John 13:3 NEB ~ During supper, Jesus well aware that the Father had entrusted everything to him and that he had come from God and was going back to God rose from the table….”

Responsibility, accountability and judgment are the three thoughts I have from this verse.  In this context, we find Jesus, knowing(English Standard Version) that the Father had entrusted to Him the redemption of all humanity.   Making a choice, He rises, and through the rest of the gospel, we find Him continually making choices to meet the circumstances laying before Him. Ultimately knowing those choices will end in His death and separation from the Father, while yet believing in His ultimate resurrection and restoration. 

The English definition for the word “entrust” is assign the responsibility for doing

something to (someone).

Jesus lived His entire life mindful of the Divine mission he carried. For example, Luke 4:43 “They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving, "But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent.”  From ~ 1 John 3:8 we read, “For this purpose was the son of God manifest….”  And, Hebrews 10:5 we learn “when Christ came into the world he said, … a body have you prepared for me. (7) Behold I have come to do your will, O God as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.”

The Father had entrusted to Jesus everything.  

Somehow, in all of this, we understand Jesus had a choice.  He’s called the second Adam and just like the first failed the obedience test, Jesus too could have opted out of His assignment.  It’s hard to fathom Jesus being judged for disobedience, but if that was not possible, the plan of redemption would not have been complete.  Hebrews points out ‘He was a man tempted like we are, yet without sin.’ 

It’s hard to consider Jesus failing, but it would not have been a valid redemption if He was not capable of choosing self over submission to God.

Jesus’ ministry was met with crowds, followers, disciples, those he loved and those who loved him; praise, criticism, opposition, betrayal, plots to assassinate him and ultimately death and yet none of these things altered His choice to always move forward into the purpose and destiny assigned to Him.

Jesus was a man, NEB in Hebrews 4:15 reads, “one, who because of his likeness to us, has been tested every way, (tested in every way as we are) only without sin.”  

How many times do we excuse ourselves because we do not believe eternity hinges on our choices?  I’ve strongly believed, my entire spiritual adulthood, Mordecai’s warning to Esther; ‘…relief will come; but you and your fathers house will perish.’ (Esther 4:14) Ihave believed there is an ultimate judgment for any known step I refuse to take believing God in His great love will not allow my disobedience to alter His purpose for another.  BUT WHAT IF, my choices really don’t affect me only? What if my choices do impact another's destiny?  Whose salvation may we have neglected in our choices?   Are there, have there been, divine connections we’ve refused to make?

So the questions I bring before all of us today are these; 

What has the Father entrusted to us that eternity does hinge on?  

What has the Father made us responsible for?  

Do we live with an awareness we are accountable for those and that we will be judged for the choices we made (make) regarding them? 

O death where is your Sting?

Brothers we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 1 Thess. 4:13

David and I had a conversation with a visiting minister, a few years back, discussing a season we had just come through, with many of our colleagues, through sickness, moving to heaven.  We had fought the good fight alongside of them, we had endured in faith to the end, but ultimately their battle for life was lost. 

In this conversation, the minister stated “the problem with you word of faith people is that you have no theology about death.”  While admitting many might not, David and I heartily disagreed about ourselves and those we were connected with.  Faith is the first and last response required in fighting against the last enemy to be destroyed.  Facing death for ourselves or others is nothing to be apologized nor diminished when it appears the battle is lost, because truthfully it isn’t.  We win Christ, regardless of the outcome. 

As overseers in the body of Christ, our heart is to engage in others battles when called on to support their place of faith.  Encouraging a hope, we hold tightly to our trust in God knowing through Him we overcome.  To Live is Christ but to die is gain. 

Our terminology speaks much to the way we view death and while there is a very natural loss, there is no cessation of life to the spirit of man.  While it is our loss it is another's gain..  It’s a move.  It’s a personal graduation.  It’s a crossing over a finish linethat for a child of God always ends in victory.  Oh death where is your sting, oh grave where is your victory?  Death is the last enemy to be defeated.  Hebrews states in chapter 11 the heroes of faith, ALL died in faith.  They had not received their promise but looked to an eternal reward.  Even so, we understand that the best way to pass from this life into eternity is in faith. Eternal life is the ultimate promise and reward of our life of faith.

Paul wrote, we don’t grieve like those who have no hope, but we do grieve.  Jesus wept.  We do experience a very personal loss.   Loss is not lost, but certainly feels that way. There are so many emotions that an individual goes through it is impossible to set any kind of standard for grieving.  Everyone must find their own way through to the place of rest and peace. Paul’s admonition is that we do not lose sight of the hope we have about heaven and spending eternity in the presence of God.

We weep with those who weep and we allow them to set the standard of processing their loss. We are helpers of their faith, while they find their way through the dark moments.  Words are not always necessary but love demonstrated in acts of kindness are always appreciated. For those who are living in the first few days of separation we can only trust God to bring comfort through the Holy Spirit, assured that we are never alone, never helpless and never abandoned.   

We grieve, but we don’t grieve like those who have no hope because in the alone moments, we move to the God of all hope who fills us with all joy and peace in believing that we might abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Soliders

“Take your share of hardship like a good solider of Christ Jesus.  A soldier on active service will not let himself be involved in civilian affairs; he must be wholly at his commanding officer’s disposal.”  New English Bible ~ 2 Timothy 3:3-5

Hardship is something we all like to avoid, Christian or not. We are all looking for the place in our lives of comfort and ease.  However, to have this place, naturally, in this world is just not possible. We might find moments but nothing lasts.   The ONLY place there is absolute comfort and joy, peace and rest, is in Jesus.  My yoke is easy, my burden is light, come to me and you will find rest for your souls.  He leads by green pastures and quiet waters that restore our soul.  He who waits on the Lord is renewed with times of refreshing in the presence of the Lord.  

Jesus himself said, “In this world you will have tribulation.”  The troubles of life, naturally, will always be with us.  Spiritually, as we join with Christ, we meet opposition aimed at separating us from the Father and His word. 

A man going to battle knows he will not be experiencing the comforts of home.  He has a different mindset.  He must be hardened to difficulties (Isaiah 41:10).  What does this mean?  Every solider is trained to do what he doesn’t want to do, to go further than he feels he can and to remain under authority in adverse circumstances.  If we are hardened to difficulty, the circumstances of life are not shaping us.  They are not directing us.  They are faced, challenged and overcome.   Jesus promises that he that endures to the end shall be saved. If we faint not, if we don’t give up, if we don’t lose heart, we are promised to reap in due season.   

We live in days where lawlessness abounds, the love of many grows cold, men love pleasure rather than God, in the church!  If we take our cues from “others” we fall into the deception that these things are not “to bad”.  Yet we know it just takes “a little” leaven to leaven the whole lump.  The natural man is looking and seeking the place of ease.  Where the natural man finds that acceptable, he will indulge it. 

If we walk after the Spirit we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  A solider on active service will not let himself be involved in civilian affairs.  What takes us away from His presence and our daily feeding upon him, weakens us.  He is the author and giver of life.  We must have ears that hear, wholly at our commanding officers disposal.  He leads us into paths of righteousness for His name sake.  These paths hold His life and blessing, which is not the same thing as saying they are flat and smooth roads, but as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, we are learning how to march on rocky and rough paths. 

anakainōsis ("the going up to a new level, renewal")

There is this great word in the Greek that speaks to the process of change in us. Much of the time we think that we must effect the change in ourselves; yet the bible is clear that it is God who is at work in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure AND He is the one who does exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think. 

The Greek word ~ 

342/anakainōsis ("the going up to a new level, renewal") occurs twice in the NT ~

 ▪    Ro 12:2,3: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal (342/anakaínōsis) of your mind, 

  ▪    Tit 3:5: "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing (342/anakaínōsis) by the Holy Spirit" (NASB).

The verb form, (341/anakainóō) also has the same core meaning and is found in… 

        Colossians 3:10: "And have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him" (NASB).

342 (anakainōsis) is associated with ongoing, process action. J. Calvin said that this renewal is what repairs the image of God in us now defaced by sin. R. Trench wrote “anakainosis brings the restoration (renewal) of the divine image.” 

God knows our frame.  He understands our humanity.  We have a high priest who can be touched with the feelings of our weaknesses. We are not perfect.  We make mistakes.  We speak before thinking.  We act from impulse and emotions and we cause others pain in our process of growth; but this is what life is all about for disciples, growing up INTO HIM in all things.  

The best we can all do is simply take responsibility for the failings we create and move on.  I remember a preacher saying, “faith can’t work in an atmosphere of guilt and shame”.  It’s never failure until I quit trying.  Failing is not failure until then.  Many times I have to remind myself that the blood of Jesus is enough to cleanse me from all unrighteousness when I confess my sins. Owning my sin is pretty big in God. If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord does not hear me; but when I confess, He is faithful and just to forgive.  The more attached we are to the value of performance and perfection the harder humility becomes.   

With the ultimate goal of our conformity to Christ, the Spirit works in us, reminding us, leading us, guiding us, shaping us. I’m thankful God is never weary or fainthearted in His work, Isaiah 40:28!  When we are, it is simply because we have misplaced our confidence with to much attention on self’s inadequacies.  

As we continue to look into the perfect law of liberty we are changed from glory to glory because we see HIM.   I believe.  He works.  Since we are His workmanship and He who began a good work shall complete it, we can have confidence that He will never leave us as He finds us.  We are renewed by the Holy Spirit and hopefully that is a constant in our lives.  

A Father's Day Message ~

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  Ephesians 3:15

If we want to know the real nature of a Father, we are to look at Jesus.  He came as the express image of God to reveal the nature of His Father.  Every deed, every word, every expression was exactly what God, the Father would have done.  Jesus said he who has seen me has seen my Father.  

Father’s Day may be a Hallmark creation it is still a biblical principal that can only begin with my heart towards God, learning to hold His value for all. We see from Revelation 4:17“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”  We are commanded to honor our Fathers and Mothers for it is the first commandment with promise from Ephesians. 

Honor is a tricky thing because ,while it is something we are entitled to, we can’t demand it.    It’s like love, freely given because it is in the heart of a man. We are commanded to honor everyone from 1 Peter 2:17 simply because of their human value.   

If we live doing all lives for the glory of God, who gets the glory and honor?  Does it truly belong to Him for He is the one who has first made us, then graced us and strengthens us daily to do His will.  Paul asks the question in 1 Corinthians 4:7. What do you have that you did not receive?  If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? 

When Peter wrote his second letter we learn we are called to His own glory and excellence.

When we value and esteem our Heavenly Father and his creation, honor is easily seen and taught in our homes. We find a culture of honor being created within our sphere of influence which is always, first and foremost, our homes.  The epistle of James reminds us every good and perfect gift comes from THE Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.  He is consistent and dependable.  He does not lie.  He does not change.  He is always good and good to all. 

Hebrews 12:9 tells us our word respect from the Greek means reverence.  There is a place every natural Father deserves this honor and respect and He will have it as he is able to love as He loves and can say like Jesus, He who has seen me has seen THE Father.  

My prayer for all Fathers today is for the honor due them to be given to them.  May we start with honoring our Father in Heaven, the Father of our spirits, who has given us life and may His name be glorified in us and through us in word and deed. 

Whose report will you believe?

                                                                                                                                                                      Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. Numbers 14:1

Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2.For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3. For we who have believed enter that rest….

We’ve all had days of hearing evil reports, those words that strike heart and soul tempting us to be discouraged, overwhelmed, fearful and unbelieving. We know it is in those times we are most vulnerable and how important it is to meet them with solid faith in the Scriptures. 

“Whose report will we believe?  We shall believe the report of the Lord!”  A phrase from a song written by Ron Kenoly from the 90’s, reminds me in that moment of decision, we have a place to stand and choices to be made.  It’s not the circumstance that destroys us, it is the processing of our thoughts, either succumbing to fear and dis-believing God’s word or to a place of trust and rest that sets our future.

If you read Hebrews chapters 3 and 4 in context, it teaches us that unbelief leads to disobedience and that disobedience holds no rest but this evil heart of unbelief leads us astray from God.   Conversely faith in what we hear (or read) (or see) from God leads us to obey.   Obedience takes us to this place of rest knowing we are in the will of God.  With everything working together for good to those who love Him and called according to His purposes, Romans 8:28 is the ultimate “no worries” verse.      

Most of the time we are looking for circumstances to make us happy, but success isbeing joyful in the midst of unhappy stances.  We have all learned we aren’t able to control many of life’s happenings, but we are always able to control us.  Our thoughts, feelings, emotions and ultimately choices direct us to life and that more abundantly or they find us yielding to the temptation and trying to be our own salvation.  

Numbers 13 shows us it’s not just what you hear it’s what you choose to believe. We have to remember the issue here is that there were two reports; one affirming natural circumstances and one affirming the promise and power of God.  The response in Numbers 14 verse 1 tells us what the people chose to believe.  

The book of Hebrews assures us ~ we who have believed (God and His promise) enter that rest….

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. Mark 5:27

As I was reading this account of the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years the phrase “ came in the press” jumped alive and I heard this, “What are you prepared to press through to get to Jesus?”

Such a simple question, but the impact of it makes you realize that you are not always “pressing into Him”.  

As we read this account, what we don’t read are the tremendous obstacles she would have faced in moving to Jesus.  First of all, this was a long term condition in her life.  She had sought the care of many physicians and the bible says, she had spent all she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. That is seriously discouraging.  Twelve years is a long time to live with any limiting condition.  

Then, we have to realize this woman would have been known in the community.  If you take the time to read the laws of Leviticus, it tells us that this woman would have beenconsidered unclean.   Anything she touched or sat on became unclean.  Anyone who touched her became unclean. Can you image living for 12 years with a label of “unclean” over your life?  That is a life defining word.  That’s something you would adapt to in twelve years. It would not just control your activities and your relationships, but would seriously limit them. These are obstacles, strongholds that would have shaped her soul.   

She had heard the reports about Jesus.  They were enough for hope to rise within her.  In the scriptural context, Jairus is endeavoring to get Jesus to his house to heal his daughter who is on the point of death. I imagine we have panic in this man, urgency which is driving Jairus and consequently pressing Jesus on. This crowd is moving in mass.  Take a look at Mark 3:9 to compare the press. 

Think of all the people she touched and who touched her as she moves to get to Jesus. This woman who had for twelve years this continual hemorrhaging came “in the press” to get to Jesus.  There was this natural press but don’t you know there was an internal press that drove her to disregard the law, the people, the condition occurring in her body, her mind screaming unclean, until she could finally, simply reach out and touch the hem of Jesus’ robe. 

What press(ures) do we have in our lives? Do they drive us to Jesus or do we simply adapt to our situations? Do we find the conditions greater than the promise waiting on us? When we hear the reports of Jesus, does hope rise and press us towards Him?

How desperate are we in life?  Are prepared to move past thoughts, perceptions, even natural realities to get to Jesus?

This woman did. She presses into this crowd.  She touches the hem of his garment and immediately she knows (the greek is emphatic here, she really knows something has changed in her body, the flow had stopped). 

Here’s what I find profound in this moment in the works of Jesus. Jesus stops moving.  He knows!  He knows someone has drawn that healing power from him.  He did not initiate this.  He was simply the conduit she drew from.  Powerful.  Her faith pressed through.  Her faith reached out.  Her faith touched.  Her faith received.  Her faith, not Jesus’ faith, hers.  

We think we are waiting on God to move but in reality Jesus has a finished work and now He waits on us. He waits for us to press in.  He waits for us to overcome our fear and doubts and move through every obstacle to get to HIM. Luke's gospel tells us the power of the Lord was present to heal.  Mark’s gospel tells us Jesus was not able to do any mighty works when he met unbelief. He who comes to God must believe!

Jesus looks around and asks, “…Who touched me?”.  She is no where to be found right now,  She’s not shouting hallelujah. She’s not leaping for joy.  She’s hidden. I’m sure she’s stunned.  Processing.  Now she hears the question, “Who touched me”?  What does this question mean to her? She knows the flow has stopped.  She knows “technically” she is no longer “unclean”  but the law had processes for being cleansed. Processes she hasn’t followed.  What could happen here?   Verse 33 tells us she comes to him with fear and trembling, falling at his feet, she tells him the whole truth! 

We know Jesus’ response, Daughter your faith has made you well.  Go in peace and be healed of your disease.  The Prince of Peace, speaks Shalom; health, well-being to her entire person. To this woman He literally says, continue in this place of wholeness and well being.  

The woman with the issue of blood for 12 years is simply one story to show us what we can have if we choose to press through our limitations. His power is present to heal.  His power is poured out.  The question before each of us every day is do I believe? 

If my hope is in Jesus, I will press into Him.  My faith will move me to Him.  My faith will reach out. My faith will touch him.  My faith will receive the goodness of God and I too will be filled with Shalom, peace, nothing missing nothing broken and every whit whole.

Let today be that day.

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5

Tucked away in the midst of rejoicing in verse four and not being anxious from verse six, enabling us to pray about everything andhave the God of peace which surpasses our understanding guard and keep our minds in Christ Jesus, we find this command ~ Let your moderation be known unto all men. 

Let’s consider this word, moderation and see how we can work to develop some “sweet reasonableness” in our lives.  Paul said, “Deliver me from wicked and unreasonable men, for all men have not faith.”  Meaning some have never learned how to take the words of the Lord and make them the words of life. 

A definition of “moderation” from E.W. Bullinger,  in his‘A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament (Fifth Edition, Revised, 1908., p. 317). London: Longmans, Green, & Co. - reads ἐπιεικής, fitting upon, i.e. fit, meet, suitable; hence, fair, reasonable, esp. opp. to δίκαιος (righteous), i.e., not insisting on the letter of the law, considerate, forbearing, kind, fair, (occ. Phil. 4:5; 1 Tim. 3:3.)

The often quoted J.H.Thayer states in his work (1889). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: being Grimm’s Wilke's Clavis Novi Testamenti (p. 238). New York: Harper & Brothers. Comments ~  ἐπιείκεια  mildness, gentleness, fairness, [‘sweet reasonableness’ ](Matthew Arnold)]:

We are looking at our ability to process thought to the end that achieves sweet reasonableness.  That isn’t held or insisting on holding to the “letter of the law” but each situation is allowed to be judged by the Spirit of God so the words that come are filled with life, hope, edification, comfort, correction all delivered from the right heart (the Father’s) and not from our religion.  

I’m keenly aware it was the Pharisees and Sadducees that Jesus rebuked for making their converts twice the disciple of hell.  Hebrews 4:12 reminds us it is only the word of God that has the ability to rightly divide soul and spirit and discerns the thoughts and intent of the heart.

We may know what the word says, but it is knowing the right word to use in the right way that is proof of moderation.  The woman caught in adultery, John 8:27, exposed before Jesus was met with the indisputable wisdom of God in a moderate, gentle, fitting, way.  Jesus states, “He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.”  The law said stone her.  The scribes and pharisees wanted to kill her.  Jesus gave her life. 

Just as in every circumstances there is a right response, there is a right thought that we are to hold.  I like to remind myself about Isaiah 55.  While his ways and thoughts are above mine, they are not impossible to know or hold.  We have the mind of Christ and it is always, according to 1 Corinthians given and discerned through the Holy Spirit.  

Discovery Bible ‘Word Study Helps’ offers this insight from the Greek word # 1933 epieikēs(an adjective, derived from 1909/epí, "on, fitting" and eikos, "equitable, fair"; also see the noun-form, 1932/epieíkeia, "equity-justice") – properly, equitable; "gentle" in the sense of relaxing strict standards when that is necessary to keep the "spirit of the law."

1933/epieikēs ("justice beyond ordinary justice") builds on the real intent (purpose) at stake (note the epi, "upon") – hence, true equity that fulfills the spirit (not just "the letter") of the situation.

1933/epieikēs ("in true equity") expresses "sweet reasonableness" that  takes into account "the whole picture" and does not enforce a standard that would be "unjust because of its generality" (Wm Barclay).  1933/epieikēs ("equitably fair") then suggests what is suitably lenient or strict.  This works in accordance with all the facts of the individual situation, i.e. as it stands on its own (unique) merits.

    1    This root (epiek-) is difficult to translate with a one-word equivalent because it expresses justice (equity) that goes beyond the strict letter of the law, to keep the true intent (spirit) of the law (Wm Barclay, G. R. Berry).  1933 (epieikēs) conveys elevating substance over form, i.e. the spirit of a matter strictly over the letter.

1933/epieikēs ("appropriately reasonable") treats a situation on its own merits, and hence is "appropriately (aptly) yielding" when the case truly calls for it (note the epi, "upon its own merits").   

1933/epieikēs ("truly equitable") relates to weighing the facts according to God's perfect standard of justice (see also the LXX at Ps 86:5).  The Holy Spirit reveals true justice through faith ("God's inbirthed persuasion," 4102/pístis).  Here God leads (persuades) us on how to "match up" the letter of the law with its inner reality (the spirit of the law).  Without this, people ruin opportunities and relationships – like when "shooting a flea with an elephant gun" (acting disproportionately).

True justice is always divinely-determined, i.e. beyond the parameters of human justice.  God's justice comes by hearing His voice and obeying it.

Reflection: Thomas a Kempis, "It is easier to be silent altogether than to speak with moderation.”

As I considered all of this, I couldn’t help but think of 1 Corinthians 2.14 “The natural

person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is

not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual

person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has

understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” 

Let’s strive for some of this “sweet reasonableness” in processing of all our

judgments.  Let us make sure if we err, we err with mercy being exalting above 

judgment, knowing it is with the same measure we meet that it is measured 

back unto us. 

and having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him….

During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered, 9 and having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him….  Hebrews 5:7-9

We saw last week that this word perfect means: to carry through completely; to accomplish, finish, bring to an end.  This word is used in the epistle to the Hebrews 13 times.  4 times in regards to the OT which we find could make nothing perfect, chapters 7:19 and again in 10:1; with sacrifices, as touching he conscience, not making the worshiper perfect chapter 8:9. and finally in seeing that the children of Israel under the law should not be made perfect apart from us,  chapter 11:40.

However the law was to point us to a perfection that Jesus was to bring under a new covenant established on better promises. Hebrews talks about how Jesus prepared himself and worked out the perfection He came to impart to us 

Here in our main verse today, we see he was made perfect through the things he suffered and learned obedience in 5:9 and finally 7:28 tells us now he is perfected for evermore.

Since we are predestined to be conformed to the image of God, this then is our press: to be found in Him, perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  

I want to point out, any “suffering” we experience - from God’s perspective - gives us the opportunity to learn obedience. There is a right attitude and a right action through every place of suffering that can only be manifested as we deny our flesh and embrace the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome.  He is the author of salvation to all who OBEY Him.

He knows what we face.  He knows the weakness of man.  and the strength of the flesh. He knows the miracle working power of the Holy Spirit.  He knows greater grace and He knows how to overcome!  He imparts to us that perfected human nature found in obedience to the will of the Father. 

Obedience is the seed. It is the power of Christ's Perfection and ours as well. 

Through obedience he was perfected and became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.  Shall we come any other way?

Selah.

The God of peace…. make you perfect in every good thing to do his will..

The God of peace…. make you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever Amen.  Hebrews 13:20-21

Jesus tells us in Matthews gospel chapter 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” 

Thayer renders this word perfect as ‘brought to its end, finished; lacking nothing necessary to completeness; perfect.’ 

We have been predestined to be conformed to the image of His dear son according to Romans 8. The working of God in the life of a believer is to make Him perfect and complete in all the will of God, Colossians 4:12.  Paul declared his purpose was shaped by teaching and admonishing every man to be found perfect in Christ, Col. 1:28.  Paul wrote while I have not attained this, I do follow after this.

The God of peace works in us so we may be found in a place of rest in the midst of all circumstances.  Knowing that God, in these circumstances, is working for my good and ultimately to conform me to the character and nature of Christ enables His peace to remain.  

Andrew Murray wrote in 1894 An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews called The Holiest of All.  The following is an excerpt from this book. 

 “ This is the name by which we are invited to call upon and trust our God.  Peace is the opposite of enmity, of war, of care, of unrest.  Where everything is finished and perfect there is peace and rest.  God hath set the Holiest open for us, in token that we may enter into His rest, and trust Him to perfect His work in us.  The peace of God, which passes all understanding, can now keep our hearts and minds by Christ Jesus.  Peace, an end of all care and fear and separation, has been proclaimed; the God of peace is now waiting to do His work in us.” 

At the conclusion of his chapter, He sums up with these comments, “Peace is rest.  To know the God of peace is to enter the rest of God.  And until the soul rests in Him in Sabbath peace, God cannot do His higher, His perfect work.  The work of the Father and the Son for us find their completion in the work of the Holy Spirit within us.  All the objective revelation is for the sake of the subjective experience, the mighty power of God working in the heart of His child what He longs to see.  It is what God makes us, that the power of the redemption in Christ is proved. ” 

While He works in us our position is to be one of rest.  The children of Israel, as Hebrews points out, were unable to enter into the rest of God simply because of their unbelief.  

“Because you have kept the word of my patience….” Revelation 3:10

 The Greek used for ‘word’ here is Strong’s #3056 (lógos) is a broad term meaning "reasoning expressed by words.”. This word is used over 300 times in the NT.  Thayer reads “….those things which are put together in thought, as of those which, having been thought, i. e. gathered together in the mind, are expressed in words.”

Primarily we know there is the Word of God from the New testament and that it is described as a Word of Life from Philippians 2:16, the Word of Truth from James 1:18, a Word of Righteousness from Hebrews 5:13, and from Matthew 13:19, we find they all are Words of the Kingdom.

We know there is the “Word of Faith” that Paul preached from Romans 10:8 and we have settled this as a firm foundation from which to build our lives, knowing that every word from God has life inherent in itself and carries within itself the power for us to believe it.  

Even so, let us consider how this Word of Patience is to be as foundational in our lives as these other “words”.   Hebrews 10:36tells us we have need of patience that after we have done the will of God, we might receive the promise. Apparently regardless of the Word we believe, without patience there will be no completed promise.

Ultimately our patience is exercised to this end: keeping us vitally connected to the Father.  The confidence we do not throw away is that Jesus is coming again and we are holding fast to the hope of eternal life.  There are crowns and rewards to be received at his appearing so we know our labors here are not in vain.  Romans 2:7 ~  those who through patience in well doing are seeking glory and honor and immortality and are assured the gift of eternal life.  

Patience (you know) literally means to remain under. Here in Revelation 3:10 it is the word hypomonḗ (from 5259 /hypó, "under" and 3306 /ménō, "remain, endure") – properly, remaining under, endurance; steadfastness. 

Circumstances endeavoring to move us away from God, require us to remain under the authority of God and submitted to His will.  While we steadfastly trust His promise, patience is to be exercised.  We must simply settle down and WAIT for God to work.  Here in this place we are practicing, learning, building a heart condition that is not moved away from Him, but presses into Him, believing. Because, God looks at the heart, we must always be truthful about its condition. Where there is unbelief, it will cause us to depart from God (Hebrews 3:12).

Romans 5 reminds us in every temptation God is working to develop patience.  James 1:4 patience must have its perfect work so we can be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. In other words, without the exercise and development of patience something important is lacking in our conformity to Christ.   

There are so many things in this world designed to press us to doubt and to deny.   Just as Eve considered the tree long enough to believe a lie, we too, must know that we are continually being pressed to DIS believe every word God has spoken, concerning any and every part ofour life.

Satan comes to challenge God and His Word: Has God said?  He comes to rob the word being sown thus we engage in the good fight of faith. We resist Him, stedfast in the faith, with a strong, robust, working, active, energized faith that holds us to the Father and propels us into the areas assigned. We do our job ~ destroying works of darkness and advancing the Kingdom of Light.  

The promise in Revelation to the church at Philadelphia is because they had kept His word and had not denied His name. He promises to keep them from the hour of trial coming on the whole earth. 

His admonition:  “I am coming soon.  Hold fast what you have so that no one may seize your crown.” 

Let patience have its perfect work. We have need of patience that after we have done the will of God, we may receive His promise.

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." 1 Peter 4:7 KJV

The NASB reads “sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.”

ESV“be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”

AMPLIFIED: “keep sound minded and self-restrained and alert…”

I think you’ll remember how much I’ve enjoyed the study notes from the Discovery Bible so I thought I would share the notes on the word we see translated as sober in the KJV.  

My overall thought through this study is without this place of thinking correctly, as in,   according to the thoughts of God, we can NEVER pray effectively.  This causes me to consider James 4:3regarding ‘asking amiss’ and 1 John 5:14 where ‘our confidence’ for answered prayer is fixed on praying according to His will. 

Isaiah 55:7 reads “Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.  Verse 9 goes on to tell us His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, but in saying that, it does not say we cannot hold His thoughts. Note we our to forsake our wrong thoughts and return to Him, which by implication would mean hold his thoughts and ways.Jesus has been made unto us wisdom and we have been given the mind of Christ with the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into all truth.  Thus, like in James 5:16, we are assured our prayers are righteous and avail much.  

Here are the notes from Discovery Bible on sober: (please excuse the length but it’s all so good)

4993 sōphronéō – properly, safety-minded; having an outlook regulated by true balance.  See 4998 (sōphrōn).

[This word-family (root, sōphro-) comes from two words: sōos ("safe") and phrēn ("what regulates life,"  the root of the English term, "diaphram").  Example: An opera singer controls the length (quality) of their tones by their diaphragm, which also controls breathing and moderates heartbeat.  This is "safety" for the body because it is properly regulated.]

     1.    4993/sōphroneō ("thinking smart") for the believer is hearing God's voice and doing what they hear (cf. Gal 3:2-5) – i.e. "staying on God's line" by living in faith (4102/pístis, "the Lord's inworked persuasion").  Accordingly 4993 (sōphronéō) and faith (4102/pístis) are directly connected.

Ro 12:3: "For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment (4993/sōphronéō), as God has allotted to each a measure of faith (4102/pístis)" (NASB).

Reflection: The Holy Spirit does more than reveal what is wrong.  He also reveals what is right (gutsy!) . . . which means living on "God's line"!  Compare Jn 16:8-13 with Phil 4:8,9.  For believers, 4993/sōphronéō ("think shrewdly") reflects what God defines as true moderation.  This God-controlled perspective blends the extremities of truth on both sides of a matter.

    2.     Showing true moderation (4993/sōphronéō) brings the Lord's fullness (His maximum).  "Fullness-living" lives up to our privileges in Christ (on "God's line") – boldly, at "His resolution-point" (compare Eph 3:16-19 with Jn 10:10).

Reflection: True moderation is often more "risky" and more "conservative" than what people think is "moderate!"  We sin by going over God's line to "impress" people – or under it because of fear (living in compromise).

In brief ~ 4993/sōphroneō ("thinking smart") involves hearing (obeying) God's voice which alone defines true moderation.  This acts with "extreme-balance" which blends "both sides" of the truth-spectrum (Ecc 3:1f, 7:18).  Having this "presence (prudence) of mind" prevents us from committing the common sin of longing for more than what God has apportioned to us . . . and failing to appreciate what He has given.

Exemplifying biblical moderation is not "self"-control in the ordinary sense.  Rather it shows the Holy Spirit bringing His "radical balance" into each scene of our lives – discerned through faith (cf. Tit 2:2-9) and doing what God considers necessary (Tit 2:2,5,6).

Reflection: Real balance honors "God's line" which He reveals what is "more important." This subordinates what is transient (passing) to what is eternal.  4994 (sōphronizō) and 4993 (sōphronéō) are both verbs formed from the same root (4998/sōphrōn).  4994 (sōphronizō) emphasizes passing on what the Lord reveals is true balance.  4993 (sōphroneō) exemplifies a settled state of mind that embraces what the Lord defines is true (radical) moderation

To sum it up ~ this state of mind has the ability to pray effectively into any and every situation and I find that very encouraging.

“…O ye of little faith ….. do not be anxious…“ Matthew 6:30-31

"But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?"

I’ve spent last week looking at the connections between, anxiety, worry and little faith.  We all deal with the same fundamental issues on this side of heaven and our main personal need is to see to it that we remain vitally united to Him in and through every circumstance of life. To be so connected with Him through the storms of life we are simply unmoved by them.  We want to be just like Jesus sleeping in the back of the boat, sailing through life seemingly unaware of the storms raging around us.

 Ellicot’s Expository  notes the following on this phrase ‘little faith’- 

The word is found only in our Lord’s teaching, and the passages in which it occurs are all singularly suggestive. The disciples were not faithless or unbelieving, but their trust was weak. They lacked in moments of anxiety the courage which leads men to rely implicitly on the love and wisdom of their Father. So in the stormy night on the lake, Matthew 8:25 or when Peter began to sink in the waves, Matthew 14:31, or when the disciples had forgotten to take bread, Matthew 17:20; the same word recurs.

All these scriptures show us how care and anxiety are the fruit of little faith.   Vincent’s Word Studies identifies the meaning of care as the thing that divides, distracting the heart from the true object of life, as in "the care of this world," which chokes the good seed (Matthew 13:22;) and Luke 10:41, Of Martha; "Thou art careful”.

It’s in this place of ‘anxious and worry’ cares work into our hearts and ultimately choke the word. We become so ‘distracted’ by the cares that we actually forget what the word has to say about our ‘care’ and then we truly fall into the category of “O ye of little faith”.  Our heart and head are divided.   

If, and it does, faith comes by hearing the word, then to continually feed upon the one thing that assures of us of strength of heart and mind becomes absolutely vital to our daily needs.   

Jesus’ admonition to his disciples is do not be anxious, take no thought, rather consider our value to the Father; His love and desire to care for us and others.  Philippians 4 tells us what to think on and Corinthians reminds us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  

Let us make His word our meditation. It takes daily determination to attend to the word and keep it in front of our eyes so that the mountain does not conquer us, but we by the grace of God, dismantle it; even if its one rock, one boulder at a time we overcome, for with God nothing is impossible to the one who believes. 

“…..and by believing you may have life in his name.” ~ John 20:31

Today, Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate the reality that Jesus died, was buried, and has risen from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was impossible for sin to hold him in the place of death. 

Over the last few days this has taken on new meaning for me as we’ve tried to explain to our five year old grandson the process of death as leaving our body, yet remaining alive.   Explaining that our resurrected bodies will still have form and function and that we truly never die to a child requires great simplicity.  As we’ve explained this to him, the truth of hearing yet not understanding took on new perspective for us all. 

How much the disciples had to process when they were faced with Jesus re-appearing to them.  They had heard the words of Jesus “suffering” “die” “risen” but yet not really understanding.  At first they find the tomb empty beginning yet another state of confusion.  Returning to the house, we findMary’s testimony but Luke’s gospel tells us “these words seemed an idle tale and they did not believe them”. Luke records the event of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, meeting Jesus, then that same day returning to Jerusalem to tell the others. They are collected together that evening, still hiding for fear of the Jews, reflecting of these events and suddenly Jesus is present.  His question to the those present was, “Why are your troubled and why do doubts arise in our hearts?”   Eight days later he appears again to them and now Thomas is present.  His words to Thomas, “Do not disbelieve but believe.  Blessed are those who have not see and yet have believed.”  

From Acts 1:3 we learn;“ To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the Kingdom of God. “

My thought this resurrection day is that this same Jesus, the word made flesh, is as true today as He was on that morning.  His word is filled with truth and power if we will simply believe what He has said. Hearing can never be met with unbelief simply because we do not understand. We must choose to simply receive and proclaim, Be it unto me according to your word.  I believe, help my unbelief!  These are the responses that are met with the power of God.  

I heard a prophetic word to the church the other day which basically said, I have many things to say but you are not able to hear.  They are too big for us to believe. But in the days, weeks and months ahead I am increasing your faith so we can hear, see and believe the great things He will decree for us to achieve. 

It has always been by believing that we receive the life promised to us by the Father through Jesus Christ.  All things are possible to Him that believes.  It is impossible for God to lie and He who comes to God must believe…

May we find the strengthening power of His Spirit and Word enabling us to enter into new realms of trust and confidence in Him.   After all, it is Resurrection day and is intended to be a day when resurrection life continues to be seen.  

Palm Sunday

Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Luke 23:46

Today we celebrate an historical Sunday.  Palm Sunday marks for us the beginning of the last week of life Jesus Christ had on this earth.  When we think about preparation and the things that must be worked in us, that must be worked out of us so that the will of God can be worked through us, we must understand that the only place this can happen is in a personal wilderness that leads us all ultimately to our own personal cross.  There are no shortcuts on this path of “death to self” but it does hold at the end the promise of “resurrection life”. 

The apostle Paul wrote to the Phillipians that he wanted to engage in the sufferings of Christ so he could know Christ’s resurrection power. I recently read, “If we don’t want to engage in suffering it is because we don’t want to quit sinning” referring to 1 Peter 4:1.  That is a powerful thought.    

The four Gospels devote a great amount of space to this very important week in the life of Christ.  28% of Matthew, 35% of Mark, 16% of Luke and 43% of John is written in the time frame of this last week in the life of Christ here on earth.  I thought we would all benefit from taking a look at the following (taken from jesus.org) and allowing it to shape our hearts this week.  

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 the Sanhedrin prepare for Jesus' arrest

    •    Remains in Bethany throughout the day, stays night there

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 22:1

Friday

The Trials of Jesus Christ

    •    First trial, before Annas [night time 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

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

April 15

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

    •    Matthew 27:66

Sunday

April 16

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 and 1 Corinthians 1:5]

    5    To the astonished disciples [Thomas is absent]

Exodus 3:7; “I have surely seen the affliction of my people ...and have heard their cry ..."

Exodus 3:7; “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, I know their sufferings and I have come down to delver them out of the hand of the Egyptians to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land...” 

God knows. God moves. God delivers through a man. 

The book of Exodus is the history of the children of Israel coming out of the captivity and slavery of Egypt and their process into the promised land. 

In Exodus we find the beginnings of Moses, a man prepared by God for this very purpose. We learn Moses is raised as the son of Pharaohs daughter. From Acts 7 we read Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and he was mighty in his words and deeds. The Jewish Historian Josephus identifies Moses as an educator, a legislator, poet, and above all a great general and prophet. 

In this place of prominence Acts 7 goes on to tell us when Moses was 40 it came into his heart to visit his brothers. We know the rest of the story; Moses kills the Egyptian in an effort to help His people, his people reject him and Moses flees to the land of Midian. 

It is in the land of Midian, for another 40 years, Moses is spiritually prepared to be the deliverer of his people. Can you image having to enter into a phase of life where you are completely reshaped by the hand of God? Yet this is the very process we all enter, when we come through the New Birth. We are predestined to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ. Every ounce of pride we find in our human accomplishments must come to an end so that any and all boasting we do is found in God and to His glory. 

If we look at the stripping away of all natural significance we find now a man who lives in a tent content to dwell, keeping the flock of his father in law. Moses is so completely altered by this experience that when God appears to him in chapter 3 of Exodus he does not see himself as the great general he once was. He can only see his inabilities. All the things he can’t do. All the reasons he can’t with enough contention in the conversation it stirs Gods anger (chapter 4). 

The bigger picture here is the heart of God to deliver this nation. Exodus 3:7; “I have surely seen ....and have heard their cry ...I know their sufferings and I have come down to delver them..... 

Sometimes we are so hindered by our own inadequacies and perceptions of ourselves that we are stuck in this place of inactivity. While we look at circumstances and see impossibilities. God only sees capability. He knows what He has created and the potential inside His vessels. Moses asks, Who am I? Gideon said, I am the weakest. God says, But I will be with you! 

God hears a cry. God sees the suffering. God’s heart is moved. God looks for a man, a woman, a willing vessel.  Who will go for Him? Who can I send, was the question Isaiah heard. 

Jesus sums it up when he says in Matthew 10:38, the one who will not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Again from Luke 14:17 The one who will not take up his cross and follow me, cannot be my disciple. 

God’s response to all of our inadequacies is this simple phrase, I will be with you. Can we simply believe this? Can we step into the great unknown to move with Him and be His vessel of hope to a desperate cry?

"He sent out his word and healed them and delivered them from their destruction”. Psalm 107:20

Many (most?) times in our lives we are looking for a natural deliverance.  A natural change to our circumstances.  We look for the external to align to His promises and when we don’t see them we can be moved by the negative conflicts in our lives.  We lose sight of John 16:33 where Jesus promised trouble in this life with the assurance that we could still hold joy because He had overcome the world and this is the victory that we have! 

Into every situation of life, He sent his word. The word made flesh - Jesus and now the Rhema word of God is daily sent to bring us healing and delivering from all destruction.  

The deal with a Rhema word, is that we must position ourselves to receive.  Proverbs 4 reminds us to attend to His word.  To incline our ears to His sayings. They are not to depart from our sight.  We are to keep them in the midst of our heart for they are life to those who FIND them and healing to all our flesh.  We are told to search for His word as one does for treasureLet it not depart from our eyes but meditate on it

The first place God works to help us is to reveal His word to us.  There is a word that meets our need. His word is His wisdom.  This is the principal thing.  From John 16:12-15 we learn it is the the Holy Spirit who directs us to and through His word.  Jesus said when the Holy Spirit comes He takes what he has heard from Jesus and reveals this to us. This is the Rhema, the revealed word to us for our situation.  The word He sends to us for that moment, that circumstance.  In that word is our wisdom.  In that word there is all the life needed to bring me up, out and through whatever pit, snare, fear, destruction, that may be working to separate us from trusting God. 

Remember with me, the purpose of all temptation is to remove us from our fellowship with God. 

The letter written to the Hebrews in the midst of suffering, chapter 10, verses 32-19, serves to remind us that the treasure they had in their relationship with the Father was the prize.  Exhorted to “not throw away their confidence which has a great reward,” but to hold steady and continue doing the will of God in order to receive what was promised.  To affirm they were not those who would shrink back and be destroyed but those who because of their trust in God preserve their souls.

What need do we face today?  God has the word that will bring healing to our circumstances and deliverance from all destruction.  May we find the place to attend to His word and incline our hearts to hear so that salvation may come to our lives.  It is the will of God. 

“And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ… “ Romans 8:17

Demanding something when you don’t have the right or the relationship is fruitless.  We know God loves all, but we also know he is Father to his children.  We know he makes his rain fall on the just and the unjust, but as his children we are born into the rights and privileges of His family.  

From Genesis we have a picture of the two sons of Abraham, one born after the flesh and one born according to the promise.  The child, Issac, born according to promise inherited the blessing given to His Father.  The child, Ishmael, was cast out.  Simply to say, it is the son of promise that is assured all of the Fathers Blessings. 

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

In the story of the Prodigal son from Luke 15 we see again two sons.  Both sons receive their inheritance.  One who lives in submission serving his Father and the other who leaves to squander his inheritance living in sin.  From verse 29 we learn something about the nature of our Father and the blessing of the Father.  

Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’“And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

Do we, like the prodigal, ask for what is ours only to misuse it?  Or, like the elder, do weget angry because of a brothers restoration and blessing simply because we have not asked for what is ours?  The Father declares you have always been with me and all that is mine is yours.

He is not withholding any good thing from us but rather has set us in His household with every resource available to us that He possesses. Could it be our limitations are self imposed from our own heart of unbelief?  He who did not withhold his own son from us, how will he not with him freely give us all things? We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.

The Fathers heart is for us to know and believe ~ all that is His is ours.  We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus.  We are blessed because we are His children.

I set before you Life and Death.

Daily we exercise the power to say yes and the power to say no. We all have many factors that influence our choices, but only one that should be our standard.   Did God say, is the end of all questions.  If God said, then we put our hand to the plow and we just move forward knowing His word to us is enough to accomplish His will.  Does that make it easy, absolutely not.  We choose to obey and then we choose to stay submitted as we walk out the choice.  

From Deuteronomy 30:19, “Moses set before the people this day, life and death, blessing and cursing, with the instructions to choose life that they and their children might live.  Not just to live, but in that you choose to love the Lord your God, obey his voice and hold fast to him for he is your life and length of days that you may dwell in the land that the Lord promised.”

Choosing life, is choosing to love and obey.  Choosing to hold fast to Him is simply remaining submitted to Him in the process.  Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength.  Jesus gave us a new commandment, to love one another AS he has loved us.  Love is the fulfilling of the law and because we love him our heart is to serve and obey Him, for He is our life. 

We have been given a great power, that of will.  Will is all about choices.  We are all self willed until we come to the Father and learn how to submit for His greater purpose (which always works for our good).  

Life is just a series of daily choices.  Who, what, where, when, are the things we choose every day. They all seem innocent enough until we begin to measure what’s driving these choices and where they have taken us.  

Romans 6:16 reminds us 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness.  We used to be servants of sin and lived to serve ourselves after our own self interests and appetites.   Now as servants of Christ, we are to yield our members (bodies) to serve Him in righteousness, his way of doing and being right.  

Choose life, not just to live but in that you choose to love the Lord your God, obey his voice and hold fast to Him for He is your life and length of days.  God always has a better way but we must choose it.

....for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God... John 12:43

How can we possibly move away from this snare?  We are taught at such an early age that success is defined by bigger and better.  We compare ourselves among ourselves and look for affirmation from our peers.  Here we see from the gospel of John this is nothing new and something to remember as we grow up into Him.  The Spirit that drives this has been around since the fall of man, and will endeavor to allure us with the worldly system.   

This Greek word for love in this verse is agape, the love that God has and shows in and through His self sacrificial acts for the well being of another.  Used in this verse’s context we would understand their love for mans glory to be twisted and perverted because it is self serving.  It strives to benefit them, to exalt them.  

Our aim is to glorify God, not ourselves.  Jesus said, I do not seek my own glory.  From Matthew 5 we read where Jesus said,  41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

In Luke 12:43 we find Jesus denouncing the Pharisees with “Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.”

John wrote in his epistle this spirit is of the world and is not from the Father. John called it the pride of life.  This worldly spirit drives us to find our worth in the glory that comes from worldly things that are defined by man and not God. Jesus called this Mammon in Matthew 6 and tells us we cannot serve Mammon and God at the same time.  You love one or the other, not both. We understand mammon, while it includes money is so much more than money, and is anything that we build our trust in other than God.  

Jesus’ question: “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God”  hits to the heart of the matter.  How can we believe the Father or His word, when we are constantly putting our trust in what we can glean from man? 

Man can never replace what God has intended we receive from Him.  When we love man’s approval, when we seek man’s validation, we fall back into the worlds system of mammon and are snared by the pride of life.  When we continually seek the glory that can only come from our Father, we strive for those things pleasing to Him and find ourselves enjoying the glory He gives.