value than all other created things.
The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul addresses the same issue, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6) Although to be anxious can be, in a sense, a good thing such as, "I am anxious to do the outreach that we have scheduled on Saturday," the Apostle Paul is using it in the context with, experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome, worry. The Amplified Version puts the first portion of Philippians 4:6 this way, "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything..."
The next part of Philippians 4:6 in the Amplified Version tells us, “...But in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.”(AMP) Therefore, a believers response through faith should be, "Father God, you said do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, so I am going to commit myself and my circumstance to you and do what Your Word tells me do. I choose not to fret or have any anxiety about anything. This problem is no longer mine, I give it to you and I thank you that you will work it out, in Jesus Name. I also stand on your promise, "...that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
If we apply faith, this is an easy thing to do. However, for most believers it really isn't easy. Many believers have been raised where a parent, family member or someone they were close to were worriers and they themselves have adopted the same habit. We also know that the devil will use his arsenal to rob people from believing God. He used deception, although not specifically worry or anxiety, all the way back in the Garden of Eden to get the woman to reason that maybe God was not being completely honest. The devil deception continues today whether believers accept it or not. This is why the Apostle Paul reveals to us, that believers are to "Cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Although the devil may try to use worry and or anxiety to sway the believe from faith in God's Word, we simply apply faith to God's Word, and boldly say to the devil, "Satan, worry and anxiety are not from God they come from you. So you take these things and leave me in the name of Jesus. I choose to cast my care upon the Lord because He affectionately and watchfully care for me." We say this with all confidence in God's Word because God also promises, "and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
As believers take a more aggressive part of no longer focusing upon problems, but on, "seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness" and "fighting the good fight of faith," they will enjoy more of the abundant life here on earth that Jesus said He came to bring. God's Word has the solution to any and every problem that believers may face, "His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness..." (2 Peter 1:3) So, if the devil tries to put worry or anxiety on you, simply respond to God's Word, "So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 AMP).
The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul addresses the same issue, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6) Although to be anxious can be, in a sense, a good thing such as, "I am anxious to do the outreach that we have scheduled on Saturday," the Apostle Paul is using it in the context with, experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome, worry. The Amplified Version puts the first portion of Philippians 4:6 this way, "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything..."
The next part of Philippians 4:6 in the Amplified Version tells us, “...But in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.”(AMP) Therefore, a believers response through faith should be, "Father God, you said do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, so I am going to commit myself and my circumstance to you and do what Your Word tells me do. I choose not to fret or have any anxiety about anything. This problem is no longer mine, I give it to you and I thank you that you will work it out, in Jesus Name. I also stand on your promise, "...that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
If we apply faith, this is an easy thing to do. However, for most believers it really isn't easy. Many believers have been raised where a parent, family member or someone they were close to were worriers and they themselves have adopted the same habit. We also know that the devil will use his arsenal to rob people from believing God. He used deception, although not specifically worry or anxiety, all the way back in the Garden of Eden to get the woman to reason that maybe God was not being completely honest. The devil deception continues today whether believers accept it or not. This is why the Apostle Paul reveals to us, that believers are to "Cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Although the devil may try to use worry and or anxiety to sway the believe from faith in God's Word, we simply apply faith to God's Word, and boldly say to the devil, "Satan, worry and anxiety are not from God they come from you. So you take these things and leave me in the name of Jesus. I choose to cast my care upon the Lord because He affectionately and watchfully care for me." We say this with all confidence in God's Word because God also promises, "and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
As believers take a more aggressive part of no longer focusing upon problems, but on, "seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness" and "fighting the good fight of faith," they will enjoy more of the abundant life here on earth that Jesus said He came to bring. God's Word has the solution to any and every problem that believers may face, "His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness..." (2 Peter 1:3) So, if the devil tries to put worry or anxiety on you, simply respond to God's Word, "So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 AMP).
Monday, September 3, 2018
The Splendor of the Lord
In His final instruction to His disciples concerning all believers to come, Jesus said, "Father,
I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am,
that they may behold My glory which You have given Me..." (John 17:24) The word "behold" in this verse means more than to perceive with the eyes, but moreover, to enjoy the presence. Jesus would not have said this if it were not possible for believers to encounter. It is important that we understand that Jesus was not simply talking of His glory as the risen Lord now seated in heaven, but also His glory manifesting on earth. This should be a desire of all believers, that is, to have and enjoy the glory of the Lord manifesting in the here and now on earth. Why?
The glory of God releases and produces something in the hearts of people that cannot be received directly through hearing teachings, reading books, or receiving an anointing through the laying on of hands, even though these are good things to do and can point us to the glory. However, if we sincerely want to be changed and transformed, we must have an insatiable desire to enter into His glory, into His presence. The Psalmist David said, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name." (Psalm 100:4) and "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy..." (Psalm 16:11) It is in His presence where believers will experience things that are, "...exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think..."
(Ephesians 3:20) It is the place where we "all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18)
However, to experience continuous transformation, we also need to know how to respond when the glory of God manifests. There is no formula, method, or manual regarding how to do this, but we must be prepared for His presence to come. Sometimes, His presence comes to heal or deliver, and people are aware of it, but they do nothing about it; they don't respond in faith. Even though God acts according to His sovereign will concerning this, our part is to worship Him, or to say, "Lord,I receive my healing. I receive my deliverance." We have to respond to Him when His presence comes. If we have wrong attitudes towards His presence, we may find ourselves missing His coming. This very thing happened to Jacob, "Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” (Genesis 28:16) Even worse, we may find ourselves grieving the Holy Spirit.
As we see, it is possible for us to be in the same place where the glory of God is present and not realize it. His presence is a gift so, let us not ignore or reject Him. God does not manifest His presence where He is simply tolerated, He comes where He is celebrated. We need to remain sensitive to how the Spirit of God is moving. The next time we recognize His presence, we can respond in faith and worship. When Jacob did realize that God was with him, he set up a pillar, marking the place, and anointed it with oil. (Genesis 28:17-18)
I believe God is raising up a new generation of men and women of all ages who will know how to respond to His presence. This generation will thirst for His glory to manifest on earth. The darkness in the world will become denser each day, and wickedness will multiply, but the manifestation of God on earth will also become more powerful with each passing moment, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:10, 13) It will be this generation of believers, of every age, every nation and tongue, that will impact the world and gather the greatest harvest of souls ever seen.
I believe that entire cities and nations will be shaken by His glory and we will see some of the greatest miracles, signs, and wonders taking place where they will recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior. My question to you is this; are you willing to be transformed and be a part of the new generation? If your answer is yes, God will take care of everything because He does not want His people to waste their time following religious norms. He wants us to enjoy the highest dimension of His glory. So, let us move on to perfection in and through His glory.
"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen." Jude 24-25)
The glory of God releases and produces something in the hearts of people that cannot be received directly through hearing teachings, reading books, or receiving an anointing through the laying on of hands, even though these are good things to do and can point us to the glory. However, if we sincerely want to be changed and transformed, we must have an insatiable desire to enter into His glory, into His presence. The Psalmist David said, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name." (Psalm 100:4) and "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy..." (Psalm 16:11) It is in His presence where believers will experience things that are, "...exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think..."
(Ephesians 3:20) It is the place where we "all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18)
However, to experience continuous transformation, we also need to know how to respond when the glory of God manifests. There is no formula, method, or manual regarding how to do this, but we must be prepared for His presence to come. Sometimes, His presence comes to heal or deliver, and people are aware of it, but they do nothing about it; they don't respond in faith. Even though God acts according to His sovereign will concerning this, our part is to worship Him, or to say, "Lord,I receive my healing. I receive my deliverance." We have to respond to Him when His presence comes. If we have wrong attitudes towards His presence, we may find ourselves missing His coming. This very thing happened to Jacob, "Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” (Genesis 28:16) Even worse, we may find ourselves grieving the Holy Spirit.
As we see, it is possible for us to be in the same place where the glory of God is present and not realize it. His presence is a gift so, let us not ignore or reject Him. God does not manifest His presence where He is simply tolerated, He comes where He is celebrated. We need to remain sensitive to how the Spirit of God is moving. The next time we recognize His presence, we can respond in faith and worship. When Jacob did realize that God was with him, he set up a pillar, marking the place, and anointed it with oil. (Genesis 28:17-18)
I believe God is raising up a new generation of men and women of all ages who will know how to respond to His presence. This generation will thirst for His glory to manifest on earth. The darkness in the world will become denser each day, and wickedness will multiply, but the manifestation of God on earth will also become more powerful with each passing moment, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:10, 13) It will be this generation of believers, of every age, every nation and tongue, that will impact the world and gather the greatest harvest of souls ever seen.
I believe that entire cities and nations will be shaken by His glory and we will see some of the greatest miracles, signs, and wonders taking place where they will recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior. My question to you is this; are you willing to be transformed and be a part of the new generation? If your answer is yes, God will take care of everything because He does not want His people to waste their time following religious norms. He wants us to enjoy the highest dimension of His glory. So, let us move on to perfection in and through His glory.
"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen." Jude 24-25)
Monday, August 27, 2018
Laboring More Than All
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, was created by the labor movement in the United States and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed by the Central Labor Union. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers throughout the United States. In 1887 Oregon became the first state of the United States to make Labor Day an official public holiday. By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty U.S. states officially celebrated Labor Day. Today, all the States, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories have made Labor Day a legal holiday.
Man was created to labor in some form. Prior to man's fall we see, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it." (Genesis 2:15) The word "tend" or "dress" (KJV) comes from several Hebrew words meaning, to labor; do work; to work for another; serve another by labor; to make oneself a servant; to be led or enticed to serve. The word "keep" means, to have charge of; to guard; keep watch; protect; observe. We also see in creation, another aspect of mans labors, "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28) Man was to show his fruitfulness, become numerous, make subservient and rule over creation.
The grace of God is available to every believer who desires to receive it and act upon the call, the labors, in which we are called. Every believe has been freely given the wonderful ability and strength of God, from God, "Yet grace (God’s unmerited
favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but
in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and
bounteous] gift." (Ephesians 4:7 AMPC) Even though Adam brought to mankind all of our labors through our own strength and abilities, we see, "For
if because of one man’s (Adam) trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through
that one, much more surely will those who receive [God’s] overflowing
grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them
into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the
one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." (Romans 5:17 AMPC) WOW!!!
Even though we may celebrate Labor Day in the natural as the social and economic achievements of American workers, we believers celebrate the tremendous, stupendous, achievements that the Father worked in Christ. Through Christ and the grace of God, man is completely restored to his legal and rightful place. Man is restored to the place that the Father had originally intended for him, which Adam had forfeited. So, let us keep in mind the very thing that the Apostle Paul said about himself, as it also applies to every believer, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) Therefore, "I (we, every believer) have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]." (Philippians 4:13 AMPC) Thank you for your still amazing grace, LORD...
Man was created to labor in some form. Prior to man's fall we see, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it." (Genesis 2:15) The word "tend" or "dress" (KJV) comes from several Hebrew words meaning, to labor; do work; to work for another; serve another by labor; to make oneself a servant; to be led or enticed to serve. The word "keep" means, to have charge of; to guard; keep watch; protect; observe. We also see in creation, another aspect of mans labors, "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28) Man was to show his fruitfulness, become numerous, make subservient and rule over creation.
With these things in mind, believers must understand that God's plan for man has not changed. The only thing that changed, on man's part, was selling out his God given purpose, to God's enemy, Satan. The laboring that Adam would now do would be, "In toil you shall eat...In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread." (Genesis 3:17-19) Adam's labors would be by his own strength, in toil, sorrow, pain and hardship. This would be his lot in life. This did not fall on Adam alone, but as the federal representative of all mankind, this would also fall upon all the peoples of the earth. Although man's labors would be by his own strength and abilities, the call upon him had not changed in the mind of God. Believers are called to labor, not just in the market place to acquire finances, but moreover, for Jesus the King and the expansion of His Kingdom. In other words, believers are to labor; do work; to make oneself a servant; to have charge of; to
guard; keep watch; protect; observe and to rule over. We see this in the life of Jesus throughout the gospels. Jesus set the example and then gave a command to the disciples and for all who would believe in Him. This is expressed through what we call "The Great Commission."
Jesus tells us, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the 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." (Matthew 28:18-20) The authority of Christ is the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises as well as, the power of rule. Now of course we know that Jesus has the power and authority; He has the ability or strength to exercise and rule, but what about the believer? The Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle Paul tells us,"And
He (God the Father) has put all things under His (Jesus Christ) feet and has appointed Him the
universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised
throughout the church], Which
is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body
lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who
fills everything everywhere with Himself]." (Ephesians 1:22-23 AMPC)
As we can see, God's power and authority is working in Christ and therefore through the church, which is His body. However, this is not upon our strength or ability, but through two most wonderful things, by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8) The Apostle Paul in his labors for Christ tell us, "But by the grace (the
unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace
toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without
effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles],
though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and
blessing) of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10 AMPC) This is how the church, every believe is to labor; do work; to make oneself a servant; to have charge of; to
guard; keep watch; protect; observe and to rule over. It is through the grace of God. One of the best biblical definitions of grace is, "[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually
at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire],
both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." (Philippians 2:13 AMPC)
Even though we may celebrate Labor Day in the natural as the social and economic achievements of American workers, we believers celebrate the tremendous, stupendous, achievements that the Father worked in Christ. Through Christ and the grace of God, man is completely restored to his legal and rightful place. Man is restored to the place that the Father had originally intended for him, which Adam had forfeited. So, let us keep in mind the very thing that the Apostle Paul said about himself, as it also applies to every believer, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) Therefore, "I (we, every believer) have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]." (Philippians 4:13 AMPC) Thank you for your still amazing grace, LORD...
Monday, August 20, 2018
God's Medicine
In defining what faith is, the same verse of scripture also defines hope, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]." (Hebrews 11:1 AMPC) The biblical concepts of faith (belief; a sure persuasion or conviction of the
truth of God's Word) and hope (confident expectation of good in the future) are entirely distinct. We see this revealed by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Notice again, that faith and hope are quite distinct. Faith is the substance, here and now in your heart,
of things that you are hoping for in the future. It is the assured confidence, it is being fully convinced of the reality of things not seen, and those unseen things are what God says in His Word. We also know that faith comes exclusively through the Word of God, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Looking at the Proverbs of Solomon, we find some wise words that show us just how important God's Word is. Although there is much revealed in Proverbs concerning God's Word, our main focus here is only three verses. "My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22)
There are four distinct things to be aware of; Give attention; Incline your ear to God's sayings; Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart. First, "my son, give attention to my words." When God speaks to us, we need to give Him our full and undivided attention. To receive from God comes down to one key point, how we listen. Are we listening with undivided attention to God's Word or are we listening to something else? Giving attention to God's Word is not only the key to opening His promises and blessings, but is the key to receiving and or increasing in faith. Many people read the Bible and never hear God because their minds are on other things. We must put ourselves into a position both spiritually and mentally, that enables us to hear what God is saying.
Second, "Incline your ear to my sayings." Incline here means to bend or bow down, your ear. One cannot bend their ear without also bending the head. Inclining your ear, therefore, means that you are actually inclining your entire head. This implies an attitude of humility as well as one of being teachable, one who is giving attention. An essential requirement for receiving God's Word is to lay down our preconceptions and prejudices, open our ears, and listen carefully to what God says. We must also guard our hearts from rejecting His Word because it doesn't agree with some things that we have been taught as being true. This is why we must look into God's Word without preconceptions and prejudices. We should come to God and say something like this, "Lord, You are the Teacher, I am the student. I am willing to let You teach me, so I bow down my ear, and I listen to You."
The third thing is, "Do not let them depart from your eyes." The key thought here can be summed up in the word focus. With natural eyesight, incorrect focus causes blurred vision. In the same way, unless we focus our spiritual eyes, we will always have a blurred vision of spiritual reality. Jesus said, "The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness." (Luke 11:34) We must read
the Bible with a good eye that affirms, "This is what God says, this is what He means, and I believe it the way it's written."
The fourth thing we see, "Keep them in the midst of your heart." The purpose of giving attention to God's Words, inclining your ear to His sayings and not letting them depart from your eyes, is so that Gods Words and sayings will reach the inner person, the heart. When His Words get to the heart, they will do what is promised. In the natural world, for some medicine to be effective, it has to be released into the bloodstream, or it will not do what it's supposed to do. Spiritually, God's medicine is effective only when it's released in our hearts so that it can flow to every area of our lives. What one has in their heart will determine the course of their life, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) Jesus tells us, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45)
Simply put, if we have the right things in our heart, our life will go right. If we have wrong things in our heart, our life will go wrong. So, let us keep God's Word in the midst of our heart not just in the midst of our mind, because it is going to affect the entire way that we live. Therefore, if we take God's Word according to how He has prescribe it, He guarantees us that His Words "are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." God has given us free will, the right to choose. It is up to every believer to decide whether they will take the prescribed medicine, God's Word, in the way He tells us, that we may find life and health which God has pledged to gives us...
truth of God's Word) and hope (confident expectation of good in the future) are entirely distinct. We see this revealed by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Notice again, that faith and hope are quite distinct. Faith is the substance, here and now in your heart,
of things that you are hoping for in the future. It is the assured confidence, it is being fully convinced of the reality of things not seen, and those unseen things are what God says in His Word. We also know that faith comes exclusively through the Word of God, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Looking at the Proverbs of Solomon, we find some wise words that show us just how important God's Word is. Although there is much revealed in Proverbs concerning God's Word, our main focus here is only three verses. "My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22)
There are four distinct things to be aware of; Give attention; Incline your ear to God's sayings; Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart. First, "my son, give attention to my words." When God speaks to us, we need to give Him our full and undivided attention. To receive from God comes down to one key point, how we listen. Are we listening with undivided attention to God's Word or are we listening to something else? Giving attention to God's Word is not only the key to opening His promises and blessings, but is the key to receiving and or increasing in faith. Many people read the Bible and never hear God because their minds are on other things. We must put ourselves into a position both spiritually and mentally, that enables us to hear what God is saying.
Second, "Incline your ear to my sayings." Incline here means to bend or bow down, your ear. One cannot bend their ear without also bending the head. Inclining your ear, therefore, means that you are actually inclining your entire head. This implies an attitude of humility as well as one of being teachable, one who is giving attention. An essential requirement for receiving God's Word is to lay down our preconceptions and prejudices, open our ears, and listen carefully to what God says. We must also guard our hearts from rejecting His Word because it doesn't agree with some things that we have been taught as being true. This is why we must look into God's Word without preconceptions and prejudices. We should come to God and say something like this, "Lord, You are the Teacher, I am the student. I am willing to let You teach me, so I bow down my ear, and I listen to You."
The third thing is, "Do not let them depart from your eyes." The key thought here can be summed up in the word focus. With natural eyesight, incorrect focus causes blurred vision. In the same way, unless we focus our spiritual eyes, we will always have a blurred vision of spiritual reality. Jesus said, "The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness." (Luke 11:34) We must read
the Bible with a good eye that affirms, "This is what God says, this is what He means, and I believe it the way it's written."
The fourth thing we see, "Keep them in the midst of your heart." The purpose of giving attention to God's Words, inclining your ear to His sayings and not letting them depart from your eyes, is so that Gods Words and sayings will reach the inner person, the heart. When His Words get to the heart, they will do what is promised. In the natural world, for some medicine to be effective, it has to be released into the bloodstream, or it will not do what it's supposed to do. Spiritually, God's medicine is effective only when it's released in our hearts so that it can flow to every area of our lives. What one has in their heart will determine the course of their life, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) Jesus tells us, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45)
Simply put, if we have the right things in our heart, our life will go right. If we have wrong things in our heart, our life will go wrong. So, let us keep God's Word in the midst of our heart not just in the midst of our mind, because it is going to affect the entire way that we live. Therefore, if we take God's Word according to how He has prescribe it, He guarantees us that His Words "are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." God has given us free will, the right to choose. It is up to every believer to decide whether they will take the prescribed medicine, God's Word, in the way He tells us, that we may find life and health which God has pledged to gives us...
Monday, August 13, 2018
I Can Hope, Can't I
The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13) Much time has been spent on understanding faith and love, but Paul shows us that hope is also valid and necessary in the believers life. Paul tells us to "abide" in these three, which means to remain and or continue in. In this verse it denotes remaining in a place or in a state or condition of not changing. In other words, when the other things pass away, such as prophecy, tongues, and knowledge, (1 Corinthians 13:8), the sense here is that faith, hope, and love will always remain and of course the greatest and most important of these three is love.
Looking deeper at this verse, notice that faith and hope are quite distinct. Faith is the substance, here and now in your heart, of things that you are hoping for in the future. It is a sure persuasion and non-negotiable conviction concerning the reality of things not seen, which things are what God says in His Word. The Apostle Paul tells us, "But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5:8) We see that faith and hope are located in different areas. The breastplate, being in the realm of the heart, reveals faith is from the heart, whereas, the helmet the hope, covers the head, shows us that hope is of the mind.
With that said, it is crucial for us to understand the difference between faith and hope, knowing that hope is important to round out the Christian life. Again, the difference between faith and hope is, faith is something that you have right now and hope is directed toward the future. Faith is being fully convinced "now" of the Truth, God's Word, while hope is the confident mental expectation of something good in the "future." This is why the position for the believer is to "guard our heart and mind." Jesus said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45) The Apostle Paul tells us, "...be renewed in the spirit of your mind." (Ephesians 4:23) Therefore, believers are to have hope in their mind for the future, and faith in their heart in the integrity of God's Word for the here and now.
Looking closer at faith and hope, we also see a spiritual connection between these two spiritual realities. The Apostle Paul reveals the connection through the life of Abraham, "Who, (Abraham) contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, so shall your descendants be." (Romans 4:18) Abraham believed, and, as a result, he hoped. Notice that believing, that is, faith, came first, and hoping, or hope, was the product, or the outcome of what he believed. We see this as revealed by the writer of Hebrews, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]." (Hebrews 11:1 AMPC)
We can say that faith is the full assurance on which hope is supported and therefore, faith, produces
hope. Again, faith is in the heart, while hope is in the mind. Faith is in the now, while hope is for the future. Both are essential, but we must have them in the right place and in the right relationship. Next, notice, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13) God is not only the God of power, of righteousness, grace, promises, blessings, etc., but also, the God who inspires or produces hope in the believer through the working of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul reveal a sobering verse of scripture concerning hope and the unsaved, "that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." (Ephesians 2:12)
This verse show us that the unsaved are without three things; without Christ, without hope, and without God the Father. When you are without hope, you are without Christ and without God the Father. It is very sad when we consider this, especially when considering people who we know, who are not born again. However, on the other side of the coin, "the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:26-27) We see here that the gospel centers on this great and wonderful revelation that was kept secret from ages past, but is now revealed to believers, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. When we were lost, we were without Christ, and without hope. But when we have Christ in us, we have the hope of glory, that is, hope for the future as well as hope of eternal life.
The one who has Christ in him/her has hope for a glorious, radiant, confident expectation of eternal glory with almighty God, the holy angels, and the redeemed of all ages. That is what a person has when they have Christ. So, yes, hope has and important part to play in the believers life, but let us not confuse it with faith. Finally, although there is much to say about love, I leave you with this, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)
Looking deeper at this verse, notice that faith and hope are quite distinct. Faith is the substance, here and now in your heart, of things that you are hoping for in the future. It is a sure persuasion and non-negotiable conviction concerning the reality of things not seen, which things are what God says in His Word. The Apostle Paul tells us, "But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5:8) We see that faith and hope are located in different areas. The breastplate, being in the realm of the heart, reveals faith is from the heart, whereas, the helmet the hope, covers the head, shows us that hope is of the mind.
With that said, it is crucial for us to understand the difference between faith and hope, knowing that hope is important to round out the Christian life. Again, the difference between faith and hope is, faith is something that you have right now and hope is directed toward the future. Faith is being fully convinced "now" of the Truth, God's Word, while hope is the confident mental expectation of something good in the "future." This is why the position for the believer is to "guard our heart and mind." Jesus said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45) The Apostle Paul tells us, "...be renewed in the spirit of your mind." (Ephesians 4:23) Therefore, believers are to have hope in their mind for the future, and faith in their heart in the integrity of God's Word for the here and now.
Looking closer at faith and hope, we also see a spiritual connection between these two spiritual realities. The Apostle Paul reveals the connection through the life of Abraham, "Who, (Abraham) contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, so shall your descendants be." (Romans 4:18) Abraham believed, and, as a result, he hoped. Notice that believing, that is, faith, came first, and hoping, or hope, was the product, or the outcome of what he believed. We see this as revealed by the writer of Hebrews, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]." (Hebrews 11:1 AMPC)
We can say that faith is the full assurance on which hope is supported and therefore, faith, produces
hope. Again, faith is in the heart, while hope is in the mind. Faith is in the now, while hope is for the future. Both are essential, but we must have them in the right place and in the right relationship. Next, notice, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13) God is not only the God of power, of righteousness, grace, promises, blessings, etc., but also, the God who inspires or produces hope in the believer through the working of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul reveal a sobering verse of scripture concerning hope and the unsaved, "that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." (Ephesians 2:12)
This verse show us that the unsaved are without three things; without Christ, without hope, and without God the Father. When you are without hope, you are without Christ and without God the Father. It is very sad when we consider this, especially when considering people who we know, who are not born again. However, on the other side of the coin, "the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:26-27) We see here that the gospel centers on this great and wonderful revelation that was kept secret from ages past, but is now revealed to believers, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. When we were lost, we were without Christ, and without hope. But when we have Christ in us, we have the hope of glory, that is, hope for the future as well as hope of eternal life.
The one who has Christ in him/her has hope for a glorious, radiant, confident expectation of eternal glory with almighty God, the holy angels, and the redeemed of all ages. That is what a person has when they have Christ. So, yes, hope has and important part to play in the believers life, but let us not confuse it with faith. Finally, although there is much to say about love, I leave you with this, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)
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