April 2014

"The Spirit of Truth"

April 30, 2014

“The Spirit of Truth”

Blessings folk!

When we as unbelievers repent/confess/baptized the Lord saves us.
He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within us.
We are transformed...new creatures...True Believers.

Read some of what Jesus says of the Spirit…

John 14:16-17
16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.



Helper.
Comforter.
With us forever...that is interesting.
Truth.
Abides with us.
Be in us.

John 15:26-27
26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,
27 and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.


To come.
Sent by Jesus from Father.
Testifies of Jesus.
Leads us in testifying of Jesus.

John 16:12-14
12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.


Guides into all Truth.
Will not speak of own initiative.
Will speak what He hears...from who? Father/Son.
Will disclose what is to come.
Will glorify Jesus.
Will take of Jesus and disclose to us.

This is the Spirit Who dwells within us as Believers.
This is the Lord.
We are to pursue Him.
We are to abide in Him.
We are to be empowered by Him.
We are not to pursue the gifts/blessings of the Spirit, but rather the Lord - Father/Son/Spirit.

Then, we will be doing the will of God.







"Spiritual Gifts"

April 29, 2014

“Spiritual Gifts”

Blessings folk!

Just began a new course examining “Spiritual Gifts” (somewhat a misnomer).

Will drop a few important truths here from time-to-time.

Much is said in the Word about the operating of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.
Yet, questions abound.
Much confusion is caused by a lack of knowing what the Lord has told us in His Word.

This is nothing new.
The Body of Christ in Corinth had problems/questions.

1 Corinthians 12:1
12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.


The word “gifts” does not appear in the original Greek.
What is being addressed are matters of “spiritual”...the “Spirit”.

The Lord does not want us to be unaware.

Here are some truths.

The true “Spiritual Gifts” is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the focus, not the “gifts”.
It is not about “what gift I have that I can use for God”.
It is about “what is God wanting to do through me”.
If one is not abiding and living in the Spirit, then “spiritual gifts” are not functioning.

Common Mistakes

  • “I can take a test to determine my spiritual gifts”
  • “no one has all the gifts” (If we have the Spirit, all the gifts are in the Spirit)
  • “once you receive a gift, that is it. It will not change.”
  • “I can live like I want and still exhibit empowerment of the Spirit”
  • “Talents, skills and spiritual gifts are related”
  • ...there are more...

All these are unbiblical.

It is not about “us”.
It is about the Lord moving through obedient, willing vessels.

"Greater Works…"

April 28, 2014

“Greater Works…”

Blessings folk!

Some wild weather about the nation last evening and today.
More is coming.

The very building complex where I sit was struck by a EF4 tornado 3 years ago.
Much physical destruction occurred.
The Lord spared lives.
Of this we are grateful.
There are things to be gleaned and understood from what occurred three years ago, but that is beyond the format (and likely interest Winking ) of this gathering.

Know this, the Lord guides the cloud and the lightening bolt. Job 37
Job’s children were taken to glory by a destructive wind, apparently initiated by satan and allowed by God. Job 1

Know this, the Lord speaks “peace, be still”.
Jesus calmed the storm with a Word.
He rebuked the wind.
The Creator spoke.
The creation responded.

Mark 4:38-40
King James Version (KJV)
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea,
Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them,
Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Jesus rebuked the wind.
Jesus rebuked the disciples.
Why were they fearful? Why are we?
Where was their faith? Where is ours?

Their fear and faith were in the circumstance and situation.
They feared what they saw.
They feared what they were experiencing.
Their faith was guided by the natural.
Their faith was in the natural.

They did turn to Jesus!

One last thought…

Give heed to what Jesus says…

John 14:11-13
New American Standard Bible (NASB)

11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.
12 Truly, truly, 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 the Father.
13 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

The works that Jesus did we will do...greater works

What is the Lord saying to us?
Will we hear?
Will we act?

Walk not in fear.
Live in faith.
Speak forth the Word of the Lord as He leads.
Glorify the Father through the Son.

"Know The Word"

April 27, 2014

“Know the Word”

Blessings folk!

So many speak that which is unapproved.
It is not the truth of the Lord God.

There is an ever-increasing output of “preaching/teaching/talking/etc.” that simply is unbiblical.

Often it is “innocent” guided by ignorance of the Word.

I am not talking about things where there is opportunity for diverse opinions.
I am talking about simple, basic foundational truths.

So many teach...yet, they know not the Word, nor do they seek to learn.

So many preach...yet, they are resting upon scholastic/academic attainments and credentials of man rather than the Word and the Power of the Holy Spirit.

So many propagate denominational points, while ignoring the Word of the Most High.

2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.


We are directly commanded to study and to know the Word.

We have been blessed beyond many previous generations.
We have access to the Word in multitudes of ways.
Yet, we still do not…

  • read
  • meditate
  • study
  • teach
  • learn

We will be held accountable. Each believer.
Know the Word.
Know The Word.




"Praise, Glory, Honor"

April 26, 2014

“Praise, Glory, Honor”

Blessings folk!

We have not seen Him…
Yet, we love Him.
We believe Him.

We rejoice...greatly with joy inexpressible...full of glory…

Why? Because of obtaining salvation through faith.

Our proven faith...proven through trials/tribulations...

Read again...

1 Peter 1:6-9
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Could it be that the praise, glory and honor will be from the Lord to us?
Could it be pleasing to Him?

So many seek the praise/glory/honor of man.
May we pursue that which will result in receiving praise/glory/honor from the Most High.

"Trials"

April 25, 2014

“Trials”

Blessings folk!

Too often people believe that the life of the Believer is perfect.
No problems.
No temptations.
No mistakes.
No trials.
No distress.

Such is not true.

Read the following and see what is stated about trials…

1 Peter 1:6-9
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.


Interesting, no?

What did we learn about trials?

They are varied.
What might be a trial for one believer might not be for another.
They come in many ways

They cause distress.

They might be necessary.
Necessary?

Yes.

To what point?
Proving our faith.

Trials reveal whether the faith we profess is true, or if we are only speaking words.
This is not for the benefit of the Lord.
He knows.

This is for our benefit.
That we would know.

Proof of our faith is precious.
More precious than highly refined gold...gold that perishes and passes away.

What is result of proven faith?
Praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Hummmm….
Who receives the praise, glory and honor?

…to be continued...

"Rejoice!"

April 24, 2014

“Rejoice!”

Blessings folk!

In what do you rejoice?
Getting your way?
Accumulating stuff?
Power?
Relationship?
Etc. etc.

Hear the Word of the Lord.

Yesterday we saw in 1 Peter 1:3-5 we have received an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, will not fade away, and is reserved in heaven at the moment.
We also saw that we are protected by the power of God.
This is through faith in Him

Read the next verses..especially verse 6a…

1 Peter 1:6-9
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7 so that the proof of your faith,being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.


“In this we greatly rejoice…”
In what?
In salvation ready to be revealed in the last time…
In the inheritance we have…
In God’s mercy…
In the living hope that is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

We are to rejoice…

Even though…

Now, for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials…

If necessary?

We will look at that later.

For now, rejoice in what God has done for each believer.
Know that rejoicing is not determined by circumstance, but by faith in the Lord.

"Bless God…"

April 23, 2014

“Bless God…”

Blessing folk!

In continuing to reflect upon the resurrection of the Lord Jesus…

Read the amazing truths so succinctly stated in the following…

1 Peter 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.


First, we should bless God for what He has done for us.
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Father has caused us to be born again.
Born again to a living hope.
Father did this according to His great mercy.

How did He manifest His mercy and cause us to be born again to a living hope?

Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Not a “resurrection” from swooning or passing out.
Resurrection from the dead!

Then, we see what we receive…
An imperishable inheritance…
An undefiled inheritance…
An inheritance which will not fade away…
An inheritance that is reserved in heaven for each Believer…

Then this great truth…
We are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
If we are truly saved, then our salvation is protected by the power of God.
This is so much more powerful than the non-biblical phrase “once-saved-always-saved”.
True, when we are saved, salvation is “permanent”.
But, to know that our salvation is protected by the power of God…
This salvation is yet to be revealed.
Yes…
We were saved.
We are being saved.
We will be saved.

Salvation - past, present, future.
All by the hand of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

We stand firmly in the salvation we have received.
We grow daily in holiness and sanctification.
We eagerly await receiving the salvation made ready.

Rejoice!


"Conduct Yourselves in Fear"

April 22, 2014

“Conduct Yourselves in Fear”

As we have seen, God commands that we be holy, for He is holy.

Read the following truths…

1 Peter 1:17-19
17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.


We learn that Father - God - judges impartially according to each one’s work.

We then see how we are to live.
If we call Him Father, then…

  • conduct ourselves in fear during the time upon earth.
  • know that we are redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ...spotless, unblemished.
  • know that we are not redeemed by perishable things, silver, gold

Living the redeemed life covered by the blood of Jesus will empower us to live holy.

We cannot live a holy life in the flesh, only in and through the Spirit.

Selah!

"Now…?"

April 21, 2014

“Now…?”

Blessings folk!

It is the day after celebration of the resurrection of Jesus?
Which begs questions.

Are things different from a week ago?
Are you doing what the disciples were doing?
What were the disciples doing?

They were together.
They awaited upon the Lord.
They listened to the Lord when He appeared.
As we saw yesterday, some were possessors of the Holy Spirit.

How different then should our lives look today?

Sadly, most of the time, after all the wonderful proclamation of resurrection yesterday, people turn back to the status quo of the previous pattern of life.

Do not do so.

Walk in holiness.

1 Peter 1:15-17
(KJV)
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written,
Be ye holy; for I am holy.

The Lord would not have given us this commandment if it were impossible.
In the flesh, it is impossible.
In the Lord, all things are possible.

Live…

  • full of joy
  • full of Power
  • full of His Presence

Reject…
  • the lies of the evil one
  • the past patterns of sin

May the rejoicing of resurrection continue with every breath.



"Receive the Spirit on the Day of Firstfruits"

April 20, 2014

“Receive the Spirit on the Day of Firstfruits”

Blessings folk!

Jesus was resurrected on the “day after the sabbath” (the weekly sabbath).
This day was the day of the Feast of Firstfruits...Lev. 23

Jesus is the firstfruits from the dead.

All who will live will be raised from the dead.

Believers to Life eternal in the Lord.
Unbelievers to existence of Death eternal in the lake of fire.

Jesus appeared to His disciples on the first day He was resurrected.
He appeared to several groups.
Read the following.
Give close heed to what occurs.

John 20:19-23
19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 So Jesus said to them again,“Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them,“Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”


We do not exactly what group of disciples experienced this.
We do know that Thomas was not there...next verses.

Note that the Lord commands:

  • Peace be with you
  • I send you
  • Receive the Holy Spirit
  • If you forgive the sins...forgiven
  • If you retain the sins...retained

Note the disciples.
  • they were fear-filled...fear of the Jews
  • locked behind doors
  • shocked when Jesus walks through door/wall, examined Jesus
  • rejoiced in the Lord when they saw Him

Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to these folk…
  • at the beginning of His 40 days on earth
  • before the Feasts of Pentecost when the Spirit would come upon the 120 in an upper room

Why?
What does this mean/portend?

"Sabbath…then Firstfruits"

April 19, 2014

“Sabbath...then Firstfruits”

Blessings folk!

On Friday at sundown until Saturday at sundown they waited.

Jesus had been crucified (I believe the Word reveals on the previous Wednesday).

It was now the weekly sabbath.
A time to rest.
A time to meditate and reflect upon the Most High God.

We can be certain that the disciples were overwhelmed with grief...and anger.
We know that at least some were together, likely in hiding.

They would have been reflecting on the Words of the Lord.
Would they have remembered what He said about rising from the dead?
Perhaps...maybe a couple of them did.
But, most did not remember and did not believe.
How can I know?
By their reaction when the women announced the tomb was empty and they had seen the Christ.
The disciples did not believe.

So, they went about the weekly sabbath.
Wondering what was next.
Had some understood what the morrow would bring?
The Feast of Firstfruits…

Leviticus 23:9-14
9 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
10 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest.
11 He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord for you to be accepted; on the
day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
12 Now on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb one year old without defect for a burnt offering to the Lord.
13 Its grain offering shall then be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering by fire to the Lord for a soothing aroma, with its drink offering, a fourth of a hin of wine.
14 Until this same day, until you have brought in the offering of your God, you shall eat neither bread nor roasted grain nor new growth. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.


I believe that the Feasts of the Lord (Israel) give us tremendous insight into what Jesus did.

He fulfilled all the elements that were foreshadowed in the Feasts...the four Spring Feasts...Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Passover.

He will fulfill the Fall feasts when He comes again.

(I continue to be amazed at how resistant believers are to these truths.
I have had a short communication with a key leader of an international Bible study ministry about these things. They absolutely refuse to consider the Feasts and what the Word says. All they will say is “Jewish tradition...church history…” I hope to have planted a seed.)

Anyway, the Lord was resurrected on Sunday...the morrow after the sabbath (weekly).
He is the Firstfruits of those to come.

1 Corinthians 15:19-24
King James Version (KJV)
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.


Rejoice!
He Who is the Firstfruit from the dead is coming soon.

"Ready?"

April 18, 2014

“Ready?”

Blessings folk!

Jesus had told His disciples repeatedly that He would die.
He told them that He would arise after three days.
Yet, they did not believe.
Yet, they scattered.
Yet, in the days of greatest darkness and despair, they hid and doubted.

Matthew 26:1-2
1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,
Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
Mark 8:31
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

We can understand.
We can imagine the fear.
We can imagine the terror.
We can imagine the hopelessness.

And yet…
They had seen with their own eyes.
They had heard with their own ears.
They had experienced the power of the Most High themselves.

Still, they ran.
They hid.

What about us?

The Lord has given an amazing amount of information about the days ahead.
Are you ready?
Are you prepared?
Will you flee?
Will you hide?
Worse yet, will you deny?

The Lord has given us His Word.
The Lord has given us His Spirit.
The Lord has given us time to prepare, to make ready.

How are we using what He has granted?

"Give Us A Sign…"

April 17, 2014

“Give Us A Sign…”

Blessings folk!!

They refused to see.
They wanted more “evidence”, though they had seen and heard.

The religious rulers of the day of Jesus.

Remember what we saw yesterday?
They wanted another sign.
The Lord said that the only sign they would receive was the sign of Jonah…

Matthew 12:38-45

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The same happens today.

People, especially academic religious rulers, refuse to see.

They refuse to see that Jesus stated:

  • that Jonah was real
  • that Jonah was in the belly of the great fish (most of academia do not believe this, they think it is a “fish story&rdquoWinking
  • that what happened to Jonah was a “sign”
  • that the Lord said that He, the Son of Man, would be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights
  • that it is an evil and adulterous generation that insists on another sign while rejecting the very Truth before you

Be not of that generation.

The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the greatest sign.
Believe.

"3 Days/3 Nights"

April 16, 2014

“3 Days/3 Nights - Jesus Said…”

Blessings folk!

Well, some discussion is being had on Blogs and Facebook related to the question yesterday.

What did Jesus mean by what He said in Matthew 12:40?

Let us look at the context.

Remember, Jesus was responding to a demand/command presented to Him by the scribes and Pharisees.
They wanted to see a sign.
They wanted a “supernatural show”.

Watch what Jesus says in verse 40 while reading the entire exchange.
Give special attention to the balance of what Jesus said.

Matthew 12:38-45

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.
44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.
45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

The specific focus of the moment is the 3 days/3 nights statement.

But first, did you find the other things Jesus stated interesting?
“Something greater” ?
“Unclean spirit” ?
All in response to a command for a sign?
We will look at these later.

For now…
I rest on the statement that Jesus made about the Son of Man being in the heart of the earth 3 days/3 night.
Not a portion of any part of the day/night...folk always pull out that line… “in the Jewish understanding, any portion of a day is the complete day”...wonder what they base that upon?

Jesus said 3 days/3 nights.
The assumption is that He is referring to what would occur to Him upon His death.

With this understanding and knowing what can be learned from the Feasts of the Lord (Israel), then the following timing can be sure.

Jesus died on a Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m. “In between the evenings” on Nisan 14.
They desired to remove Him from the cross because the next day was a Sabbath.
Not the weekly Sabbath (Fri/Sat. our time).
But, the Sabbath High Holy day of the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Nisan 15.
At sundown, Nisan 15 began.
Remember, the Hebrew day begins at sundown.
So…
evening/morning: Thursday
evening/morning: Friday
evening/morning: Saturday

Three nights.
Three days.

At evening Sunday began.
Jesus was resurrected at some point between the beginning of the day (Sunday evening) and sunrise.
(By the way, the Feasts of Firstfruits!)

Some will say it was just before sunrise because the stone was rolled away then.
The stone was not rolled away to provide egress for Jesus.
The stone was rolled away to show that the tomb was empty. Happy Happy

So, does this mean that what we remember as “holy week” is in error?
As far as timing, yes.

But, there is nothing wrong with remembering…
Remembering the darkness of the last hours on the cross…
Remembering the despair of the days…
Remembering the resurrection.

Yes, we are resurrection beings who live and breathe the very resurrected Presence of the Lord.

We have no direct command in the Word to “celebrate” most of what we celebrate.
No command to celebrate the birth of the Lord - Christmas.
No command to celebrate “Easter” (“easter” is actually a pagan fertility rite...thus the eggs, rabbits, etc.)
No command to celebrate Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, etc.

Again, hear me carefully.
It is good to remember.
It is good to reflect.
It is better to rejoice.
It is better to give thanks.

Worship gatherings related to all these things are fine.

But, let us not loose sight of why and Who we worship.

So, what is the point?
Is it important?
All this timing stuff, et. al.

I think so.

If we do not accurately handle these simple truths that are evident in the Word, then why would anyone trust us with other truths?

Oh, one more thing.

Did you notice that the 3 days/3 nights was a sign?
Sign of what?



"Three Days/Three Nights"

April 15, 2014

“Three Days/Three Nights”

Blessings folk!

Was about to ask you to explain the following verse...when a friend posted an inquiry about it on Facebook.

LOL

People want to know.

So, think on this statement of Jesus…

Matthew 12:38-40
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
39 But he answered them,
“An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.


To be certain that we are considering the same thing…
What does Jesus’ statement about the Son of Man being in the belly of the earth say to our “Holy Week” activities of “Easter”, “Good Friday”, “Maundy Thursday”, “Seders” and the like?

Does it matter?

"Endure, Persevere"

April 14, 2014

“Endure, Persevere”

Blessings folk!

Ever feel tired?
Ever wonder “when it will end”?

The Lord is the solution.

Read the following…

Romans 15:5
5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
ESV

5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,
NASB

5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
KJV

Three translations were included to provide the nuance of the truth.

God is the God of endurance.
God is the God of encouragement.
God is the God of perseverance.
God is the God of patience.
God is the God of consolation.

He desires to grant all this to those who ask and will receive from Him.

He will provide such so that we may live in harmony with OneAnother.
He will provide such so that we may live in accord with Christ Jesus.
We are to be of the same mind as He is.

Oh yes, there are those who will seek to destroy the unity of OneAnother, often in the name of religion.
But, the Lord is God of all.
He will take care of such folk.

Endure in the Lord.
Be Encouraged in the Lord.
Persevere in the Lord.
Be Patient in the Lord.
Receive the consolation that the world and the charlatans understand not.

To His praise, honor and glory...




"Good Works"

April 13, 2014

“Good Works”

Blessings folk!

Read the departing words of Paul…

Titus 3:12-15
12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
13 Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing.
14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.
15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.

Did you note the instructions in verse 14?
Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works.
Why?
So as to help cases of urgent need.
So as to not be unfruitful.

We as the people of the Lord are to be devoted to the good works of the Kingdom as He leads in each of us.

Are we?
Why not?

"Have Nothing More To Do With Him…"

April 12, 2014

“Have Nothing More To Do With Him…”

Blessings folk!

What do we do with an individual that insist on being a factious person?
What do we do with those who focus upon unprofitable and worthless discussions?
What do we do with those who constantly pursue controversy and dissensions?
What do we do with a person that stirs up division?

The Word tells us.

Titus 3:10-11
10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,
11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.


Warn them.
Once.
Then twice.
Give them opportunity to cease.
Let them know that such behavior is not of the Lord.
Sadly, we do not do this.
Usually, the Body just says “Oh, that is just…(whatever their name is)”.
Such is not good for the individual nor the Body.

If they refuse to repent and change?
Then have nothing to do with them.
Be not rude.
Simply remain aloof.
If they are a brother, the purpose is to draw them back to fellowship.
Treat them not as an enemy, but as a brother, yet, have not close fellowship until they repent.
If they are not saved, then they need to repent, confess and be baptized for the remission of sins.

A person who behaves in the manner described in Titus - caught up in foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels about the law, etc. - are warped and sinful.

They are self-condemned.

Be not one of them.


"Avoid…"

April 11, 2014

“Avoid…”

Blessings folk!

We have seen that as Believers we are to devote ourselves to the good works of the Kingdom…things that are excellent and profitable for folk.

Now, note what we are to avoid, what we are to shun, what we are to reject...

Titus 3:9
9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.


Forthright and to the point.
We are to have nothing to do with the foolish arguments of man.
Sadly, we often see such in the Body of Christ.
Avoid…

  • foolish controversies
  • genealogies (I know of folk who are trying to ride the coattails of generational “church membership” into glory. That train will not make it to glory.)
  • dissensions
  • quarrels about the law (think denominational rules/regulations and the structures of man)

Such are unprofitable.
Such are worthless.

I think if we examined what we do closely we will find that much that we deal with fall under these categories.

We must reject such.
We must avoid such.
It will literally quench the Life of the Spirit.

Wait until tomorrow...and see what happens to one who refuses to avoid these things.

"Devoted to Good Works"

April 10 , 2014

“Devoted to Good Works”

Blessings folk!

So, what is the point of all that we have examined related to OneAnother?

Read and heed…

Titus 3:8
8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.


The Word of God is trustworthy.
Paul was insisting to Titus that he teach these things...that the people live by the things taught.

We as Believers in God must be careful to devout ourselves to good works.
Not “good works” to the attaining of salvation…
Not “good works” to the maintaining of salvation…
But good works that flow out of the relationship we have with God and obedience to Him.

Such things are excellent.
Such things are profitable for the people.
Profitable for the Body of Christ.
Profitable for the world...if the Body does as we should.

Let us do so.


"Heirs"

April 9, 2014

“Heirs”

Blessings folk!

Here is what the Lord does for those who are Believers.

Saves
Pours out the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Savior
Washing of regeneration through the Holy Spirit
Renewal of the Holy Spirit
Justifies by His grace
Makes us heirs according to the hope of eternal life
Gives the hope of eternal life

God does this because He is…
Good
Love
Mercy

Titus 3:4-7
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.


None of this was due to works we had accomplished unto righteousness.
It was all because of God.

Now, we are to manifest works of righteousness, not for the maintaining of salvation, but to the glory of God.

As an heir of eternal life, we are to shine in the darkness.
We are the light of the world.
We are the salt of the earth.

May we cease behaving as the world.
May we live as the Lord designed.
To His praise, glory and honor.

"He Saved Us"

April 8, 2014

“He Saved Us”

Blessings folk!

We continue to see how we are to live as OneAnother.

Today we learn “how” we are saved.

We have previously examined verses 4-5a.
Give close attention to 5b-7

Titus 3:4-7
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.



How are we saved?

  • By the mercy of God
  • By the washing of regeneration
  • By the renewal of the Holy Spirit
  • By being justified by His grace
  • By the goodness and lovingkindness of God our Savior
  • Not by our works

The Lord poured out the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Savior...richly poured out.
We are now heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

As Believers we rejoice.
Our lives should reflect and manifest these truths.
Do they?

"Mercy, Not Works"

April 7, 2014

“Mercy, Not Works”

Blessings folk!

We are looking at the detailed context of how we are to live as OneAnother.
Too often, we see a commandment, an instruction, and immediately assume an application without considering the near context of the passage...much less the context of the entirety of the Word of God.

We have seen how we once were…

Titus 3:3
3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.


Then that wonderful word…”but”…

Titus 3:4-7
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.


Let us examine this a step at a time.

God saved us.
He did so according to His own mercy, not by anything we did.
There are no “works of righteousness” that we can do to earn salvation.
It is simply the merciful act of goodness and lovingkindness of God when He appeared as Savior.

Think on that.

Think on the character of God that is revealed in just a portion of this Word…
Goodness.
Lovingkindness.
Mercy.

Think of the acts of God…
Appearing.
Saving.
Lovingkindness.
Mercy.

This is what the Lord has done for us.

Believers, rejoice!

Unbelievers, for what do you await?
Today is the day of salvation.





"We Also Once Were…"

April 6, 2014

“We Also Once Were…”

Blessings folk!

We saw yesterday that we are reject a factious man after a first and second warning.

Titus 3:10-11
10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,
11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.
NASB


Often folk think this sounds “harsh”.
It is not harsh.

Let us begin to look at the context.

Titus 3:3-4
3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, ...


All of us once were…

  • foolish
  • disobedient
  • deceived
  • enslaved to various lusts and pleasures
  • spending our life in malice, in envy
  • hateful
  • hating one another

All of us were like this.

Then, one of the most powerful words in the Scripture, “but”…
But when the kindness of God…

We will see this tomorrow.

For now, a factious man still moves in the deeds of the flesh, hating not loving.

The “one another” of the flesh obviously different from the OneAnother of the Spirit.

We of the Spirit are not to endure the deeds of the flesh.
We are the fruit of the Kindness of God.

"Reject…"

April 5, 2014

“Reject…”

Blessings folk!

We have seen much of what the Word says about OneAnother.
What do we do if a brother...we or someone else...does not walk as he should?
How do we help?
Do we have responsibilities?

The Lord says much about this.

Consider the following passage.
Read the different translations.
They each bring a a nuance of understanding.

Titus 3:10-11
10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,
11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.
NASB

10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,
11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
ESV

10 Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning,
11 knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.
HOLMAN

10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
11 knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. AUTHORIZED


We will look at the context later.
We will look at related cross-references later.

For now, note the foundational truths.

If someone is factious…
If someone stirs up division…
If someone is a divisive person…
If someone is a heretick…

We are commanded to reject them...we learn later how.
We are instructed to have nothing to do with them.

We see that we are to give warning of such, at least two warnings.
The purpose of warning is for the well-being of the person...to cause them to cease.

Such a person who claims to be a Believer/Religious (based upon the context of Titus) and yet refuses to repent (after warnings) is stated to be perverted, warped, a sinner, self-condemned.

Again, we will see much more.

Understand this.
We do have a role in determining what is happening.
We do have a responsibility to act.
We cannot just say “oh, that is just the way they are…” or some other cute colloquialism to explain away sin and divisiveness.

How different the Body of Christ would be if we simply obeyed the Word of the Lord rather than the thoughts of man.

"Peace…"

April 4, 2014

“Peace…”

Blessings folk!

For several months now we have been looking at what the Lord tells us about OneAnother.

About how we are to live.
About how we are to relate.
About the purpose of OneAnother.

We are called to:
  • love
  • accept
  • admonish
  • exhort
  • encourage
  • build up
  • correct
  • support
  • meet needs
  • walk humbly
  • honor
  • be of the same mind
  • give preference
  • associate
  • be devoted
  • be not an obstacle
  • and more

How we live with OneAnother speaks more to the world than anything we can preach, teach, say.

Let us seek to do as the Lord instructs.
Let us do as this verse says...live in peace with OneAnother...by the Might and Power of the Lord in His Spirit.

Mark 9:50
50 Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

"Aspiring…"

April 3, 2014

“Aspiring…”

Blessings folk!

Paul had a calling from God.
He was to take the gospel to people.
He aspired to preach the gospel.
He had desired to take the Good News to his people, the Jews.
He did.
Then, the Lord led him to take the gospel to the Gentile.
He had a strong desire to take the gospel to those who had not heard.
Read how he stated it…

Romans 15:20-21
20 And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation;
21 but as it is written,
“They who had no news of Him shall see, And they who have not heard shall understand.”

He did not want to build upon another man’s foundation - not due to pride, but due to his calling...to take the gospel to where it had not gone before.

He realized that the Word prophesied of such.
That is what verse 21 states.
Those who had no news will see Him….through Paul and others.
Those who had not heart of Him shall understand.

Each believer has a calling from the Lord.
The variations within the calling are as different as each individual.

Do you seek the know the call?
Do you seek to live within it with each breath?
Do you seek the glory of the Lord?


"Accomplished…in Christ…by Power"

April 2, 2014

“Accomplished…in Christ...by Power”

Blessings folk!

Yesterday we saw where Paul desired to boast only in Christ.

We continue…

Romans 15:17-19
17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God.
18 For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed,
19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.


Paul tells us that he had “fully preached the gospel of Christ” from Jerusalem to Illyricum.
He held back nothing of the truth of the gospel.
He could have told many a thing, yet, he would not presume to speak of anything other than what Christ had accomplished.

Again, only what Christ had accomplished.

That is what we are to do.

Speak of what the Lord has accomplished.

Not only “inviting someone” to an event.

Speak of what Christ has accomplished in your life.
This is most powerful thing that we can share.

What the Lord had accomplished through Paul...what He will accomplish through us if we allow… will result in obedience unto faith of the unsaved.

In Paul’s case the Gentiles believed.
They believed by word...they professed a belief.
They believed by deed...their deeds confirmed their professed faith.

Note how is was accomplished through Paul…

  • in the power of signs and wonders
  • in the power of the Spirit.

Such should be occurring in our lives.
The Lord desires to do so.
What is hindering?

"Inviting…"

April 1, 2014

“Inviting…”

Blessings folk!

Had an interesting discussion today in local Bible study about a truth that we see in this verse.

Read…

Romans 15:17
17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God.


In what do we boast?

The classroom conversation centered upon “inviting people to church.”
Hear me carefully...today and tomorrow… Happy Happy

We do not see “inviting people to church” in the Word.
Now, I know what people mean by the phrase.
But, here is the problem.
We are to call people to the Lord.
We are to invite people to the Lord.
We are to go and proclaim the good news (Gospel) of the Kingdom - the death, burial, resurrection of the Lord Jesus...the Kingdom of God.

For the most part Believers do not do that.

They provide a “safe” substitute.
They “invite people to church”.
There, someone else will tell folk what the truth is…
There, someone else will tell what has happened to us…
There, someone else will… you get the idea.

We cross the line from “inviting” to being proud about what is happening in our gatherings.
Often there are true blessings of God.
But, we exalt the blessing rather than the Blessed.

We are not to “invite people to church”.
We are to speak the truth of the Kingdom of God.
Each of us is to do so in the way that God has equipped us.

We are to boast in the things pertaining to God and in the Lord Jesus...we will see more tomorrow.

For today, do you share the true Gospel of the Kingdom, or do you substitute a false religious exercise?

The difference is life vs. death.

Speak forth the Life of the Gospel.

Even as the Word says “Go…”.