1Timothy 1:5-10 (KJV)
“5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. ...
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine”
The law (Genesis to Deuteronomy) is God’s paradigm for life; it is what people have made it out to be is when it becomes injurious (vs. 13).
Law defines sin; above and beyond this we humans become harsh and jangled. The law is designed to be a teacher, a tool to bring us close to God. The law is about relationship with God, the pitfalls causing the distance and the invitations causing the desired relationship (closeness). The law is good in this if we use it in its God given lawfulness (paradigm).
In other words, the law is not for the righteous it is for the lawless. Something is broken, dysfunctional, and inoperable; life is not working for us but against us (sin). This is where the paradigm for relationship comes in. What did not work for Jacob, Rebekah, Joseph, Nimrod, etc… will not work for us either.
A jangled spirit cannot handle the law appropriately; desiring to teach it without understanding the relevance it has in healing and deliverance (Psalm 107:20) causes anger in the teacher and the one being taught.
Encounters with Jesus and His mind, an encounter with His person can teach us to handle the law as He did. Otherwise, the sound we produce is jingle jangled.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
JESUS IS THE DIFFERENCE
Genesis 26:12-22 (KJV)
As Abraham moved forward towards this promise it only had its beginning with him. Firstly, a nation was being birthed through him. He left his own culture, homeland, and family to establish a new family with a new culture. This process was manifested out of relational encounters with God. Once again, the law of the LORD emerges in that God is faithful to His investments, especially in His relational investments.
This law can be seen thousands of years later in the New Testament in Paul’s letter to Timothy. 2 Timothy 2:13 “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.” We see this law working in this process with Abraham and Isaac his son. Abraham the father of faith was acting faithless when he lied about is wife Sarah being his sister; even though she was his half-sister, his truth was a lie concerning her being his wife also.
This same fear in Isaac his son was a faithless work when he lied about his wife being his sister. They both faced a famine in the process of possessing their promise. They both acted with faithless actions in their first steps towards the promise. Nonetheless, God remained faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.
This is the law (Torah), Genesis to Deuteronomy, every word, every tittle, every story, every relational exchange between God and humanity, this is the prophetic expression of God’s longing to establish love, to fortify relational expectations concerning His love.
And, so the same story goes on with us, it is the same story, His-story. The main difference between the Old and the New is JESUS – He makes the difference. Jesus takes us to where the Father has always wanted us to be.
As Abraham moved forward towards this promise it only had its beginning with him. Firstly, a nation was being birthed through him. He left his own culture, homeland, and family to establish a new family with a new culture. This process was manifested out of relational encounters with God. Once again, the law of the LORD emerges in that God is faithful to His investments, especially in His relational investments.
This law can be seen thousands of years later in the New Testament in Paul’s letter to Timothy. 2 Timothy 2:13 “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.” We see this law working in this process with Abraham and Isaac his son. Abraham the father of faith was acting faithless when he lied about is wife Sarah being his sister; even though she was his half-sister, his truth was a lie concerning her being his wife also.
This same fear in Isaac his son was a faithless work when he lied about his wife being his sister. They both faced a famine in the process of possessing their promise. They both acted with faithless actions in their first steps towards the promise. Nonetheless, God remained faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.
This is the law (Torah), Genesis to Deuteronomy, every word, every tittle, every story, every relational exchange between God and humanity, this is the prophetic expression of God’s longing to establish love, to fortify relational expectations concerning His love.
And, so the same story goes on with us, it is the same story, His-story. The main difference between the Old and the New is JESUS – He makes the difference. Jesus takes us to where the Father has always wanted us to be.
Monday, April 28, 2014
FULFILL
Matthew 5:17 (KJV)
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”
The conversations between God and Abraham; the actions and reactions between them are the law. The commands God gave to Noah; Noah walking out those commands is the law. Law is the interaction between God and people. Actions and reactions in relational interaction with God is law. The stories becoming the story are law. The law is prophetic History, water under the bridge, the movement of God in the life of humanity; prophetic history in the sense of being His-story. Folks get all tied up with the commands and obedience to the commands sterile of the relational motion going on between God and man. God is relational and there are laws (demands) God desires in those relationships.
Once again, the prophets are writings expressing the heart and mind of God in interaction with people. Jesus did not come to annul any interaction the Father has had with anyone in the story, He has come to fill in all the gaps and become all the Father intends to have with us. Jesus satisfies the relationship He longs for in you and I. Jesus is our mediator, He is our advocate, He is the link between us and the Father, and He is the fulfillment. Learning Him is learning what the law intended to be.
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”
The conversations between God and Abraham; the actions and reactions between them are the law. The commands God gave to Noah; Noah walking out those commands is the law. Law is the interaction between God and people. Actions and reactions in relational interaction with God is law. The stories becoming the story are law. The law is prophetic History, water under the bridge, the movement of God in the life of humanity; prophetic history in the sense of being His-story. Folks get all tied up with the commands and obedience to the commands sterile of the relational motion going on between God and man. God is relational and there are laws (demands) God desires in those relationships.
Once again, the prophets are writings expressing the heart and mind of God in interaction with people. Jesus did not come to annul any interaction the Father has had with anyone in the story, He has come to fill in all the gaps and become all the Father intends to have with us. Jesus satisfies the relationship He longs for in you and I. Jesus is our mediator, He is our advocate, He is the link between us and the Father, and He is the fulfillment. Learning Him is learning what the law intended to be.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
HERITAGE
Psalm 47:1-4 ESV
“Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah”...
Heritage: Something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion. Heritage is much like our parents, we do not have much choice in the matter; we do not get to choose who are parents are and there are times we do not get to choose our heritage. Some see this as a curse while others see it as a blessing. Whatever paradigm we may hold concerning heritage, the way we see it determines whether our heritage works for us or against us.
The dictionary defines heritage as an inherited lot. A lot is the portion in life assigned by fate or providence; one's fate, fortune, or destiny. I love the final words of Daniel in his last scripture of his last chapter: “But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days” (Daniel 12:13).
There are those who struggle with their heritage as though their heritage determines their success or failure. This is faulty thinking; one must understand every generation determines their own heritage in the end. Though we may inherit our heritage in the beginning of our journey, how we go our way and live out our lives determines our lot in the end. Therefore, every generation determines the heritage for the next generation.
Consequently, regardless of the heritage we have inherited, it is ultimately up to us to leave it in better shape than what it was when it was given to us. If we choose to be negative concerning our heritage by blaming the past for our present, then our future will inevitably end the same.
On the other hand, if we can manage to own our heritage with a sense of honor, count it for what it is worth and build with a positive constructive attitude; regardless of what it has been, our heritage can become a better inheritance to the next generation.
“Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah”...
Heritage: Something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion. Heritage is much like our parents, we do not have much choice in the matter; we do not get to choose who are parents are and there are times we do not get to choose our heritage. Some see this as a curse while others see it as a blessing. Whatever paradigm we may hold concerning heritage, the way we see it determines whether our heritage works for us or against us.
The dictionary defines heritage as an inherited lot. A lot is the portion in life assigned by fate or providence; one's fate, fortune, or destiny. I love the final words of Daniel in his last scripture of his last chapter: “But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days” (Daniel 12:13).
There are those who struggle with their heritage as though their heritage determines their success or failure. This is faulty thinking; one must understand every generation determines their own heritage in the end. Though we may inherit our heritage in the beginning of our journey, how we go our way and live out our lives determines our lot in the end. Therefore, every generation determines the heritage for the next generation.
Consequently, regardless of the heritage we have inherited, it is ultimately up to us to leave it in better shape than what it was when it was given to us. If we choose to be negative concerning our heritage by blaming the past for our present, then our future will inevitably end the same.
On the other hand, if we can manage to own our heritage with a sense of honor, count it for what it is worth and build with a positive constructive attitude; regardless of what it has been, our heritage can become a better inheritance to the next generation.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST
Jude 1:20-21 (KJV)
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
There are things deep in our spirit needing to connect with Father God. We may not have words for these things, nonetheless, they are there. Disconnected before we connect means we have to learn how to connect.
We come into this world knowing nothing with the ability to know all things. “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding” (Job 32:8). This ability (inspiration) comes from God; it is a God given ability lying inside us waiting to be cultivated. “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things” (1 John 2:20).
Since we were in God’s mind before the world began there is an essence of God in all of us. Without the blood of Christ applied to our hearts and mind that part of us is dormant, dead, and pressed down (spiritually dead). We somehow have learned how to suppress it or ignore it. Connecting is as easy as laughter, crying, smiling, hurting, and breathing; it is a natural God given tendency longing to be released.
There is no better way to connect than praying in the Holy Ghost. The Scripture tells us God is a Spirit and God is Love, Spirit + Love = Holy Ghost; therefore, the Holy Ghost is pure Love. This is why praying in the Holy Ghost keeps us in the Love of God.
He is our comforter, counselor, guide, and teacher. The Love of God comforts us, counsels us, informs us, and teaches us. He is our “paraklētos,” one who walks beside us. Being baptized in Him is being baptized in love.
Praying in the Holy Ghost is God’s way of saturating us in and with His Love. If you have not had a dose lately, it is time to get a dose of the Ghost. The Spirit of God is longing to be released in us that He may bring to life things that have been dead in us since birth. Submit to the prayer life of the Spirit and you will find your faith stronger and surer than ever. In doing this we will connect with our spiritual heritage found in the New Testament patriarchs of faith.
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
There are things deep in our spirit needing to connect with Father God. We may not have words for these things, nonetheless, they are there. Disconnected before we connect means we have to learn how to connect.
We come into this world knowing nothing with the ability to know all things. “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding” (Job 32:8). This ability (inspiration) comes from God; it is a God given ability lying inside us waiting to be cultivated. “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things” (1 John 2:20).
Since we were in God’s mind before the world began there is an essence of God in all of us. Without the blood of Christ applied to our hearts and mind that part of us is dormant, dead, and pressed down (spiritually dead). We somehow have learned how to suppress it or ignore it. Connecting is as easy as laughter, crying, smiling, hurting, and breathing; it is a natural God given tendency longing to be released.
There is no better way to connect than praying in the Holy Ghost. The Scripture tells us God is a Spirit and God is Love, Spirit + Love = Holy Ghost; therefore, the Holy Ghost is pure Love. This is why praying in the Holy Ghost keeps us in the Love of God.
He is our comforter, counselor, guide, and teacher. The Love of God comforts us, counsels us, informs us, and teaches us. He is our “paraklētos,” one who walks beside us. Being baptized in Him is being baptized in love.
Praying in the Holy Ghost is God’s way of saturating us in and with His Love. If you have not had a dose lately, it is time to get a dose of the Ghost. The Spirit of God is longing to be released in us that He may bring to life things that have been dead in us since birth. Submit to the prayer life of the Spirit and you will find your faith stronger and surer than ever. In doing this we will connect with our spiritual heritage found in the New Testament patriarchs of faith.
Friday, April 25, 2014
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE
Exodus 6:7-9 (NRSV)
7 I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has freed you from the burdens of the Egyptians.
8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.'"
9 Moses told this to the Israelites; but they would not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and their cruel slavery.
“It sounds too good to be true.” Such a statement is cultured in misfortune and disappointments. Cruelties of life has a way of breaking our spirit, as a result, we become cynical in disbelief. Concerning this process I want us to consider “God’s lovingkindness.”
“… thy lovingkindness is better than life…” (Psalm 63:3). Lovingkindness is merciful favor. It is significantly connected to God’s covenanted commitment “I swore to give to Abraham.” God’s decision to give us His favor is not connected to our atrocities; He has chosen to give us His favor before our atrocities came into being. Therefore, it is not about our worth it is about His.
The choice to love us is God’s responsibility. He made a commitment to love us and in that commitment He is responsible. “He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old” (Micah 7:19-20).
Revealing truth to Jacob is the same as giving mercy to Abraham. Abraham is already dead and gone, once again, truth and mercy is not as much about Jacob and Abraham as it is His responsibility in the covenant.
Is it too good to be true, or, are we ate up from the floor up with ourselves? What a MIGHTY GOD we serve.
7 I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has freed you from the burdens of the Egyptians.
8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.'"
9 Moses told this to the Israelites; but they would not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and their cruel slavery.
“It sounds too good to be true.” Such a statement is cultured in misfortune and disappointments. Cruelties of life has a way of breaking our spirit, as a result, we become cynical in disbelief. Concerning this process I want us to consider “God’s lovingkindness.”
“… thy lovingkindness is better than life…” (Psalm 63:3). Lovingkindness is merciful favor. It is significantly connected to God’s covenanted commitment “I swore to give to Abraham.” God’s decision to give us His favor is not connected to our atrocities; He has chosen to give us His favor before our atrocities came into being. Therefore, it is not about our worth it is about His.
The choice to love us is God’s responsibility. He made a commitment to love us and in that commitment He is responsible. “He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old” (Micah 7:19-20).
Revealing truth to Jacob is the same as giving mercy to Abraham. Abraham is already dead and gone, once again, truth and mercy is not as much about Jacob and Abraham as it is His responsibility in the covenant.
Is it too good to be true, or, are we ate up from the floor up with ourselves? What a MIGHTY GOD we serve.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
WHERE IS THIS LEADING US
1 Corinthians 12:1-3 (KJV)
“1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”...
Give a church spiritual gifts and you will have a church full of strife and contention; give a church Jesus and you will have a church full of spiritual gifts. Bottom line – Jesus is our ability – outside of Him we are simply in and about ourselves.
We need to ask ourselves this question, where is this leading us and to whom is it leading us? Paul said, “even as ye were led.” Where things are leading us and to who it is leading us determines the authenticity and right to lead.
The ignorance Paul was concerned with was not in their spiritual abilities as much as how they were using those abilities.
Deuteronomy 13:1-3 (KJV)
1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
“1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”...
Give a church spiritual gifts and you will have a church full of strife and contention; give a church Jesus and you will have a church full of spiritual gifts. Bottom line – Jesus is our ability – outside of Him we are simply in and about ourselves.
We need to ask ourselves this question, where is this leading us and to whom is it leading us? Paul said, “even as ye were led.” Where things are leading us and to who it is leading us determines the authenticity and right to lead.
The ignorance Paul was concerned with was not in their spiritual abilities as much as how they were using those abilities.
Deuteronomy 13:1-3 (KJV)
1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
LEARNING OBEDIENCE
Hebrews 5:7-14 (KJV)
“7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Priest after the order of Melchisedec do not offer sacrifice as the Aaronic priesthood, they become the sacrifice through suffering. Brother Mel offered Abraham the Bread and drink; Jesus offers His flesh (bread) and His blood (drink) as an offering to us.
Suffering is unique to the one suffering; to Jesus it was His lesson to obedience. In this case suffering is not losing it is gaining favor to understand. His suffering put understanding in Him. Jesus can walk into our situation and understand how it got there, why it is there, and how to get us to the other end of it. He is a priest of ability; ability to understand.
“Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5). “With all thy getting, get understanding,” reckon why? Understanding puts ability into us; it is a knowing giving our presence the right to be there, the right to take hold of it, and the right to handle it.
Since we have become the sacrifice we have no need to offer a sacrifice. There are some things we cannot handle until it has first handled us. Suffering brings us into fellowship with résistance and resistance brings us to the opportunities of obedience.
Obedience is God’s love language; learning what we need to learn in our suffering (fellowship of resistance) teaches us obedience, it teaches us how to love on God’s level.
“7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Priest after the order of Melchisedec do not offer sacrifice as the Aaronic priesthood, they become the sacrifice through suffering. Brother Mel offered Abraham the Bread and drink; Jesus offers His flesh (bread) and His blood (drink) as an offering to us.
Suffering is unique to the one suffering; to Jesus it was His lesson to obedience. In this case suffering is not losing it is gaining favor to understand. His suffering put understanding in Him. Jesus can walk into our situation and understand how it got there, why it is there, and how to get us to the other end of it. He is a priest of ability; ability to understand.
“Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5). “With all thy getting, get understanding,” reckon why? Understanding puts ability into us; it is a knowing giving our presence the right to be there, the right to take hold of it, and the right to handle it.
Since we have become the sacrifice we have no need to offer a sacrifice. There are some things we cannot handle until it has first handled us. Suffering brings us into fellowship with résistance and resistance brings us to the opportunities of obedience.
Obedience is God’s love language; learning what we need to learn in our suffering (fellowship of resistance) teaches us obedience, it teaches us how to love on God’s level.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
ARE YOU BREATHING?
Acts 14:14-17 (KJV)
14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways....
17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
Do you reckon these men were serious? Those people were saying they were gods who have come down in the likeness of men. What a mighty God we serve – these apostles were not playing games they wanted them folks to know the one and only true and living God. Ripping and snorting through the crowd they meant for these people to acknowledge the simple things afforded them. Waking up every day to a planet created by God, breathing the air given to them without being destroyed for their ignorance. People every day ignore the simple witness God gives of Himself that He is good to give us rain from heaven, fruitful seasons, that we can eat our food with gladness.
People live in disbelief because God never says anything to them verbally from His own mouth. God is a Spirit; He uses His mercy to speak to us by letting us wake up every day. We are not without witness of Him, stand still and look around us; He is speaking out to us through all His creation. Ask the simple question, can I breathe and continue to live as it is afforded to me to do so? In that alone God is speaking
14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways....
17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
Do you reckon these men were serious? Those people were saying they were gods who have come down in the likeness of men. What a mighty God we serve – these apostles were not playing games they wanted them folks to know the one and only true and living God. Ripping and snorting through the crowd they meant for these people to acknowledge the simple things afforded them. Waking up every day to a planet created by God, breathing the air given to them without being destroyed for their ignorance. People every day ignore the simple witness God gives of Himself that He is good to give us rain from heaven, fruitful seasons, that we can eat our food with gladness.
People live in disbelief because God never says anything to them verbally from His own mouth. God is a Spirit; He uses His mercy to speak to us by letting us wake up every day. We are not without witness of Him, stand still and look around us; He is speaking out to us through all His creation. Ask the simple question, can I breathe and continue to live as it is afforded to me to do so? In that alone God is speaking
Monday, April 21, 2014
SPIRIT
Galatians 3:3 (KJV)
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”
That little white speck on chicken dung, no matter how pretty and white it is, is chicken dung too. The spiritual world can never be shaped by the flesh world; the flesh world came into being because of the spiritual world. God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
COMITMENT
John 15:9 (KJV)
“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”
The Father is committed to His Son, His Son to us; for us to continue in His love is us being committed to them. Although love can manifest itself in our emotions, it is not an emotion; love is a decision, love is a commitment.
Father God committed Himself to us by sending us His Son. His loving kindness is better than life. God is love; therefore, God is manifested in our ...commitment (interaction) with Him. God is relational, love is relational; no commitment, no love, and no relationship.
“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 13:1-3).
Father God is not as interested in how committed we are to others and their spiritual abilities as He is our commitment to Him. Our commitment to Him defines what is true and what is not. He is a jealous God He wants our full commitment above all.
Commitment is the antidote to being led astray and our commitment is measured by our love. Who do we love the most? (1 John 4:1-8)
“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”
The Father is committed to His Son, His Son to us; for us to continue in His love is us being committed to them. Although love can manifest itself in our emotions, it is not an emotion; love is a decision, love is a commitment.
Father God committed Himself to us by sending us His Son. His loving kindness is better than life. God is love; therefore, God is manifested in our ...commitment (interaction) with Him. God is relational, love is relational; no commitment, no love, and no relationship.
“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 13:1-3).
Father God is not as interested in how committed we are to others and their spiritual abilities as He is our commitment to Him. Our commitment to Him defines what is true and what is not. He is a jealous God He wants our full commitment above all.
Commitment is the antidote to being led astray and our commitment is measured by our love. Who do we love the most? (1 John 4:1-8)
Friday, April 18, 2014
SOMETHING SMELLS GOOD
Ephesians 5:1-2 (KJV)
"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."
To be followers is to become attendants and adherents; God is love, therefore love is who we are attending and adhering to. Furthermore, God is a spirit making our attendance to love as being a spiritual work. ...
How we walk out our lives towards others is this adhering to love. When we focus on being present is when His presence is sensed by those we are walking in love towards. Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
This kind of living becomes a sacrifice, not sacrifice in the sense of labor but in the sense of a gift. God so loved the world He gave, and so should we give. We give ourselves as a sacrifice of love creating a pleasant environment. This is where the sweet smelling savour comes into being.
"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."
To be followers is to become attendants and adherents; God is love, therefore love is who we are attending and adhering to. Furthermore, God is a spirit making our attendance to love as being a spiritual work. ...
How we walk out our lives towards others is this adhering to love. When we focus on being present is when His presence is sensed by those we are walking in love towards. Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
This kind of living becomes a sacrifice, not sacrifice in the sense of labor but in the sense of a gift. God so loved the world He gave, and so should we give. We give ourselves as a sacrifice of love creating a pleasant environment. This is where the sweet smelling savour comes into being.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
GRIEVING THAT HEALS
“And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him” (Luke 23:27).
Grieving is a natural process when loosing someone we love. One may ask, “How long must I grieve?” The answer is, “as long as it takes.” Deeper the love deeper the grieving will be. On the other hand, we must be careful we do not allow our grieving to become harmful.
Harmful grieving harms our health and threatens the space we occupy. It is ...so easy when we are grieving to forget the space we occupy. In our space are other loved ones loving the same person we have loved; children, adults, and senior adults. As private as we may try to be with our grieving it is never exclusively about us.
Negative grieving is anything that gives off negative representation. In Jesus’ case, He actually calls their hand on the ignorance in their grieving. “But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” (Luke 23:28-31)
When it comes to Jesus death His desire is our grieving brings deliverance and healing. After all, it is why He chose to die for us.
“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:9-10).
Grieving is a natural process when loosing someone we love. One may ask, “How long must I grieve?” The answer is, “as long as it takes.” Deeper the love deeper the grieving will be. On the other hand, we must be careful we do not allow our grieving to become harmful.
Harmful grieving harms our health and threatens the space we occupy. It is ...so easy when we are grieving to forget the space we occupy. In our space are other loved ones loving the same person we have loved; children, adults, and senior adults. As private as we may try to be with our grieving it is never exclusively about us.
Negative grieving is anything that gives off negative representation. In Jesus’ case, He actually calls their hand on the ignorance in their grieving. “But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” (Luke 23:28-31)
When it comes to Jesus death His desire is our grieving brings deliverance and healing. After all, it is why He chose to die for us.
“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:9-10).
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?
John 5:30 (KJV)
“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
Thirty years the sun came up and went down; “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel” (Luke 1:80). His Father’s voice b...ecame so evident within Himself there was no tarring them apart. Jesus did not see Himself alone, every move He made, every word He spoke was under His Father’s directive; Jesus was totally dependent upon Father God.
Waxed meant He was empowered in His spirit. Every manifestation in the physical was a result of this waxing in the spirit; He had developed a culture of dependency.
His Father’s voice being present meant the Kingdom was present, all power in the heavens available in the midst of this dependency.
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:34)
Connecting this to His culture of dependency, can you feel the pain?
“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
Thirty years the sun came up and went down; “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel” (Luke 1:80). His Father’s voice b...ecame so evident within Himself there was no tarring them apart. Jesus did not see Himself alone, every move He made, every word He spoke was under His Father’s directive; Jesus was totally dependent upon Father God.
Waxed meant He was empowered in His spirit. Every manifestation in the physical was a result of this waxing in the spirit; He had developed a culture of dependency.
His Father’s voice being present meant the Kingdom was present, all power in the heavens available in the midst of this dependency.
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:34)
Connecting this to His culture of dependency, can you feel the pain?
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
LOVE WORTH DIENG FOR
Galatians 5:5-6 (NRSV)
“For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.”
Outside of Jesus the righteousness of God does not exist. No relationship no God righteousness. Without Him no matter how right it is... our righteousness becomes filthy rags. He is Emanuel “God with us.” The righteousness of God is a “with thing;” meaning, His righteousness is relational.
Eagerness is passion on our part. Eagerness is “I am not doing anything or going anywhere without You.” “Going to wait right here until You are with me.” It is a Romeo and Juliet to the very end; You drink the cup I will drink the cup.
Jesus said, “…Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” (Matthew 20:22). The baptism of death with Jesus is to relinquish all our allegiance to Him. Sin is no longer our master, He is. Anything outside this devotion is no count at all.
“For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.”
Outside of Jesus the righteousness of God does not exist. No relationship no God righteousness. Without Him no matter how right it is... our righteousness becomes filthy rags. He is Emanuel “God with us.” The righteousness of God is a “with thing;” meaning, His righteousness is relational.
Eagerness is passion on our part. Eagerness is “I am not doing anything or going anywhere without You.” “Going to wait right here until You are with me.” It is a Romeo and Juliet to the very end; You drink the cup I will drink the cup.
Jesus said, “…Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” (Matthew 20:22). The baptism of death with Jesus is to relinquish all our allegiance to Him. Sin is no longer our master, He is. Anything outside this devotion is no count at all.
Monday, April 14, 2014
INTERCESSION BY PRESENCE
Esther 4:13-14 (NRSV)
“Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not think that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.’"
Intercession is as much about presence as it is prayer. Intercession is much like interception in a football game. When the ball is intercepted it turns things around and puts the ball in the favor of the team who made the interception.
Esther’s presence intercepted for her people; found the favor with the king and things were turned completely around. When the anointing for presence is on us, intercession can take place.
“Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not think that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.’"
Intercession is as much about presence as it is prayer. Intercession is much like interception in a football game. When the ball is intercepted it turns things around and puts the ball in the favor of the team who made the interception.
Esther’s presence intercepted for her people; found the favor with the king and things were turned completely around. When the anointing for presence is on us, intercession can take place.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
GO
Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV)
“18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
“18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
What part of “Go” have we not understood? The best place for
us to start in the whole wide world is where we are at. Put those flipping,
flapping, flopping, flippers on and get out there; create some friendships,
cannot create a disciple if we cannot create a friend first. Expand our horizons;
expand the boundaries of who we know and who knows us.
One sure way to have Jesus with us is to follow this one
command, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
We have His message, His commission, his love, His presence,
what more do we need? Grant it, they saw
Him in His resurrection. They had a visual to work with, nonetheless, His
resurrection message was this to them: “… because thou hast seen me, thou hast
believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John
20:29).
Do you believe? We are blessed if we believe.
Friday, April 11, 2014
LOVE IS TO BLAME
2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)
“21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
“21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Jesus made to be sin for us? He did not deserve that no more
than we becoming the righteousness of God in Him. Nonetheless, it is true of
Him and it is true of us.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
FEED
1 Peter 5:2-4 (KJV)
“2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
Not out of obligation, no self-seeking (filthy lucre) but with a willing and available ready mind. Simple as this, non-c...ontrolling, no manipulations by example are we to lead. We cannot box God’s love in and expect it to work for us. This is not to say His Love has no boundaries, it is to say we cannot control His love; His love enables us. Eating is more pleasurable when hate is not at the table.
Just because we tell someone something does not mean they understand it on the level it was told. Knowledge without understanding is dysfunctional. “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5). Our God is able because there is nothing He does not understand.
Jesus (chief shepherd) is full of grace and truth. Grace precedes truth; grace enables us to know truth and to understand truth.
“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15).
“2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
Not out of obligation, no self-seeking (filthy lucre) but with a willing and available ready mind. Simple as this, non-c...ontrolling, no manipulations by example are we to lead. We cannot box God’s love in and expect it to work for us. This is not to say His Love has no boundaries, it is to say we cannot control His love; His love enables us. Eating is more pleasurable when hate is not at the table.
Just because we tell someone something does not mean they understand it on the level it was told. Knowledge without understanding is dysfunctional. “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5). Our God is able because there is nothing He does not understand.
Jesus (chief shepherd) is full of grace and truth. Grace precedes truth; grace enables us to know truth and to understand truth.
“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15).
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
A RIGHT HEART
Psalm 78:37-39 (KJV)
“37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.”...
Is your heart right with God? Where is that found in the Bible – well, here it is. Good, bad, or indifferent. Being real (honest) with ourselves and being real (honest) with God no matter what condition we are in is having a right heart with God.
“Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues” (Psalm 78:36). To flatter means to try to please by complimentary remarks or attention. Seeking God’s approval with lies no matter how much flatter we use cannot please Him.
A right heart is not about being right or wrong, it is about being truthful and honest. When it comes to being truthful or truth, Jesus never said anything about being set free, He said, it will make you free; huge difference.
Living truthful before God produces creative (make) possibilities that otherwise cannot be. God always works with honesty and chooses to never work with dishonesty. He will make a way where there is no way for those who are truthful in the good, bad, and indifference; He is a real God in search of real hearts. Having a right heart even if we are not right with God can make a way for us to get right with God.
“37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.”...
Is your heart right with God? Where is that found in the Bible – well, here it is. Good, bad, or indifferent. Being real (honest) with ourselves and being real (honest) with God no matter what condition we are in is having a right heart with God.
“Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues” (Psalm 78:36). To flatter means to try to please by complimentary remarks or attention. Seeking God’s approval with lies no matter how much flatter we use cannot please Him.
A right heart is not about being right or wrong, it is about being truthful and honest. When it comes to being truthful or truth, Jesus never said anything about being set free, He said, it will make you free; huge difference.
Living truthful before God produces creative (make) possibilities that otherwise cannot be. God always works with honesty and chooses to never work with dishonesty. He will make a way where there is no way for those who are truthful in the good, bad, and indifference; He is a real God in search of real hearts. Having a right heart even if we are not right with God can make a way for us to get right with God.
Monday, April 7, 2014
LOVING THE UNDESERVED
John 19:16-17 (KJV)
"16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:"
The prophet Hosea lived prior to the time Jerusalem would be taken and God’s people would become slaves to Babylonian captivity. H...is life became a prophetic statement of God’s love in the midst of whoredom and unfaithfulness.
God commanded Him to take to himself a wife of whoredom and bear children, two of the children were to be named ‘No Mercy” and “Not my people.” She returned to whoredom in unfaithfulness to him, yet still, God commanded him to find her and remarry her.
In this prophetic movement God was depicting His love in the face of unfaithfulness and rejection. God prophetically is painting a picture of His love and just how deep it runs and just How committed He is to His choice to love, and that love is not a gift to the deserved, it is a gift to the undeserving.
Human skulls cannot logically understand love on this level. Love on this level is simply the love of God and is God Himself. God planted His love on Golgotha (the place of the skull) on a cruel cross to show the price it takes to love as He loves.
We as humans mostly choose to love those who love us back and hate those who hate us. Only those who have been crucified to this world and its affections can learn to love on the level Jesus loved the day He gave His life for the undeserving.
"16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:"
The prophet Hosea lived prior to the time Jerusalem would be taken and God’s people would become slaves to Babylonian captivity. H...is life became a prophetic statement of God’s love in the midst of whoredom and unfaithfulness.
God commanded Him to take to himself a wife of whoredom and bear children, two of the children were to be named ‘No Mercy” and “Not my people.” She returned to whoredom in unfaithfulness to him, yet still, God commanded him to find her and remarry her.
In this prophetic movement God was depicting His love in the face of unfaithfulness and rejection. God prophetically is painting a picture of His love and just how deep it runs and just How committed He is to His choice to love, and that love is not a gift to the deserved, it is a gift to the undeserving.
Human skulls cannot logically understand love on this level. Love on this level is simply the love of God and is God Himself. God planted His love on Golgotha (the place of the skull) on a cruel cross to show the price it takes to love as He loves.
We as humans mostly choose to love those who love us back and hate those who hate us. Only those who have been crucified to this world and its affections can learn to love on the level Jesus loved the day He gave His life for the undeserving.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
DONE
John 19:30 (KJV)
“30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
Nobody can jump up in there and add anything to that. Signed, sealed, and delivered by Love Himself. Giving it up did not mean He was “done in,” it simply meant He was done. Love had given what Love came to give.
The largest addition sign ever stood on the Skull that day; Love’s investment was not given to produce a deficit, rather,... to produce eternal gain. Love is not designed to destroy it is designed to heal.
Love did not come to condemn, He came to save. Love did not come to destroy He came to build (Luke 9:56; Matthew 16:18). The packaged plan was sealed when He said “It is finished.” Anyone from any culture opens this package can have what Love has given; it is as simple as opening our hearts to believe and receive.
“30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
Nobody can jump up in there and add anything to that. Signed, sealed, and delivered by Love Himself. Giving it up did not mean He was “done in,” it simply meant He was done. Love had given what Love came to give.
The largest addition sign ever stood on the Skull that day; Love’s investment was not given to produce a deficit, rather,... to produce eternal gain. Love is not designed to destroy it is designed to heal.
Love did not come to condemn, He came to save. Love did not come to destroy He came to build (Luke 9:56; Matthew 16:18). The packaged plan was sealed when He said “It is finished.” Anyone from any culture opens this package can have what Love has given; it is as simple as opening our hearts to believe and receive.
Friday, April 4, 2014
LOVE WINS
John 19:19 (KJV)
“19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Jesus dies misrepresented with a title of distain to His own people. The only garments he had left as He hung on the cross were a crown of thorns and nails. King of angels, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, or King of heaven would have been more appropriate; misrepresented to represent the sins misrepresenting us.
We were not created for sin, we were created for love. Love hung on nails and became sin for us; Love dies with a broken heart as the water and blood flowed from His wounded side. Though distain screamed from the title, silence spoke the loudest truth; they may have won the argument and got their wish, He won the war.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
ONE SIMPLE SPLINTER
Romans 16:13 (KJV)
“13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.”
Jesus said “many are called, but few are chosen.” Evidently, Rufus walked in his election. He was a brother to Alexander and son to Simon a Cyrenian the man who carried the cross beam of Christ (Mark 15:21). Catch this, Paul addresses his mother as his own.
Wow, the apostle had a spiritual mom pouring the Via Dolorosa into him. I could picture him setting at the kitchen table with Rufus and Simon’s wife asking them to tell the story one more time. If all we have to offer is just one simple splinter from the cross Jesus died on, we have an election putting character into apostles.
“13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.”
Jesus said “many are called, but few are chosen.” Evidently, Rufus walked in his election. He was a brother to Alexander and son to Simon a Cyrenian the man who carried the cross beam of Christ (Mark 15:21). Catch this, Paul addresses his mother as his own.
Wow, the apostle had a spiritual mom pouring the Via Dolorosa into him. I could picture him setting at the kitchen table with Rufus and Simon’s wife asking them to tell the story one more time. If all we have to offer is just one simple splinter from the cross Jesus died on, we have an election putting character into apostles.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
JUSTIFICATION
Romans 5:1 (KJV)
“1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
Outside of faith it is not going to happen. Justification is dynamic (pulsating, alive, ongoing); nothing our God gives us is static, dead, or unmoving.
Justification is not something we encounter in a onetime event and then set in a corner as a trophy on display. It is alive, pulsating, and waiting to jump up into whatever life serves. Justification is attached to every trial, tribulation, confrontation, and struggle along the way.
Whenever the accuser is doing his work justification does its work; justification stands between quitting and moving on. Justification grabs us in the heat of things as a living breathing entity and says confess, repent, and don’t do it again. It is called “not quitting.”
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