Standing on His Word

It has been said,  "Our attitude toward God's Word determines the place that He holds in our daily life." Take a moment and let that statement sink in, Why? Because, the Bible should always be received as God speaking directly to us and should never be seen as an ordinary book. The Bible should be as real to us as though Jesus is standing in the room and speaking to us personally. For instance, when Jesus says, "For the Father Himself loves you" (John 16:27), it is a personal message spoken from the lips of Jesus to you and me. It is as though we are sitting at the feet of Jesus, and He is looking down into our face and lovingly speaking to us, in the way that a new father or mother would look lovingly down into the face of their first born infant child. After all we are His children. (John 1:12)

Man's word is usually forgotten within one generation, but God's Word is different. It is filled with the very Life of God, it is eternal, (Mark 13:31), it is God Himself. (John 1:1, 14) According to Hebrews, "For the Logos of God is a living thing, active and more cutting than any sword with double edge, penetrating to the very division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow - scrutinizing the very thoughts and conceptions of the heart. And no created thing is hidden from him; all things lie open and exposed before the eyes of him with whom we have to reckon." (Hebrews 4:12-13, MNT)

Our greatest contact with God, is through His Word being led by the Holy Spirit. (John 16:13) Notice, that it says in this passage, "the eyes of Him." In other words, God's Word sees our conduct, our attitude toward it, as we see "it is a Living thing." Now we can better understand what Luke was expressing during the great revival at Ephesus, "So the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed." God's Word is living. It is God present with us, speaking a living message to us now! His Word is just as powerful and alive today as it was when He first spoke it. His Word in our heart and spoken from our lips of faith makes our ministry and lives limitless. He and His Word are one. (1 John 5:7) 

Jesus said, "According to your faith let it be to you." (Matthew 9:29) As we consider God's Word and act upon it, it will become real to us. Jesus also said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63) Jesus also said, "Abide in my word." (John 8:31) To abide is to settle into; to remain in. Believers are to settle into and remain in God's Word, because every Word that God speaks has life in it; It has the Righteousness of God in it; It has Recreating power for the unsaved; It has healing power for the sick; It is the very Bread of Heaven to the hungry in spirit; It has the authority of God in it; It is filled with faith building power.

Mark reveals, "So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen." (Mark 16:19-20) Looking at this passage, there is no doubt in my mind that revival would break out anytime and anywhere if God's Word was as real to us today as it was to those in the Early Church. With that said, here are some assurances that we can have absolute confidence in...

"The Lord is my shepherd." (Psalm 23:1)
"God is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)
"God is my refuge and strength." (Psalm 46:1)
"My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:2)
"Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God." (Isaiah 41:10)
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
"My God shall supply all of your need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

These are but a few of the promises of God that are alive, for us now, that we can feed on and build our faith. (Romans 10:17) When we look to God's Word, read and meditate on it, we will see that it is His message to us individually and He will confirm His message in our life, because His Word is Life. So, as the Apostle Paul said, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..." and as the Apostle James tells us, "receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21) Let us all have an insatiable desire toward God's Word everyday, "For God's Words are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:22)

Staying Connected

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. The early church had fellowship with one another continuously both in the temple and in each others houses. (Acts 2:42, 46) It is noteworthy to understand that believer’s in the early church did not function independently. They recognized the power, life, and unity that is released through true Christian fellowship. The Psalmist tells us, “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) The Apostle Matthew records, "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:19-20).

The nature of fellowship or community was first established within the three persons of the Godhead, Father, Word and Holy Spirit. (1 John 5:7) When God created man, it was not because He was lonely and needed someone to talk to, He created man because He desired to share everything He had created with the only one created in His image and likeness. He also desired to establish community on the earth, “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." (Gen. 1:26-28; also see Psalm 8:5-6)

Man was given the choice to enjoy community on earth with one another, and 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. In the Garden of Eden, Satan proposed his own plan to man, specifically, to the woman. Satan's plan seemed to be attractive to her, but in fact was full of deception. Man was now faced with another choice and the choice made was an act of disobedience so tragic it caused the breakdown of fellowship and community. 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.” (Gen. 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. Look what took place with the breaking of fellowship with God. “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 also driven away, now a fugitive and a vagabond. (Genesis 4:14) This was yet another fracture to fellowship.

With time, the situation worsened, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:3) Throughout the Old Testament more chose to forsake fellowship with God rather than embrace it. Though man chose to break fellowship with God, it did not stop God’s desire to have fellowship with man, ”For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Jesus reestablished community by modeling a lifestyle of love and acceptance with twelve ordinary men. Jesus spent a good portion of His time with the multitudes but always found time to be alone with the disciples, “Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. For He taught His disciples and said to them…” (Mark 9.30-31) Community was a vital part of Jesus’ ministry. Among the twelve, were fishermen, zealots and a tax collector who were living together with Jesus. Their paths may have never crossed if not for Jesus calling them together. They had to deal with one another's egotism, ignorance, habits, limitation’s and flat out selfishness. Eventually, these men began to lose themselves and began to identify with their Master because He gave them purpose beyond themselves. Jesus had a deliberate strategy in His work with the twelve, which was to prepare them for the work to come, “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…" (Matthew 28:19-20)

This, what we call the "Great Commission" was certainly not limited to evangelism, but a building of community through Christ centered fellowship. We see this portrayed in the early church, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers...So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:42, 46-47) As we can plainly see, the early church was replicating the Godhead and the very community that Jesus had with His disciples.

What can we take away from what the Word tells us concerning fellowship and community? Mainly, the great premium that God Himself places upon fellowship and community with Him and His children as well as His children with one another. However, we must remember, all believers have been given the choice to enjoy community on earth with the Lord and with one another or not.  But as the Psalmist tells us, "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) So, let each of us examine our lives and schedules, offer them to the Lord, and ask Him to give us the desire, time and love for one another, get connected and get involved in one another's lives, in the Name of Jesus and see the life of God manifest in and through us. PTL

Blessed in His Grace

A good biblical definition of grace can be found in Philippians 2:13, "For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure." (AMP) Notice, it is "God who is effectively at work in you." In other words this has nothing to do with our abilities or strength, but Gods ability, His strength, His energy working in us through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the work of the Holy Spirit in us is to transform every believer more into the image of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18) This is an act of God's grace. Our only involvement in this is cooperating with Him in this wonderful work.

With that, let us consider the following two scenarios. The first is what we could say is a good day spiritually. What I mean is, you get up promptly when your alarm goes off and have a refreshing and profitable time reading the Bible and praying. Your plans for the day generally fall into place, and you sense the presence of God with you. To top it off, you unexpectedly have an opportunity to share the gospel with someone that the Holy Spirit has quickened in you who is truly searching. As you talk with the person, you sense the Holy Spirit helping you and also working in this persons heart who then accepts Christ as Lord and Savior. You return home feeling excited that Gods grace was at work in you and also at work with the person that had just accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. 

However, the second day in this scenario, is just the opposite. You don't arise at the first ring of your alarm. Instead, you shut it off and go back to sleep. When you finally awaken, it's too late to have a time in the Word and to pray. You quickly gulp down some breakfast and rush off to the day's activities. You feel guilty about missing your devotional time, and things just generally seem to go wrong all day and as the day rolls along, you become more and more irritable. To top things off, you do not sense God's presence in your life and then an unexpected opportunity to share the gospel with someone who seems to be interested in accepting Christ as Savior presents itself. You do not feel the Holy Spirit's prompting, you fumble at your words, the person does not receive Christ. Finally, you return home, tired and disappointed. 

In a sense, we could call one day a good day and the other a bad day. How do we suppose we would look at both days? Let's look at the following questions as to how we would feel about these two scenarios. Would we enter those two witnessing opportunities with a different degree of confidence? Would we be less confident on the bad day than on the good day? Would we find it difficult to believe that God would bless us and use us in the midst of a rather bad spiritual day? If you answered yes to those questions, you have lots of company among believers. Many believers would be less confident of God's blessing while sharing Christ at the end of a bad day than they would after a good one. Is such thinking justified? Does God work that way? The answer to both of these questions is no! Why? Because God's blessing does not depend on our performance or feelings. 

Why then do so many believers think this way? It is because they believe that God's blessing on our lives is somehow conditioned upon our performance. If we have performed well and had a good day, we can assume we are in a position for God to bless us. We know God's blessings come to us through Christ, but we also have this vague but very real notion that they are also conditioned on our behavior. The point of this good day, bad day scenario is this; regardless of our performance, we are to always and in all things, depend on God's grace, His ability, His strength, His energy working in and through us, through the Holy Spirit. 

The good news in this, is, the gospel message is God's grace is available to us on both our best days as well as our worst days. This is true because the Lord Jesus Christ fully satisfied the claims of justice and fu1ly paid the penalty of a broken law when He died on the cross as our substitute. Every day of our Christian experience should be a day of relating to God on the basis of His grace alone. We are not only saved by grace, but we also live by grace every day. This grace comes through the meritorious work of God in Christ. Look what the Holy Spirit reveals to us through the Apostle Paul, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2) 

A significant part of the Mosaic Law was the promise of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28). Some Christians live as if that principle applies to them today. But Paul tells us, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-4) 

Christ has already borne the curses for our disobedience and earned for us the blessings of obedience. As a result we are now to look to Christ alone, not Christ plus our performance, but simply Christ for God's blessings in our lives. We are saved by grace and we are to live by grace alone. When we pray to God for His blessing, He does not examine our performance to see if we are worthy. Rather, He looks to see if we are trusting in the merit of His Son as our only hope for securing His blessings. The Apostle Paul, when speaking to certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers tells them, "for in Him (Christ) we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28) So, let us let go of all the self-labors and works and bask in the amazing grace of God. Let us no longer do, to live, but live and do for His glory.

Let Love Arise

The word lord is defined as, "someone having power, authority, or great influence; a master or ruler." Now for most believers, the word Lord is a name that is attributed to the Living God, even Christ Himself. One of the verses of scripture that reveals this is, "The Lord said to my Lord, sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool." (Psalm 110:1) With that said, some questions arises. If believers address Jesus as Lord, and He is, the one with all authority, (Matthew 28:18) the master and ruler over all, then shouldn't we obey and carry out His commands? If every believer, every congregation, every denomination, which is referred to as the church, were truly obeying and carrying out His commands, then why is there so much disunity? There are many things that Jesus has commanded the church to obey and carry out, such as, what we call the "Great Commission" (Matthew 28:16-20), however, let us look at what Jesus gives as a new command or commandment and the reason behind it. 

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 132:34-35) To take this a step further, look at what Jesus tells us concerning His commandments, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15) To command, is to give an authoritative order. The word "keep" means more than to simply hold on to, but "to attend." It implies to obey and carry out the authoritative order giving by a master or ruler. Now, let's look at what Jesus immediately says concerning loving Him and keeping His commandments, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:16-18)  

In other words, Jesus knew that it would take His help, His strength, His ability working in and through the believer, not only to love as He loves, but to also obey His commands which are to be accomplished because we love Him. This is absolutely great news, because it is all about Jesus not the believer, nor any congregation or denomination. Throughout the New Testament we see a repeating fact that God calls all people to, especially believers. It is only this one thing that God has asked us to do, believe or have faith. Jesus said, "...You believe in God, believe also in Me." (John 14:1) This is only one example in John's gospel of the numerous scriptures that repeat this very important fact concerning Christianity. To believe or to have faith in Christ is one of the most expressed themes throughout the New Testament. The Apostle Paul tells us, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10) Humanities very salvation and the believers continuing salvation hangs on believing or having faith in Jesus Christ. 

Another example of this is found in Hebrews, "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) In Matthew we find recorded one of the greatest examples of a non-believer having a wonderful understanding of how faith works, "Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Matthew 8:5-9

This is a highly important principle that all believes need to understand and not take lightly. The centurion not only gave commands to his subordinates, but was subordinate to others himself and carried out the commands of those who were master or ruler over him. He also recognized that Jesus was a man under a master or ruler, who was a master or ruler over sickness. It is apparent that the centurion loved his servant and was willing to humble himself, go to Jesus, and ask Him to simply "speak a word" knowing that anything subservient to Jesus, here sickness, would obey and carry out His command in the same way that those subservient to the centurion obey and carry out his commands and so on. This is a lesson in great faith as well as this non-believer going to Jesus, depending on Jesus, deferring to Jesus, relying on His strength, His ability not his own. Look at what takes place next, "When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" (Matthew 8:10) 

The Apostle Paul also reveals more great news concerning believers living in the "new commandment" that Jesus gave us, "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) Notice, this is not on the believers ability to love, but simply knowing that it is the Holy Spirit Who was given to us, Who gives us His ability and strength to love as God loves. Again, this all comes back to believing, to faith in Jesus Christ and not depending on ourselves. Solomon also gives great insight concerning believing or having faith in God, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) 

Solomon uses the words "trust in the Lord." To trust is the have total confidence, to be fully convinced, to have faith in. Again, notice that we are not to rely on our understanding, but to make known to Him all our ways, to seek Him for His ways, depend on Him to order our ways, and He will direct our Path. I believe the Apostle John reveals the very thing that can hold believers in the realm of unbelief, that is, not totally relying on Jesus, more than any other thing. He tells us, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15) Keep in mind that "no one can serve two masters." (Matthew 6:24) The very things that believers hold near and dear to themselves that are of the world, are most likely the very things that rob them of letting the love of the Father operate in and through them. 

So, let us go beyond ourselves, our abilities and put our faith in Jesus Christ' finished work. Let's, let the Holy Spirit in us, lead us and teach us how to love as God loves so that "all will know that we are His disciples." As believers love in this way, we will see the walls, the prejudices, the political correctness, the doctrines that divide us, be wiped out and the church move in unity as one. We will see God move in ways that will make every revival and outpouring since the early church seem minimal. We will see millions and millions of non-believers come to Christ, be healed, delivered, set free from Satan and the worlds grip upon them. We will see the power of God's love destroy the schemes of the devil and the church once again will become the envy of the world. Envy meaning, having a great desire to be a part of. 

Finally, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity...It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forevermore." (Psalm 133:1, 3) Jesus said, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) Let us no longer let the thief have his way, but let the abundant life of Jesus flow throughout the entire church as we love one another as Jesus loves us. Amen?               

Are You Watching

Shortly before Jesus and His disciples celebrated what is known as the "Last Supper," his disciples ask Him about the end times. (Matthew 24 - 25) The first thing Jesus tells them is, "take heed that no one deceives you." (Matthew 24:4) Although Jesus tells them, "For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many" (Matthew 24:5), the fact is, deception began in the Garden of Eden as the one who is the deceiver, (Revelation 12:9), who spoke to the woman. As we see Jesus telling the disciples, "many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ." Satan's tactics have not changed. His whole deceptive plan is to deceive people, even believers, away from the one and only true God and especially the deity and humanity of Jesus (1 John 4:1-3). He does this by deceiving them into believing his lies by continuously working at discrediting God and His Word. We see this through all the false religions, so called Christian cults, (I dislike using the term Christian and cult together, but that is what they are referred to) and occultic practices, not only in the world, but also accepted among many believers in the name of fantasy, child's play and or entertainment.  

After Jesus tells the disciples of the end time and after they celebrate the first communion (Last Supper) they head to the Garden of Gethsemane. One of the most important things that He tells them is, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) Remember, He just recently told them to, "take heed that no one deceives you." Now He tells them to "watch." The word watch means, to be alert; stay on the alert; keep watch; keep watching. Why does Jesus tell them this? "Lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Satan is not only the deceiver, but he is also the tempter. (Matthew 4:3) 

These things are very important for all believers to know. Why? Even some of the strongest believers in the Bible were deceived and or tempted by the devil which caused painful consequences. Today, many extreme or unbalanced teaching takes place in the church, for one purpose, the devil uses them to deceive and or tempt people away from sound doctrine to believe a lie which leads Christian's into a life without any disciplines or power. (1 Timothy 4:1) The Apostle Paul warns us in 2 Timothy 3 of the apostasy that will come upon believers. This apostasy can happen to the strongest believer(s) if we do not continuously watch and stay alert.

So, we need to be watchful, staying alert and continuously looking at our lives to see if there is  anything that is contrary to the entire counsel of God's Word, not what we pick and choose to justify ourselves, but the entire authority of the scriptures. This is why it is so important that we have other believers, especially mature believers, in our lives, giving them access to our lives, to help us so that we are not deceived and are not led into temptation that may lead to sin. We must understand that if there is anything in our lives that does not align with God's Word, even if we ourselves do not see anything wrong with it, then we must conclude that the devil has deceived us. Solomon tells us, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25)  

This may be a hard word, but remember, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Satan will always go after the flesh with his deceptions and temptations to get to the believer. He used this tactic in the Garden of Eden, he used it against Jesus and uses the same today against believers. He goes after the flesh using, "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." (1 John 2:16) However, believers have the greatest weapons to expose, defuse and destroy the schemes of the devil, the Holy Spirit, the Word of God and God's love.

If we are truly willing to weigh ourselves with God's Word and let the God kind of love take hold of our lives, then we will never give place to Satan's deceptions and temptations. We will see the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) completely replaced by the fruit of the spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) The Apostle Paul tells us, "And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:24-26) So, let us move forward in the power of His might, living victorious lives with one another, glorifying the Lord in all things. 

The Apostle James tells us, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) So, let us be watchful, keeping alert, and "do not give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:27) Amen?   

That We May Know Him

For centuries, many in the church have come to know God, that is, His will, nature, character, purpose and plan in a very non-biblical fashion. Many believers today also misunderstand or have a limited knowledge of God in this way, therefore, they miss out on the wonderful promises and manifestation of His Kingdom, Power and Glory that come through Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews records, "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person (nature)..." (Hebrews 1:1-3) 

In and throughout the Old Testament, God used various methods in communicating his will, nature, character, purpose and plan to humanity. At times it was by direct communication and at times by dreams and visions. He did this mostly through the prophets. Although the prophets, were in a sense, great in God, the day came when God sent His only begotten Son into the world where He spoke to us in a way that brought the greatest revelation of His will, nature, character, purpose and plan. The writer goes on to say, that God's Son was the "brightness of His glory and the express image of His person." In other words, when Jesus was revealed in the flesh He was the "exact representation" of Father God. 

The Greek word translated "exact representation" finds its origin in the making of coins by striking them, thus creating an impression upon them. This word can be translated as coined impression or exact reproduction. The Greek word translated "nature" can be translated as real substance or essence. In other words, what these opening verses in Hebrews are telling us, is, that Jesus Christ is the exact representation, the coined impression, the exact reproduction of the nature, character, real substance, and essence of the Father. No one had ever revealed the Father so perfectly in every way until Jesus. This is one of the most important things that believers must fully understand if we want to know the perfect will, nature, character, purpose and plan of God. 

The Gospel of John expresses this fundamental, but most important truth concerning Jesus more often than any other book. The truth presented by the writer of Hebrews and, as we will see revealed by the Apostle John in his Gospel, can be easily taken for granted because at first glance it seems so apparent. Because it is so apparent, so obvious, it can be easily underestimated in significance. However, overlooking and underestimating the significance of this truth continues to be the main reason why so many believers have such a non-biblical perspective of God, in regard to His will, nature, character, purpose and plan, that is, who He truly and really is. We begin with the conversation that Jesus has with the eleven apostles (Judas Iscariot having left them to go and betray Jesus). Although the eleven are present, Jesus' conversation is directed towards Thomas and Philip. 

"Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." (John 14:6-7) Jesus tells them that He is "the way, the truth and the life." Jesus is the only access to the Father and He is the source of Truth and life. There is hardly a believer anywhere that would object to these rather obvious truths. He goes on, "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." Notice that Jesus says, "if you had known Me, you would have known My Father also." In other words, to know Christ is to know the Father. The word "known" in this passage, by definition, carries the same meaning as, "Now Adam "knew" Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain..." (Genesis 4:1) It is to have an intimate relationship, and intimate connection with Jesus as a man with his wife.

Studying the life of Jesus will reveal the perfect will, nature, character, purpose and plan of the Father. If believers fail to believe that Jesus knows and reveals the Father in this way in all matters, their knowledge of God will be filled with misconceptions of who He truly is. Mysteries that were once hidden in the Old Testament, are now revealed in Jesus, through His words and actions. The conversation continues, "Philip said to Jesus, Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us. Jesus said to him, have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works." (John 14:8-10)  

This conversation reveals some important truths. Jesus tells Philip that when He is seen, the Father is also seen. Every word and every action of Jesus reveals the will of the Father. Jesus also reveals the special nature of the relationship between Himself and the Father. The fact is, Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus. The Father in Jesus gives Him the words to speak. The implication is that the teaching and commands of Jesus reveals the Father's perfect will, nature, character, purpose and plan in all matters. Jesus gives credit to the Father for His works. The miracles and healing in the life of Jesus were expressions of the divine purpose of the Father. Finally, in this conversation, Jesus reveals what this special relationship between Him and His Father will mean to His disciples in the future, if believers want to do the same kind of works. Jesus continues... 

 "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:11-14) Faith in Jesus includes believing that He was and is in the Father. This phrase is of great importance. In context of these verses, Jesus has been teaching the importance of believing that He has been revealing the Father. In fact, Jesus commands His followers to believe that very thing. If believers fail to believe that Jesus reveals the perfect will, nature, character, purpose and plan of the Father, they will find that faith will be difficult for many of the things that Jesus did for humanity through His death, resurrection and glorification. They will also fail to understand and walk out in this life, the fact that Jesus calls upon all believers to replicate His ministry and do even greater things. 

This great promise, "the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do" is conditioned on the earlier statement that believers must believe that Jesus is in the Father and the Father in Him. That Jesus is an exact reproduction of the Father revealing the Father's perfect will, nature, character, purpose and plan in all matters. Believers must believe that the will, nature, character, purpose and plan of the Father was finding absolute perfect expression in the actions, attitudes, teaching and commands of Jesus. Now that Jesus has gone to be with the Father, the will, nature, character, purpose and plan of the Father can now be expressed through believers empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

We can now draw this important conclusion from what has been revealed in the above. Believing that God the Father was in Jesus expressing His perfect will, nature, character, purpose and plan through everything that Jesus said and did, has opened the door for believers to do similar and even greater works than Jesus. While many believes would be quick to agree with these things, if they fail to grasp the significance of this highly important matter discussed here, they will fail to experience the miraculous works that Jesus promised those who believe, would do. Simply put, this is not a matter of the intellect, but of revelation. Without seeking God for a revelation of these things, we will see Christianity as no more than any other powerless world religion. We will continue to develop doctrinal disclaimers that disagree with the perfect will, nature, character, purpose and plan of God and possibly never come to see God as who He really is.

So, let us be as Abraham, "Who did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform." (Romans 4:20-21) Amen?

Resting in Him

The first Monday in September is a holiday, created by the labor movement 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 strength the well-being of the USA. Through the years, the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. Through the following years other states passed laws to establish Labor Day. Finally, on June 28, 1894, the US Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories. Labor day has also become known as the unofficial end of summer.

Taking a rest from laboring is an important part of life. We see that God Himself rested after completing the work of creation, "Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." (Genesis 2:1-3) God Himself sees the benefit of resting to the point where under the Mosaic economy He called for one day of rest, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." (Genesis 20:8-11) 

But what about today? Should believers have a day of rest? Yes, but not in the sense of a special day. The Apostle Paul tells us, "One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind." (Romans 14:5) This is why I said that believers should have a day of rest but not in the sense of a special day. The rest for the believer starts with and continue in, Jesus Christ. First, Jesus gives all people an invitation to rest, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) 

Although Israel was to observe a day of rest, under the Mosaic economy, they never really came into true rest, "And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:18-19) "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 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. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest, although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: And God rested on the seventh day from all His works, and again in this place: They shall not enter My rest. Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience." (Hebrews 4:1-6) 

So, let us see the true rest that God has promised by looking at the statement Jesus made in Matthew eleven. To "come" to Jesus is to come humbly and to come in faith. God provides salvation through Jesus Christ, which includes the fact that man must give himself to the Lord Jesus Christ in commitment before it becomes effective. Jesus said, “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me,” and then immediately added, “and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37). Salvation is not through a creed, a church, a ritual, a pastor, a priest, or any other such human means, but through Jesus Christ, who said, "Come to Me." To come to Christ is to believe in Him and submit to His lordship.  

"All who are," indicates a condition that already exists. Those whom Jesus invites to Himself are those who already are weary and heavy-laden. "Weary," or “to labor,” carries the idea of working to the point of utter exhaustion. John uses the term to describe Jesus’ fatigue when He and the disciples reached Sychar after a long, hot journey from Jerusalem (John 4:6). Weary refers figuratively to arduous toil in seeking to please God and know the way of salvation. Jesus calls to Himself everyone who is exhausted from trying to find and please God in his own resources. Jesus invites the person who is wearied from his vain search for truth through human wisdom, who is exhausted from trying to earn salvation, and who continuously struggles trying to achieve God’s standard of righteousness by his own efforts. 

"Heavy-laden," indicates that at some time in the past a great load was laid on the wearied person. It suggests the external burdens caused by the futile efforts of works righteousness. In Jesus’ day, the teachings of the religious leaders had become so massive, demanding, and all-encompassing that they prescribed standards and formulas for virtually every human activity. It was all but impossible even to learn all the traditions, and was completely impossible to keep them all. Jesus spoke of the heavy loads of religious tradition that the scribes and Pharisees laid on the people’s shoulders, "For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." (Matthew 23:4). In a similar way, Peter, at the Jerusalem Council where the apostles and elders came together to discuss important doctrinal issues, noted that the Judaizers were trying to control believers with the same man-made “yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear” (Acts 15:10).

Therefore, to enter God’s rest is to cease from all efforts at self-help in trying to earn salvation. It is a place where God gives His children freedom from the cares and burdens that rob them of peace and joy. It is to have the wonderful assurance that our eternal destiny is secure in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. It is to be freed from vain philosophies, dead works, man's traditions and false doctrines, that is, freedom from dead religion that has no power, which puts the focus on self rather than Christ. When we enter into God’s rest, we are given the assurance that “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)

Finally, resting in Christ also means depending on Him. Believers can depend on our Heavenly Father with utter certainty, because, "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?" (Numbers 23:19) "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24) "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:19)

Although "Labor Day" is a national holiday where the American worker can rest from their labors for a day, believers can find their rest in Jesus Christ every day. PTL