A Body Prepared

Sacrifice and offering you have not desired but a body you have prepared for me ~ 

Heb. 10:5

While we understand this speaks to the physical body God had prepared for Jesus, there is a body that is still being prepared.  

Jesus is coming back for a body; the church, His bride, that has made herself ready,  His body is without spot.  No blemishes.  Dressed in righteousness.

John the Baptist was a prophet who was ordained to go in the power of Elijah, to turn hearts and prepare a people made ready for the Lord.  His message demanded change then and the message of the kingdom still requires it.

Jesus preached if any would come after him they must deny self, take up their cross and follow him.  The reality here is, if we do not engage in this process we will not follow.

Jesus, in John 21, finds Peter and friends have returned to their old occupation.  In a moment of divine intervention, Jesus sets him back on the right track.  I believe this is exactly what the Spirit of God is doing in these days, getting us back on the right track by asking, Do you love me more than these?  

We say we love God with all our hearts, soul and strength, but what are we spending our time and money on?  What are the priorities of our daily lives?  God demands we have no other Gods before Him.  He is a jealous God who will not compete with anything.  We are responsible for eliminating the completion.  He woos, leads, calls, and beckons.  We must yield.  

Paul preached we are not our own.  We were bought with a price and commanded to glorify God in body and spirit because they belong to God. Jesus literally paid the price for these natural physical bodies to become the property of His Father, enabling the Father to use them for His purposes.  

We are in the last hour (1 John 2:18)  of the last days. (Acts 2) and His church, His bride is making herself ready.  She has no appetite for the things of this world.  She is not distracted with the pull and allure of what she sees in it, but her focus is on that day when she will meet her beloved. She is working to be the very best version of herself, radiant in fine linen, clean and white, clothed in righteousness.  Rev. 19:8.

How important is Unity?

Now I beseech you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.  1 Corinthians 1:10

How important is unity? It is Vital.

Unity is defined as the state of being united or joined as a whole.  It comes from the Latin word ‘unus’ meaning “one”. 

One of Jesus’ last prayers recorded for us was for Oneness, cp. John 17: 20-23. “I in them and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one:. 

We know from Psalm 133 it is in the place of unity that God commands His blessing. From the book of Acts, chapter two, we find the Holy Spirit filling men and women in the place of oneness.  They were assembled and in one accord.

Interesting to note, assembled doesn’t imply finding yourself in the same spot with another, rather, in the kingdom of God, assembled speaks to right order.  It speaks to our proper placement when joined to the other parts.  We have been assigned a place in the body of Christ and it is when we are in the right place, doing the right thing (exercising our grace) that the body grows. The King James reads from Ephesians chapter four, “the whole body fitly joined together and compacted (thats assembly) by that which every joint (you and me) supplies according to the measure of every part, makes increase of the body.…”

Again, from Acts 2 we learn the apostles were in right order AND they were unified in purpose.

When we gather together it is for the purpose of being assembled in order to function properly.  It is this place of right order, assembled AND the oneness that we value that creates the blessing of the Lord resting upon us.  

What kind of grief do we bring the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with the very love of God, when we hold any place of faction or division towards another. His admonition is to build ourselves up on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keeping ourselves in the love of God.   

Division only occurs through pride.  Pride is simply the “I will ascend” of my desire above Gods. How much humility is required to live in this place of oneness? It can only be found in a preference for others above our selves.  Galatians 5 reminds us the works of the flesh are strife, seditions, and envying.   James 3:16 records where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 

So, how important is unity?  Again, it is vital. We are desirous of the presence and the power of God being manifested in our midst.  I know God isn’t demanding our perfection for His work to be manifested but I do know things work so much better when we live from valuing unity amongst ourselves.  

Can we excel at being one?  Can we value unity at the cost of personal denial and sacrifice?  We can only find out in and through our next relational opportunity.  My prayer is that we may find ourselves so vitally connected to Him and overflowing with His love that unity is simply our nature. 

If faith is the evidence, what does the trying of our faith prove?

1 Peter 1:6-9 

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

We know that when our faith is tried or tested we are to be found praising the Lord.  Praise is an expression of faith.  Rest is an expression of faith.  The praise proves that our faith is genuine.  If we are found murmuring and complaining or worrying, then odds are we will take the test again while God works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.  

Proverbs 17:3 For you, O God, have tested us; You have tried us as silver is tried. 

It is said of Joseph until the word of the Lord can to pass ~ the word tried him.  Psalm 105:19.

What moves us?  We know when Peter saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid and began to sink.  Is it what we see that moves us?  Are we moved by evil reports?  Are we shaken by others choices.  Every test reveals the heart. 

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts. Ps.66:10

We are looking for the immediate answer most of the time, but God is looking for eternal realities to be established in our hearts. He builds character and that takes time filled with ups and downs of life while our heart is being proven. 

Do the narrow and confined spots in my life produce murmuring and complaining or am I, at all times and in all things, found with praise and thanksgiving flowing from me? 

James 1:2; reminds us, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

. 

My worship is a life offered to him daily in acknowledgement that He is not only the one I look to for deliverance and help but as my Lord.  Our worship is seen in our continual submission to Him.  It’s not the sacrifice and offerings that He delights in but the heart that is continually turned to Him in a place of humble obedience.

Oswald Chambers wrote ~ “ Shipwreck occurs where there is not that mental poise which comes from being established on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the heroic effort of your life, you fling yourself in reckless confidence on God.

“”The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything that must be faced without wavering. If we take this view, life becomes one great romance, a glorious opportunity for seeing marvelous things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.”  Chambers, O. (1986). My utmost for his highest: Selections for the year. Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering.

“ ‘For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord”.  Malach 3:2-3

If faith is the evidence, what does the trying of our faith prove?

1 Peter 1:6-9 

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

We know that when our faith is tried or tested we are to be found praising the Lord.  Praise is an expression of faith.  Rest is an expression of faith.  The praise proves that our faith is genuine.  If we are found murmuring and complaining or worrying, then odds are we will take the test again while God works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.  

Proverbs 17:3 For you, O God, have tested us; You have tried us as silver is tried. 

It is said of Joseph until the word of the Lord can to pass ~ the word tried him.  Psalm 105:19.

What moves us?  We know when Peter saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid and began to sink.  Is it what we see that moves us?  Are we moved by evil reports?  Are we shaken by others choices.  Every test reveals the heart. 

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts. Ps.66:10

We are looking for the immediate answer most of the time, but God is looking for eternal realities to be established in our hearts. He builds character and that takes time filled with ups and downs of life while our heart is being proven. 

Do the narrow and confined spots in my life produce murmuring and complaining or am I, at all times and in all things, found with praise and thanksgiving flowing from me? 

James 1:2; reminds us, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

. 

My worship is a life offered to him daily in acknowledgement that He is not only the one I look to for deliverance and help but as my Lord.  Our worship is seen in our continual submission to Him.  It’s not the sacrifice and offerings that He delights in but the heart that is continually turned to Him in a place of humble obedience.

Oswald Chambers wrote ~ “ Shipwreck occurs where there is not that mental poise which comes from being established on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the heroic effort of your life, you fling yourself in reckless confidence on God.

“”The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything that must be faced without wavering. If we take this view, life becomes one great romance, a glorious opportunity for seeing marvelous things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.”  Chambers, O. (1986). My utmost for his highest: Selections for the year. Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering.

“ ‘For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord”.  Malach 3:2-3

Where's Your Evidence?

Faith…… is the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11:1 not only tells us that faith is the substance of the things hoped for, it also tells us it is the evidence of what we do not see.

Evidence is described as the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.  From the Greek, evidence is  [elegchos /el·eng·khos/]; There are two occurrences; AV translates as “reproof” once, in 2 Timothy 3:16 and “evidence” here in Hebrews 11:1. The word means a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested. 2 conviction.

It is the word, and the word only, that is to be the proof of our faith.  What we are able to see with the eye of the Spirit is to be sufficient for us. The question becomes, what do I see?  Vision deals with our future, never our past.  God has a future preferred state for each of us and we have to see what He sees. 

Paul wrote in Romans chapter eight that we don’t hope for the things we already see.  We will fail when we continually look in the natural for the proving of our faith. Our Faith IS the evidence we need.

Faith calls those things which be not as though they were.  Faith doesn’t need to see naturally because it has already seen spiritually and what it sees spiritually, faith knows will come to pass.  The seed sown in good soil always brings forth fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the corn in the ear.

Waiting is a difficult process for those given to reason and frustrated with time.   God exists outside the realm of time. He is not a God limited to time, as a man would be.  He is a God of eternity.   He is simply, always, now.  That’s why He sees the beginning and the end of a thing.  Time controls us here and now because of the limitation of our natural body.  We live in time and space.  It takes time to walk across the space of a room.  Yet the spirit of man, in his mind, can travel without the restriction of his physical body.  The mind can hold unlimited imagination and see the potential of all things. We can see all things possible.  When we try to bring that into the natural elements of this world and it’s limitations we become frustrated by the time it takes to produce.  We reason, we waiver, we doubt, we believe, we quit, we try again, and on it goes until we come to the place of accepting and understanding that the word is working and the word is OUR evidence of things not seen. 

The Psalmist declared; I would have fainted and lost heart had I not believed I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living, and this is true for us all.  We do faint and lose heart when we lose our vision.   Let’s not allow our perceptions to be altered by the realities we “see” in the here and now, but let us keep our eyes on Jesus, the word, and not be moved. 

Unchartered Waters

Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives and from your father's house, To the land which I will show you;     Gen. 12:1  NASB

Acts 7:3

“… and told him, Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.”

Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.

Charting unknown waters ~ 

We’ve all been there: the moments where we know that God has spoken.  We’ve heard and received “a word” and IF that word has been enough to motivate us to step out and move forward, it is sufficient to sustain us in the journey. 

Peter, in the boat, has just one word: come.  This word is enough to enable Peter to walk on the water to Jesus.  Absolutely naturally impossible, yet this one word holds all Peter needs to obey. 

Our verse today reminds us of the faith required to step into these uncharted waters, those places we have never gone and that our minds would tell us COULD be potentially dangerous.  

BUT GOD ~ always prepares us for these moments so when we meet our red sea, we can know He is faithful to part the waters.  It always comes down to our trust level and confidence in Him and in His word.  The Bible is filled with story after story of the supernatural provision and care of the Father for His children. This encourages and assures us of His love and faithfulness for us today.  The danger to not move forward and fall into a place of sin and disobedience is huge and all these stories are written so we won’t fall into that. 1 Corinthians 10:6.    The people were unable to enter into His promises because of an evil heart of unbelief, Hebrews chapter three reminds us. 

In the end, moving forward is always a matter of faith, for without faith it is impossible to please Him.  He who comes to God must believe that He is and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

I’m preaching to myself today as David and I step into “not knowing whither”.  We have been led by the Spirit of the Lord to release the church to the young couple we have been training up and while we do not sense any kind of physical move from Victoria or the work here, we know that our time for Pastoring this church has come to an end.  

If is with great anticipation, trepidation, that we step out of this boat to walk with Jesus into the next season of our lives. 

Your prayers are always appreciated. 

Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives and from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; 

Gen. 12:1 New American Standard Bible

Acts 7:3

“… and told him, Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.”

Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.

Charting unknown waters ~ 

We’ve all been there: the moments where we know that God has spoken.  We’ve heard and received “a word” and IF that word has been enough to motivate us to step out and move forward, it is sufficient to sustain us in the journey. 

Peter, in the boat, has just one word: come.  This word is enough to enable Peter to walk on the water to Jesus.  Absolutely naturally impossible, yet this one word holds all Peter needs to obey. 

Our verse today reminds us of the faith required to step into these uncharted waters, those places we have never gone and that our minds would tell us COULD be potentially dangerous.  

BUT GOD ~ always prepares us for these moments so when we meet our red sea, we can know He is faithful to part the waters.  It always comes down to our trust level and confidence in Him and in His word.  The Bible is filled with story after story of the supernatural provision and care of the Father for His children. This encourages and assures us of His love and faithfulness for us today.  The danger to not move forward and fall into a place of sin and disobedience is huge and all these stories are written so we won’t fall into that. 1 Corinthians 10:6.    The people were unable to enter into His promises because of an evil heart of unbelief, Hebrews chapter three reminds us. 

In the end, moving forward is always a matter of faith, for without faith it is impossible to please Him.  He who comes to God must believe that He is and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

I’m preaching to myself today as David and I step into “not knowing whither”.  We have been led by the Spirit of the Lord to release the church to the young couple we have been training up and while we do not sense any kind of physical move from Victoria or the work here, we know that our time for Pastoring this church has come to an end.  

If is with great anticipation, trepidation, that we step out of this boat to walk with Jesus into the next season of our lives. 

Your prayers are always appreciated. 

If you then be risen with Christ.

If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above.  Set your affection on things above and not on this earth, for you are dead and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col. 3:1-3

There are so many great truths in the word of God but having recently celebrated His Resurrection, I am mindful of Romans six where it states “sin no longer has dominion over you”.  Jesus’ purpose was fulfilled through His death and resurrection. Through His finished work, we have the privilege to enter into His life.

According to Romans 6:4, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we may also live new lives. Galatians reminds us our old man has to be put off and this becomes a matter of renewing our minds to His word.  Once I was, but now I am.  Old things are passed away, all things have become new.  His blood has not just washed us, but it has purified.  There is no remembrance of the old in Christ, just this precious new life in Christ. And now we live with Him by the power of God.

If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above.  Set your affection on things above and not on this earth, for you are dead and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

My mind holds the memories of the old.  Satan, as the accuser of the brethren reminds us of all our faults and weaknesses.  The Father chooses not to remember our sins and we must do the same ~ choose to no longer fix our minds and attentions on the things of the past. Paul said this one thing I do, forgetting the things which lie behind and reaching forth to things that are before… Philippians 3:13. 

The wonderful thing about this truth is that we don’t do any of this in our own power.  It is all accomplished through abiding in Him.  Jesus said, I won’t leave you comfortless.  I will send you another (just like me) helper.  He will abide with you forever.  The Holy Spirit now lives in each and every one of us providing us with every thing we have need of.  Because He is Spirit, His work is spirit.  The Father is a Spirit.  We are spirit.  His words are Spirit and life.  When we feed on Jesus, abide in His word, our minds begin to think like He thinks. We begin to hold the mind of God in whatever area we are attending to.

The gospels reveal the nature of our Father through the expression of Jesus.  The epistles show us who we are and what we have been given in Christ.  As we set our affections on all things Spiritual, we are strengthened, we are enabled, to walk in the ways that please Him. 

Jesus is the resurrection and the Life, the author and giver of all life.  His light dispelled darkness.  He provided you and I a redemption that met every need we could ever face. We that believe in Him, though we are dead (crucified with Him, dying daily) yet shall we live, in His victory, in His life. 

If you then be risen with Christ……

Resurrection

And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly; 

Luke 22:44

You will recognize this as Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.  We reflect this weekend on the death and resurrection of Jesus.  In this we consider the heart motivation that led him to and through the cross to the culmination of being seated at the right hand of the Father in total victory and place of highest honor.  Crowned with a name above every name, He is exalted far above all and everything. 

It is the obedience of Jesus that marks my soul.  Living with such intensity and clarity of purpose, I’m sure, provided the focus the He lived with.  Knowing that the body given to Him was prepared to become the sacrifice needed to redeem mankind did not make His path any easier for him than it does for us.  

Like Jesus each of us have been given a body to achieve His purpose.  Like Jesus, when we hit the hard spots we are to find our strength in the place of prayer.  

It’s interesting to note, Jesus prays, if possible, for this place of deliverance.  I don’t know that I always approach my circumstances thinking there is something about them that God wants me to endure for a greater purpose.  I assume deliverance is mine to have and while I am confident it is (too much to cover here about him being a deliverer and very present Help in time of need, lets agree) I know there are times that my deliverance has not been easy or swift.  

What was Jesus’ deliverance in the cross?  The resurrection from the dead.  The seat at the right hand of the Father.  The greater glory given.  A name above all others.   

He’s at prayer, desiring another way yet submitted to the will of the Father.  Lukes gospel tells us angels were sent from heaven to strengthen him.  After the angels were sent the gospel says he is still in an agony. 

ἀγωνία agōnía; gen. agōnías, fem. noun from agṓn (73), contest, but more abstract and eclectic giving prominence to the pain and labor of the conflict. Combat, from which the Eng. “agony” is derived. It is used to refer to the trembling excitement and anxiety produced by fear or tension before a wrestling match or a fight. In the NT, it is used denoting not the fear which draws back and flees, but the fear which trembles in the face of the issue yet continues on to the end (Luke 22:44 [cf. Matt. 26:37, 38; John 12:27]). Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.).

The writer of Hebrews reminds us not to throw away our confidence for it holds a great reward.  Jesus said he who endures to the end shall be saved.  Jesus comes to the place of “joy set before Him, enduring”. Hebrews 12:2

I’m learning the only successful way to endure is through prayer.  Where there is agony of soul, heart, the wrestle to come to the place submission and obedience assures me I too shall be saved; resurrected from that place of death to self in order to live with His glory being manifested to and through the difficulties. 

It is with joy, we celebrate Him, THE resurrection and THE life.

The last week of Jesus.

I always like to remind myself of the events surrounding Jesus' last week on earth and usually  spend this time looking at the scriptures.  I thought you might enjoy taking a look at His week.  

The following Information is courtesy of Dr. Doug Bookman of bookman ministries

Sunday

• Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem
• Spends the night in Bethany

• Matthew 21:1
• Mark 11:1
• Luke 19:29
• John 12:12

Monday

• Leaves Bethany
• Curses the fig tree on the way into the city
• Weeps over Jerusalem
• Cleanses the temple for the second time in His ministry
• Late in day, looks into the Temple, then leaves the city
• Spends the night in Bethany

• Matthew 21:12
• Mark 11:22
• Luke 19:45

Tuesday

• Leaves Bethany
• Finds the fig tree withered; teaches on faith
• Possesses the temple and its precincts; confounds and pronounces woes upon His enemies
• Leaves city; Olivet Discourse on way back to Bethany
• Judas bargains with Sanhedrin to betray Jesus
• Spends the night in Bethany

• Matthew 21:20
• Mark 11:20
• Luke 20:36
• John 12:20

 Wednesday. Silent Day

• No record in the Gospels, but much activity as Jesus prepares for Last Supper and as Judas and Sanhedrin prepare for Jesus' arrest
• Remains in Bethany throughout the day, stays night ther

  Thursday

• Peter and John sent to make preparation for Passover meal
• After sunset, eats meal with the twelve; washes disciples; Judas departs
• Lord's Supper instituted
• To Garden of Gethsemane; Jesus' agony
• Betrayal by Judas; arrest by Sanhedrin
• To house of High Priest as Sanhedrin is convened; Peter betrays Jesus

• Matthew 26:1
• Mark 14:1
• Luke 22:

Friday ~ The Trials of Jesus Christ

• First trial, before Annas [nightime hours]; Annas is looking for an accusation, biding time till Sanhedrin is gathered at High Priestly villa
• Second [and primary] trial before Sanhedrin, Jesus is condemned, misused
• Third trial, immediately at dawn [meanwhile, Peter denies Jesus a third time; Jesus looks upon him]; the condemnation repeated, then Jesus taken to Romans
• Fourth trial before Pilate [till "beginning at Galilee"]
• Fifth trial before Herod [looks for miracle]
• 6th trial before Pilate
  • Jesus is scourged; the city cries, "Crucify Him or we will tell Rome!"
  • Jesus is finally turned over to be crucified
  • Jesus mocked (Roman soldiers); crown of thorns
  • Judas hangs himself
  • Jesus bears His cross to gate on north of city and is crucified around 9 am

Jesus' Seven Sayings from the Cross

• "Father, forgive them..."
• "Today...with me in paradise"
• "Woman, behold thy son..." [darkness: noon – 3 pm]
• "My God, My God..."
• "I thirst"
• "It is finished"
• "Into Thy hands..."

The Death of the God-Man
About 3 pm; veil torn, rocks rent; some graves opened and people rise [to mortality] and go into the city

• Jesus' side pierced
• Passover lambs slain in temple
• Jesus buried by sundown

• Matthew 26:1
• Mark 14:53
• Luke 22:54
• John 18:13

  Saturday

• At the request of the Jewish leadership, Pilate grants a guard and sets a seal on the tomb of Jesus

• Matthew 27:66

  Sunday

Jesus Christ rises from the dead (before dawn) and makes five appearances on the day of His rising:

1. To Mary Magdalene [given a message to the disciples]
2. To the other women who come to the tomb [intending to complete the burial preparation of His body]
3. To two disciples on the Road to Emmaus
4. To Simon Peter [nowhere recorded, but alluded to in Luke 24:33-34)
5. To the astonished disciples [Thomas is absent]

• Matthew 28:1
• Mark 16:1
• Luke 24:1
• John 20:1

Spring Break

Let the children come to me and forbid them not. Matthew 19:14

Spring break ~ lessons in faith and patience, hope and love.  

Spring break challenged my perceptions of spiritual productivity this past week.  I have modes of grandma that are required in certain seasons and while I absolutely love them, I find them a challenge to my precious times with the Father.  I am spoiled.  My mornings are His.  My time with Him is not something I like to share or have infringed upon.  David and I are in agreement about what our mornings look like.  Coffee, tea, and separate space.  I’m out of the loop when it comes to this 24/7 parenting thing.  

This spring break burst upon us with all the energy and open heartedness of children who are filled with expectations of what you as grandma and grandpa are there for. You, like God, are to be an unlimited resource, with unlimited love, abounding in unconditional understanding, with great grace provided in all circumstances and at all times.  Ha!  Sounds like our Heavenly Father doesn’t it.  

The wonderful thing about being a grandparent is all the wisdom you have gleaned through our parenting years which makes us ‘grand’ at this stage of life.  I’m not sure how much of this is appreciated by our own children ~ but our grandchildren thrive on it.  

Somehow, where we failed to exercise all the right things at the right moment when we parented, we endeavor now to practice on our grandchildren and teach our adult children a better way.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

The places where you once were quick to rebuke and correct have been tempered with compassion, mercy and understanding.  Validation, approval and affirmation flow with more ease as you have learned to weigh the impact of words spoken in haste.  

Discipline still comes, yet it comes with the fruit that Hebrews promises when it is righteously handled. It yields peaceful fruit all enjoy.  Guilt and shame, covered by the blood, through sin owned and repented of, always brings peace to the child and home. 

Observing gives me, once again, a great appreciation for the gift children are and the stewardship required.  How thankful I am for godly seeds that endeavor to practice Godly parenting.  With much appreciation, I watch them engage in this dance we call parenting, stumbling around, missing steps, and yet building family through this work of faith and patience with much love.  

Spring break has come to an end and I’m left with a reminder of what it takes to parent 24/7. It’s called great grace and something I was privileged to be a partaker of with my family this past week.  I am better off for it.  

I saw Satan fall like lightning....

I saw Satan as lightning fall from heaven ~ Luke 10:18

Lest we forget in the midst of our trials and temptations ~ Satan, our enemy who seeks to destroy us, has been defeated by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Jesus has spoiled principalities and powers.  

As new creatures in Christ, we enter into a precious inheritance of the Saints.  Children of a heavenly Father, living in a Kingdom of Light, life, and love, we are now free from the dominion of Satan and the power of sin. 

Our ability to overcome negative circumstances hinge on our ability to rest in the work Jesus has finished.  Our position in Christ is not only legal but must be vital.

Satan, evil spirits, demonic activity are constantly at work to blind the minds of those who believe not.   We can’t operate from a place of victory while we live in a place of ignorance or unbelief.  We must know and believe that we have the right to use the authority in the name of Jesus. 

All authority has been given to us, to the church, which is the body of the Lord Jesus.  Jesus is the head of the church and His body is here on earth to do His work and fulfill His purpose.  It is not our power or our might.  It is Jesus’ and we have been given the right to use His authority.  We call this delegated authority, in other words, the right to use someone else’s authority.

Delegated authority takes all the pressure off of us to perform.  Operating in it demands belief.  Belief in His name and in His finished work.  I use to stumble over how these unsaved twelve disciples, the other seventy, could operate with such great success in healing and deliverance until I understood it wasn’t by their own power or holiness that makes anyone free but faith in the name of Jesus.  When they were unable to cast out the devil and asked Jesus why couldn’t we?  He replied, because of your unbelief.  It isn’t the prayer and fasting that creates power or faith. The prayer and fasting simply reveals any unbelief present in my heart.  

These disciples went forth simply believing Jesus when he said Im giving you authority to operate in my name.  You can do THESE things with my authority.  This of course comes with boundaries and we must know what “these” things are that we have been given authority over. 

Matthew 7 gives us the picture of those who consider themselves followers of Jesus, professing Lord. Lord. But Jesus saying, Depart from me I never knew you, you who work lawlessness.  Verse 21 shows us the boundary here of “doing the will of the Father”.  We would say deliverance and healing are the will of the Father and we would be correct; yet, there must be something to the method and timing of a matter that is important in all our doings.  

Jesus showed us in John 5 the purpose for his authority was to establish righteous judgment and therefore He only did what he saw the Father do and said what He heard the Father say.  These are boundaries we are to operate within.   We are under authority and as such, must learn to wait for specific instructions.

The power lies in Jesus and His name and we have the right to use his name against all works of the enemy.  We do not battle against flesh and blood.  Our fight is not with people. It’s with the forces driving them.  Influenced and hindered by the works of darkness, we can and must operate from a place of authority over the areas assigned to us and the people in our lives we steward.   

His disciples embraced their work and went forth with great joy while He worked with them confirming His word with signs accompanying. These signs follow them that believe… In my name.

Enlightened

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe ~  

Ephesians 1:18-19.

Our Father has revealed truth and wants us to know and understand.  As a new Christian, I was taught the bible revealed not only who I was as a new creature in Christ, but what I had been given as a child of God.  The more I read it, the more I saw. 

Growth is a never ending process for us and conforming to the image of Christ is a goal we move towards daily.  To do and be as He is, to express Jesus on this earth, requires wisdom, insight, knowledge and understanding.

Paul writes and says our Father, has made known to us the mystery of His will. He has abounded to us in all wisdom and understanding.  Ephesians 1:8-9.  Everything is written that we might know. Jesus is made unto us wisdom. He is the express image of the Father.  Filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding is a right of every child.  If we lack wisdom, we are to ask the Father who gives to us liberally.  Our Father wants us to know and to understand and He has given us His spirit that we might know the things that have been freely given to us in Christ. 

Our eyes being enlightened is not just Paul’s but the heart and mind of our Father and the beginning of our understanding of who we are in Christ and what we have been given to do here and now ~ The hope of His calling. We read this about our calling, but the Bible says to understand His calling.  Paul encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus asks, who are you and what must I do?  These two questions frame our daily existence ~ how do I fit in with the work Jesus is doing.  

To understand what the Father has inherited in the saints gives us a greater reality of purpose and of work for Him in His Kingdom.  Then to know the exceeding greatness of His power to every one who believes is to not only understand but experience the unlimited resources of Heaven at our disposal here and now.  

What we must do always comes with the grace to do it.  Every spiritual blessing in heavenly places has been given to us.  All authority in heaven and on earth has been committed to Jesus the head of the church and as his body we now walk under His authority achieving His purposes. 

Here in Ephesians Paul prays for us to understand the things given to us for the purpose of doing the “greater works than these shall you do because I go to the Father”, Jesus spoke about in the gospels.

To know the exceeding greatness of his power to us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come and hath put all things under his feet and give him be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that fills all in all.

A prayer to “see” clearly, to understand fully, gives us a greater capacity to do righteously. 

"Blessed is He who is not offended by Me."

Blessed is He who is not offended in me ~ Matthew 11:6

    NIV ~  “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me."

    NLT ~ “And tell him,‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.”    GNT ~”How happy are those who have no doubts about me!" 

    Websters Bible ~  “And blessed is he to whom I shall not be the cause of his falling into sin.”

Skandalízō  is a great word in the Greek and as you can see from above, translated numerous ways to be used with the idea of "trip up" or "entrap."   Skandalizo means  – properly, set a snare ("stumbling-block"); (figuratively) "to hinder right conduct or thought; to cause to stumble" – literally, "to fall into a trap" (Abbott-Smith). 

"The kindred noun (skandalon) is the stick on which the bait is placed, springing to shut the trap on "an animal.  Hence, generally, a 'snare, a stumbling-block'" (WS, 31).]

The English word offend (resentful or annoyed, typically as a result of a perceived insult) paints a bit of a different picture for us but the idea behind the Greek word is the action that follows; the removal from the relationship. The bait is the temptation to sever the relationship because of what we are hearing or seeing but do not understand.  It may initially assault our senses but the reception to the bait is the ultimate act of falling away. 

Matthew 13:21 gives a good idea of how this occurs ~ ‘yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.’  Something comes into our life that challenges our perception of the way the word should be working for us.

We all believe like Peter, “though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended”, Matthew 26:33; but the capture of Jesus in the garden was enough to stimulate fear and denial in his life. 

Jesus did all He could to prepare Peter for that moment ~These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling, John 16:1.  John had Holy Ghost revelation about Jesus at His baptism. Yet both John and Peter stumbled when met with circumstances they could not reconcile with what they thought should’ve transpired.  

We’ve all done the same thing and only by returning to the words Jesus has communicated to us, believing them independently of what we see and hear, will we find strength of heart, peace of mind and rest for our souls. 

Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear , and the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them and blessed is the one who is not offended by me. 

The Holy Spirit

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30 ESV

Ephesians chapter one also uses the word sealed in reference to our salvation. Being sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession (that’s us).  In other words, the Holy Spirit is the person that seals our belonging to the Lord and is the proof of our inheritance for all things in the family of God. 

He who did not withhold his own son, how shall he not with Him, freely give us all things. Outside of salvation, the greatest gift we have been given by the Father is His spirit.  He comes as the personification of the Fathers love to live in us, leading us and guiding us each day.  He is our vital connection to the Father and the one who always works to keep us one with them; Father and Son.  The Holy Spirit is the One who prompts us to read our Bible.  ‘To pray always’ is prompted by the Holy Spirit.  Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. The ability and strength to do any and all things set before us from the Father and enabled by and through the Holy Spirit.  We are strengthened with might by His Spirit in our inner man. 

When we come to Ephesians 4:30 and these instructions to not grieve Him, we come with an understanding first of all that He can be grieved.

The word grieve is lupe (λύπη, 3077) signifies “pain,” of body or mind; it is used in the plural in 1 Pet. 2:19 only, rv, “griefs” (kjv, “grief”); here, however, it stands, by metonymy, for “things that cause sorrow, grievances”; * Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old  and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 281). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson. 

Ephesians 4:29 instructs to let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it many minister grace to the hearer and verse 31 states to let all bitterness and wrath, and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice, and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, Even as God for Christs sake has forgiven you.  These things show us what grieves the Holy Spirit. 

If, and it is, His relationship role is to make us one and keep us in the love of God, we then understand why these scriptures are so important.  Jesus reminds us a house divided can not stand.  The division can only occur where the heart removes itself from dealing with people from a place of love, literally shutting up the heart of compassion.  Shutting up and shutting down the Holy Spirit are grievous acts because to do this we must first separate ourselves from the Holy Spirit.  

There is to be no corrupt communication; [corrupt, rotten” (akin to sepo, “to rot”), primarily, of vegetable and animal substances, expresses what is of poor quality, unfit for use, putrid] BUT only those words that edify [build up]  and minister grace [enabling power of God] to the hearer. These are the words the Holy Spirit is ALWAYS endeavoring to communicate TO us and through us to others.  

Our standard, EVEN AS (from Ephesians 4:31) is applicable to every area of our lives.  We don’t get to pick and choose. We conform. We’re transformed. We become and as we do the Holy Spirit has greater rule and influence in every thought, word and deed expressed through our lives. 

Always learning......

"...always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth..." 2 Timothy 3:7.  

While this scripture is speaking about ‘weak women burdened with sins and led astray by various passions’, there is a further principle here that I would like to discuss.

David always says, “You don’t know what you don’t know”.  If my world is framed by the constant feeding on the familiar then I am simply enhancing and sharpening, my knowledge of the known; a good thing, but to truly grow into the fullness of Christ, (to come to the knowledge of truth) I must surround myself with new and different things with a WILLINGNESS to hear, to see and ultimately allow the Spirit of God to shape that into my heart with an understanding that bears great fruit in my life. 

David is great about this; me, not so much.  My initial reaction to new thoughts presented from the word are to say, Wait a minute, is that really what the word says?  When I’m not seeing it like you are saying it requires a willingness on my part to embrace something different and unknown to me.  

James exhorts us to receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save our souls.  Romans tells us that we are to be renewed by the transforming of our minds.  We can’t begin to transform anything if we think we know everything AND believe that what we know is the fullness of truth.  Rejecting a truth is simply another form of limitation that we set into our life and world.  

We’ve just gotten home from a wonderful time with a group of ministers working through the processes of transitioning their churches.  It was a great time of study, conversation and insights by the Spirit of God.  It began with the Holy Spirit telling us He had seeds to sow that would bring forth greater fruit and revelation for us.  He was rooting out and pulling down the limitations of our thought patterns to enlarge us for His greater capacity. 

The Holy Spirit is always wanting to increase us with the increase of God.  I know in part and as a part I can only add my part and MUST have the other parts to enlarge me.  Where I am unwilling to see and hear, I am limited.  

Jesus said to his disciples, “Blessed are your eyes because they see, and blessed are your ears, because they hear.”  We don’t need to be afraid of hearing new and different thoughts because we do have the ability to rightly discern by the Holy Spirit living in us. The word of God divides soul and spirit, and when preached the great teacher in us leads us and guides us into all truth through the word of God.  

The word of God is profitable for instruction.  I don’t know everything there is to know in it.  I don’t see as clearly or as deeply as I need to. I want to be a lover of truth, willing to embrace truth and grow in the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ.  

We are supposed to be ever learning with the end goal of coming to the knowledge of the truth. 

Here am I, send me.

I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send and who will go for us?  Then said I, Here am I; send me ~ Isaiah 6:8

Quite the noble thing to say, Here am I Lord, send me.  I’m sure we have all responded in this fashion at some point in our Christian walk.  However, it is just not about our willingness to be sent, It also includes obedience to actually go.   

I just want to share with you a few of my insights following the trip to India…..

Yes, opened the door for me.   Isaiah said the willing and the obedient eat the good of the land;  I would’ve told you I was always met the admonishment obedient but I don’t know that I’ve always responded heartily or cheerfully. I can’t say I haven’t had my times of murmuring or complaining. Sometimes the opportunities were met with, "I’ll do this if I have to" only to learn in those times finding myself continually challenged to stay engage.  Then there are of course the times I so willing volunteered with the hearty yes, only to discover, a multitude of reasons when the opportunity stood before me of why I could not follow through and just said NO. 

I heard this sermon about "Never say No"  and it was something the Holy Spirit used to challenge me.  Up to that time, I still had areas I ruled over for the sake of my own self-preservation. I’m thankful God is always at work in us both to do and to will His good pleasure. 

God is in the business of increase. He wants his kingdom manifested.  He rewards faithfulness with more work. Talents given are to multiply and extend His kingdom further.  The ideal is to stay connected to Him while He works in us to work through us.  He will enlarge our borders.

Yet there is the reality of setting our own boundaries when we respond from a place of fear or unwillingness.  We can actually limit the sphere of influence our lives can have.  Each of us our given a metro; a sphere of influence, and its up to us to take the opportunities God sets before us and enlarge them. 

Gods work is always about people. Those in our lives we connect with on a daily basis; family, friends, co-workers and school mates. As we show ourselves faithful with involvement in their lives, God gives us more to touch and influence.  As we do, God adds to our lives others we can begin to influence.  Every increase involves an enlarged heart to carry others and they must be seen as a gift from God and received as a stewardship. 

In India, I found myself seeking daily to stand in the grace of God to impact others I had no frame of reference over.  Ministering to widows, orphans, lepers and the nationals demanded the mind of God and working of the Holy Spirit to teach me what to do and what to say. Holding His heart and mind served to remind me every individual is precious to him and one He wants to impact. 

Daily I understand Paul’s urgency on a greater level when he tells us we have been given a ministry of reconciliation and are committed with the word of reconciliation. Paul’s words, I beseech you “be reconciled to God” can only come from the heart of God. 

India has given me an opportunity to see larger, expand deeper and I hope return home with a greater and lasting capacity to love and care for others. 

India ~

I know that when I come to you I will cone in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. Romans 15:29 ESV

With the New Year holding many wonderful promises from God and instructions for moving forward, David and I have been “focused” on fully engaging in the work assigned to us. Some years back the Holy Spirit touched my heart about never saying NO again.  It’s funny when you look back how you find the times you’ve tried to remain in control of your life by choosing the NO to new and different instead of saying yes and stepping into the great unknown.  

We all know it requires much trust in our Father and not only trust, but the need to stay vitally connected, so your steps are ordered by Him.  Walking around in the dark is only safe as long as you are holding tight to someone you trust.  Since choosing the yes, I’ve had divine opportunities set before me that have enlarged me simply because they demanded so much more from me. 

Today, I face another one of those “yes” moments as we set off for India.  David usually makes this trip each year in March but with the opportunity for me to participate in an annual Women’s Conference he is joining me on this adventure. Upon arrival in Delhi, he goes north to minister to various pastors conferences and I go south, but we do reconnect in Delhi for our return trip home.  

 Every new thing required me to be confident, not just in God, but in the grace deposited in my life to touch others. Thus, Romans 15:29, I lean into going in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.  Holding people in my heart that they might be touched by heaven and their lives impacted by the King of Glory, is my hope and prayer. 

I’m thankful for a home base, a church family, that loves us enough to send us and cares for us enough to keep us covered in prayer.  But each of you are dear to my heart as well, and this is just a friendly chat today to let you know the weekly good words will have to wait until I am back home. I’m sure I will have much to share and insights to offer, but in the meantime when David and I come to your hearts and minds, please join us in thanking God that our lives our touching and blessing others.

May the Lord bless you and keep 

May the Lord make his face shine upon and be gracious to you

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,

And give you peace.  

Amen. 

Looking unto Jesus

“ [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity)” Hebrews 12:2a  Amplified Updated

Prior to Christmas, we received a phone call from a friend sharing this prophetic word which we felt would benefit the body of Christ. 

 “ I was praying and saw that at this years end everything will coast to a natural standstill but the enemy will rise up and make a push.  For those who keep their focus on the Lord, in a short time, in the new year, there will be a great unveiling of prosperity and abundance. I saw a theatre stage with the curtain drawn and all of a sudden the curtain pulled open revealing the stage filled with all sorts of blessings.  Prosperity and abundance natural and spiritual, with a revelation of Christ as well.”

If I had to reduce it down, he said, “Keep focus on the Lord no matter what tries to distract because there is a great and quick reward for it.”  He stressed during his explanation and afterwards the idea of ‘focus’ three or four times.  Only those who are focused will see this.

To focus on one thing with your attention being pulled in other directions is nigh on impossible. We call it multitasking, but even scientists today are seeing the effects the idea of multitasking has on performance.  It simply is not focused on anything. We understand the effects of the multitude of interruptions we all live with, but NOW, in this time frame, we must have the right focus, ONE THING IS NEEDFUL AND MUST BE CHOSEN. 

Focus is simply attention to one thing. Focus speaks of clarity.  Looking away from all that will distract us and focusing on one thing. The admonition is that our focus must be on Jesus to see the unveiling. 

There are things that need to be revealed and those who will separate themselves from the natural cares to the spiritual will have eyes that see. When we have removed ourselves from giving attention to the things seen and are focused on Him who is unseen, our sight becomes clearer and our hearing sharper.  Choices must be made to “strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.” Disregard the past.  Give it no more time and attention. Do not regard lying vanities but with intention find your seat, be still and know the shows about to begin. The curtain’s about to go up.  

It is with great hope and joy that David and I are welcoming this New Year.  

We trust that it unveils, first, a greater and deeper revelation of our Father, His son Jesus Christ, and their purpose.  Our prayer is that this revelation overflows into the knowledge of the rich, abundant, lavish, exceeding, immeasurable goodness He pours into our lives. 

Happy New Year with Love,

David and Jeanne.      

We have seen His Star

“Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him.”  Matthew 2:2

From this one portion scripture we have great prophetic fulfillment. 

• From Numbers 24 we read A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel. 
• From Isaiah 9 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light, Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.
• From Luke 1 Zachariah prophesies that Jesus appears to give light to those that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace. 
• From John 1 we find that John was not the light but was sent first to bear witness of the true light which lights every man that comes into the world. 

As the Bright morning Star, Jesus is the light of the world who shines into the darkness and the darkness does not and never will overpower His light.  While Isaiah tells us in the last days darkness will abound the promise to us is His light shines forever!  The glory of the lord is seen upon us and men are drawn to His light.  

Where is He that is born King of the Jews? He is in us. As carriers of the presence we are children of the Light.  To shine as He shines.  To love as He loves.  To give from the very essence of His heart and always dispelling the darkness whenever we can. 

We have seen His star and worship Him.  In this Season may others see His light in the reflection of our lives.  

David and I trust this Christmas is one that brings your great rest and peace in Him as you celebrate with family and friends. 

Merry Christmas with Love,

Jeanne

The Prince of Peace

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.   Isaiah 9:6    KJV

The Christmas season is a time to reflect on the gift of God to the world. Like communion, we celebrate Christmas in remembrance of Him.  Allowing Christmas to become a season filled with pressure and anxiety governed by human expectations, real and perceived, is to fall short of the miracle God has given to us in Jesus. 

Peace is not just tranquility, it is the result of being one with Him.  It is wholeness, the prosperity of spirit, soul and body which He has provided in the redemption of our lives.  It is absolute well being, and is always and only found in Him.  

He is the Prince of Peace. 

Jesus speaks to the storms of our soul and says, “Peace be still.”

Jesus reminds us to come to Him when we are weary and heavy burdened because He gives us rest for our souls. 

Jesus is the good Shepherd who leads us to quiet waters of rest and green pastures that restores our souls.  

In all our celebrating, we are remembering how our lives have been so richly and abundantly blessed through our relationship through Jesus with the Father. It is this position of thankfulness that opens our hearts to freely and cheerfully give.  To share from the abundance of our lives in blessing others is the true spirit of Christmas and the character of God.  Therefore, we like our Father, love to give. 

However when giving becomes an obligation and we operate from a place of pressure,  grudgingly doing the expected thing, well that’s a heart issue we have to sort until we are able to give freely and without grudging.  

We will always find three arenas of relationships competing for our focus. 

Requirements we make upon ourselves.

Requirements others put upon us. 

Requirements the Lord assigns.

The only thing actually required is to OBEY HIM.  Where that plays out in everyday circumstances continually demands that He is involved enough in our daily routine that we are being led by Him only. 1 Peter 2:9 from the Message Bible, “Life is a journey best travelled with a deep conscience of God.”  We follow after Peace.  We are vitally united to the Prince of Peace and our ways our filled with the fruit of peace.  

This Christmas, and all year, we can live from our Spirits as they are directed by Him enjoying His peace that passes all understanding.  We can give freely and generously with a peace that comes from oneness with Him, confident we are living and walking out His purposes for the day and being the blessing He lives through. 

Self Preservation

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”    Acts 20:24 KJV

• But now I count as nothing the sacrifice of my life…  Williams translation
• However, I consider my life worth nothing to me… NIV
• But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus…NLT
• But I make my life neither dear nor any account to myself…  Berean Literal Bible
• But I fear none of these things… Douay-Rheims 

I heard a preacher say recently one of the greatest challenges we face as believers is to rule our internal world.  

Nothing so consistently challenges us as our tendency towards self preservation.  We all carry certain belief systems regarding perceived entitlements in areas we feel something should be coming our way ‘just because’.  

It doesn’t seem to matter that we know this is not the way of Jesus, but yet we still find ways to adapt to this weakness.  May I suggest that the weakness does not reside in our physical, fleshly body, but somewhere in our souls belief system, allowing us to give permission to this fleshly nature and indulge self. 

There are things residing in our hearts and minds we could look at governing this choice to serve self.  I would suggest a foundational one being fear.  We know the only thing that drives out fear is the love of God. Consequently, we are looking at a primary motivation for all our actions of doing to be driven, not by fear, but rather the  constraining Love of God. 

What gave Jesus, Paul, the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, the ability to move forward in the face of great hardship and obstacle?

Jesus, in the garden, faced with the crucifixion, chose to submit and obey the Fathers will.  Only the love of God could motivate this. 

Paul said in Acts 20:22, “And now behold I am going to Jerusalem constrained by the Spirit not knowing what will happen to me there except the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.  BUT I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, If only I may finish my course and the ministry that I receive rom the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”  

What keeps a man moving forward when faced with that knowledge?  Only the Love of God can compel him.  

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 8 that the churches in Macedonia were being tested by many troubles, and were very poor, but were also filled with abundant joy overflowing in rich generosity.  Paul testified they gave not only what they could afford, but far more and did it of their own free will.  

How were they able to do that?  Paul said they even did more than they had hoped, for, their first action was to give “themselves to the Lord and then to us, just as God wanted them to do.”  While this specifically addresses finances, I think we are all mature enough to understand that how we handle money is simply a reflection of the level of freedom in our hearts. They didn’t have “much” but it wasn’t the amount that was significant it was the heart that was willing.  

With an attachment to the heart of God, to his love working in us, keeping Him first place and others second will hold self serving motivations in check.  

So, heart check; when and where I am asked to go against the grain of self, I must locate the fear which reinforces my desire to stay safe.  All fear is driven by the fear of death.  Self kicks in when I am fearful of losing any quality of life. Yet Jesus said I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly, John 10:10, and If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for Jesus, you will find it, Matthew 10:39.

Let’s keep our lives in proper perspective living while dying daily.