Showing posts with label Equipping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Equipping. Show all posts
Thursday, April 24, 2014
A Look At The Ministry Of Death
To regard no one in the flesh is to be passionately conscientious of sharing the love of God to the world. But it is so much more than verbalizing the written word of God. It is Christ in us, rivers of living water, that quenches the parched hopes of the lost, and refreshes the path of the believer. Below is something a dear sister in Christ recently shared with me.
"We are at a place right now where maturity in Christ means a willingness to recognize and acknowledge validation and love from Christ through each other - not just vertically - and as if we are receiving from Christ Himself! The age of "just me and Jesus" is over... if there ever was such an age."
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Vantage Point
As we press in to know more of God, to intentionally abide in the vine, to enable the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that we may become more like Christ, we should also effect our prayers for the purpose of seeing the lost and unsaved through the eyes of God, in whose image they, too, are made. We need to be conscientiously aware of the narrow and finite lense of humanity our minds are accustomed to perceiving the world through. Without the fullness of the Spirit dwelling within, our perceptions and judgments will be based on the obvious behaviors of people. In order to see more completely the way God sees is to allow the Holy Spirit to remove our blinders and binoculars; to reestablish the vantage point we have grown accustomed to see by.
I am a tradesman. I have become more reliant upon prayer when I come up against difficulties on the job, whether I am dealing with people, or the complications of my particular work. I have found that initially my first instinct is to react with a very up-close and personal attitude; but by prayer and practice of self control through the Spirit, I will readjust my focus by backing away, reconsidering what appears to be the inevitable, circling the circumstance, and wait for God to reveal the reality and solution of the problem. In essence, I step back far enough to gain His vantage point.
PJR
"And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:24,25)
I am a tradesman. I have become more reliant upon prayer when I come up against difficulties on the job, whether I am dealing with people, or the complications of my particular work. I have found that initially my first instinct is to react with a very up-close and personal attitude; but by prayer and practice of self control through the Spirit, I will readjust my focus by backing away, reconsidering what appears to be the inevitable, circling the circumstance, and wait for God to reveal the reality and solution of the problem. In essence, I step back far enough to gain His vantage point.
PJR
"And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:24,25)
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Equipping
"Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, 'In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.' Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, 'Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?' Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding."
(Acts 19:13-16)
"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder. He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters. When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first." (Luke 11:21-26)
As conquerors in Christ Jesus, we realize our battle is not against humanity but in spiritual places. We can go forth into the field of the harvest, and through charity and intercession attempt a great divine victory against evil forces. However, the enemy will only be truly defeated if God has ordained the work. The previous Scriptures explain the dangers of confronting the enemy without God's guidance, protection, and equipping.
If we save them from starvation but do not present the Bread of Life as the main course, we have only filled their stomachs.
If we heal their sick but do not share with them the miracle of God's mercy upon sinners, we have only become their doctor.
If we successfully remove a tryant from oppressing a nation but do not teach the people everything that Jesus taught us, we have only opened the door for the next villain to reign in his place.
If we gather them once a week to preach the good news yet do not call upon the Holy Spirit to empower the people, we have only taught them how to attend church.
If we do all this and more in Jesus name, yet without the sovereign direction of the Holy Spirit, we have arrogantly walked away with the proud thought that we have helped set the captives free. In reality though, we will have accomplished absolutely nothing of permanence; we have only temporarily driven out the enemy, leaving behind spiritual desolation that will eventually be over run by the enemy, and the people will become worse off than they were before. God must go before us and cultivate the territories, during which time He will equip us for that work. In our zeal, let patience be our wisdom, tending to the present season, praying for the work which God has previously prepared for us. (Ephesians 2:10)
PJR
"I will send hornets ahead of you so that they will drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites before you. I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. I will drive them out before you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land." (Exodus 23:28-30)
(Acts 19:13-16)
"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder. He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters. When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first." (Luke 11:21-26)
As conquerors in Christ Jesus, we realize our battle is not against humanity but in spiritual places. We can go forth into the field of the harvest, and through charity and intercession attempt a great divine victory against evil forces. However, the enemy will only be truly defeated if God has ordained the work. The previous Scriptures explain the dangers of confronting the enemy without God's guidance, protection, and equipping.
If we save them from starvation but do not present the Bread of Life as the main course, we have only filled their stomachs.
If we heal their sick but do not share with them the miracle of God's mercy upon sinners, we have only become their doctor.
If we successfully remove a tryant from oppressing a nation but do not teach the people everything that Jesus taught us, we have only opened the door for the next villain to reign in his place.
If we gather them once a week to preach the good news yet do not call upon the Holy Spirit to empower the people, we have only taught them how to attend church.
If we do all this and more in Jesus name, yet without the sovereign direction of the Holy Spirit, we have arrogantly walked away with the proud thought that we have helped set the captives free. In reality though, we will have accomplished absolutely nothing of permanence; we have only temporarily driven out the enemy, leaving behind spiritual desolation that will eventually be over run by the enemy, and the people will become worse off than they were before. God must go before us and cultivate the territories, during which time He will equip us for that work. In our zeal, let patience be our wisdom, tending to the present season, praying for the work which God has previously prepared for us. (Ephesians 2:10)
PJR
"I will send hornets ahead of you so that they will drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites before you. I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. I will drive them out before you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land." (Exodus 23:28-30)
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Poseurs Of The Body
"If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
"The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
"Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts." (1 Corinthians 12:17-31)
You can tell someone the way of salvation, but if you do not possess the gift of evangelism, you may have only taught them the way.
You can encourage the discouraged, but if you do not possess the gift of intercession, you may have only made them feel good.
You can pray for the sick, but if you do not possess the gift of healing, you may have only relieved their symptoms.
You can speak an appropriate word of God, but if you do not possess the gift of prophecy, you may have only repeated what is written.
You can identify evil, but if you do not possess the gift of discernment, you may have only awakened them to its presence.
You can speak the truth, but if you do not possess the gift of exhortation, you may have only reminded them of what they already know.
When you step out of your gifting and attempt to take on another's, rather than appointing one who is appropriately gifted and equipped, you have stepped out of your place of submission to the Head. In disrespect to the order of authority, you have usurped the work of another member of the body you have not been assigned nor properly equipped for, and have diminished the fullness of the power that belongs to that particular ministry. Your witness will appear quite empty and dogmatic. It is when we are submissive and obedient within our specific calling, gifting, and ministry whereby God will reveal Himself to those we minister to, thus imparting more than a knowledge of the Kingdom of Heaven, but a confirmation of the abundant life they are crying out for, to be embraced immediately!
PJR
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills."
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
"The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
"Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts." (1 Corinthians 12:17-31)
You can tell someone the way of salvation, but if you do not possess the gift of evangelism, you may have only taught them the way.
You can encourage the discouraged, but if you do not possess the gift of intercession, you may have only made them feel good.
You can pray for the sick, but if you do not possess the gift of healing, you may have only relieved their symptoms.
You can speak an appropriate word of God, but if you do not possess the gift of prophecy, you may have only repeated what is written.
You can identify evil, but if you do not possess the gift of discernment, you may have only awakened them to its presence.
You can speak the truth, but if you do not possess the gift of exhortation, you may have only reminded them of what they already know.
When you step out of your gifting and attempt to take on another's, rather than appointing one who is appropriately gifted and equipped, you have stepped out of your place of submission to the Head. In disrespect to the order of authority, you have usurped the work of another member of the body you have not been assigned nor properly equipped for, and have diminished the fullness of the power that belongs to that particular ministry. Your witness will appear quite empty and dogmatic. It is when we are submissive and obedient within our specific calling, gifting, and ministry whereby God will reveal Himself to those we minister to, thus imparting more than a knowledge of the Kingdom of Heaven, but a confirmation of the abundant life they are crying out for, to be embraced immediately!
PJR
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills."
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Upon This Rock
"Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.'" (Matthew 16:13-19)
Along with being a fisherman, Peter's credentials were, first-to-speak, first-to-boast, first-in-line, first-to-place- his foot in his mouth. So, what made Peter so 'rock solid' that he receive the keys to heaven? Simply this: "For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." It is not just Peter. Christ's church, in which the gates of hell shall not prevail against, belongs to those who receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus knows His sheep and they know His voice. There is also, a very large assembly of people throughout the world that attend 'church' but fail to wear the wedding garments and they are there to test the true church which consists of those called from the beginning of the world to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
The rock which the church is built on is the foundation Jesus had laid down His life for. After He had risen to the right hand of the Father, He continued to build that foundation through the apostles. No doubt that because of the ignorance of God's people, the enemy has worked his way into the assembly, but the ultimate victory of this warfare belongs to the true church.
How is it that God trusts mere men with the keys to Heaven to determine what will be bound or loosed? Because those that are truly His possess His Spirit and anything bound or loosed on Earth and in Heaven is done so by the Holy Spirit through men, not by men through the Holy Spirit. (John 3:8) In this way, it is God's will that is to "...be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.".
What is bound? The work of the enemy and the sins of the church.
What is loosed? God's mercy and grace upon the sinner.
PJR
"Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea, declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it out to the end of the earth; say, 'The Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob!' They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and the water gushed out. 'There is no peace,' says the Lord, 'for the wicked.'" (Isaiah 48:20-22)
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Complacency
Remaining complacent with past revelations & experiences, and failing to follow Jesus on a daily basis, prevents us from growing in truth, and being able to recognize the subtle darts of spiritual darkness that steal the life of the Spirit from us. We thereby fail to allow the Holy Spirit to equip us to overcome future trials and attacks on our faith and we tend to rely more and more on our own resourcefulness. It is important to exercise daily the necessary faith of submission and availability to God that will release His power and knowledge to confront and destroy those places of religion that so easily set themselves up as a substitute for His Spirit.
PJR
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:10-13)
PJR
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:10-13)
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Straight And Narrow
You can not recognize what is crooked without the Spiritual consciousness of what is regarded as straight. In a world that is permeated with deception, believers will gradually distance themselves from God and weaken their witness to the lost world if they do not maintain a bearing in which to discern the true path of righteousness. If the Author of Truth is not daily sought after, faith falls short of purity and lives become nothing more than religion for the facilitation of human comfort. Compromise is then disguised to take on the appearance of God's grace, but the reality is that this contradiction will be exposed in the assembly of those who know.
Even so, "Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?" (Ecclesiastes 7:13 ESV)
The answer of course is no one but God. Like Jesus, however, you must be willing to lay down your own life in order to more fully comprehend the Holy plumb line.
PJR
"Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:12-14)
Even so, "Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?" (Ecclesiastes 7:13 ESV)
The answer of course is no one but God. Like Jesus, however, you must be willing to lay down your own life in order to more fully comprehend the Holy plumb line.
PJR
"Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:12-14)
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Ask
"You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:2,3) To ask with pure motive is to realize you must let go of your self; your wisdom, your reasoning, your comfort; your rights to harbor the self serving attitudes and behaviors, and in contrast to your humanity, fully embrace the convictions of the Holy Spirit as the guidance toward your new life in Christ, which is your reasonable service to Him who has bought you for Himself.
When Jesus saw a man lying lame and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" (John 5:2-9) This question, seemingly rhetorical, must be answered. Within their selfishness and self pity, many truly do not want to be well because in the depths of their understanding, they realize that to be well is to release the very affliction that affords them the attention of others and a very convenient reason to remain unaccountable.
"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." (Luke 9:24) This speaks of the life that is eternal...because life that finds its fulfillment here and now is only temporary and will completely pass away with no further trace of it.
"You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:4) Yet Jesus prayed that the Father not take us out of this world, but rather, that He deliver us from the evil one. As you journey through your life, you are either conformed to the world or you call on God to exhibit the new life of Christ in you as you are passing through. You ask because you truly desire to be renewed as a child of God at the expense of yourself.
This is the abundant life promised us, yet we fail to receive it because we do not ask purely for the the things of God and His kingdom, but for ourselves and our kingdom. For this reason, the church can become a gathering place for weekly acquaintances to feel good in hearing about God, but remain resistant to the call on their lives that the word of God clearly communicates. Among themselves, accountability is rarely exercised, and the power of God in their lives rarely asked for.
"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:9-13)
PJR
"This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away."
(1 Corinthians 7:29-31)
When Jesus saw a man lying lame and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" (John 5:2-9) This question, seemingly rhetorical, must be answered. Within their selfishness and self pity, many truly do not want to be well because in the depths of their understanding, they realize that to be well is to release the very affliction that affords them the attention of others and a very convenient reason to remain unaccountable.
"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." (Luke 9:24) This speaks of the life that is eternal...because life that finds its fulfillment here and now is only temporary and will completely pass away with no further trace of it.
"You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:4) Yet Jesus prayed that the Father not take us out of this world, but rather, that He deliver us from the evil one. As you journey through your life, you are either conformed to the world or you call on God to exhibit the new life of Christ in you as you are passing through. You ask because you truly desire to be renewed as a child of God at the expense of yourself.
This is the abundant life promised us, yet we fail to receive it because we do not ask purely for the the things of God and His kingdom, but for ourselves and our kingdom. For this reason, the church can become a gathering place for weekly acquaintances to feel good in hearing about God, but remain resistant to the call on their lives that the word of God clearly communicates. Among themselves, accountability is rarely exercised, and the power of God in their lives rarely asked for.
"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:9-13)
PJR
"This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away."
(1 Corinthians 7:29-31)
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Denial
By his own understanding of what he had witnessed and experienced, Peter boasted that he was so committed and devoted to Jesus that he would die for him. Jesus assured Peter that he would actually deny Him three times before the rooster crowed.
Peter learned that he did not have the ability to follow through with such a claim. He did not have the presence of or intimacy with the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26)
If the deity of any of these three is insufficient, then truth has diminished and religion takes up that slack. Peter could not give up his life for Jesus until the Holy Spirit had been sent to live in him. Then would the Son be able to rise in his heart and enable him to follow through with all the Spirit has called him to, rather than a romantic idea in his own heart, and this to the ultimate glory of the Father.
"And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:19-21)
Until the fullness of the Trinity has been firmly established in our heart, Jesus will be denied when troubles come.
"For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete..." (Col. 2:9,10)
PJR
"Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us." (1 John 3:21-24)
Peter learned that he did not have the ability to follow through with such a claim. He did not have the presence of or intimacy with the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26)
If the deity of any of these three is insufficient, then truth has diminished and religion takes up that slack. Peter could not give up his life for Jesus until the Holy Spirit had been sent to live in him. Then would the Son be able to rise in his heart and enable him to follow through with all the Spirit has called him to, rather than a romantic idea in his own heart, and this to the ultimate glory of the Father.
"And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:19-21)
Until the fullness of the Trinity has been firmly established in our heart, Jesus will be denied when troubles come.
"For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete..." (Col. 2:9,10)
PJR
"Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us." (1 John 3:21-24)
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Spiritual Nonsense
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26)
Well, because I can't make sense of, or agree with that, how about I simply follow behind at a distance?
"As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will? But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?" (Romans 9:13-24)
Surely, a God of love wouldn't ordain some just to perish! This can't mean what it says.
Jesus says, "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell." (Matthew 5:29-30)
Would any of us do this, even for Jesus? Or what about this?
"Another of the disciples said to him, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' And Jesus said to him, 'Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.'"
(Mathew 8:21, 22)
Or this?
"...Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." (John 6:53) Of course immediately afterwards He explains, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." (John 6:63)
Yet the words remain for us to consider. What do we do with all the absurd sayings? Ignore them because they're spiritual and spiritual things belong to God? Do we think that just because we believe in Jesus, He will handle these weird things for us, without our participation? These are a part of what help us grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus as we seek Him for spiritual understanding.
Everything we experience in this physical world is a parallel example of the spiritual realm. Jesus' teachings and the apostles instructions reveal some very difficult commands we simply shake our head at and say, "This is a hard saying! Who can listen to this?" Good question. But to regard the physical Word alone without pursuing Spiritual understanding creates religion. We can think we know Christ, but when the wind blows and the rain beats down, the true substance of that structure will be quickly revealed. We can play church for so long, but eventually God will test our faith to reveal to us just what kind of structure we have built on the foundation Jesus and the apostles have laid. If we do not consider the Spirit of Scripture, we will find that religion has occupied the life intended to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. He must build the house...but we must give Him the opportunity by laying down our lives willingly, as Jesus did. When the physical becomes overwhelming, we need to release our own cause, remember the relevant Word and ask God to accomplish with the Spirit what is impossible for the flesh. That is when the difficult commands of the Bible begin to take on life. Until then, we are kicking against the goads.
PJR
"And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’"
(Luke 13:23-27)
Well, because I can't make sense of, or agree with that, how about I simply follow behind at a distance?
"As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will? But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?" (Romans 9:13-24)
Surely, a God of love wouldn't ordain some just to perish! This can't mean what it says.
Jesus says, "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell." (Matthew 5:29-30)
Would any of us do this, even for Jesus? Or what about this?
"Another of the disciples said to him, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' And Jesus said to him, 'Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.'"
(Mathew 8:21, 22)
Or this?
"...Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." (John 6:53) Of course immediately afterwards He explains, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." (John 6:63)
Yet the words remain for us to consider. What do we do with all the absurd sayings? Ignore them because they're spiritual and spiritual things belong to God? Do we think that just because we believe in Jesus, He will handle these weird things for us, without our participation? These are a part of what help us grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus as we seek Him for spiritual understanding.
Everything we experience in this physical world is a parallel example of the spiritual realm. Jesus' teachings and the apostles instructions reveal some very difficult commands we simply shake our head at and say, "This is a hard saying! Who can listen to this?" Good question. But to regard the physical Word alone without pursuing Spiritual understanding creates religion. We can think we know Christ, but when the wind blows and the rain beats down, the true substance of that structure will be quickly revealed. We can play church for so long, but eventually God will test our faith to reveal to us just what kind of structure we have built on the foundation Jesus and the apostles have laid. If we do not consider the Spirit of Scripture, we will find that religion has occupied the life intended to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. He must build the house...but we must give Him the opportunity by laying down our lives willingly, as Jesus did. When the physical becomes overwhelming, we need to release our own cause, remember the relevant Word and ask God to accomplish with the Spirit what is impossible for the flesh. That is when the difficult commands of the Bible begin to take on life. Until then, we are kicking against the goads.
PJR
"And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’"
(Luke 13:23-27)
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Light Of The World
"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:1-5)
On this occasion, the disciples engaged Jesus with a question based on all they knew from the writings of their Holy Scriptures and from traditions handed down by the generations. They clearly understood that sin was the sole cause for mankind's suffering. So much so, the disciples probably didn't even realize they had just just made an assumption that perhaps it was the man himself who sinned that he was born blind...while he was in the womb! But Jesus chose not to even address that, nor did He attempt to discuss with them the theology of sin. As was the norm in His dealings with the people, He went straightway to why He had come; to set the captives free.
Regardless of our physical condition, it is the soul that Jesus has come to deliver from the chains of the enemy. While God may choose to have mercy on physical infirmities, that is strictly up to Him, as He declares at the beginning of leading His people, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." (Exodus 33:19) However, a sound mind has been promised for His children. "...for God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control." (2Timothy 1:7)
Our efforts are to be focused on the souls of those we come into contact with, and not so much on their physical condition. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26)
Jesus was not as much interested in giving sight to the blind as He was in giving us spiritual insight, that we may overcome the lie set before all humanity that is designed to keep us from seeing the light of the world. Yet even seeing the light, many do not want to believe.
"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." (John 3:19-21)
Man, absent of God's mercy and the abiding Holy Spirit, is unable to come to Him. Knowing we've received this, we then rely on the Holy Spirit to humble us that we may become His disciples. For who, of their own will, would find this appealing or even possible? "Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 16:24,25)
PJR
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."
(John 14:15-17)
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:1-5)
On this occasion, the disciples engaged Jesus with a question based on all they knew from the writings of their Holy Scriptures and from traditions handed down by the generations. They clearly understood that sin was the sole cause for mankind's suffering. So much so, the disciples probably didn't even realize they had just just made an assumption that perhaps it was the man himself who sinned that he was born blind...while he was in the womb! But Jesus chose not to even address that, nor did He attempt to discuss with them the theology of sin. As was the norm in His dealings with the people, He went straightway to why He had come; to set the captives free.
Regardless of our physical condition, it is the soul that Jesus has come to deliver from the chains of the enemy. While God may choose to have mercy on physical infirmities, that is strictly up to Him, as He declares at the beginning of leading His people, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." (Exodus 33:19) However, a sound mind has been promised for His children. "...for God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control." (2Timothy 1:7)
Our efforts are to be focused on the souls of those we come into contact with, and not so much on their physical condition. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26)
Jesus was not as much interested in giving sight to the blind as He was in giving us spiritual insight, that we may overcome the lie set before all humanity that is designed to keep us from seeing the light of the world. Yet even seeing the light, many do not want to believe.
"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." (John 3:19-21)
Man, absent of God's mercy and the abiding Holy Spirit, is unable to come to Him. Knowing we've received this, we then rely on the Holy Spirit to humble us that we may become His disciples. For who, of their own will, would find this appealing or even possible? "Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 16:24,25)
PJR
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."
(John 14:15-17)
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Knowing Jesus By The One He Sent
"I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you."
"I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you." (John 16:1-15 ESV)
The disciples did not fully understand what Jesus had taught them until the Holy Spirit had come upon them. Then did the words He previously spoke to them come alive. Since Jesus is not with us, then we must now rely upon whom He has sent, not merely on what He has spoken. He has sent the Spirit in place of Him, leaving us not as orphans.
If we claim to follow Jesus, He must be more to us than a wise prophet and our knowledge of Him must surpass the mere recognition of what He taught. The life of His words is manifest to us by the Holy Spirit. If we are not intentionally regarding the Counselor, we are only learning and teaching about an historical figure who demands morality. This is why many churches are asleep in the light. Leaders are not encouraging fellowship in the Holy Spirit. The authority of many churches, the vast majority of them being men, have not humbled themselves in order to embrace intimacy, among themselves or with the Spirit of the Word. So it is by their minds that knowledge has become the power of much of today's church.
"Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims." Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?" And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded." (Acts 15:13-19)
What did the demons know about Jesus and Paul that they did not know of the seven sons? This is evidence that a knowledge of Jesus without the life and power of the Spirit has no authority over evil and that greater things than what Jesus did will not abound.
How do we gain life and power of His Word by the Spirit? By intentionally fellowshipping in the Spirit, beyond gatherings that simply teach about what is expected of His disciples. We must release the burdens of our humanity, die to ourselves, that we may "...be transformed by the renewing of your mind.". (Romans 12:2) Stubbornly hiding our weaknesses for pride's sake prevents the life of the Holy Spirit from achieving this.
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16) This is what Jesus means when He says, "...concerning sin, because they do not believe in me..." If we believed what Jesus spoke, we would freely confess our frail humanity and welcome the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, there is no faith in what we learn, and without faith, our righteousness does not surpass that of the Pharisees. (Matthew 5:20)
If faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God, then it is only by the Holy Spirit that the word is heard beyond the topical and practical commands because Jesus has gone to the Father. This is what Jesus means when he says, "...concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer..." "The righteous shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17) Because Jesus has gone to the Father, it is by faith that we embrace the one He sent. Those who participate in church apart from the guidance of the Holy Spirit do not have the righteousness (faith) Jesus mentions.
The Word alone, the very scriptures we rely upon, remains lifeless until then. "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." (John 5:39,40) It is by the Holy Spirit that we come to Him. It is how we will know Him that we may have the fullness of life. If by the cares of this world and love for our human life we refuse to take up our cross, our minds will not be transformed and we will become conformed to this world. This is what Jesus means when He says, "...concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."
We do not know Jesus until we know the one He sent.
"...therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you." (John 16:15)
"Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.'" (John 3:5-8 ESV)
"I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you." (John 16:1-15 ESV)
The disciples did not fully understand what Jesus had taught them until the Holy Spirit had come upon them. Then did the words He previously spoke to them come alive. Since Jesus is not with us, then we must now rely upon whom He has sent, not merely on what He has spoken. He has sent the Spirit in place of Him, leaving us not as orphans.
If we claim to follow Jesus, He must be more to us than a wise prophet and our knowledge of Him must surpass the mere recognition of what He taught. The life of His words is manifest to us by the Holy Spirit. If we are not intentionally regarding the Counselor, we are only learning and teaching about an historical figure who demands morality. This is why many churches are asleep in the light. Leaders are not encouraging fellowship in the Holy Spirit. The authority of many churches, the vast majority of them being men, have not humbled themselves in order to embrace intimacy, among themselves or with the Spirit of the Word. So it is by their minds that knowledge has become the power of much of today's church.
"Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims." Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?" And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded." (Acts 15:13-19)
What did the demons know about Jesus and Paul that they did not know of the seven sons? This is evidence that a knowledge of Jesus without the life and power of the Spirit has no authority over evil and that greater things than what Jesus did will not abound.
How do we gain life and power of His Word by the Spirit? By intentionally fellowshipping in the Spirit, beyond gatherings that simply teach about what is expected of His disciples. We must release the burdens of our humanity, die to ourselves, that we may "...be transformed by the renewing of your mind.". (Romans 12:2) Stubbornly hiding our weaknesses for pride's sake prevents the life of the Holy Spirit from achieving this.
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16) This is what Jesus means when He says, "...concerning sin, because they do not believe in me..." If we believed what Jesus spoke, we would freely confess our frail humanity and welcome the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, there is no faith in what we learn, and without faith, our righteousness does not surpass that of the Pharisees. (Matthew 5:20)
If faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God, then it is only by the Holy Spirit that the word is heard beyond the topical and practical commands because Jesus has gone to the Father. This is what Jesus means when he says, "...concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer..." "The righteous shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17) Because Jesus has gone to the Father, it is by faith that we embrace the one He sent. Those who participate in church apart from the guidance of the Holy Spirit do not have the righteousness (faith) Jesus mentions.
The Word alone, the very scriptures we rely upon, remains lifeless until then. "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." (John 5:39,40) It is by the Holy Spirit that we come to Him. It is how we will know Him that we may have the fullness of life. If by the cares of this world and love for our human life we refuse to take up our cross, our minds will not be transformed and we will become conformed to this world. This is what Jesus means when He says, "...concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."
We do not know Jesus until we know the one He sent.
"...therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you." (John 16:15)
"Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.'" (John 3:5-8 ESV)
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