Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Do we really realize the impact of obedience on the earth? Disobedience turned the world we live in and participate in, upside down from being rightside up. What can and will change and reverse that curse and in so reversing automatically crush satan under foot?
Obedience. So why do we so readily disobey and so hesitantly obey? Because it is a strong and powerful force. We’ve thought it to only be an action, but it is a weapon, a tool, a force. When I see things like this, there is a certain righteous almost anger that rises in me to purposely obey God, so that satan will manifestly be crushed under our feet here on earth as a demonstration of joining forces with God who has taken His Son Jesus and through obedience, has done the work of victory, for us. We don’t have to work it out, we just need to join obedient forces who are for us.
Matthew 24:1-51
Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple
Destruction of the Temple Foretold
R98 1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."
The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age
R99 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 4And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all F130 these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, F131 and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. The Great TribulationR100 15 "Therefore when you see the "abomination of desolation,' F132 spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16"then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. 23"Then if anyone says to you, "Look, here is the Christ!' or "There!' do not believe it. 24For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25See, I have told you beforehand. 26"Therefore if they say to you, "Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or "Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. 27For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
The Coming of the Son of Man
R101 29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
R102 32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33So you also, when you see all these things, know that it F133 is near--at the doors! 34Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
No One Knows the Day or Hour
R103 36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, F134 but My Father only. 37But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour F135 your Lord is coming. 43But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant
R104 45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48But if that evil servant says in his heart, "My master is delaying his coming,' F136 49and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Footnotes
F130: 24:6 NU-Text omits all.
F131: 24:7 NU-Text omits pestilences.
F132: 24:15 Daniel 11:31; 12:11
F133: 24:33 Or He
F134: 24:36 NU-Text adds nor the Son.
F135: 24:42 NU-Text reads day.
F136: 24:48 NU-Text omits his coming.
Show cross-references
R98: Mark 13:1, 2; Luke 21:5, 6
R99: Mark 13:3-13; Luke 21:17-19
R100: Mark 13:14-23; Luke 17:23, 24, 37; 21:20-24
R101: Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-28
R102: Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33
R103: Mark 13:32-37; Luke 17:26, 27, 34, 35; 21:34-36
R104: Luke 12:41-48
Lena’s Journalin’
Why would Jesus say that the temple would be thrown down? Because it was a natural and literal temple made with hands, and earthly dwelling place. When all is said and done it will disappear and not stand. Ever seen ruins of cities and buildings past? How natural disasters or time have taken their toll on naturally erected facilities? Jesus saw eternity and how men put years and years and years of work and effort, time, money, into one earthly building and then concentrate their worship to it, on it, at it, and in the light of eternal life it is nothing at all. He was trying to give them a clue of where their work, efforts, etc should be concentrated. Scripture tells us over and over again, that God’s desire is to dwell in Temples made without human hands (that’s people by the way) and so our efforts should be as concentrated on people, and our worship steered to God, and in "working on" and "investing our lives in" people, we will be worshipping God. Can you imagine how these Jesus was speaking to may have felt when he said this? I bet they were angry at Him for revealing it to them. I know how I felt the days when I realized that so much of what I’d done thus far was so naturally concentrated. It was a great revelation to me and brought a bit of despair, but it also brought me into focus, and steered my life completely around facing eternal mindedness. I deal with that natural minded tendency everyday in our world, but I know how to steer my mind back to Him and His will and work.
He who endures to the end will be saved. That does not mean you live to tell about it, it means you don’t lose your faith over it! You won’t give it up for an easier road or pleasures you’ve missed out on. This is the contrast of religious Christianity, which satan accepts, by the way. Religious Christianity says, I can say the "sinner’s prayer", believing on Jesus and what he did, I can accept what he did as true, but live my life as I was living, for my self and my own family, for our own goals and desires, not being required to change at all, just adapt that belief into who I already am and what I already do. THAT is a lie! And that is NOT salvation. Our faith is given us to live out forever, forever beginning the day we’re born again. We change kingdoms and kings. We’re no longer our king, satan is no longer our king (that means ruler, the one we follow the rules of) Jesus is our king. We serve the order of His kingdom. When one is Born again, they become a citizen of God’s kingdom, even while still here on earth. EVERYTHING changes, nothing even resembles who or what we were or were involved in. THAT truth is part of the pain and suffering of changing citizenship. The other king wants our citizenship, but we’ve now committed it to God. There’s a strong pull to "win" us back. BUT we’re NOT going back, we’re staying in His Lordship forever! ALL of the context here is giving us a well informed projection into our eternal future and the reasons why we’d want to rescue others from the eternal doom or bring them into the eternal joy that will be in the end. Don’t ever allow yourself to put things off, especially the call of God to come to Him. It is SO critical! So crucial. You do not know when your end will be, ever. You can’t put salvation off. You are messing with God and with satan when you do. Life is but a vapor and you do not know when it will end for you. You are a fool to think you can defy time and God. WAKE UP (1 Cor 6:2). Arise and join the reapers of His harvest, or you may have nothing to preserve your days. It is a very serious time. Purpose preserves life….unless God has given you a person who prays for you often or who sticks with you until you receive Him or you yourself are serving Him, you are in enemy territory and there is NO guarantee of the length of your life. Thank God for praying grandmothers, mothers, fathers friends etc. They’ve seen an eternal purpose for you and won’t let go till you see it too.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Today Our Rock Church Daily Bread Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & Mathew 13
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Many, many people have such a wrong idea of God, Our Father and of His Divine character. Have you ever sought to please God? The enemy wants us to think it impossible to do so, because a huge tool of God’s enemy against human’s is that they’ll never be good enough, or never can do enough to please anyone. In our world this seems to prove to be the case over and over again, we’re constantly being set up to see or feel we’re a failure. Notice I said, "see or "feel". Those are sense words, flesh words, temporary, of this world, words. God does NOT think like that. He "sees" much further than just what ius seen by natural eyes. He sees the potential for us to be with Him now and in eternity also. Just that thought brings joy to His heart. God loves us even if we never perform right or do the right things. His pleasure increases the more we find ways to express our love to Him and gain victory over His enemy here on earth. (There are no enemies of God to fight once we die and go to heaven) His heart leaps when we choose to do things He’s set for us to do while we are here, but even when we do those things His love for us does not change. Paul says, I am glad on your behalf….meaning, when we obey God’s word, things take on a different form here on earth, our efforts are blessed and the things that kept us from the intense fellowship with God disappear. That which we really, truly inwardly desired just happens.
Matthew 13:1-58
The Parable of the Sower
Parables About the Kingdom of Heaven
R53 1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
The Purpose of Parables
R54 10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: "Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should F54 heal them.' F55 16But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
The Parable of the Sower Explained
R55 18 "Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27So the servants of the owner came and said to him, "Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' 28He said to them, "An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, "Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' 29But he said, "No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.""'
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
R56 31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
The Parable of the Leaven
R57 33 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures F56 of meal till it was all leavened."
Prophecy and the Parables
34 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world." F57
The Parable of the Tares Explained
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." 37He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
The Parable of the Dragnet
47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." 51Jesus said to them, F58 "Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." F59 52Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning F60 the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old." Jesus Rejected at NazarethR58 53 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. 54When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, F61 Simon, and Judas? 56And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" 57So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Footnotes
F54: 13:15 NU-Text and M-Text read would.
F55: Isaiah 6:9, 10
F56: 13:33 Greek sata, approximately two pecks in all
F57: 13:35 Psalm 78:2
F58: 13:51 NU-Text omits Jesus said to them.
F59: 13:51 NU-Text omits Jesus said to them.
F60: 13:52 Or for
F61: 13:55 NU-Text reads Joseph.
Show cross-references
R53: Mark 4:1-9; Luke 8:4-8
R54: Mark 4:10-12; Luke 8:9, 10
R55: Mark 4:13-20; Luke 8:11-15
R56: Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18, 19
R57: Luke 13:20, 21
R58: Mark 6:1-6; Luke 4:16-30
Lena’s Journalin’
Ever listen, but don’t really hear? That’s what He means here- please listen intently, there’s more here than you could ever get by saying, "Yeah, yeah, what else, Is He done yet?" Why is the mystery’s answer GIVEN to one and not to another? It has everything to do with response and desire ( i.e. response-ability). If you don’t really care what he is saying, you won’t "get it", but if you desire to hear, you’ll listen until you do. You’ll pursue God till He tells you. You’ll get closer and closer to Him, with the intent of solving the mystery. This is a disciple. The casual hearer with no real kingdom interest, may think it their duty to hear, but because of duty, they will be satisfied just hearing, even if they do not understand! They walk away knowing about God, but not knowing or caring enough to want to take whatever effort necessary to know Him as a person, finding out how He thinks about things and His manner of speaking. A disciple HAS to know these things, they burn in His heart if they don’t get it, they hang around and ask and inquire and listen more and ask again. RU a disciple? In the great comission, Jesus said to make disciples of all nations. He did not say, have people say "the sinner’s prayer" then go on their merry way through life, thinking that somehow they are "saved"! John said repent. Repent means. I walked one way, was headed in one direction, but now I’m following Christ’s example and will live out the rest of my days following Him and His. Repent is for life, not a moment. Then he said "Make disciples". Who does that? The believers, the followers, the disciples! That’s all of us. That’s enough purpose to fill your whole lifetime with action. These parables locate us. Where are we at with the kingdom of God? Are we disciples, or just casual, when we have time and a spark of desire comes, hearers? Notice vs 15 says, if they see they will turn. Turn means "repent". You can tell when a person "sees" because they turn, they repent.The only way to get understanding of God’s word, is to study it. Join a study of it, join regularly with people who study it. Ask questions of it, not to debate it, but to understand it. This is our response-ability against an enemy force that is sent for the purpose of stealing our faith, stealing any potential in our lives to get the word. So, I don’t FEEL like going to church today. SO what! It doesn’t seem to be working that I get to that study group each week. MAKE disciples (of yourself)! Why? To fight against God’s enemy who is against God and you, to let God win in your life. To have the potential to lie forever, rather than die an eternal death separated from God. There is a scripture that says, if we confess Him before men ( remember from last week, confess means stick with it like glue), He will confess us before His Father in heaven. If we do not have time for Him now, which is a sign of being "saved", why or how can we expect He will "have time" for us later on? We’re fools to think so. We have to make time, we have to TAKE time back out of the enemy’s hands.WAKE UP> God is giving you and has given you years and years of "chances" to get right with Him. He’s not asking you to get it altogether first. He’s asking you to come to Him, receive the cleansing power of the cross, bring your sin to Him, let His blood deal with it. Stop wasting the time He gave you here and serve Him all of your days you have left. Start small if you hae to, or with nothing at all, or bring all you have- to the cross. Give your life to God, to Christ. There’s no time like the present. Repent!
I sat in on a session once where a young man told how he’d gotten a revelation of the weeping and gnashing of teeth. He saw heaven and himself there after he’d died here. He saw the joy of heaven and saw people he’d known in church and stuff, then suddenly he heard a call made for an assembly of the believers. It might have been "judgement day". He said the believers were filing into rows to look at what was about to happen. They were all seated and he saw another entourage of people, some he also knew, but the air about them was different, understanding came of who they were and what was being determined for their eternal outcome. The air was not as "light" as it was when it was all about believers. He saw some people he’d seen in stores a lot, then some people that lived on his street. Suddenly he caught hold of the understanding of their doom and a huge amount of grievous regret came his way. So much so that he and other believers began to wail and cry. He said that all excuses were gone and only great understanding remained. He felt that this could be the weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Is this about us? Yes, and no. Yes, but not only about us. It is about being a disciple and making more disciples. Saving people from future hell (side note: future hell is not even imaginable, and anything experienced here in the way or pain or torment etc, DOES NOT compare- to think that way is to allow the enemy to lie to you, because he wants you there with him!)How much have you given to God? How much has He given to you? He gave you life and breath and He gave His first love, His Son, who also gave it all, for you. What is holding you back from giving it all to Him? When you SEE, you cannot withhold your life from Him, you SEE how precious you are to Him, how you were born to be a great part of His eternal plan, You SEE how you can win your world for Him. You have to SEE and HEAR to know these things. Today is a great day for SEEing!
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Many, many people have such a wrong idea of God, Our Father and of His Divine character. Have you ever sought to please God? The enemy wants us to think it impossible to do so, because a huge tool of God’s enemy against human’s is that they’ll never be good enough, or never can do enough to please anyone. In our world this seems to prove to be the case over and over again, we’re constantly being set up to see or feel we’re a failure. Notice I said, "see or "feel". Those are sense words, flesh words, temporary, of this world, words. God does NOT think like that. He "sees" much further than just what ius seen by natural eyes. He sees the potential for us to be with Him now and in eternity also. Just that thought brings joy to His heart. God loves us even if we never perform right or do the right things. His pleasure increases the more we find ways to express our love to Him and gain victory over His enemy here on earth. (There are no enemies of God to fight once we die and go to heaven) His heart leaps when we choose to do things He’s set for us to do while we are here, but even when we do those things His love for us does not change. Paul says, I am glad on your behalf….meaning, when we obey God’s word, things take on a different form here on earth, our efforts are blessed and the things that kept us from the intense fellowship with God disappear. That which we really, truly inwardly desired just happens.
Matthew 13:1-58
The Parable of the Sower
Parables About the Kingdom of Heaven
R53 1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
The Purpose of Parables
R54 10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: "Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should F54 heal them.' F55 16But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
The Parable of the Sower Explained
R55 18 "Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27So the servants of the owner came and said to him, "Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' 28He said to them, "An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, "Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' 29But he said, "No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.""'
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
R56 31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
The Parable of the Leaven
R57 33 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures F56 of meal till it was all leavened."
Prophecy and the Parables
34 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world." F57
The Parable of the Tares Explained
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." 37He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
The Parable of the Dragnet
47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." 51Jesus said to them, F58 "Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." F59 52Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning F60 the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old." Jesus Rejected at NazarethR58 53 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. 54When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, F61 Simon, and Judas? 56And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" 57So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Footnotes
F54: 13:15 NU-Text and M-Text read would.
F55: Isaiah 6:9, 10
F56: 13:33 Greek sata, approximately two pecks in all
F57: 13:35 Psalm 78:2
F58: 13:51 NU-Text omits Jesus said to them.
F59: 13:51 NU-Text omits Jesus said to them.
F60: 13:52 Or for
F61: 13:55 NU-Text reads Joseph.
Show cross-references
R53: Mark 4:1-9; Luke 8:4-8
R54: Mark 4:10-12; Luke 8:9, 10
R55: Mark 4:13-20; Luke 8:11-15
R56: Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18, 19
R57: Luke 13:20, 21
R58: Mark 6:1-6; Luke 4:16-30
Lena’s Journalin’
Ever listen, but don’t really hear? That’s what He means here- please listen intently, there’s more here than you could ever get by saying, "Yeah, yeah, what else, Is He done yet?" Why is the mystery’s answer GIVEN to one and not to another? It has everything to do with response and desire ( i.e. response-ability). If you don’t really care what he is saying, you won’t "get it", but if you desire to hear, you’ll listen until you do. You’ll pursue God till He tells you. You’ll get closer and closer to Him, with the intent of solving the mystery. This is a disciple. The casual hearer with no real kingdom interest, may think it their duty to hear, but because of duty, they will be satisfied just hearing, even if they do not understand! They walk away knowing about God, but not knowing or caring enough to want to take whatever effort necessary to know Him as a person, finding out how He thinks about things and His manner of speaking. A disciple HAS to know these things, they burn in His heart if they don’t get it, they hang around and ask and inquire and listen more and ask again. RU a disciple? In the great comission, Jesus said to make disciples of all nations. He did not say, have people say "the sinner’s prayer" then go on their merry way through life, thinking that somehow they are "saved"! John said repent. Repent means. I walked one way, was headed in one direction, but now I’m following Christ’s example and will live out the rest of my days following Him and His. Repent is for life, not a moment. Then he said "Make disciples". Who does that? The believers, the followers, the disciples! That’s all of us. That’s enough purpose to fill your whole lifetime with action. These parables locate us. Where are we at with the kingdom of God? Are we disciples, or just casual, when we have time and a spark of desire comes, hearers? Notice vs 15 says, if they see they will turn. Turn means "repent". You can tell when a person "sees" because they turn, they repent.The only way to get understanding of God’s word, is to study it. Join a study of it, join regularly with people who study it. Ask questions of it, not to debate it, but to understand it. This is our response-ability against an enemy force that is sent for the purpose of stealing our faith, stealing any potential in our lives to get the word. So, I don’t FEEL like going to church today. SO what! It doesn’t seem to be working that I get to that study group each week. MAKE disciples (of yourself)! Why? To fight against God’s enemy who is against God and you, to let God win in your life. To have the potential to lie forever, rather than die an eternal death separated from God. There is a scripture that says, if we confess Him before men ( remember from last week, confess means stick with it like glue), He will confess us before His Father in heaven. If we do not have time for Him now, which is a sign of being "saved", why or how can we expect He will "have time" for us later on? We’re fools to think so. We have to make time, we have to TAKE time back out of the enemy’s hands.WAKE UP> God is giving you and has given you years and years of "chances" to get right with Him. He’s not asking you to get it altogether first. He’s asking you to come to Him, receive the cleansing power of the cross, bring your sin to Him, let His blood deal with it. Stop wasting the time He gave you here and serve Him all of your days you have left. Start small if you hae to, or with nothing at all, or bring all you have- to the cross. Give your life to God, to Christ. There’s no time like the present. Repent!
I sat in on a session once where a young man told how he’d gotten a revelation of the weeping and gnashing of teeth. He saw heaven and himself there after he’d died here. He saw the joy of heaven and saw people he’d known in church and stuff, then suddenly he heard a call made for an assembly of the believers. It might have been "judgement day". He said the believers were filing into rows to look at what was about to happen. They were all seated and he saw another entourage of people, some he also knew, but the air about them was different, understanding came of who they were and what was being determined for their eternal outcome. The air was not as "light" as it was when it was all about believers. He saw some people he’d seen in stores a lot, then some people that lived on his street. Suddenly he caught hold of the understanding of their doom and a huge amount of grievous regret came his way. So much so that he and other believers began to wail and cry. He said that all excuses were gone and only great understanding remained. He felt that this could be the weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Is this about us? Yes, and no. Yes, but not only about us. It is about being a disciple and making more disciples. Saving people from future hell (side note: future hell is not even imaginable, and anything experienced here in the way or pain or torment etc, DOES NOT compare- to think that way is to allow the enemy to lie to you, because he wants you there with him!)How much have you given to God? How much has He given to you? He gave you life and breath and He gave His first love, His Son, who also gave it all, for you. What is holding you back from giving it all to Him? When you SEE, you cannot withhold your life from Him, you SEE how precious you are to Him, how you were born to be a great part of His eternal plan, You SEE how you can win your world for Him. You have to SEE and HEAR to know these things. Today is a great day for SEEing!
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Today Our Rock Church Daily Bread- Rom 16:19-20, Acxts 17:6 & John 17
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
I’m gonna ask you to ask yourself a real hard question today, ok? Today’s date is October 8th. The number 8 symbolizes a new thing in an old pattern, (think of 7 days in a week complete the week, 7 means completion, then on the eighth day we are in an old pattern of 7’s, but we have started it new and fresh. Isn’t THAT cool? It’s all completely new, has never happened before though it is a pattern)
So, you’ve been living out complete patterns, daily, weekly monthly, yearly, and all your life kinds of things. What’s gonna make today different? What’s gonna change the pattern for tomorrow. ( Tomorrow has to change, by the way, especially for our children!)
Looking at the passages above, I see obedience as the key to turning the world upside down. The world? Yes. Our world? Yes! How is what I struggle with gonna change? How can that pattern change for me? Ok, here’s the hard question to ask yourself…….What are you not obeying God in? What has He asked you to do/be that you are resisting, avoiding, afraid to do etc?
Please ask this of yourself and God today, and by Tomorrow, bring change, by the mere fact that you faced the truth! Then,we can ask another question about that another time.
John 17:1-26
Jesus Prays for Himself
Jesus Prays to God for His Disciples
1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should F84 give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. 9"I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, F85 that they may be one as We are. 12While I was with them in the world, F86 I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; F87 and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will F88 believe in Me through their word; 21that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24"Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
Footnotes
F84: 17:2 M-Text reads shall.
F85: 17:11 NU-Text and M-Text read keep them through Your name which You have given Me.
F86: 17:12 NU-Text omits in the world.
F87: NU-Text reads in Your name which You gave Me. And I guarded them; (or it;).
F88: 17:20 NU-Text and M-Text omit will.
Lena’s Journalin’
Do we realize that if Jesus did not complete the work, we’d be lost? Now if we do not receive the work, and enter in to the work, we are lost, but the work He did had to be completed so we’d have a choice?
He was accountable to God for what God had asked Him to do. We are also now accountable to God for what He did and what we do with it. What have you done about Jesus and what He did for you?
Dear God, may everyone reading this today, receive You, AND receive Your SON.
I also pray that those who usually just close this e-mail, will read this today, In Jesus’ name, I ask it Father.
Dear Father help them to see what Jesus was looking at this day, who Jesus was looking at this day, with eternal eyes. I so want to influence those You were praying for over 2000 years ago, that they could at least see what I’ve seen and more.
Father make them become ONE with You, Your Son, The Holy Spirit, the Body of Christ, their local churches and Bible Study groups.
Father make them ONE, most of all with Your overall plan. Let them lay down all pettiness of life, things that will not stand the test of death, things that they cannot ever take with them when they come to face You, things that mean nothing at all except for the mere temporary comfort of the soul here on earth. Oh God HELP them to SEE, I pray. We are so short on time to see and yet still have time to make a difference even right here in Port Orange! Help them/us to spend our time loving You by loving for You.
GIVE us a REVELATION! Show us what we are here for, in this time right now! I know, that that revelation is only found in You. Men cry out to know who they really are because they want to know who You are. Help me MAKE disciples!
Oh Lord, keep us from evil and from the evil one, that one who is Not ONE at all. This does mean temptation, but it goes way deeper than any temptation does, than any slip up does. The evil work is that someone would live their whole life without knowing and joining in with their purposes, that they would refuse invitations to live for and with God here before they die, that they would die early, before they could see who they are and why they are here and then do more than just a few things about it!
Father, that they are living for their own desires rather fulfilling the dreams of God’s heart. That they’d never see the picture of God’s plans, that they’d choose to stay in darkness and dwell in darkness and torment forever, rather than choosing a few hardships of persecution here for an eternity of life, light, satisfaction and pleasure. THAT is the evil men need to be kept from.
What evil would it be to be injured yet still live an eternal life with God, or even to die, but be with Him? The evil would be to never have known or served Him. I so desire for people to see what they could regret later, when they see God face to face in judgement and right here and right now erase every regret possible, in preparation of standing before God with only love to sense.
Our enemy has wrought havoc in that people have a totally wrong image of God. They despise the ONE who loves them and died for them and gave them the free choice of life. Because we will all stand before the judge, the enemy wants us to think that if we hate judgement and judges, especially God as a judge, that somehow that hatred will fix it all and somehow we as one mere human standing alone before God Almighty we’ll be ok, or miss the appointment if we carry that hatred for our full natural life? What a fool our enemy is and we are if we join Him. One thing the Lord had showed me years ago, was how much the enemy hates us. He acts like he cares for us somewhat, but he doesn’t. We are made in God’s image and He hates God, so whether we are "saved" or unsaved" he hates us, because we look too much like God does. We remind him of his doom, of his day to stand for what he’s done against us and against God. He is very, very sympathetic and the ONLY reason he wants us to be won over to his plight is so he has a some company in his doom. I did not say "friends" I just said company. It’s more like medals to him, it more evidence to him that he has somehow won against God? That’s hogwash. God wins- period! No matter if satan won 75% of the people’s hearts in the world that fact would NOT change, God wins- period! It’s not a ration thing at all. In winning us over to his side, as company. It is because he hates God and this hates us.
TODAY is the day to crush satan’s ideas about you, under foot. His plans for you, under foot, his scheme’s against you as being a child of God hereunder foot. Let every storm of confusion and wrong teaching be quenched out with the peace of God today that surpasses all understanding, Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
I’m gonna ask you to ask yourself a real hard question today, ok? Today’s date is October 8th. The number 8 symbolizes a new thing in an old pattern, (think of 7 days in a week complete the week, 7 means completion, then on the eighth day we are in an old pattern of 7’s, but we have started it new and fresh. Isn’t THAT cool? It’s all completely new, has never happened before though it is a pattern)
So, you’ve been living out complete patterns, daily, weekly monthly, yearly, and all your life kinds of things. What’s gonna make today different? What’s gonna change the pattern for tomorrow. ( Tomorrow has to change, by the way, especially for our children!)
Looking at the passages above, I see obedience as the key to turning the world upside down. The world? Yes. Our world? Yes! How is what I struggle with gonna change? How can that pattern change for me? Ok, here’s the hard question to ask yourself…….What are you not obeying God in? What has He asked you to do/be that you are resisting, avoiding, afraid to do etc?
Please ask this of yourself and God today, and by Tomorrow, bring change, by the mere fact that you faced the truth! Then,we can ask another question about that another time.
John 17:1-26
Jesus Prays for Himself
Jesus Prays to God for His Disciples
1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should F84 give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. 9"I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, F85 that they may be one as We are. 12While I was with them in the world, F86 I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; F87 and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will F88 believe in Me through their word; 21that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24"Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
Footnotes
F84: 17:2 M-Text reads shall.
F85: 17:11 NU-Text and M-Text read keep them through Your name which You have given Me.
F86: 17:12 NU-Text omits in the world.
F87: NU-Text reads in Your name which You gave Me. And I guarded them; (or it;).
F88: 17:20 NU-Text and M-Text omit will.
Lena’s Journalin’
Do we realize that if Jesus did not complete the work, we’d be lost? Now if we do not receive the work, and enter in to the work, we are lost, but the work He did had to be completed so we’d have a choice?
He was accountable to God for what God had asked Him to do. We are also now accountable to God for what He did and what we do with it. What have you done about Jesus and what He did for you?
Dear God, may everyone reading this today, receive You, AND receive Your SON.
I also pray that those who usually just close this e-mail, will read this today, In Jesus’ name, I ask it Father.
Dear Father help them to see what Jesus was looking at this day, who Jesus was looking at this day, with eternal eyes. I so want to influence those You were praying for over 2000 years ago, that they could at least see what I’ve seen and more.
Father make them become ONE with You, Your Son, The Holy Spirit, the Body of Christ, their local churches and Bible Study groups.
Father make them ONE, most of all with Your overall plan. Let them lay down all pettiness of life, things that will not stand the test of death, things that they cannot ever take with them when they come to face You, things that mean nothing at all except for the mere temporary comfort of the soul here on earth. Oh God HELP them to SEE, I pray. We are so short on time to see and yet still have time to make a difference even right here in Port Orange! Help them/us to spend our time loving You by loving for You.
GIVE us a REVELATION! Show us what we are here for, in this time right now! I know, that that revelation is only found in You. Men cry out to know who they really are because they want to know who You are. Help me MAKE disciples!
Oh Lord, keep us from evil and from the evil one, that one who is Not ONE at all. This does mean temptation, but it goes way deeper than any temptation does, than any slip up does. The evil work is that someone would live their whole life without knowing and joining in with their purposes, that they would refuse invitations to live for and with God here before they die, that they would die early, before they could see who they are and why they are here and then do more than just a few things about it!
Father, that they are living for their own desires rather fulfilling the dreams of God’s heart. That they’d never see the picture of God’s plans, that they’d choose to stay in darkness and dwell in darkness and torment forever, rather than choosing a few hardships of persecution here for an eternity of life, light, satisfaction and pleasure. THAT is the evil men need to be kept from.
What evil would it be to be injured yet still live an eternal life with God, or even to die, but be with Him? The evil would be to never have known or served Him. I so desire for people to see what they could regret later, when they see God face to face in judgement and right here and right now erase every regret possible, in preparation of standing before God with only love to sense.
Our enemy has wrought havoc in that people have a totally wrong image of God. They despise the ONE who loves them and died for them and gave them the free choice of life. Because we will all stand before the judge, the enemy wants us to think that if we hate judgement and judges, especially God as a judge, that somehow that hatred will fix it all and somehow we as one mere human standing alone before God Almighty we’ll be ok, or miss the appointment if we carry that hatred for our full natural life? What a fool our enemy is and we are if we join Him. One thing the Lord had showed me years ago, was how much the enemy hates us. He acts like he cares for us somewhat, but he doesn’t. We are made in God’s image and He hates God, so whether we are "saved" or unsaved" he hates us, because we look too much like God does. We remind him of his doom, of his day to stand for what he’s done against us and against God. He is very, very sympathetic and the ONLY reason he wants us to be won over to his plight is so he has a some company in his doom. I did not say "friends" I just said company. It’s more like medals to him, it more evidence to him that he has somehow won against God? That’s hogwash. God wins- period! No matter if satan won 75% of the people’s hearts in the world that fact would NOT change, God wins- period! It’s not a ration thing at all. In winning us over to his side, as company. It is because he hates God and this hates us.
TODAY is the day to crush satan’s ideas about you, under foot. His plans for you, under foot, his scheme’s against you as being a child of God hereunder foot. Let every storm of confusion and wrong teaching be quenched out with the peace of God today that surpasses all understanding, Amen.
Friday, October 07, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & John 16
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Ever think about fame? The Bible actually says Jesus became famous, His fame was known. Do you think He wants your to be known? I can answer a wholehearted yes to that question, but it is not as the world sees fame. It’s not for the purpose of promoting one’s self. It is for the purpose of promoting Him. So you are just being who you are in Christ. You are walking out the fruit of the spirit in your everyday life and the blessings of God overtake you and people notice. Your obedience has become known, That’s kingdom fame, or we rather call it, a witness. I call it influence of the godly kind. It’s not me pointing to me and making statements about myself that I want to be true and I’m trying to have everybody believe is true as I put on some act. It is Christ in me evidenced by how I live and love. I love to tell this- I tell it over and over. Did you know it takes the average person hearing a fact or truth 8 times before it becomes real to them? Here I go again….# 5,6, 7….One introverted person possibly has influence upon 10,000 people in their lifetime! Isn’t that astounding? Ok, say you are far from introverted, you are an extrovert on PURPOSE! How many people do you think the witness of the good news of Christ could spread to in YOUR lifetime? How ‘bout trying it???…..They’ll think the world was being changed, what a thought!
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
John 16:1-33
Jesus Warns and Comforts His Disciples
1"These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3And these things they will do to you F80 because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4But these things I have told you, that when the F81 time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. "And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. The Work of the Holy Spirit5 "But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, "Where are You going?' 6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. F82 Sorrow Will Turn to Joy16 "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father." 17Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "What is this that He says to us, "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, "because I go to the Father'?" 18They said therefore, "What is this that He says, "A little while'? We do not know what He is saying." 19Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, "Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'? 20Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. 23"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. Jesus Christ Has Overcome the World25 "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 28I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father." 29His disciples said to Him, "See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God." 31Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? 32Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will F83 have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Footnotes
F80: 16:3 NU-Text and M-Text omit to you.
F81: 16:4 NU-Text reads their.
F82: 16:15 NU-Text and M-Text read He takes of Mine and will declare it to you.
F83: 16:33 NU-Text and M-Text omit will.
Lena’s Jouirnalin’
Listen, please, some of us need to be thrown OUT of the synagoge! It could take you right out of religious thinking and religious behavior and put you on the edge, where you become more visible and able to be proven to the world for Him. No longer hidden under religious cloaks, but exposed to the world. So how will we prove Jesus to the world? How will we survive out from under our masks? Only with the Holy Spirit. There is no other way, and maybe that is why people won’t get outside of the 4 walls of the "churches." Maybe they don’t have reliance upon God’s Holy Spirit and are afraid to take off their masks and see themselves as they are, in need of God’s help. How can we preach (by our lives) Christ and the good news of His help if we do not inquire of His help for ourselves and by example show our own dependence upon Him?Many humans need to depend on someone or something, it could be a person or a substance, but we were made by God to be dependent (no, I did not say- independent!) But any dependence that is not leading you to God or is not on God is not at all healthy for you. Look at Jesus and His disciples. He was leading them to His and their Father, He wanted them to be led by the same spirit He was led by, God’s Holy Spirit. He had to leave so that they would (be forced, as in birthed, to)do that. To hear the voice themselves, to obey the call themselves. Jesus was speaking to them in His God language, His eternal language, "in a little or short time/while"…He was seeing in the light of eternal life with God. When we get born again and begin to serve God, we begin our eternal life and destiny, right then, we are now on earth for a period of time to do a specific work, because now we are joined and intertwined with God’s will and plan. Earthly time seems to tick very fast, because you know you only have so much earthtime to accomplish your portion of His will (of course, this depends on how old we already are when we get this understanding, right?) So it seems Jesus is saying for those who have this eternal sight or view, that there’s only so much time left to accomplish as much of the work as we can accomplish while we are still here and He has not returned for the accounting of the stewardship of His prized possession, the earth and all of it’s fullness, the people and all who dwell in it.
What if you alone were left on earth? Or in a specific city, the only believer, because the government exhiled you to a place away from other believers and friends of likemind? Would you see it as opportunity or punishment? They thought it punishment, but as they sought God their Father they saw very clearly, that what the enemy meant for evil, God turned into that which caused the gospel message to spread further than it had before. Now were back to Acts 17:6 Turn your world over into the hands of Almighty God!
Ever think about fame? The Bible actually says Jesus became famous, His fame was known. Do you think He wants your to be known? I can answer a wholehearted yes to that question, but it is not as the world sees fame. It’s not for the purpose of promoting one’s self. It is for the purpose of promoting Him. So you are just being who you are in Christ. You are walking out the fruit of the spirit in your everyday life and the blessings of God overtake you and people notice. Your obedience has become known, That’s kingdom fame, or we rather call it, a witness. I call it influence of the godly kind. It’s not me pointing to me and making statements about myself that I want to be true and I’m trying to have everybody believe is true as I put on some act. It is Christ in me evidenced by how I live and love. I love to tell this- I tell it over and over. Did you know it takes the average person hearing a fact or truth 8 times before it becomes real to them? Here I go again….# 5,6, 7….One introverted person possibly has influence upon 10,000 people in their lifetime! Isn’t that astounding? Ok, say you are far from introverted, you are an extrovert on PURPOSE! How many people do you think the witness of the good news of Christ could spread to in YOUR lifetime? How ‘bout trying it???…..They’ll think the world was being changed, what a thought!
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
John 16:1-33
Jesus Warns and Comforts His Disciples
1"These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3And these things they will do to you F80 because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4But these things I have told you, that when the F81 time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. "And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. The Work of the Holy Spirit5 "But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, "Where are You going?' 6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. F82 Sorrow Will Turn to Joy16 "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father." 17Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "What is this that He says to us, "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, "because I go to the Father'?" 18They said therefore, "What is this that He says, "A little while'? We do not know what He is saying." 19Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, "Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'? 20Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. 23"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. Jesus Christ Has Overcome the World25 "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 28I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father." 29His disciples said to Him, "See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God." 31Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? 32Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will F83 have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Footnotes
F80: 16:3 NU-Text and M-Text omit to you.
F81: 16:4 NU-Text reads their.
F82: 16:15 NU-Text and M-Text read He takes of Mine and will declare it to you.
F83: 16:33 NU-Text and M-Text omit will.
Lena’s Jouirnalin’
Listen, please, some of us need to be thrown OUT of the synagoge! It could take you right out of religious thinking and religious behavior and put you on the edge, where you become more visible and able to be proven to the world for Him. No longer hidden under religious cloaks, but exposed to the world. So how will we prove Jesus to the world? How will we survive out from under our masks? Only with the Holy Spirit. There is no other way, and maybe that is why people won’t get outside of the 4 walls of the "churches." Maybe they don’t have reliance upon God’s Holy Spirit and are afraid to take off their masks and see themselves as they are, in need of God’s help. How can we preach (by our lives) Christ and the good news of His help if we do not inquire of His help for ourselves and by example show our own dependence upon Him?Many humans need to depend on someone or something, it could be a person or a substance, but we were made by God to be dependent (no, I did not say- independent!) But any dependence that is not leading you to God or is not on God is not at all healthy for you. Look at Jesus and His disciples. He was leading them to His and their Father, He wanted them to be led by the same spirit He was led by, God’s Holy Spirit. He had to leave so that they would (be forced, as in birthed, to)do that. To hear the voice themselves, to obey the call themselves. Jesus was speaking to them in His God language, His eternal language, "in a little or short time/while"…He was seeing in the light of eternal life with God. When we get born again and begin to serve God, we begin our eternal life and destiny, right then, we are now on earth for a period of time to do a specific work, because now we are joined and intertwined with God’s will and plan. Earthly time seems to tick very fast, because you know you only have so much earthtime to accomplish your portion of His will (of course, this depends on how old we already are when we get this understanding, right?) So it seems Jesus is saying for those who have this eternal sight or view, that there’s only so much time left to accomplish as much of the work as we can accomplish while we are still here and He has not returned for the accounting of the stewardship of His prized possession, the earth and all of it’s fullness, the people and all who dwell in it.
What if you alone were left on earth? Or in a specific city, the only believer, because the government exhiled you to a place away from other believers and friends of likemind? Would you see it as opportunity or punishment? They thought it punishment, but as they sought God their Father they saw very clearly, that what the enemy meant for evil, God turned into that which caused the gospel message to spread further than it had before. Now were back to Acts 17:6 Turn your world over into the hands of Almighty God!
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & John 15
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
How can grace be with you? By inviting it. How does one invite it? By action. Remember action speaks louder than words, especially in the spirit realm. Ya know how Hebrews says angles are messengers to those who are heirs of salvation? How do the angels know to be our messengers? How do they know we are saved or not? Our life is known by our actions and by our words that flow from the genuineness of our hearts. They listen in our bedchambers. In the spirit there are no walls. How does grace know to "be with" us? Obedience brings grace. It is not earned, but it is invited and welcomed or rejected by our acts of obedience. Our actions must follow our words. Even evil forces know this also. There is no fooling an angel, just as there is no fooling God. They know the signs of believers, real ones. Grace is a characteristic of Our Father God. It is not stupid. It acts on the principles in God’s words. It is on assignment to those who desire it and need it to desire it and act upon it.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Why did you come here? Why are you here? In this place today, where you live, where you work, where you fellowship? Why are you reading this stuff right now? Because God has called you to join in with His purposes in the earth and turn your own and others’ world upside down. It is time now more than ever to not only get right with God, but to join in with a Body of believers who are serving a purpose to further God’s kingdom and know they are joined together on a mission to change their and others’ world! That’s why you are here!
John 15:1-27
The True Vine
Christ the True Vine
1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; F77 and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will F78 ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Love and Joy Perfected
9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17These things I command you, that you love one another.
The World's Hatred
18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20Remember the word that I said to you, "A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, "They hated Me without a cause.' F79 The Coming Rejection26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
Footnotes
F77: 15:2 Or lifts up
F78: 15:7 NU-Text omits you will.
F79: 15:25 Psalm 69:4
Lena’s Journalin’
If you have not yet read, "Secrets of the Vine", you’ve got to read it. I was just looking up the Greek words here, "taketh away" and "purgeth". It is NOT what we’d think by glancing quickly at. We think, ok, I’ve taken so long to respond to God, He’s tired of my non-responses and is impatient and irritated with me, so He’s gonna cut me off! Let me tell you something very key- God Is NOT like your earthly authorities. He is NOT impatient, nor does He "cut us off". He is merciful and kind and longsuffering. As long as there is breath in your lungs God’s spirit is drawing you to Himself. As you’ll read in "Secrets of the Vine", he "taketh away" means, that he picks your life up off of the ground and dusts you off and props you up so that there is stilllife in you and you can grow! Yes, if you never receive Him and live for Him there will be hardship beyond comprehension, eternal hardship and suffering, BUT in Him you will have and find eternal life and peace with His spirit who is striving for you. Please DO NOT wait till you’ve wasted time in life or already raised your kids up or whatever. You’ve got so much purpose to fulfill and there’s no time like now to join in with the purposes of God in the earth! The word "purgeth" does not mean He replaces us or prunes us off of the vine, it means He takes the blood of His Son and receives us no matter how long it took us to get here where we now desire Him and His will, no matter what we went through or participated in to get to this place. He picks us up, dusts us off and cleans us. God is SO good. Don’t listen to God’s enemy any longer telling you God hates you. That is a lie! An outright, in the character of satan’s nature, lie! (notice I refuse to capitalize his name- ergh)
Now this "abide" thing is very, very important. We do not come to God, to meet Him for a brief moment, get cleaned up, feel right for a time and then excuse ourselves politely as we go our merry way. Dear God if we do that, we are in for more trouble than we started with! We’ve got to come to faith in Christ and stay there all of our days. We cannot serve our purpose without Him. It is His purposes we are serving. Apart from Him we can do a lot of "things", but none of them will be of the eternal nature, none. We can do many many good works and be all nice and kind and physically our emotionally loving, but true love is only found by being in Him and He in me. We’ve been led astray by well meaning doctrine. The scripture most use for salvation (Rom 10:9-10), says if we confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus….we have to see that as it is speaking. It does not mean make a faith statement with words, It means make a faith statement with your life, from now on! Stick with your confess by backing it up with your life force. Who do you live with, walk with, eat with etc? Christ is your life! The word "confess" actually means to stick together as with glue.
What does love do? Puts another’s desires before themselves. Do we put God’s will before ours? Or do we live out our day to day lives doing whatever it is we like to do and ask His blessings on what we do? That is the difference between a servant and a friend.
Whatever we do or do not do is bearing witness of Him, especially if we say we believe. People watch us to see what believers do. Our kids are #1 in watching what we do. Do we say we love God, but put all of life’s other activities first, before God, before being in the fellowship of the strategies of God? We might be unspokenly saying to our kids, other things are more important than being faithfully in the house of God. Being faithful to one house, is like being faithful to one family. If we bebop from house to house whenever it is convienient, we may be unspokenly saying to our kids, you don’t have to be faithful to just one "family", you can come and go (in relationships) as you please, it’s up to you, its your own choice, do it when it is convenient for you, get out of it what you can for you. Where if we become a part of one household of faith and stay there through thick and thin and become a participator, we are drawing a counter picture from what they see everyday in the world. We teach them to do the will of God when it is not convenient, and to be faithful, putting God and His will 1st. We show we value His bride, the church, and enough believe in its power to change our world, that we’d participate in its works.
How can grace be with you? By inviting it. How does one invite it? By action. Remember action speaks louder than words, especially in the spirit realm. Ya know how Hebrews says angles are messengers to those who are heirs of salvation? How do the angels know to be our messengers? How do they know we are saved or not? Our life is known by our actions and by our words that flow from the genuineness of our hearts. They listen in our bedchambers. In the spirit there are no walls. How does grace know to "be with" us? Obedience brings grace. It is not earned, but it is invited and welcomed or rejected by our acts of obedience. Our actions must follow our words. Even evil forces know this also. There is no fooling an angel, just as there is no fooling God. They know the signs of believers, real ones. Grace is a characteristic of Our Father God. It is not stupid. It acts on the principles in God’s words. It is on assignment to those who desire it and need it to desire it and act upon it.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Why did you come here? Why are you here? In this place today, where you live, where you work, where you fellowship? Why are you reading this stuff right now? Because God has called you to join in with His purposes in the earth and turn your own and others’ world upside down. It is time now more than ever to not only get right with God, but to join in with a Body of believers who are serving a purpose to further God’s kingdom and know they are joined together on a mission to change their and others’ world! That’s why you are here!
John 15:1-27
The True Vine
Christ the True Vine
1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; F77 and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will F78 ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Love and Joy Perfected
9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17These things I command you, that you love one another.
The World's Hatred
18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20Remember the word that I said to you, "A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, "They hated Me without a cause.' F79 The Coming Rejection26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
Footnotes
F77: 15:2 Or lifts up
F78: 15:7 NU-Text omits you will.
F79: 15:25 Psalm 69:4
Lena’s Journalin’
If you have not yet read, "Secrets of the Vine", you’ve got to read it. I was just looking up the Greek words here, "taketh away" and "purgeth". It is NOT what we’d think by glancing quickly at. We think, ok, I’ve taken so long to respond to God, He’s tired of my non-responses and is impatient and irritated with me, so He’s gonna cut me off! Let me tell you something very key- God Is NOT like your earthly authorities. He is NOT impatient, nor does He "cut us off". He is merciful and kind and longsuffering. As long as there is breath in your lungs God’s spirit is drawing you to Himself. As you’ll read in "Secrets of the Vine", he "taketh away" means, that he picks your life up off of the ground and dusts you off and props you up so that there is stilllife in you and you can grow! Yes, if you never receive Him and live for Him there will be hardship beyond comprehension, eternal hardship and suffering, BUT in Him you will have and find eternal life and peace with His spirit who is striving for you. Please DO NOT wait till you’ve wasted time in life or already raised your kids up or whatever. You’ve got so much purpose to fulfill and there’s no time like now to join in with the purposes of God in the earth! The word "purgeth" does not mean He replaces us or prunes us off of the vine, it means He takes the blood of His Son and receives us no matter how long it took us to get here where we now desire Him and His will, no matter what we went through or participated in to get to this place. He picks us up, dusts us off and cleans us. God is SO good. Don’t listen to God’s enemy any longer telling you God hates you. That is a lie! An outright, in the character of satan’s nature, lie! (notice I refuse to capitalize his name- ergh)
Now this "abide" thing is very, very important. We do not come to God, to meet Him for a brief moment, get cleaned up, feel right for a time and then excuse ourselves politely as we go our merry way. Dear God if we do that, we are in for more trouble than we started with! We’ve got to come to faith in Christ and stay there all of our days. We cannot serve our purpose without Him. It is His purposes we are serving. Apart from Him we can do a lot of "things", but none of them will be of the eternal nature, none. We can do many many good works and be all nice and kind and physically our emotionally loving, but true love is only found by being in Him and He in me. We’ve been led astray by well meaning doctrine. The scripture most use for salvation (Rom 10:9-10), says if we confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus….we have to see that as it is speaking. It does not mean make a faith statement with words, It means make a faith statement with your life, from now on! Stick with your confess by backing it up with your life force. Who do you live with, walk with, eat with etc? Christ is your life! The word "confess" actually means to stick together as with glue.
What does love do? Puts another’s desires before themselves. Do we put God’s will before ours? Or do we live out our day to day lives doing whatever it is we like to do and ask His blessings on what we do? That is the difference between a servant and a friend.
Whatever we do or do not do is bearing witness of Him, especially if we say we believe. People watch us to see what believers do. Our kids are #1 in watching what we do. Do we say we love God, but put all of life’s other activities first, before God, before being in the fellowship of the strategies of God? We might be unspokenly saying to our kids, other things are more important than being faithfully in the house of God. Being faithful to one house, is like being faithful to one family. If we bebop from house to house whenever it is convienient, we may be unspokenly saying to our kids, you don’t have to be faithful to just one "family", you can come and go (in relationships) as you please, it’s up to you, its your own choice, do it when it is convenient for you, get out of it what you can for you. Where if we become a part of one household of faith and stay there through thick and thin and become a participator, we are drawing a counter picture from what they see everyday in the world. We teach them to do the will of God when it is not convenient, and to be faithful, putting God and His will 1st. We show we value His bride, the church, and enough believe in its power to change our world, that we’d participate in its works.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & John 14
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
I wonder if when we think of this scripture, we think of our obedience being only known to men, like humans? Ever think of it speaking to more than humans? Obedience cancels out curses. Do you realize there are evil angels on assignment against those who leave spiritual doors of cursings open by disobedience? Also, there are spiritual doors of blessing opened by and for those who obey, messenger of God angels of light are dispatched to guard these. So our obedience is known to ALL has a much broader meaning than we may have thought.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
And what world is being turned upside down? The world, not the earth, but the world.
John 14:1-31
Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life
1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2In My Father's house are many mansions; F72 if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. F73 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4And where I go you know, and the way you know." 5Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" 6Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
The Father Revealed
7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." 8Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." 9Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, "Show us the Father'? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. The Answered Prayer12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask F74 anything in My name, I will do it.
Jesus Promises Another Helper
15 "If you love Me, keep F75 My commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. Indwelling of the Father and the Son19 "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." 22Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
The Gift of His Peace
25 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28You have heard Me say to you, "I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, F76 "I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I. 29"And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
Lena’s Journalin’
I do not know how it is we keep thinking that we can make our way to God ourselves, but it is the #1 temptation even in kingdom of God living, that we’d pave or make our own way. We even try to work the work of God on our own, our own way at times. Well, it clearly states here, that Jesus is the only way to the Father. Everyone has inside of them a drawing towards a father. It is inherent, it is essential. So we search and search and search and do everything we can to fulfill that desire, but no one can do that except the Father and the only way to the father is through Jesus, Sounds like a Divine set up, huh?
We as Christians, people who live as Christ lived, should be able to say, "If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father." That takes a huge amount of boldness, intent and faith. Remember faith is what pleases God, He wants us to walk out into bold territory, by faith. It also would take a tremendous amount of responsibility. If I am bold enough to say, "If you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father",I have a responsibility as a representative of God to DO my faith and show forth my God, My Father. Ya know what is so hard here to get? Even if we do not "say" that statement, but we say we are Christ-ians, people expect us to show them the Father anyway. We are still responsible. How do ya like them apples? Generations are crying out, "Show us the father", don’t just tell us about Him, we want to see Him! We want to SEE that He really is still alive and functioning in the earth, we want examples to follow, we want to believe this miraculous life is real and true and alive! Is Jesus risen from death? Is He alive? We say, yes in us, Do we believe Yes in me? Do we live, yes in me? I love here how Jesus says, "Ask anything…"Are we asking Him to help us show Him to the world? Our world? Are we asking to be responsible and then being willing to step out in the faith that pleases God and do it? Or do we have excuses? Jesus did not have one excuse when He went to the cross for us. He just did it! How could He do this as a man? He came here to show us that men CAN do this. He was a man. He did supernatural things by God’s Holy Spirit inside of the man, by the blessing of obedience, He was empowered, and he did the word and was blessed in what He did. So how is it that we can do a greater work than He? Did He have computers, or transportation like airplanes, and what about telephones, or microphones? The greater part is the magnitude of the work. Same work, but greater out- reach. We like Christ, show the Father to our world. There was one of Him and 12 disciples, There is now one of Him inside of each of us who believe! The disciples are all over the world making more disciples. In His day on earth there was not even the ability to be the gospel to nations. It was hard enough to go to nations, BUT God has made a way, through us, for His greater work to be wrought.Arise, Let US GO from Here. Obedience is blessed, because God is glorified and the Son of God is lifted high and the world is changed by love. Love obeys.
Footnotes
F72: 14:2 Literally dwellings
F73: NU-Text adds a word which would cause the text to read either if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? or if it were not so I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
F74: 14:14 NU-Text adds Me.
F75: 14:15 NU-Text reads you will keep.
F76: 14:28 NU-Text omits I said.
I wonder if when we think of this scripture, we think of our obedience being only known to men, like humans? Ever think of it speaking to more than humans? Obedience cancels out curses. Do you realize there are evil angels on assignment against those who leave spiritual doors of cursings open by disobedience? Also, there are spiritual doors of blessing opened by and for those who obey, messenger of God angels of light are dispatched to guard these. So our obedience is known to ALL has a much broader meaning than we may have thought.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
And what world is being turned upside down? The world, not the earth, but the world.
John 14:1-31
Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life
1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2In My Father's house are many mansions; F72 if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. F73 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4And where I go you know, and the way you know." 5Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" 6Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
The Father Revealed
7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." 8Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." 9Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, "Show us the Father'? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. The Answered Prayer12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask F74 anything in My name, I will do it.
Jesus Promises Another Helper
15 "If you love Me, keep F75 My commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. Indwelling of the Father and the Son19 "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." 22Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
The Gift of His Peace
25 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28You have heard Me say to you, "I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, F76 "I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I. 29"And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
Lena’s Journalin’
I do not know how it is we keep thinking that we can make our way to God ourselves, but it is the #1 temptation even in kingdom of God living, that we’d pave or make our own way. We even try to work the work of God on our own, our own way at times. Well, it clearly states here, that Jesus is the only way to the Father. Everyone has inside of them a drawing towards a father. It is inherent, it is essential. So we search and search and search and do everything we can to fulfill that desire, but no one can do that except the Father and the only way to the father is through Jesus, Sounds like a Divine set up, huh?
We as Christians, people who live as Christ lived, should be able to say, "If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father." That takes a huge amount of boldness, intent and faith. Remember faith is what pleases God, He wants us to walk out into bold territory, by faith. It also would take a tremendous amount of responsibility. If I am bold enough to say, "If you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father",I have a responsibility as a representative of God to DO my faith and show forth my God, My Father. Ya know what is so hard here to get? Even if we do not "say" that statement, but we say we are Christ-ians, people expect us to show them the Father anyway. We are still responsible. How do ya like them apples? Generations are crying out, "Show us the father", don’t just tell us about Him, we want to see Him! We want to SEE that He really is still alive and functioning in the earth, we want examples to follow, we want to believe this miraculous life is real and true and alive! Is Jesus risen from death? Is He alive? We say, yes in us, Do we believe Yes in me? Do we live, yes in me? I love here how Jesus says, "Ask anything…"Are we asking Him to help us show Him to the world? Our world? Are we asking to be responsible and then being willing to step out in the faith that pleases God and do it? Or do we have excuses? Jesus did not have one excuse when He went to the cross for us. He just did it! How could He do this as a man? He came here to show us that men CAN do this. He was a man. He did supernatural things by God’s Holy Spirit inside of the man, by the blessing of obedience, He was empowered, and he did the word and was blessed in what He did. So how is it that we can do a greater work than He? Did He have computers, or transportation like airplanes, and what about telephones, or microphones? The greater part is the magnitude of the work. Same work, but greater out- reach. We like Christ, show the Father to our world. There was one of Him and 12 disciples, There is now one of Him inside of each of us who believe! The disciples are all over the world making more disciples. In His day on earth there was not even the ability to be the gospel to nations. It was hard enough to go to nations, BUT God has made a way, through us, for His greater work to be wrought.Arise, Let US GO from Here. Obedience is blessed, because God is glorified and the Son of God is lifted high and the world is changed by love. Love obeys.
Footnotes
F72: 14:2 Literally dwellings
F73: NU-Text adds a word which would cause the text to read either if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? or if it were not so I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
F74: 14:14 NU-Text adds Me.
F75: 14:15 NU-Text reads you will keep.
F76: 14:28 NU-Text omits I said.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & John 12
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
What does crush mean? break, to break in pieces, shiver, to tread down to put Satan under foot and (as a conqueror) trample on him, to break down, crush, to tear one's body and shatter one's strength. Remember Genesis? The promise to the seed of the woman? And who is that seed? Adam? Jesus? We know it was Jesus, but do we consider ourselves "Christians"? One’s who are like Christ? His Body manifested in the earth? Or have you thought of yourself this way? Guess who’s mission we are on? God’s eternal one, he co-missioned us way back when, when he told Eve, "Your seed will crush this enemy underfoot!" Furthermore, who is the woman? Eve? Mary? The church? If Eve, or Mary, or the church, who is their seed? Think on that one. Jesus came to lead the way to the breaking, treading down, putting underfoot, trampling on, crushing, and shattering the strength of satan, who remember, is God’s enemy! You all in? Then Go all out, with God against His enemy.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
These seemed a bit threatened by the presence of a few men, huh? Why? Because it was a war of worlds, two kingdoms were being divided to make clear what side who was on. It was mixed up enough before to be comfortable, but now distinction was being made, things were clearing up and sin was being uncovered and shown for it’s real deadly plight against men. Men were saying no to satan’s work and a wholehearted Yes to God’s. The religious world was being rocked by truth and things done in secret, hypocritical things were being revealed. That is very, very uncomfortable to one who wills unrighteousness on the inside. It’s like being naked and ashamed. If you were stripped naked and your nakedness was made public, wouldn’t you be a bit stirred? They were stirred spiritually speaking. Their world was about to change. God was intolerant of the darkness in His house. Remember we are His house, if there’s darkness in us there’s death and God is all life. In Him there is no darkness at all. It would be good to bring light and dispel evil works of death inside of us. If we do not personally allow God to do this we will probably die prematurely as a result of a work of darkness. Premature death is dying before God’s purpose is able to be fulfilled through us. Cancer is an example of a work of darkness hidden and in secret.
John 12 :1-50
The Anointing at Bethany
Jesus Rides into Jerusalem
R5 1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, F59 whom He had raised from the dead. 2There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 5"Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii F60 and given to the poor?" 6This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept F61 this for the day of My burial. 8For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."
The Plot to Kill Lazarus
R6 9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
The Triumphal Entry
12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' F62 The King of Israel!" 14Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15"Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey's colt." F63 16His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!"
The Fruitful Grain of Wheat
20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." 22Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. 23But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. Jesus Predicts His Death on the Cross27 "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? "Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." 29Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to Him." 30Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." 33This He said, signifying by what death He would die. 34The people answered Him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, "The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?" 35Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. Who Has Believed Our Report?37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" F64 39Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: 40"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them." F65 41These things Isaiah said when F66 he saw His glory and spoke of Him.
Walk in the Light
42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 44Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, F67 I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.".
Footnotes
F59: 12:1 NU-Text omits who had been dead.
F60: 12:5 About one year's wages for a worker
F61: 12:7 NU-Text reads that she may keep.
F62: 12:13 Psalm 118:26
F63: 12:15 Zechariah 9:9
F64: 12:38 Isaiah 53:1
F65: 12:40 Isaiah 6:10
F66: 12:41 NU-Text reads because.
F67: 12:47 NU-Text reads keep them.
Show cross-references
R5: Matt. 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9
R6: Matt. 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40
Lena’s Journalin’
Isn’t it so cool, that Mary anointed the Lord? It was not the Lord anointing Mary, it was MARY anointing the Lord! She was a woman of sin, and the anointing oil she used was quite possibly purchased from the deeds of her sins. It may have been all she’d had left of that past life and the "benefits" it gave. This could possibly have been her way of giving , not only all of her $, but giving up all of the rest of who she was over to the Lord. Jesus said she prepares Me for my burial. Where was He going to go before burial? The Cross, where He was taking the sins of the world upon Himself, canceling death’s penalty against us (against Mary too, and crucifying them there! She may have been gaving Him her last evidence of sin to take with Him on that cross. This is an example of seeing further than your eyes can see. Mary saw Jesus that day and responded to what/who she saw.
Is the rescue of your life from the hands of eternal death making enough of a difference, that even the religious can see and believe? Lazarus’ raising from the dead, represented His birth into eternal life, resurrection life. That life spoke to those around him, enough that they too believed and desired that life.
Everyplace Jesus went was symbolic, everything He did, every person He touched can speak to us in our own lives today. Jesus rode on what represents strong stubborn will and rebellion and he tamed it. Oh Lord help me also tame any rebellion or stubbornness that is in me especially where Your word requires change of me, Amen.Help me take that part of my sin nature and crucify it on the corss with all of my sins, not holding back any form of darkness in reserve for me to "enjoy". Sin is pleasurable only for a season, then it brings death. Help me walk in light, recognizing light, recognizing darkness, and choosing righteousness. Let darkness in me die today, while today is still day. I lay it down by an act of my freewill. Today is the day for salvation from all evil and harm set against me by the flesh nature and the ploy of satan to keep me from my faith in God the Father of all. Lead me into light. Let blindness be removed off of my eyes that I may see and walk in truth, in Jesus’ name! I wish (or will) to see Jesus! I must see Jesus, it is a matter of death and life.Jesus said, should I say, "Father save me from this hour, where I will be encountering darkness? No, I came to see and dispel darkness. To bring it out into the light, to expose sin for what it is, a cruel killing murdering force." This is also our same mission to those who have not yet seen Him. We have to be willing to face the darkness of our sins and go through the valley of the shadow of death enough to rescue someone out of that place. Jesus partook of that gross darkness to rescue us out of its grueling grip
What does crush mean? break, to break in pieces, shiver, to tread down to put Satan under foot and (as a conqueror) trample on him, to break down, crush, to tear one's body and shatter one's strength. Remember Genesis? The promise to the seed of the woman? And who is that seed? Adam? Jesus? We know it was Jesus, but do we consider ourselves "Christians"? One’s who are like Christ? His Body manifested in the earth? Or have you thought of yourself this way? Guess who’s mission we are on? God’s eternal one, he co-missioned us way back when, when he told Eve, "Your seed will crush this enemy underfoot!" Furthermore, who is the woman? Eve? Mary? The church? If Eve, or Mary, or the church, who is their seed? Think on that one. Jesus came to lead the way to the breaking, treading down, putting underfoot, trampling on, crushing, and shattering the strength of satan, who remember, is God’s enemy! You all in? Then Go all out, with God against His enemy.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
These seemed a bit threatened by the presence of a few men, huh? Why? Because it was a war of worlds, two kingdoms were being divided to make clear what side who was on. It was mixed up enough before to be comfortable, but now distinction was being made, things were clearing up and sin was being uncovered and shown for it’s real deadly plight against men. Men were saying no to satan’s work and a wholehearted Yes to God’s. The religious world was being rocked by truth and things done in secret, hypocritical things were being revealed. That is very, very uncomfortable to one who wills unrighteousness on the inside. It’s like being naked and ashamed. If you were stripped naked and your nakedness was made public, wouldn’t you be a bit stirred? They were stirred spiritually speaking. Their world was about to change. God was intolerant of the darkness in His house. Remember we are His house, if there’s darkness in us there’s death and God is all life. In Him there is no darkness at all. It would be good to bring light and dispel evil works of death inside of us. If we do not personally allow God to do this we will probably die prematurely as a result of a work of darkness. Premature death is dying before God’s purpose is able to be fulfilled through us. Cancer is an example of a work of darkness hidden and in secret.
John 12 :1-50
The Anointing at Bethany
Jesus Rides into Jerusalem
R5 1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, F59 whom He had raised from the dead. 2There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 5"Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii F60 and given to the poor?" 6This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept F61 this for the day of My burial. 8For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."
The Plot to Kill Lazarus
R6 9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
The Triumphal Entry
12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' F62 The King of Israel!" 14Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15"Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey's colt." F63 16His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!"
The Fruitful Grain of Wheat
20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." 22Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. 23But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. Jesus Predicts His Death on the Cross27 "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? "Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." 29Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to Him." 30Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." 33This He said, signifying by what death He would die. 34The people answered Him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, "The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?" 35Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. Who Has Believed Our Report?37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" F64 39Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: 40"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them." F65 41These things Isaiah said when F66 he saw His glory and spoke of Him.
Walk in the Light
42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 44Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, F67 I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.".
Footnotes
F59: 12:1 NU-Text omits who had been dead.
F60: 12:5 About one year's wages for a worker
F61: 12:7 NU-Text reads that she may keep.
F62: 12:13 Psalm 118:26
F63: 12:15 Zechariah 9:9
F64: 12:38 Isaiah 53:1
F65: 12:40 Isaiah 6:10
F66: 12:41 NU-Text reads because.
F67: 12:47 NU-Text reads keep them.
Show cross-references
R5: Matt. 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9
R6: Matt. 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40
Lena’s Journalin’
Isn’t it so cool, that Mary anointed the Lord? It was not the Lord anointing Mary, it was MARY anointing the Lord! She was a woman of sin, and the anointing oil she used was quite possibly purchased from the deeds of her sins. It may have been all she’d had left of that past life and the "benefits" it gave. This could possibly have been her way of giving , not only all of her $, but giving up all of the rest of who she was over to the Lord. Jesus said she prepares Me for my burial. Where was He going to go before burial? The Cross, where He was taking the sins of the world upon Himself, canceling death’s penalty against us (against Mary too, and crucifying them there! She may have been gaving Him her last evidence of sin to take with Him on that cross. This is an example of seeing further than your eyes can see. Mary saw Jesus that day and responded to what/who she saw.
Is the rescue of your life from the hands of eternal death making enough of a difference, that even the religious can see and believe? Lazarus’ raising from the dead, represented His birth into eternal life, resurrection life. That life spoke to those around him, enough that they too believed and desired that life.
Everyplace Jesus went was symbolic, everything He did, every person He touched can speak to us in our own lives today. Jesus rode on what represents strong stubborn will and rebellion and he tamed it. Oh Lord help me also tame any rebellion or stubbornness that is in me especially where Your word requires change of me, Amen.Help me take that part of my sin nature and crucify it on the corss with all of my sins, not holding back any form of darkness in reserve for me to "enjoy". Sin is pleasurable only for a season, then it brings death. Help me walk in light, recognizing light, recognizing darkness, and choosing righteousness. Let darkness in me die today, while today is still day. I lay it down by an act of my freewill. Today is the day for salvation from all evil and harm set against me by the flesh nature and the ploy of satan to keep me from my faith in God the Father of all. Lead me into light. Let blindness be removed off of my eyes that I may see and walk in truth, in Jesus’ name! I wish (or will) to see Jesus! I must see Jesus, it is a matter of death and life.Jesus said, should I say, "Father save me from this hour, where I will be encountering darkness? No, I came to see and dispel darkness. To bring it out into the light, to expose sin for what it is, a cruel killing murdering force." This is also our same mission to those who have not yet seen Him. We have to be willing to face the darkness of our sins and go through the valley of the shadow of death enough to rescue someone out of that place. Jesus partook of that gross darkness to rescue us out of its grueling grip
Monday, October 03, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & John 6!
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
What does "grace" mean? It means favor obtained without merit.
Ok so we’ve obtained favor of /from the Lord, That favor actually allowed us to be able to come to Him, see Him, receive Him and begin to Live for Him. It was a supernatural power. That does not mean that we will always choose to be in and under God’s continual grace. His grace is there, but are we always under it? Have you ever heard of being "under someone’s good graces"? Grace leads us into our Father’s arms, but as we’ve heard many times, the Holy Spirit is a Person of God and has emotion as we do, he is of an unconditional love nature. Meaning He loves us no mater what we choose, but our choices can grieve His spirit and take us "out of His good graces." Grace is extended, but not always received, Once received and appreciated and honored, it can and will continue forever. May the "grace" of Our Lord be with you, now and always…
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
John 6:1-71
Feeding the Five Thousand
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
R2 1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" 6But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little." 8One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, 9"There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?" 10Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples F10 to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost." 13Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world." Jesus Walks on the Sea R3 15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. 16Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19So when they had rowed about three or four miles, F11 they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. 20But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." 21Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
The Bread from Heaven
22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, F12 and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone-- 23however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks-- 24when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come here?" 26Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." 28Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" 29Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." 30Therefore they said to Him, "What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, "He gave them bread from heaven to eat."' F13 32Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always." 35And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
Rejected by His Own
41 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." 42And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, "I have come down from heaven'?" 43Jesus therefore answered and said to them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. 44No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, "And they shall all be taught by God.' F14 Therefore everyone who has heard and learned F15 from the Father comes to Me. 46Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me F16 has everlasting life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." 52The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?" 53Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For My flesh is food indeed, F17 and My blood is drink indeed. 56He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58This is the bread which came down from heaven--not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever." 59These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. Many Disciples Turn Away60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?" 61When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you? 62What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father." 66From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" 68But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." F18 70Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" 71He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
Footnotes
F10: 6:11 NU-Text omits to the disciples, and the disciples.
F11: 6:19 Literally twenty-five or thirty stadia
F12: 6:22 NU-Text omits that and which His disciples had entered.
F13: 6:31 Exodus 16:4; Nehemiah 9:15; Psalm 78:24
F14: 6:45 Isaiah 54:13
F15: M-Text reads hears and has learned.
F16: 6:47 NU-Text omits in Me.
F17: 6:55 NU-Text reads true food and true drink.
F18: 6:69 NU-Text reads You are the Holy One of God.
Show cross-references
R2: Matt. 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17
R3: Matt. 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52
Lena’s Journalin’
Phillip was real, he looked at what he had and offered it in comparison to what was. He was probably practically puzzled by the equation and knew by natural means it could not possibly be solved. Then Andrew, saw more there than what Phillip saw. He saw that it takes a" you" to make a "we", without "you", there’s now" we." He from a slightly broader perspective than Phillip did at that time. Phillip saw himself (good- 30 fold) and his own contribution, Andrew saw Phillip’s contribution and also what could be if other contributed also (acceptable- 60 fold), Jesus was gonna show them how to make a miracle happen, a miracle manifest and appear. They were on the right track and had a giving heart, and boy it has to start there.
I used to think thousands of people was an overwhelming thought, as in my being able to reach or teach that many, and it is if we think about contributing our portion to it alone, but God has so many other ideas than we do. One day I was thinking about people. God has numbered them many and wants to reach each one of them and wants to use us. 1st may I say, if any one of us actually reaches one person we’d be doing quite well. Anything is 100% better than nothing.(100fold) Look at this though, in my own neighborhood there are about 550 homes. This is only one development along one road in our community, which possibly has 12 other developments along this one road. Ok, let’s say each house represents 3 people average, right there in my own neighborhood are 1650 people! If we were to say all 12 developments were the same size, we’d be talking 19800 people on my road alone! No wonder the traffic is so bad. Ok so this day, there were about 5,000 men, plus women and children….Let’s say the Airport Road community area, ya think that could be a possible representation? Anyway, left to my own 2 dollars. I might be able to give bread to my own family for a few days. If my neighbor adds to the basket we might be able to share a meal with our block/street, but look at what happened in the parable. (Jesus always goes for the 100%!)He set the people down in groups ( let streets represent groups), He GAVE thanks to God ( for the people in each group? He prayed over the people on each street!)) and each group shared what they had with their group. The disciples gave them bread, as they gave more was given (think about the word of God now, each group was small (in comparison to the proposed 19800, but each disciple had enough bread (Daily bread) to give each small group. Do you see why Lena HAS to start cells in the community, with disciples? Why Charity HAS to start cells in the community, no matter how hard it is or how inconvenient etc? If people are not fed, they have a long way to go, and will become very tired, weak and die (speaking of spiritual food here, they would die an eternal death away from God). This is not some contest of leadership and earthly glory, and popularity. There are 20000 people on Airport Rd. who are hungry for God (whether they know it or not, whether they acknowledge it or not does not matter- without Him, if they die, they go to hell)What can I help God do about that? Am I Phillip, giving my all to my own family only? That’s good (better than many, right?), good is like having a 30 fold return in harvest. It is 100 % better than nothing .God is pleased. Am I like Andrew who saw what others have to give and coerce them to give into the contribution, adding richness and strength to a portion? That’s better/acceptable to God. It’s almost like having 200% participation, at least, and it’s like bringing in a 60 fold from the harvest. Or am I like Jesus, who gives thanks to God for my community (daily), takes what is available and makes of it disciples, at least 12, who I can give words of life to and who in turn will give words of life to others (on their streets)? This example is perfect, like bringing in 100 fold from the harvest field.Even when/if I bring in 100 fold, it is not without storms brewing or winds of adversity blowing. Please don not believe the words of any who would say, that your life in Christ will be like a bowl full of cherries! Do you not realize Jesus too had enemies on earth. Why did He have enemies, wasn’t he God? EXACTLY. That’s why. Satan is the god of this world, we are in this world to rescue God’s people out of satan’s hands, you didn’t really think he’d just willingly and without a fight hand those people over to God did you? If he keeps any, they are his prize in this war. His desire is to keep as many as he can from God. It’s not because he wants them, it’s because God wants them and he hates God! We have to defy the world’s sway, the enemy’s ploy. We have got to hear the voice of Christ inside of our storms, we’ve got to cross over being alone in our faith to going for discipleship and harvest! So initially feeding someone will help wet their appetite for Jesus, signs and the miraculous are like proof, but there comes a time where God wants to know of each of us, are we going to continue serving Him and believing in Him, even if we are not fed by others and even if there’s no "sign"? That is the "sign" of a true mature love, so food being fed you and signs being shown you brought you to Christ. Is He great enough in your eyes to stick with forever? If there’s no hoopla, do we still love God, will we serve Him in covenant love as we have been and more, or do we shrink back to the bare minimal of Christian existence? Complaining and being religious? How do you see Him when you become more intimate with Him? As God, or just as some good teacher who came for the time He came long agoi, but today it doesn’t really apply to me? How about others who are working for Jesus here in our day right now?Is it wonderful when they feed you, or show you the intense love of Christ, but when they srat to require growth from you, you complain and shrink back in your growth? When you see how human they are, do you minimize their message, because they are just people? Good questions for the journey the Lord has each of us on.When a person moves forward in their growth in the Lord there will come a crossroads, saying, "Do you REALLY want to go to this next place?" This comes both from God- to inform us and proe us, and from satan- who wants to stop us. Things get hard at that point and there are definate opportunities to stay where you are at or turn and walk away.We’ve got to become a partaker with Him, even in His sufferings to really be a disciple, one who goes on to lead others into a walk with God.There will always come a time, when one goes on to a higher level of faith and service in God’s kingdom, that God will ask of us, "Do you also want to go, away?" We can stay where we’ve come to. It will be very hard to maintain that place without becoming religious, but we can try, but Oh if we choose to God on….
What does "grace" mean? It means favor obtained without merit.
Ok so we’ve obtained favor of /from the Lord, That favor actually allowed us to be able to come to Him, see Him, receive Him and begin to Live for Him. It was a supernatural power. That does not mean that we will always choose to be in and under God’s continual grace. His grace is there, but are we always under it? Have you ever heard of being "under someone’s good graces"? Grace leads us into our Father’s arms, but as we’ve heard many times, the Holy Spirit is a Person of God and has emotion as we do, he is of an unconditional love nature. Meaning He loves us no mater what we choose, but our choices can grieve His spirit and take us "out of His good graces." Grace is extended, but not always received, Once received and appreciated and honored, it can and will continue forever. May the "grace" of Our Lord be with you, now and always…
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
John 6:1-71
Feeding the Five Thousand
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
R2 1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" 6But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little." 8One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, 9"There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?" 10Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples F10 to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost." 13Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world." Jesus Walks on the Sea R3 15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. 16Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19So when they had rowed about three or four miles, F11 they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. 20But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." 21Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
The Bread from Heaven
22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, F12 and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone-- 23however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks-- 24when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come here?" 26Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." 28Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" 29Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." 30Therefore they said to Him, "What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, "He gave them bread from heaven to eat."' F13 32Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always." 35And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
Rejected by His Own
41 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." 42And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, "I have come down from heaven'?" 43Jesus therefore answered and said to them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. 44No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, "And they shall all be taught by God.' F14 Therefore everyone who has heard and learned F15 from the Father comes to Me. 46Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me F16 has everlasting life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." 52The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?" 53Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For My flesh is food indeed, F17 and My blood is drink indeed. 56He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58This is the bread which came down from heaven--not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever." 59These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. Many Disciples Turn Away60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?" 61When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you? 62What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father." 66From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" 68But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." F18 70Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" 71He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
Footnotes
F10: 6:11 NU-Text omits to the disciples, and the disciples.
F11: 6:19 Literally twenty-five or thirty stadia
F12: 6:22 NU-Text omits that and which His disciples had entered.
F13: 6:31 Exodus 16:4; Nehemiah 9:15; Psalm 78:24
F14: 6:45 Isaiah 54:13
F15: M-Text reads hears and has learned.
F16: 6:47 NU-Text omits in Me.
F17: 6:55 NU-Text reads true food and true drink.
F18: 6:69 NU-Text reads You are the Holy One of God.
Show cross-references
R2: Matt. 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17
R3: Matt. 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52
Lena’s Journalin’
Phillip was real, he looked at what he had and offered it in comparison to what was. He was probably practically puzzled by the equation and knew by natural means it could not possibly be solved. Then Andrew, saw more there than what Phillip saw. He saw that it takes a" you" to make a "we", without "you", there’s now" we." He from a slightly broader perspective than Phillip did at that time. Phillip saw himself (good- 30 fold) and his own contribution, Andrew saw Phillip’s contribution and also what could be if other contributed also (acceptable- 60 fold), Jesus was gonna show them how to make a miracle happen, a miracle manifest and appear. They were on the right track and had a giving heart, and boy it has to start there.
I used to think thousands of people was an overwhelming thought, as in my being able to reach or teach that many, and it is if we think about contributing our portion to it alone, but God has so many other ideas than we do. One day I was thinking about people. God has numbered them many and wants to reach each one of them and wants to use us. 1st may I say, if any one of us actually reaches one person we’d be doing quite well. Anything is 100% better than nothing.(100fold) Look at this though, in my own neighborhood there are about 550 homes. This is only one development along one road in our community, which possibly has 12 other developments along this one road. Ok, let’s say each house represents 3 people average, right there in my own neighborhood are 1650 people! If we were to say all 12 developments were the same size, we’d be talking 19800 people on my road alone! No wonder the traffic is so bad. Ok so this day, there were about 5,000 men, plus women and children….Let’s say the Airport Road community area, ya think that could be a possible representation? Anyway, left to my own 2 dollars. I might be able to give bread to my own family for a few days. If my neighbor adds to the basket we might be able to share a meal with our block/street, but look at what happened in the parable. (Jesus always goes for the 100%!)He set the people down in groups ( let streets represent groups), He GAVE thanks to God ( for the people in each group? He prayed over the people on each street!)) and each group shared what they had with their group. The disciples gave them bread, as they gave more was given (think about the word of God now, each group was small (in comparison to the proposed 19800, but each disciple had enough bread (Daily bread) to give each small group. Do you see why Lena HAS to start cells in the community, with disciples? Why Charity HAS to start cells in the community, no matter how hard it is or how inconvenient etc? If people are not fed, they have a long way to go, and will become very tired, weak and die (speaking of spiritual food here, they would die an eternal death away from God). This is not some contest of leadership and earthly glory, and popularity. There are 20000 people on Airport Rd. who are hungry for God (whether they know it or not, whether they acknowledge it or not does not matter- without Him, if they die, they go to hell)What can I help God do about that? Am I Phillip, giving my all to my own family only? That’s good (better than many, right?), good is like having a 30 fold return in harvest. It is 100 % better than nothing .God is pleased. Am I like Andrew who saw what others have to give and coerce them to give into the contribution, adding richness and strength to a portion? That’s better/acceptable to God. It’s almost like having 200% participation, at least, and it’s like bringing in a 60 fold from the harvest. Or am I like Jesus, who gives thanks to God for my community (daily), takes what is available and makes of it disciples, at least 12, who I can give words of life to and who in turn will give words of life to others (on their streets)? This example is perfect, like bringing in 100 fold from the harvest field.Even when/if I bring in 100 fold, it is not without storms brewing or winds of adversity blowing. Please don not believe the words of any who would say, that your life in Christ will be like a bowl full of cherries! Do you not realize Jesus too had enemies on earth. Why did He have enemies, wasn’t he God? EXACTLY. That’s why. Satan is the god of this world, we are in this world to rescue God’s people out of satan’s hands, you didn’t really think he’d just willingly and without a fight hand those people over to God did you? If he keeps any, they are his prize in this war. His desire is to keep as many as he can from God. It’s not because he wants them, it’s because God wants them and he hates God! We have to defy the world’s sway, the enemy’s ploy. We have got to hear the voice of Christ inside of our storms, we’ve got to cross over being alone in our faith to going for discipleship and harvest! So initially feeding someone will help wet their appetite for Jesus, signs and the miraculous are like proof, but there comes a time where God wants to know of each of us, are we going to continue serving Him and believing in Him, even if we are not fed by others and even if there’s no "sign"? That is the "sign" of a true mature love, so food being fed you and signs being shown you brought you to Christ. Is He great enough in your eyes to stick with forever? If there’s no hoopla, do we still love God, will we serve Him in covenant love as we have been and more, or do we shrink back to the bare minimal of Christian existence? Complaining and being religious? How do you see Him when you become more intimate with Him? As God, or just as some good teacher who came for the time He came long agoi, but today it doesn’t really apply to me? How about others who are working for Jesus here in our day right now?Is it wonderful when they feed you, or show you the intense love of Christ, but when they srat to require growth from you, you complain and shrink back in your growth? When you see how human they are, do you minimize their message, because they are just people? Good questions for the journey the Lord has each of us on.When a person moves forward in their growth in the Lord there will come a crossroads, saying, "Do you REALLY want to go to this next place?" This comes both from God- to inform us and proe us, and from satan- who wants to stop us. Things get hard at that point and there are definate opportunities to stay where you are at or turn and walk away.We’ve got to become a partaker with Him, even in His sufferings to really be a disciple, one who goes on to lead others into a walk with God.There will always come a time, when one goes on to a higher level of faith and service in God’s kingdom, that God will ask of us, "Do you also want to go, away?" We can stay where we’ve come to. It will be very hard to maintain that place without becoming religious, but we can try, but Oh if we choose to God on….
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & John 3
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Why do people say Amen? Allow me to bore you for just a moment with a definition broken down to understandable size –
firm, metaph.- Faithful, verily, amen. At the beginning of a discourse - surely, truly, of a truth. At the end - so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled.
It was a custom, which passed over from the synagogues to the Christian assemblies, that when he who had read or discoursed, had offered up solemn prayer to God, the others responded Amen, and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own.
The word "amen" is a most remarkable word. It was transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and into English and many other languages, so that it is practically a universal word. It has been called the best known word in human speech. The word is directly related -- in fact, almost identical -- to the Hebrew word for "believe" (amam), or faithful. Thus, it came to mean "sure" or "truly", an expression of absolute trust and confidence.
So, it is proof that a person has become one with a word. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was God, the Word became flesh and lived among us….has the WORD become One with us? If a specific word from or of God has, then boldly say, "Amen"!
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Has a Christian influence turned your world upside down yet? I hope and pray it has or will soon.
John 3: 1-36
The New Birth
You Must Be Born Again1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 3Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you, "You must be born again.' 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
9Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" 10Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. F4 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in Him should not perish but F5 have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." John the Baptist Exalts Christ22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. 23Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 24For John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification. 26And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified--behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!" 27John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, "I am not the Christ,' but, "I have been sent before Him.' 29He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease. 31He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
Footnotes
F4: 3:13 NU-Text omits who is in heaven.
F5: 3:15 NU-Text omits not perish but.
Lena’s Journalin’
In other words, it is not about seeing to believe, it is about knowing by faith to believe. Being "born again" means to be made new from what was old. Being born from above , or from God. We were born of our parents here on earth, we must be born of our Father of heaven too. Please take a deeper look here,Jesus does NOT say, unless you are "born again" you cannot enter into heaven (though that is probably the case, being you become a citizen of "heaven" by being born of it’s King. If the King is your brother and the Supreme ruler is your Father, I’d say that when it came down to it, one would say you are "from" there and so belong there, when a distinction is called for. Just as Joseph was called to go register in his hometown, all of us will be required to account of where our true home is.BUT note Jesus did not say, if you are born again, you’ll get to go to heaven, He said unless you are born again, or born from God the father above, and take on His spiritually aware life, you will not SEE His kingdom. I’m looking at the Greek definition of kingdom and it clearly states- that it is about knowing I have rulership. That I’m on assignment to rule for the King! I won’t be able to take that position or even know there is a position reserved for me here like that if I am not of a spiritual mind and heart, born in the image of my heavenly Father. After stating this truth, he goes on to say, if you believe in Jesus, and His lifting up (on the cross)you will then have eternal life. Our rulership here is for the purpose of lifting the Son of Man up, so that people can be saved. From what? The penalty of sin. Eternal separation from the ability to ever be with God, life without God is called death. Eternal death is the worst thing anyone could ever imagine.Have you ever noticed when humans do believe and they begin to do God’s work here and take their place as rulers of God’s Kingdom on earth, that there always arises some sort of persecution? Usually over some weird insignificant thing? This is clearly a work of God’s kingdom’s enemy. God is stopping his evil work, when God’s kids stand up to rule enemies are being crushed underfoot. THAT makes the devil mad. What is the wrath of God against? People? Satan and any who are included and are named among him. He is doomed, people must believe in the Son, to have everlasting, that means spending eternity with God life. If people refuse to believe they become categorized with God’s enemies. Make it clear to God and to His enemies, who you believe.
Why do people say Amen? Allow me to bore you for just a moment with a definition broken down to understandable size –
firm, metaph.- Faithful, verily, amen. At the beginning of a discourse - surely, truly, of a truth. At the end - so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled.
It was a custom, which passed over from the synagogues to the Christian assemblies, that when he who had read or discoursed, had offered up solemn prayer to God, the others responded Amen, and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own.
The word "amen" is a most remarkable word. It was transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and into English and many other languages, so that it is practically a universal word. It has been called the best known word in human speech. The word is directly related -- in fact, almost identical -- to the Hebrew word for "believe" (amam), or faithful. Thus, it came to mean "sure" or "truly", an expression of absolute trust and confidence.
So, it is proof that a person has become one with a word. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was God, the Word became flesh and lived among us….has the WORD become One with us? If a specific word from or of God has, then boldly say, "Amen"!
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Has a Christian influence turned your world upside down yet? I hope and pray it has or will soon.
John 3: 1-36
The New Birth
You Must Be Born Again1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 3Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you, "You must be born again.' 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
9Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" 10Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. F4 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in Him should not perish but F5 have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." John the Baptist Exalts Christ22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. 23Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 24For John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification. 26And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified--behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!" 27John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, "I am not the Christ,' but, "I have been sent before Him.' 29He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease. 31He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
Footnotes
F4: 3:13 NU-Text omits who is in heaven.
F5: 3:15 NU-Text omits not perish but.
Lena’s Journalin’
In other words, it is not about seeing to believe, it is about knowing by faith to believe. Being "born again" means to be made new from what was old. Being born from above , or from God. We were born of our parents here on earth, we must be born of our Father of heaven too. Please take a deeper look here,Jesus does NOT say, unless you are "born again" you cannot enter into heaven (though that is probably the case, being you become a citizen of "heaven" by being born of it’s King. If the King is your brother and the Supreme ruler is your Father, I’d say that when it came down to it, one would say you are "from" there and so belong there, when a distinction is called for. Just as Joseph was called to go register in his hometown, all of us will be required to account of where our true home is.BUT note Jesus did not say, if you are born again, you’ll get to go to heaven, He said unless you are born again, or born from God the father above, and take on His spiritually aware life, you will not SEE His kingdom. I’m looking at the Greek definition of kingdom and it clearly states- that it is about knowing I have rulership. That I’m on assignment to rule for the King! I won’t be able to take that position or even know there is a position reserved for me here like that if I am not of a spiritual mind and heart, born in the image of my heavenly Father. After stating this truth, he goes on to say, if you believe in Jesus, and His lifting up (on the cross)you will then have eternal life. Our rulership here is for the purpose of lifting the Son of Man up, so that people can be saved. From what? The penalty of sin. Eternal separation from the ability to ever be with God, life without God is called death. Eternal death is the worst thing anyone could ever imagine.Have you ever noticed when humans do believe and they begin to do God’s work here and take their place as rulers of God’s Kingdom on earth, that there always arises some sort of persecution? Usually over some weird insignificant thing? This is clearly a work of God’s kingdom’s enemy. God is stopping his evil work, when God’s kids stand up to rule enemies are being crushed underfoot. THAT makes the devil mad. What is the wrath of God against? People? Satan and any who are included and are named among him. He is doomed, people must believe in the Son, to have everlasting, that means spending eternity with God life. If people refuse to believe they become categorized with God’s enemies. Make it clear to God and to His enemies, who you believe.
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