THE ETERNAL LIFE OF GOD
Becoming like Jesus is not something that happens without effort; becoming like Jesus takes discipline and it takes having a passion for the task, and having a passion for the task, is simply having a passion for the relationship we have in Christ and with Christ.
The men and the women who walked with Jesus in His earthly ministry understood that discipline; they understood the passion and they understood the price it took for that passion.
This is what the writer of 1 John is saying to us, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life…”
What does he mean here “the Word of life…?” He is simply saying that Jesus is the divine expression of the eternal life of God. This word life here is the Greek word Zoe; Zoe was a word that was used to say God life or eternal life. This life is far from being carnal or limited as the human life is; this life is not measured by days as the earthy is, it is measured by the quality and strength of the eternal being of God.
John tells us that they heard Him with their ears; saw Him with their eyes as they looked upon Him. They experienced first hand this life of God sent from heaven; a life God intended for us to learn and to have as our own. He goes on to say, “For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew you unto that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us...”
Jesus, the eternal life of God has given us the power to become the sons of God. The eternal life of God is a person living inside us; it is not a life after death distantly waiting for us to encounter when we die. The eternal is as much before as it is after, before or after has no claim to eternal; the eternal gives us what we never had and what we could not have before it came. The life of God is God life being manifested in us in the present as we learn Jesus and become what we learn in and through Him.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
GO FISH
GO FISH
Matthew 4:19 (KJV)
"And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Okay, we caught some fish; we laid our fishing equipment down and began to teach how to catch fish. We have proclaimed it is more important to teach how to catch fish than it is to catch fish. Well, now the fish seem to be less interested in being caught than ever before, and we are left with this great knowledge of how to catch fish and less folks are fishing.
I say it is ti...me for us to catch fish, what better way to teach how to catch than actually catching them. When I was a little boy I would go to the fishing hole to catch fish, there were times fish swam all around me without being hooked once. Then times I hit the hole at the right time and catch all kinds of fish. It has been my experience; one has to be there to catch them when it is the right time to catch them.
I guess at one time teaching someone how to catch fish was more important than catching fish. How we framed the idea then is not working with the context of our world today. Fish are swimming all around us and it is time to simply catch them. Go Fish, you will figure it out if you want to catch them bad enough. If you ever catch one, you will be hooked from then on to hook another one.
Listen, Jesus said He would make us to be fishers of men, not teach us, but rather make us to be. Fishing is just something you do because it is in you to do whether you know how or not.
Matthew 4:19 (KJV)
"And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Okay, we caught some fish; we laid our fishing equipment down and began to teach how to catch fish. We have proclaimed it is more important to teach how to catch fish than it is to catch fish. Well, now the fish seem to be less interested in being caught than ever before, and we are left with this great knowledge of how to catch fish and less folks are fishing.
I say it is ti...me for us to catch fish, what better way to teach how to catch than actually catching them. When I was a little boy I would go to the fishing hole to catch fish, there were times fish swam all around me without being hooked once. Then times I hit the hole at the right time and catch all kinds of fish. It has been my experience; one has to be there to catch them when it is the right time to catch them.
I guess at one time teaching someone how to catch fish was more important than catching fish. How we framed the idea then is not working with the context of our world today. Fish are swimming all around us and it is time to simply catch them. Go Fish, you will figure it out if you want to catch them bad enough. If you ever catch one, you will be hooked from then on to hook another one.
Listen, Jesus said He would make us to be fishers of men, not teach us, but rather make us to be. Fishing is just something you do because it is in you to do whether you know how or not.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
COME AND SEE
COME AND SEE
John 1:37-39 (KJV)
"37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour." ...
Look at this mind, acute and aware of His surroundings; nothing in His space is unnoticed in detail. Jesus, Son of man, King of angels is not only aware, He is also available, approachable, and willing to engage and be engaged.
"What seek ye?" He brings their awareness into His space and invites their interest. They asked for more space when they asked where He was staying. Was He willing to open that space? He answers, "Come and see."
Wow! to spend the afternoon with Jesus in His private quarters seems almost unthinkable; yet, this is Him in the very core of His being. What stronger statement could He have made than to have become flesh and dwell among us. He truly is not to high that He cannot be touched by the feelings of our infirmities. "Not to high?" He sets in a heavenly place that is far beyond this world and He still calls unto us, "Come and see." Jesus, Son of man, King of angels has reserved a seat for us all. He has made the invitation for us to sit in this heavenly place with Him. "Come and see."
John 1:37-39 (KJV)
"37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour." ...
Look at this mind, acute and aware of His surroundings; nothing in His space is unnoticed in detail. Jesus, Son of man, King of angels is not only aware, He is also available, approachable, and willing to engage and be engaged.
"What seek ye?" He brings their awareness into His space and invites their interest. They asked for more space when they asked where He was staying. Was He willing to open that space? He answers, "Come and see."
Wow! to spend the afternoon with Jesus in His private quarters seems almost unthinkable; yet, this is Him in the very core of His being. What stronger statement could He have made than to have become flesh and dwell among us. He truly is not to high that He cannot be touched by the feelings of our infirmities. "Not to high?" He sets in a heavenly place that is far beyond this world and He still calls unto us, "Come and see." Jesus, Son of man, King of angels has reserved a seat for us all. He has made the invitation for us to sit in this heavenly place with Him. "Come and see."
Saturday, February 15, 2014
THE TURNING POINT
THE TURNING POINT
Jeremiah 31:18 (KJV)
“I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.”
Turn: To reverse the position or placement of: to turn a page, to turn a person around. Have you ever wished someone would turn the page already, let us see something different than what we have already seen, or, read us the rest of t...he story. Being stuck in the mud is not fun for anybody.
When “will I” meet the person I really want to meet, when “will I” change for the good, when “will I” get out of here, I am tired of this place etc… There are many reasons why we would want things to turn around. We must come to this realization, things must change in us first, and we must be turned before the different takes place.
There is usually something faulty in us as to why we cannot get any further than we have already been. We are not stuck in this mud because someone or something placed us here, it is simply because we step into this place ourselves.
It is not until we have come to the “bemoaning” point we come to our “turning point.” It has been said, “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Regret, disapproval, usually turns into grieving, this is bemoaning.
Regret and disapproval can cause anyone to be stuck in the mud. It usually takes great love to get us beyond ourselves, love greater than us, love that sees what we cannot see. Rescue us Oh God, Turn us and we shall be turned.
Jeremiah 31:18 (KJV)
“I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.”
Turn: To reverse the position or placement of: to turn a page, to turn a person around. Have you ever wished someone would turn the page already, let us see something different than what we have already seen, or, read us the rest of t...he story. Being stuck in the mud is not fun for anybody.
When “will I” meet the person I really want to meet, when “will I” change for the good, when “will I” get out of here, I am tired of this place etc… There are many reasons why we would want things to turn around. We must come to this realization, things must change in us first, and we must be turned before the different takes place.
There is usually something faulty in us as to why we cannot get any further than we have already been. We are not stuck in this mud because someone or something placed us here, it is simply because we step into this place ourselves.
It is not until we have come to the “bemoaning” point we come to our “turning point.” It has been said, “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Regret, disapproval, usually turns into grieving, this is bemoaning.
Regret and disapproval can cause anyone to be stuck in the mud. It usually takes great love to get us beyond ourselves, love greater than us, love that sees what we cannot see. Rescue us Oh God, Turn us and we shall be turned.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
POWER TO OVER POWER
POWER TO OVER POWER
Psalm 147:5 (KJV)
"Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite."
Let us take note, understanding is deeply connected to power; Nothing is impossible with God, His understanding breaks through all limitations.
Job 32:8 declares this: "But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding." The God of great power who's understanding is unlimited empowers us with understanding. The Scripture tel...ls us with all our getting get understanding (Proverbs 4:7); understanding is empowerment.
Jesus said, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you..." (Acts 1:8). Understanding how God sees things increases our advantage in fulfilling His heart to all generations.
Jesus breathed on them and said "...Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained" (John 20:22-23). It takes the inspiration of the Almighty for us to possess such understanding; to look into someone prophetically and determined when their sins need to be remitted or for accountability sake retained. To understand the broken or the arrogant, to care deeply for both with a understanding unlimited by the limitations of condemnation. Love never fails. Love understands. Love has the ability to see past the limitations presented. "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins" (Proverbs 10:12). This Hebrew word for covereth is not used as to hide in in deceit and denial, it is used to overcome or destroy. The power to understand over powers the power of sin. "Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite." The power we receive from the Holy Ghost is the power to understand, the power to over power.
Psalm 147:5 (KJV)
"Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite."
Let us take note, understanding is deeply connected to power; Nothing is impossible with God, His understanding breaks through all limitations.
Job 32:8 declares this: "But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding." The God of great power who's understanding is unlimited empowers us with understanding. The Scripture tel...ls us with all our getting get understanding (Proverbs 4:7); understanding is empowerment.
Jesus said, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you..." (Acts 1:8). Understanding how God sees things increases our advantage in fulfilling His heart to all generations.
Jesus breathed on them and said "...Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained" (John 20:22-23). It takes the inspiration of the Almighty for us to possess such understanding; to look into someone prophetically and determined when their sins need to be remitted or for accountability sake retained. To understand the broken or the arrogant, to care deeply for both with a understanding unlimited by the limitations of condemnation. Love never fails. Love understands. Love has the ability to see past the limitations presented. "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins" (Proverbs 10:12). This Hebrew word for covereth is not used as to hide in in deceit and denial, it is used to overcome or destroy. The power to understand over powers the power of sin. "Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite." The power we receive from the Holy Ghost is the power to understand, the power to over power.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
HOLY SPIRIT
HOLY SPIRIT
Holy Spirit, inside, outside, over and over, overflowing all that is
Indescribable, undeniable, Holy River rushing through me, into me, and out of me
Inspiration of the Almighty, inspiring me to know, to understand, to be owned and to own
Standing beside me, gentle whispering voice inside me, the breath I breathe as I inhale and as I exhale
Your sword brings both death and life, killin...g that which needs to die and giving life to that which needs to live
Holy Spirit, teach me the Father, teach me Jesus
Flames of fire keep burning so I can keep learning; abide in me as I abide in you
Comforter, counselor, one that walks beside me, one that leads me, and one that guides me
The oil of heaven smeared upon my mind, spirit, and soul, the anointing present in me, my ability
The Spirit of Wisdom, Judgment, Prophecy, Hospitality, Intercession, Faith, and Holiness ever burning in the midst
The seven eyes of the Lord roaming to and fro
Searching for hearts that are perfect towards God, holding all things accountable to God
Setting up, tearing down, turning things over and under, moving out oldness bringing in newness
Reforming, transforming, restoring,
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit, inside, outside, over and over, overflowing all that is
Indescribable, undeniable, Holy River rushing through me, into me, and out of me
Inspiration of the Almighty, inspiring me to know, to understand, to be owned and to own
Standing beside me, gentle whispering voice inside me, the breath I breathe as I inhale and as I exhale
Your sword brings both death and life, killin...g that which needs to die and giving life to that which needs to live
Holy Spirit, teach me the Father, teach me Jesus
Flames of fire keep burning so I can keep learning; abide in me as I abide in you
Comforter, counselor, one that walks beside me, one that leads me, and one that guides me
The oil of heaven smeared upon my mind, spirit, and soul, the anointing present in me, my ability
The Spirit of Wisdom, Judgment, Prophecy, Hospitality, Intercession, Faith, and Holiness ever burning in the midst
The seven eyes of the Lord roaming to and fro
Searching for hearts that are perfect towards God, holding all things accountable to God
Setting up, tearing down, turning things over and under, moving out oldness bringing in newness
Reforming, transforming, restoring,
Holy Spirit
LEADERS OR FOLLOWERS
LEADERS OR FOLLOWERS
Corinthians 11:1
(KJV)
Be ye followers of
me, even as I also am of Christ.
Leaders are followers also, in
fact, how can one truly lead unless they are following after something
themselves? A true leader is one so engrossed into their following, their objective
become greater than leading itself. For
instance, a child in the corner is lost in worship unto God; so lost, the child
becomes totally unaware of its surroundings.
At that point the child becomes the worship leader leading everyone into
the space they have plundered into.
JESUS, catch my heart, catch my
whole being; I want to be completely, utterly, lost in YOU
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