Tag: Prayer and Praying

He Trains My Hands for War and He Trains My Fingers for the Battle, and He also Trains my Heart and my Soul to Care. Veterans Day 2022. Psalm 144:1-2

Psalm 144:1-2Amplified Bible

Prayer for Rescue and Prosperity.

A Psalm of David.

144 Blessed be the Lord, my Rock and my great strength,
Who trains my hands for war
And my fingers for battle;
2 
My [steadfast] lovingkindness and my fortress,
My high tower and my rescuer,
My shield and He in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues my people under me.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

Do you ever feel like you’re in the middle of a war?

The Christian life isn’t always a warm and fuzzy experience.

Sometimes we find ourselves on an actual battlefield in the mist of an actual war either fighting to stay alive against an enemy who desires nothing more than to take away our life or trying to help the local populace as they fight it as they also struggle mightily just to survive and live their everyday lives within it.

My own father and my wife’s father both fought in the killing fields of Korea.

More contemporary – we think of the long conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan which which lasted twenty years, just concluded approximately 2 years ago.

More contemporary – we think of the ongoing War in the country of Ukraine.

In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons. Herodotus

War does not determine who is right – only who is left. Bertrand Russell

Only the dead have seen the end of the war. George Santayana

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. Albert Einstein

The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war. Norman Schwarzkopf

The two most powerful warriors on earth are patience and time. Leo Tolstoy

The most powerful, only undefeated warrior of all time is Almighty God.

The most vulnerable warriors of all time is by far – All of Mankind who bears the brunt of the war, the widows, the orphans who are inevitable left behind.

But even in peace there are always the sounds of battle and of great wars ….

Sometimes we find ourselves in a spiritual battle.

It’s easy to feel vulnerable and exposed at times like these.

We must remember, however, we are not fighting these battles in our own strength.

God offers unshakable security for his people – Psalm 46, 61, 62, Psalm 121.

In faith, and in war we struggle to grasp the tremendous contrast between God’s almighty power and the weakness of even the mightiest of warriors.

Micah 6:6-8ESV

What Does the Lord Require?

6 “With what shall I come before the Lord,
    and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with[a] thousands of rams,
    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,[b]
    and to walk humbly with your God?

While we are cognizant of the dangers and deceits and vulnerabilities of our human flesh and of this world, we are far more impressed by the power of God.

Then, we respond with gratefulness as we pray and think of all those abundant blessings that come to families who are covenanted to God, the Father an God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and are purged from the influences of the world.

What a joy to see children walking in the indomitable strength of God’s truth!

What more blessed state can there be in this world than to witness generations of children and grandchildren faithfully fighting injustice and serving the Lord?

To hear the beloved children of God singing and chanting for all nations to hear:

Psalm 144:1-2 ESV

My Rock and My Fortress

Of David.

144 Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
    who trains my hands for war,
    and my fingers for battle;
2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
    my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples[a] under me.

God’s Boot Camp

In Psalm 144:1-2, King David praised the Lord, recognizing that it was God who had enabled him to win the victory over his enemies.

Moreover, the Lord had taught him how to fight and protected him in battle.

David used similar language in Psalm 18:

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety … He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow. (Psalm 18:2, 34, (NLT)

Psalm 18:2,34 NLT

What does God’s boot camp entail?

How does he train us for war?

The term “trains” here refers to an exercise in learning.

Consider this nugget of truth from the passage: you may not know why you’re in a battle, but you can be absolutely sure God wants to teach you something.

He’s walking you through an exercise in learning. 

God’s boot camp involves teaching us to depend on him.

If we never faced a battle, we’d never learn to lean on God for strength and protection.

What does Psalm 144 seek to teach us? 

Verses 1-2

This psalm brings together war and peace—the complete destruction of God’s enemies and the absolute protection of all of God’s people—at the same time.

Biblically, these are not unusual themes, especially when we look at the history of redemption. At the Red Sea, there is both the destruction of God’s enemies and the preservation of God’s people. The same thing can be said for Noah’s ark and the worldwide flood. These are pictures of God’s redemption for the church.

This psalm introduces David as the great warrior whom God has taught to fight.

Battle language is not unusual for God’s men.

Towards the end of his life, the Apostle Paul claimed that he had “fought a good fight for the faith (2 Timothy 4:6-8).”

While it is true that God fights for us, He also teaches us to fight.

We learn that our weaponry is not carnal (2 Corinthians 10:1-6),

Paul Defends His Ministry

10 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

and our enemy is not flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:10-12).

Put on The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  12 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.

Between here and heaven, there is a battle to wage. Every Christian must face his Goliath in the Valley of Elah, and Apollyon in the Valley of the Humiliation.

Our enemies are demonic powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness that hyper-dominates in powerful institutions of men.

We can only battle in the power of His might, in the strength that He gives us.

If we attempt to take on these terrifying enemies in our own strength, we will most certainly be decimated.

Any believer who has attempted it can testify to that.

Psalm 144:2 Common English Bible

2 God is my loyal one, my fortress,
    my place of safety, my rescuer,
    my shield, in whom I take refuge,
        and the one who subdues people before me.

Although David is thankful for his God given ability to fight Israel’s battles, his focus is almost (he is human) exclusively upon God’s defense and intervention.

Therefore, he refers to God as his only strength, fortress, high tower, shield, and deliverer – (see also Psalm 18:1-3, Psalm 46, Psalms 61 and 62).

From the exact and exacting moment we put our full and complete faith in God for our redemption and our . salvation, we are to depend on him for everything:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5–6, ESV)

Spiritual battles teach us to pray:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7, NIV)

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

The Lord Is Your Rock

Don’t let the battle shake you from your firm foundation in Jesus Christ. 

God wants to teach us that Jesus is our rock.

The Hebrew word for “rock” used here is tsur. 

It highlights the stability and protection that God supplies whenever we are in the battle.

God’s got us solidly covered.

He won’t hesitate or weaken from one day to the next.

The word translated as “fortress” in the original language means “a fortified defensive structure.”

As our stronghold, God surrounds us like a heavily armed and fortified military camp.

Nothing harmful can get through the high-walled fortress that God has built around us.

The Lord is loving, kind, and loyal; he will provide a fortress for us in the storms of life. He is our high tower, our deliverer, our shield, and our refuge.

God promises that he is the one who will subdue our enemies.

The battle cannot be fought and won using flesh and blood weapons:

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4, ESV)

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12, NLT)

In Ephesians 6:10-18, the Apostle Paul outlines a six-piece set of armor, our spiritual defense against the enemy of our souls. The armor of God may be invisible, but it’s just as real as military equipment. When we use it properly and wear it daily, it provides rock solid protection against the enemy’s onslaught.

Let God train your hands for war and you will be supernaturally equipped with the only firepower needed against Satan’s attacks.

And remember, God is your protection and shield.

Bless him and praise him! You don’t have to fight the battle alone.

Because all battles and all wars belong exclusively unto the Lord, our God!

It is God who goes before us – He who created the heavens and the earth!

It is into God’s hands unto which we are grateful for those who fought for us:

To care for Him who hath borne the brunt of battle, for his widow, his orphan.

closeup of a rusty dog tag with the text thank you veterans written in it, on a rustic gray surface

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Dear Lord, Today we honor our veterans, worthy men and women who gave their best when they were called upon to serve and protect their country. We pray that you will bless them for their unselfish service in the continual struggle to preserve our freedoms, our safety, and our country’s heritage, for all of us. Lord God, Almighty Father, creator of mankind and author of peace, as we are ever mindful of the cost paid for the liberty we possess, we ask you to bless the members of our armed forces. Give them courage, hope and strength. May they ever experience your firm support, gentle love and compassionate healing. Be their power and protector, leading them from darkness to light. To you be all glory, honor and praise, now and forever. Amen.

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A Lesson in Temptation: “I Give You only Good things because I have only Loved you with an Everlasting Love!” Genesis 2:4-9

Genesis 2:4-9Amplified Bible

4 This is the history of [the origin of] the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day [that is, days of creation] that the [a]Lord God made the earth and the heavens— 5 no shrub or plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to [b]cultivate the ground, 6 but a [c]mist (fog, dew, vapor) used to rise from the land and water the entire surface of the ground— 7 then the Lord God [d]formed [that is, created the body of] man from the [e]dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit]. 8 And the Lord God [f]planted a garden (oasis) in the east, in Eden (delight, land of happiness); and He put the man whom He had formed (created) there. 9 And [in that garden] the Lord God caused to grow from the ground every tree that is desirable and pleasing to the sight and good (suitable, pleasant) for food; the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the [experiential] knowledge (recognition) of [the difference between] good and evil.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

In the beginning, as God created and then developed his new world, he formed a perfect garden in which he could live in loving relationship with human beings.

Because of His Everlasting Love for us, God ­wanted humans to flourish, and He wanted all of this creation to flourish through their care and stewardship for it.

In that perfect Garden of Eden human beings lived together in harmony with the rest of creation, happily, joyously, serving and communing with God.

There humans were free to eat from any tree they wanted—except from the one which God specifically identified: “the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

What did God know of the “Tree of the knowledge of good and evil” which He deliberately withheld from humanity ears?

What exactly did God know of the power of the “Tree of the knowledge of good and evil” should humanity ever become partakers of the fruit on that one Tree?

Why did God even create that Tree in the first place if He knew the enormous risk He was taking by even placing the Tree before their eyes and taste buds?

Surely God already knew the magnitude of both the “good and evil” outcomes which would manifest itself – should mankind become aware of good and evil.

Maybe you know how this story goes by now—humans disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, bringing great chaos into God’s good world (Genesis 3).

Why did they eat the fruit when they were told not to?

Well, it all began with the unceremonious arrival of temptation and desire.

They were coerced, tempted to think that the fruit would make them like God, knowing good and evil, thus began temptation, desiring what was forbidden.

They were tempted to think that God was keeping good things from them.

Temptation is just the uncompromising inner feeling that we are the most independent people on the face of this planet called Earth.

That we know quite literally everything there is the ability for us all to know.

That’s something that we all go through as a kid.

Now, this lifestyle that I’m in, the same thing exists!

But it’s 10 times worse, because I am 10 times older but not so much the wiser, because of the internet, the “information super highway,” literally everything “good and evil” is right at mine and our own children’s fingertips and disposal.

When you’re in the limelight, when the full magnitude of the limelight is always available to anyone with a desire to “know” and you can get anything you want, whenever you want it and you can “encode” this limelight and keep it “secret,”

Label it “My Eyes Only” and store it in clouds behind highly complex passwords known only to users and owners of those clouds, the most intrepid of hackers.

And of course, the knowledge of God, the Father and God the Son and the Holy Spirit, from whom there is no such thing as secrets which can never be known

But we know that only because of our Heavenly Fathers everlasting love for us, He continually and continuously desires to keep His connection to His children.

Temptation and desire will always continue their efforts at singing their songs deep into our vulnerable souls – constantly enticing us to stay away from God.

It is a song and dance show they know quite expertly – ticket sales at an all time high every single moment of every single day – directly into every last ear drum.

And we listen …. and listen …. and listen …. and listen some more

So, our desire to return to God’s perfect Garden gets further and further eroded.

But perhaps we also end up forgetting, while we and our hearts and our souls are exclusively tuned in to, listening to temptation and desires radio station,

God has His own radio station ….

Psalm 19:1-5Amplified Bible

The Works and the Word of God.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands.
2 
Day after day pours forth speech,
And night after night reveals knowledge.
3 
There is no speech, nor are there [spoken] words [from the stars];
Their voice is not heard.
4 
Yet their voice [in quiet evidence] has gone out through all the earth,
Their words to the end of the world.
In them and in the heavens He has made a tent for the sun,
5 
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.

And it too is continually and continuously playing its message ….

Proverbs 1:8-19Amplified Bible

The Enticement of Sinners

8 
My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not reject the teaching of your mother.
9 
For they are a garland of grace on your head,
And chains and ornaments [of gold] around your neck.
10 
My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
11 
If they say, “Come with us;
Let us lie in wait to shed blood,
Let us ambush the innocent without cause;
12 
Let us swallow them alive like Sheol (the place of the dead),
Even whole, as those who go down to the pit [of death];
13 
We will find and take all kinds of precious possessions,
We will fill our houses with spoil;
14 
Throw in your lot with us [they insist];
We will all have one money bag [in common],”
15 
My son, do not walk on the road with them;
Keep your foot [far] away from their path,
16 
For their feet run to evil,
And they hurry to shed blood.
17 
Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net
In the sight of any bird;
18 
But [when these people set a trap for others] they lie in wait for their own blood;
They set an ambush for their own lives [and rush to their destruction].
19 
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
Greed takes away the lives of its possessors.

When Rabbi Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13), he was not casually suggesting it was all about someone else or something else is drawing us into temptation.

We are responsible too.

Dealing with life’s temptations and desires calls for an acute awareness of the high energy tempting ­power of sin. It includes recognizing that others, like the proverb writer and our parents, acknowledge the powerful temptation of sin.

The words of the tempter can seem so impossibly enticing or desirable, and they will eventually, inevitably wear us down. Temptation is everywhere in our lives. A wise person knows this. A wise person hears the proverb writer say, in effect, “temptation and desire takes away the lives of those who give in to it.”

Temptation and Desire will always, forever, play and sing their enticing songs.

Truth: Sin always will remain an impossibly self-destructive irresistible force.

Victorious living through Christ Jesus our Savior does not mean freedom from temptation’s desire, nor does it mean freedom from mistakes. E. Stanley Jones

We all have many vulnerabilities that can sidetrack us from reaching our goals.

Pray! Recognize the times when you’re most likely to give into temptation, and make it harder for a single moment of weakness to sabotage your best efforts.

It’s terribly sad when we continuously and continually, irresistibly, succumb to the songs of temptation desire and we just end up hurting others and ourselves.

Truth also is that the Word of God for the Children of God is also irresistible, always and forever an continually and continuously playing its powerful song.

Hebrews 4:12Amplified Bible

12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged [a]sword, penetrating as far as the division of the [b]soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Listening continually, continuously, everlastingly, to that particular ‘GOD’ song, how­ever, will enticingly, inevitably, leads us to life as God intended it.

Master Rabbi Jesus put it this way: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

For the everlasting love of us …

Consider Jesus’ temptation. First, the Spirit drove him into the desert.

That reminds us that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one God with one purpose for us, and that purpose is the redemption of the entire creation.

Why the wilderness? Because the wilderness is the barren habitation of lizards, snakes, scorpions, barbed plants, buzzards and such like. It is representative of the world of sin, the world of the devil, the world of lies, deception and death.

It was there, on the devil’s own turf, so to speak, that Jesus encountered the devil and defanged his power to tempt, entice and to overpower humanity.

Jesus was at his weakest, physically speaking, after 40 days without food, but even at his weakest, he made short work of the devil’s best stuff—satisfaction of physical appetites (“turn these stones into bread”), power, and wealth and influence (“rule all the kingdoms of the world”), and self-indulgent arrogance (“show how important you are by jumping off the temple wall and making the angels catch you”).

When it was over, the angels waited on him. He ate a legitimate meal, provided from the Father by the angels, not a meal the devil offered. And all this was only the starting point of his long journey to Jerusalem to be crucified, killed, buried and and three days later to be resurrected unto glory — as one of us for all of us.

What more could we ask? The very God we are afraid doesn’t like us, is fed up with us and won’t forgive us again, is the God who loved us so much that he sent his Son, not to condemn the world, but to save the world (John 3:16-17).

Take heart

In Christ Jesus, God has done for us what we could never do for ourselves.

He has taken our sins on himself, forgiven us, reconciled us with himself and made us a new creation in Christ—redeemed, healed in mind, spirit and body and perfectly unified with him.

Though we do not yet see what he has made us to be in Christ Jesus our Savior, we can trust his word that at his appearing, we will be like him (1 John 3:2).

In constant and continual conflict against our own desires and temptations, then, we can each take heart. Christ is with us and for us, drawing us to him and away from sin, but when we do sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, who not only set the example for us, but also made atonement for the sins of the whole world, including ours (1 John 2:1-2).

The lyrics neither Temptation and Desire don’t want you to hear God singing is,

“No, my children, I am not keeping good things from you. See, just as I did long ago, I give you good things to eat, to love you, to heal you and to nourish you. By this gift from my hand, may you realize that you cannot flourish apart from my love.”

“First and foremost Consult God, not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think neither long nor hard about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you were tempted to do but tried and failed in, but concern yourself instead, with what it is still possible for you to do.” Pope Saint John XXIII

The Christian life is not about making one better at resisting temptation. It’s about making you new. Many people struggle to overcome temptation because they do not see the distinction between the two. But when you become a new creation in Christ, everything is possible for Christ becomes possible for you.

Trust him. He did it for you!

In the name of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

God, my Father, Beautiful One, Your grace is awe-inspiring, and every day, I see more and more how wonderful Your salvation is to me. Lord, mold me, shape me into Your image. Change my heart. Conquer my mind. Fill my soul. Control my hands and my lips. I do not want to abuse the grace You bought for me on the cross. Guide me to use my freedom, not for sin, but for love and good deeds. Pray I will never ever forget how precious the grace is that You have given to me. Fix my eyes upon the cross and on the day my lowly body will be transformed to be like Your glorious body. Angus Dei! Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F48PTgcFdco

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Acknowledging Our Holy Discontent! Acknowledging, Allowing Ourselves to be Overcome by our Savior. Mark 1:12-13

Mark 1:12-13Amplified Bible

12 Immediately the [Holy] Spirit forced Him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted [to do evil] by Satan; and He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered continually to Him.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

“I can resist everything but temptation!” says the Irish Poet Oscar Wilde.

“I generally avoid temptation unless I cannot resist it any longer.” Mae West

“I can resist anything but temptation!” says the bumper sticker.

“Temptation is the devil looking through our keyholes. Yielding is opening the door, inviting him in to stay and live with us for awhile.” Billy Sunday

As Christians, we know that temptation toward sinful, illegal or destructive things needs to be resisted, and yet we often find ourselves losing the battle.

That is not only frustrating, it can get downright depressing, it can even make us start to raise inner doubts, question whether God still loves, cares about us.

The promised land was just across the Jordan River, but the land on the near side of the ­river looked good for grazing.

So the tribes of Reuben and Gad petitioned Moses to let them settle in that area.

In doing so, they faced the temptation of settling in a place determined by their possessions rather than by the Lord’s promise.

When Moses challenged them, choose their “stuff or choose God” the tribes relented, agreed to go with the others across the Jordan to conquer the land.

Settling down and being content an being fulfilled merely with the things of this earth around us is so tempting.

The more we have, the easier it is to focus solely on this life.

Rather than keeping our eyes on the promises of God, we tend to see the things around us and be satisfied with them.

Christian faith is supposedly marked by our measures and our degrees of holy discontent with earthly treasures.

That choice, that decision and those affirmation are easy when things are easy.

That array of things, perhaps not no easy to live with when things are difficult.

But as Chris­tians, we need to long for Christ and his kingdom even when things are good, because we know Jesus is the greatest example, the greatest mentor.

Mark 1:9-13Common English Bible

Jesus is baptized and tempted

9 About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 While he was coming up out of the water, Jesus saw heaven splitting open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him. 11 And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.”

12 At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild animals, and the angels took care of him.

We all face temptation.

No one is immune from temptation.

The bad news about temptation is that it usually doesn’t happen when we’re ready for it.

It usually happens in those moments when we’re tired, or sad or disappointed about something.

And while we all face temptation, when we give into it, we often feel really bad.

We wish we were better about fighting it or saying no to the things tempting us.

Immediately after being baptized by John, immediately after hearing all of the wonderful all thumbs up accolades and affirmations from His Father in Heaven, we read that Jesus is immediately driven into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit.

What prior planning and preparation did he have?

Complete Faith and Trust in His Father God and the Holy Scriptures!

What preparation did he ask for as a precondition to entering the wilderness?

Complete Faith and Trust in His Father God and the Holy Scriptures!

What time did His Father God give him to “pray and study himself into shape?”

Complete Faith and Trust in His Father God, His perfect understanding and interpretation of the Holy Scriptures as taught to Him! Psalm 119:1-16

What resistance did Jesus offer up to His Father in Heaven before His entering?

None but implicit and innate trust in the truth found in God’s Holy Scriptures!

Hebrews 4:11-16Amplified Bible

11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience [as those who died in the wilderness]. 12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged [a]sword, penetrating as far as the division of the [b] soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.

14 Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior]. 15  For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].

Jesus is so much more than a role model

The fact that Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are teaches us at least three things.

One thing is Jesus’ perfect reliance on the Power of God through Scriptures.

One thing it teaches us is that just as Jesus overcame every temptation, so we need to follow his example, make every effort not to fall to temptation either.

But there is so much more here to acknowledge, and it makes all the difference.

If Jesus were merely a great role model that we should follow, there would be no hope for us.

Following Jesus would then just be another of the world’s many religions — humanly devised systems of coping with bad behavior and plagued consciences.

The other thing these temptation passages teach us is Jesus overcame every temptation in our place, as one of us, both representing us and substituting for us before God.

Notice where Hebrews 4 places the emphasis:

First, Jesus is presented as an incomparable High Priest (v. 14).

The job of a high priest is to mediate on behalf of the people toward God.

He offers the sacrifices and acts as the go-between to get everything straightened out between sinning people and God.

In religion, this concept keeps people mindful of the need to behave better and establishes a hierarchy of humans that can exercise control over the masses.

The Gospel is not, can never become, another religion

But the gospel is not another religion.

The gospel tells us that the real and true High Priest is God himself, the Second Person of the triune God — the one who became Jesus Christ. He died and rose from the dead in glory, and now is in heaven as a glorified man and the Son of God at once, making actual peace between sinning humans and God.

Jesus did not sin; he took all the sin of humanity onto his own shoulders.

But all the sin in the world was no match for the Son of God. In him, sin, all sin, found its demise. In Christ, God destroyed the work of the devil and defeated sin — our sin — once and for all. This is not religion; it is the gospel of our Savior.

That is why Hebrews 4 emphasizes the truth that Jesus sympathizes with us in our weaknesses, and the truth because of Jesus doing what he did regarding sin, we can come forth with a holy discontent for the world and a holy boldness to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We find the same emphasis in Hebrews 2:17-18.

He became like us humans in every respect for the express purpose of being a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God.

He can help those who are being tested because he was tested like they are.

How does he help them?

By his sacrifice of atonement (restoration to fellowship with God) and by being merciful (He forgives you) and faithful (He will do it every time).

Hebrews 3:12-19Amplified Bible

The Peril of Unbelief

12 Take care, brothers and sisters, that there not be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving [a]heart [which refuses to trust and rely on the Lord, a heart] that turns away from the living God. 13 But continually encourage one another every day, as long as it is called “Today” [and there is an opportunity], so that none of you will be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [its cleverness, delusive glamour, and sophistication]. 14 For we [believers] have become partakers of Christ [sharing in all that the Messiah has for us], if only we hold firm our newborn confidence [which originally led us to Him] until the end, 15 while it is said,

“Today [while there is still opportunity] if you hear His voice,
Do not harden your heart, as when they provoked Me [in the rebellion in the desert at Meribah].”

16 For who were they who heard and yet provoked Him [with rebellious acts]? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies were scattered in the desert? 18 And to whom did He swear [an oath] that they would not enter His rest, but to those who disobeyed [those who would not listen to His word]? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest—the promised land] because of unbelief and an unwillingness to trust in God.

If we will only 100% fully and completely Trust him

Influenced by all this temptation, how do you get in on all this grace and mercy?

With such an astoundingly horrible track record of disobedience to rely upon,

I believe what makes resisting temptation difficult for many people is they don’t want to expend any of the necessary effort to discourage it completely.

Hebrews 3 says, “Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God” (v. 12, NRSV)

It goes on to say, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (v. 13).

How does sin deceive us?

One way is by telling us, in effect: “Ha! God won’t forgive you this time. You’ve crossed the line, pal, and the jig’s up. His mercy only goes so far, you know, and frankly, it’s reserved for those who clean up their act and stay in shape — not for the likes of you, you old filthy worn out completely useless ugly bag of sin.”

Look how verse 14 puts it: “For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end” (NRSV).

In other words, trust him.

Trust him to do what he says he does for you — forgives you. Trust him to be what he says he is for you — faithful.

Trust him to know what he’s doing.

Trust him to love you the way he says he loves you.

Trust him to be the Creator, the Redeemer of his Creation that he claims to be.

How can you lose out on such a great salvation?

The same way you would lose out on a million dollars if you got a letter from the bank telling you someone had put it in your account, but you did not believe the bank and never went to take it out — by not believing, by not trusting in God.

By not trusting the giver of the gift. By not trusting God to love you and forgive you and transform you and make you his own child like he tells you he has already done (Ephesians 2:4-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 22; 2:13; 1 John 3:2).

Good news

The gospel really is good news!

Trouble is, for many of us, it seems too good to be true.

We want to have at least a short list of “do’s and don’ts” to separate the wheat from the chaff.

But God gave us no list.

God’s purpose in creation was to let us prove ourselves.

The plan was explained to us within the Psalms (139) before we were born.

We were weaved enough there to qualify for the opportunity to choose against temptation here to prepare for eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God.

He gave us himself.

In Christ, I thoroughly believe we have everything we need for salvation.

John 16:29-33Amplified Bible

29 His disciples said, “Ah, now You are speaking plainly to us and not in figures of speech! 30 Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; because of this we believe [without any doubt] that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now [at last] believe? 32 Take careful notice: an hour is coming, and has arrived, when you will all be scattered, each to his own home, leaving Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

We are not worth caring about or saving because we convince him we are; we’re worth caring about and saving because he decided we are and he did it by Christ.

In the name of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Father God, my only believable and faithful Way Maker, My Chain-Breaker, My Promise Keeper, My Light of my life in the Darkness of sin, I know that You want me to resist temptation. I know You have not allowed any temptation to befall me which is beyond my strength to resist. In You, I have the freedom to choose not to sin, and You have given me Your Spirit to stand firm against temptation. When I am tempted to sin, help me instead to focus on Your goodness to me that is demonstrated by the cross. Fill me with Your Spirit and make me hate sin as much as You do. You have bought my life with the precious blood of Your Son and in His name, I pray. Amen.

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Please Do Not “GIVE UP” but instead, “TAKE UP” All of GOD’S Promises, all of GOD’S “YES!” and “AMEN!” for Your Life! 2Corinthians 1:18-22

2 Corinthians 1:18-22Amplified Bible

18 But [as surely as] God is faithful and means what He says, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No” [at the same time]. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but has proved to be “Yes” in Him [true and faithful, the divine “Yes” affirming God’s promises]. 20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who establishes and confirms us [in joint fellowship] with you in Christ, and who has anointed us [empowering us with the gifts of the Spirit]; 22 it is He who has also put His seal on us [that is, He has appropriated us and certified us as His] and has given us the [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [like a security deposit to guarantee the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life].

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

When we endeavor to look more closely at where many Christians are at in their lives, and what they are (or are not) successfully accomplishing, or miserably failing at, we inevitably realize we do have to keep encouraging one another to enable us to successfully fulfill the calling and purpose of God for our lives.

He has not called us to walk and live in defeat; to be discouraged; to give-up and become negative and defeated about life generally.

Jesus came to give us much more than that!

He came, that we might know Him, to give us “Life, and life more abundantly (“super-abundant, excessive, above the ordinary measure”)” (John 10:10).

Know that the life Jesus gives us is so totally different ~ and far better ~ than any other kind of life that can be found this side of eternity. Do not forget that.

Far too often we give in too quickly.

Far too quickly we give up on God, the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The great cacophony of “Yes!” and “Amen!” loses its deeper meanings to us.

If it does not work out exactly right the first time, we often do not try again, thinking it is not God’s will for us, or that the devil is trying to deceive us, etc.

Faith is something that supposedly causes us to press onwards, upwards and outwards ~ to persevere and to press through until we see the required result.

I am here reminded of what Elijah said to his servant in 1 Kings 18:43-46.

Elijah the Prophet had declared that “there is a sound of abundance of rain” ~ but there was no evidence at all of any clouds or signs of rain (after three-and-a-half years of no rain – James 5:17-18).

He sent his servant up a hill to look for the clouds.

He returned with a negative word ~ there was nothing to be seen.

Elijah the Prophet was not going to to be put-off by that report and sent him again, even seven times – there would be no quitting on God’s Promises here!

Six times there was nothing to be seen. 

Maybe Elijah the Prophet had got it wrong?

But no!

No Quit Here!

On the seventh time the servant came back with a report of a little cloud in the sky the size of a man’s hand.

That was all the goo news Elijah required.

He jumped into action and it was not long before the sky was black with rain clouds and heavy rain began to pour down. He prevailed!

We, too, need to have the word of the Lord in our hearts, in our souls and in our strengths in such a way that we know, without any questions or errors, it is God.

1 Samuel 17:41-47Amplified Bible

41 The Philistine came and approached David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42 When the Philistine looked around and saw David, he derided and disparaged him because he was [just] a young man, with a ruddy complexion, and a handsome appearance. 43 The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with [shepherd’s] staffs?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine also said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.” 45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a [a]javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. 46 This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the corpses of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that this entire assembly may know that the Lord does not save with the sword or with the spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will hand you over to us.”

Often, when He speaks to us, there is no physical or outward evidence it is so.

But faith comes with the hearing and responding an actually acting upon the voice of the Lord, and when we choose to press on through regardless of what our mind tries to communicate to us, what other people tell us, circumstances tell us, etc., we will find that we inherit the promises. (David versus Goliath)

They will come to pass!

Know also that God uses these “delays” to work something precious into our spirits, so that we are prepared and equipped for even greater things ahead.

We have to be refined for His purposes.

It is easy to give up, but giving up does not accomplish anything in God.

Naaman the Syrian was told by Elisha to go and wash seven times in the Jordan River.

It greatly offended him and touched his pride, causing him to “storm off” in indignation. 

But when he humbled himself and did as the prophet declared, he was healed of his leprosy.

I am simple enough to believe that if he only dipped five or six times, he would not have been healed (see 2 Kings 5:1-14).

He had to persevere in spite of his pride and arrogance. God used it to humble the man and cause him to acknowledge that there is no god like Elisha’s God.

CONSIDER JESUS

We are exhorted to be like Jesus and to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him Who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Christianity is a marathon race, not a sprint. It calls for endurance (“to stay, stand fast, continue, abide; to remain behind after others have gone; to keep one’s ground, hold out; a brave bearing up against sufferings.”

It is keeping focused and keeping going in that which God has called us to. “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9-10).

If Jesus Himself needed to endure, then so do we. Have we got our eyes focused on what is ahead, or are we allowing present, natural, negative circumstances to discourage us and make us give up?

WHAT has GOD PROMISED YOU?

What has God promised you that is yet unfulfilled in your life?

Have you given-up on it, thought it was too difficult, caused too much criticism and opposition against you, etc.?

What God promises He desires to deliver on.

He wants to fulfill His sure promises in your life in our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Be encouraged to pick up those promises again and to press on until you see the victory. 

Know that He does not change His mind about you.

Do not allow negative thoughts, things, people, circumstances, criticisms, opposition, persecutions, etc., rob you of the blessings of a Super-Abundant God Who wants only the very best for you.

Press in and press through until the victory is yours!

It is so worth it and you will accomplish so much more as you keep pressing through, enduring and not giving up on that which God has promised YOU!

Even believers get discouraged. Rediscover what leads to true joy.

The Bible tells us that even believers struggle with trusting God because life is hard and cruel at times.

But we know there is hope and we know that immeasurable, indescribable joy is possible because of the eternal life we have through our Savior Jesus Christ.

Therefore, God wants each of us to be full of lively faith and grow in His divine direction, comforted by the Holy Spirit. In this complete trust of our Lord and Savior, we can share the Gospel message of real life with true peace and joy.

One day, When you and I feel like giving up?

The answers are all in the Bible – the Word of God for the Children of God.

It is in the Bible, 2 Timothy 2:16-17 Amplified

16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 so that the [a]man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Challenge yourself and wrestle with God for the truth(s) you need to be healed.

It is in the Bible, Genesis 32:24-28 Amplified

Jacob Wrestles

24 So Jacob was left alone, and a [a]Man [came and] wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the Man saw that He had not prevailed against Jacob, He touched his hip joint; and Jacob’s hip was dislocated as he wrestled with Him. 26 Then He said, “Let Me go, for day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing on me.” 27 So He asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but [b]Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”

Team up with God and challenge yourself to wrestle with the Word of God against what is generating the thoughts and feelings of quitting on God.

It is in the Bible, Psalm 119:9-16 Amplified

Beth.

9 
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].
10 
With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You];
Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience].
11 
Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.
12 
Blessed and reverently praised are You, O Lord;
Teach me Your statutes.
13 
With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.
14 
I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
15 
I will meditate on Your precepts
And [thoughtfully] regard Your ways [the path of life established by Your precepts].
16 
I will delight in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.

Let it ALL go, Go Hardcore – Be brutally honest with God about your feelings. 

It’s in the Bible, Psalm 13:1-2, NIV.

“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?”

Ready to Give up because of a very negative experience with your Church?

It is in the Bible, Psalm 42, English Standard Version

Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?

To the choirmaster. A Maskil[a] of the Sons of Korah.

42 As a deer pants for flowing streams,
    so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?[b]
3 My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
    “Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember,
    as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
    and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
    a multitude keeping festival.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation[c] 6 and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
    therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
    from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
    at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
    have gone over me.
8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
    and at night his song is with me,
    a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, my rock:
    “Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
    because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones,
    my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
    “Where is your God?”

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.

God has promised strength when we need it. 

It’s in the Bible, Colossians 1:11-12, NKJV.

“Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.”

Giving up often causes us to miss the best God has to offer. 

It’s in the Bible, 2 Corinthians 4:16-17, NKJV.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”

When our hearts condemn us, we should not give up. 

It’s in the Bible, 1 John 3:19-20, NKJV.

“And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”

God’s presence is not always a glorious, fantastic, awesome display—He might be in a still small voice. 

It’s in the Bible, 1 Kings 19:11-12, NKJV.

“Then He said, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.’ And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.”

You are not alone. 

It is in the Bible, Deuteronomy 31:6, NKJV.

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Though we make mistakes, we are still in God’s hands. 

It is in the Bible, Psalm 37:23-24, NKJV.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand.”

Mistakes happen and sometimes we fall—don’t give up, get back up. 

It’s in the Bible, Proverbs 24:16,

NKJV. “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.”

Nothing can separate us from God’s love. 

It’s in the Bible, Romans 8:38-39, NKJV.

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Trust God and wait on Him. 

It’s in the Bible, Isaiah 25:9, NKJV.

“And it will be said in that day: ‘Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.'”

God will not fail you in your day of adversity. 

It’s in the Bible, Psalm 57:2-3, NKJV. 

“I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.”

Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly on God. 

It’s in the Bible, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NKJV.

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Today, you and I have the opportunity to renew our eternal perspectives.

God is a redeemer and restorer and rebuilder of all our most “ancient ruins.”

It is in the Bible, Isaiah 58:6-12 English Standard Version

6 “Is not this the fast that I choose:
    to loose the bonds of wickedness,
    to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed[b] go free,
    and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
    and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
    and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
    the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
    you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you take away the yoke from your midst,
    the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry
    and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
    and your gloom be as the noonday.
11 And the Lord will guide you continually
    and satisfy your desire in scorched places
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water,
    whose waters do not fail.
12 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
    you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
    the restorer of streets to dwell in.

The compassionate invitation to Rebuild, Restore and Redeem is Always Open.

It is in the Bible, Isaiah 55:1-3 English Standard Version

The Compassion of the Lord

55 “Come, everyone who thirsts,
    come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
    and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
    and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
    hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
    my steadfast, sure love for David.

Be Persistent

It is in the Bible, Luke 18:1-8

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Be encouraged and learn to walk through the Word of God for the Children of God each day, searching for old truth with a joyful spirit and a refocused mind.

It is in the Bible, Colossians 2:1-4 English Standard Version

2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

Because in the name of God, the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

For you are constantly and continuously being prayed for by the saints.

It is in the Bible, Ephesians 3:14-21 English Standard Version

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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When we Feel Disappointed in God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, what is our response? What is our God’s first response? John 11:1-7

John 11:1-7Amplified Bible

The Death and Resurrection of Lazarus

11 Now a certain man named Lazarus was sick. He was from [a]Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived. 2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, he [our brother and Your friend] whom You love is sick.” 4 When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death; but [on the contrary it is] for the glory and honor of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” 5 Now Jesus loved and was concerned about Martha and her sister and Lazarus [and considered them dear friends]. 6 [b]So [even] when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed in the same place two more days. 7 Then He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

We are not sure how it happened.

We are not sure how such an occurrence was even conceivable.

It is echelons beyond our ability to even begin to try to frame it adequately.

But the reality of the situation was still the reality of the situation.

None of our expectations were being met when we required them to be met.

Then the inevitable happened – and we cannot begin to fathom it.

But here it is, moment by moment, things were definitely getting worse.

In truth, things were getting significantly worse.

The Teacher had not come as he promised and the sickness was progressing.

Messengers were rushing sent ahead – had the message not reached Him?

Their brother Lazarus lay dying in his bed.

In the greatest of urgencies they sent for Jesus.

And they waited for Jesus to come.

And they waited for Jesus to arrive.

They looked unto the hills from whence they expected their help to come from.

And they kept looking and they kept waiting and they kept anticipating.

And the looking and the waiting and the anticipation just kept right on going.

They knew deep in their hearts Jesus loved Martha and Mary. He loved Lazarus.

So when they urgently sent word to Him that Lazarus was sick . . . Jesus waited.

Somewhere in all of that waiting on the Lord to be immediately there for them:

Their Brother Lazarus – DIED ….

What a giant God sized belly drop – a hardcore face plant into the hard earth.

Now we are told in our narrative that a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.

So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”

With such a love for them as they knew Jesus had for them and their family, they expected Jesus to immediately pack up all of his belongings and Come!

But instead of the righteous “reasonably expected” response, when Jesus heard it he immediately turned, said unto his disciples, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he instead stayed two days longer in the place where he was (John 11:1–6).

When the message reached Jesus, He waited. He stayed two days longer.

He didn’t rush. He didn’t run. He didn’t even heal from a distance like He did with the centurion’s servant.

Jesus waited.

We do not even read in the Gospel text where Jesus sent one of His disciples running and rushing ahead to notify Mary, Martha and Lazarus of his delay.

Jesus and his disciples just stayed in their camp by the fire and did what?

We are not told – but on the surface, the response seems to be unusually cold.

A response that we who have the 20/20 hindsight today would call fully and completely and utterly out of Character for the Jesus we know and love today.

The word “disappointed” is never penned in this text, but it is clearly written all over the story, weaved into and between every single word and every sentence.

Can we even begin to ponder being even minimally disappointed in God?

Can we even begin to ponder being even minimally disappointed in Jesus?

Can we even begin to ponder being even minimally disappointed in God the Holy Spirit?

Yes or No?

Conceivable or Inconceivable?

Not What They Hoped For Nor Expected

I am reasonably sure Mary and Martha were disappointed. They knew Jesus could heal their brother. They knew it would be no problem for Him. They told Him as much, as soon as He had showed up (four days late according to them).

I can just see Martha’s arms crossed and her stern glare as she rebukes Jesus: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21).

She angrily lays every last ounce of blame for Lazarus’ death square at His feet.

She poured out her heart with an urgent request, she expected an immediate and loving response and shockingly Jesus failed her and didn’t come through.

He let her down.

He tripped her up.

Perhaps there were even thoughts and feelings an sharp words of betrayal.

Can you and I relate to any of this story?

I have unanswered prayers. I have urgent requests, and too, requirements that haven’t been attended to, loved ones who are dying without hope of eternal life.

“I am desperate for any answer which will lift this “nearly impossible” burden off of my shoulders and out of my life – I need immediate relief and freedom.”

Where is God, my Father – who never slumbers nor sleeps, night and day, keeps me from stumbling, protects me from the burning rays of the sun and my foes?

Where is Jesus?
Why is He delaying?
Doesn’t He care?
Isn’t He listening?
Where is He?

Where is God the Holy Spirit, who is supposedly continually, continuously interceding on my behalf, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year long?

Waiting for the Greater

God was still, as promised by scriptures, still wide awake!

The Holy Spirit, as promised by scriptures, was still interceding!

Jesus is exactly, as promised by scriptures, where He was supposed to be.

He loved them, as promised by scriptures, with an everlasting love,

So, He waited.

His heart was always for their best, so He waited.
His vision was beyond the expected, so He waited.
His obedience was to the Father’s plan, so He waited.

Jesus was in no hurry to move because in the waiting there is always great purpose.

John provides the details, so there is no mistaking who “this Lazarus” is. He is Lazarus of Bethany, “the village of Mary and her sister Martha.” But to add to that emphasis, John includes this detail: “It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.”

Note that detail.

The Holy Spirit through John is signifying to us that He knows which Mary it is;

we should pay attention to the fact that this is no “common Mary.”

This is the Mary who prepared Jesus for His burial.

The anointing would take place later, after this incident, but John wants the reader to realize this was the Mary who was deeply devoted to the Savior, the same Mary who sat at His feet to soak up every word an lesson from His lips.

The sisters sent the message, not with the bare facts “Lazarus is ill” but framed the message with a touching urgency as they relayed “he whom you love is ill.”

So God waited.

So the Holy Spirit waited.

So Jesus waited.

Jesus waited because this was about far more than sweet Mary. This was about more than faithful Martha. This was about even more than the beloved Lazarus.

Jesus waited for the glory of God.

Jesus waited so that the greater “than we can hope to imagine” would occur.

If Jesus had come exactly when Martha called for Him, there would have been no stretching, testing of their faith. There would’ve been no crowd of mourners on hand to bear true witness to the Life-Giver in action. There would’ve been no resurrection to astound the Jewish community and stir up a death sentence.

If God, Jesus and Holy Spirit had responded exactly when the sisters first called, the greater moment would’ve been sacrificed for what Mary thought was best.

But because He loved them, because He desired God’s max glory, Jesus waited.

He Knows Your Heart

Beloved Child of God, what are you and I asking Him for today?

Have we been crying out for a very long time without any sign of response?

Be disappointed – YES! But please, I pray of you – do not lose heart.

Be discouraged – But please do not think nor believe even for one moment, God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit does not see, or does not know, or does not care.

God, the Father knows and cares; He will never turn a blind eye to those who cry out to Him for mercy and forgiveness … but He may still wait for the exact time.

Jesus knows and cares; He will not turn a blind eye to those who cry out to Him for mercy an forgiveness . . . but He may wait for exactly the right God moment.

Because He loves you, Jesus may wait.
For God’s glory, Jesus may wait.
For God’s greater work, Jesus may wait.

Go the Holy Spirit knows and cares; He will not turn a blind eye to those who cry out to Him for mercy and forgiveness … but He may wait for the right God time.

While you wait, turn your heart in full devotion to Him knowing that all that He does is good:

Psalm 13:5Amplified Bible

5 
But I have trusted and relied on and been confident in Your lovingkindness and faithfulness;
My heart shall rejoice and delight in Your salvation.

Psalm 16:9-10Amplified Bible

9 
Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my innermost self] rejoices;
My body too will dwell [confidently] in safety,

10 
For You will not abandon me to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead),
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

Psalm 27:3Amplified Bible

3 
Though an army encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
Even in this I am confident.

Psalm 27:14Amplified Bible

14 
Wait for and confidently expect the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.

Psalm 40:3Amplified Bible

3 
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear [with great reverence]
And will trust confidently in the Lord.

Psalm 56:11Amplified Bible

11 
In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

Isaiah 43:1-3Amplified Bible

Israel Redeemed

43 But now, this is what the Lord, your Creator says, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel,
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you [from captivity];
I have called you by name; you are Mine!
2 
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you.
When you walk through fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.
3 
“For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I have given Egypt [to the Babylonians] as your ransom,
Cush (ancient Ethiopia) and Seba [its province] in exchange for you.

Nahum 1:7Amplified Bible

7 
The Lord is good,
A strength and stronghold in the day of trouble;
He knows [He recognizes, cares for, and understands fully] those who take refuge and trust in Him.

Philippians 1:3-6Amplified Bible

3 I thank my God in every remembrance of you, 4 always offering every prayer of mine with joy [and with specific requests] for all of you, 5 [thanking God] for your participation and partnership [both your comforting fellowship and gracious contributions] in [advancing] the good news [regarding salvation] from the first day [you heard it] until now. 6 I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].

At all times and in all places and under every given circumstances … we will wait and sometimes we will be disappointed and discouraged by all our failed efforts.

As the Holy Scriptures have given expression to God’s indescribable love for us, so we too must give adequate expression of and unto our witness to God’s Glory.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Builder of all things, giver of life, reminder of all things of God and not of myself, I know that when in my whole heart and in my whole life I fully and completely acknowledge your authority and your power that you will make my paths straight in front of me. Please empower me to live a greater life in Christ. May your Holy Spirit who lives in me draw me closer to you. Give me a mind of understanding. I Pray, Let me see as you see, and not as the world sees. I trust your judgment fully and know that my own judgment is severely limited. I believe you have everything in control, and you will guide me exactly where you want me to go. All Glory and Honor be unto the Father and to the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen.

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Who of us does not long to hear these exact words from our God right now: “You are My Child, in whom I love; with whom I am well Pleased?” Mark 1:9-11

Mark 1:9-11 New Living Translation

The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

9 One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him[a] like a dove. 11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

We might think that the world-changing and history-making beginning of Jesus’ ministry would begin with a major announcement.

We might even reasonably expect that this history making event would come out as a big deal—like when a nation’s president or prime minister is elected.

But the heavenly declaration that opens Jesus’ ministry is rather low key.

It is also rather private, personal and extraordinarily intimate—Jesus had not announced himself yet gathered any disciples or followers to witness this event.

It was a deeply personal event exclusively meant for exchange between a father and his son – a father and son moment – with meanings deeper than we know.

What’s more, the heavenly power does not swoop in like a great eagle with exposed talons, swooping in while it is shrieking at the very top of its lungs.

You do not get the idea it was meant to be observed by human eyes and ears.

Instead it is described as gently arriving like a dove.

The Spirit of God, who had hovered over the waters of creation (Genesis 1:2), similarly graces the person of Jesus, giving us an unmistakable sign that a new creation is getting under way and this new effort will also be good, very good.

Mark’s gospel has an emphasis on showing the reading audience who Jesus is.

He is the Servant of All and He is about to immediately begin His ministry and His mission of making a difference, if not THE difference in the affairs of man.

The first eight verses of Mark focused on the immediate anticipation of Jesus’ arrival.

Remember that the gospel opens calling for people to literally drop every last priority they have, immediately begin to prepare the way for the king’s arrival.

The blessings of the Heavenly King … Humbly Clothed in His Divine Majesty …

Let all the Earth Rejoice … Let all the Earth Rejoice …

Everything, if not everybody in your life is immediately about to be changed.

Every circumstance is about to become immediately subjected to redemption.

Your life is about to be strengthened – thy self-esteem about to be maxed out.

Get hyper-excited because thy salvation is about to become genuine reality.

Immediately answer for yourselves this question: HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD?

Get your hearts and souls ready by confessing your sins because the mightier, indeed very the mightiest One is coming who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.

One question that we have when we come to the baptism of Jesus is why was he even needed to baptized?

The answer is in verse 9: we see the humble king of all created things quietly arriving, slowly processing into humanity, for his royal coronation ceremony.

Open your versions of God’s word to Mark 1:9-11 to see this coronation scene.

Here in the Gospel of Mark we are given the heavenly insight that Jesus is the unique and truly loved Son with whom His Father God is beyond well pleased.

Today’s highlighted verses tell us about God’s great love for His Son Jesus and how, as He came up, out from the water He has expressed His love for His Son.

We see God’s wonderful expression of deep affection and deep pride in Jesus.

It must have been a beautiful, inspiring moment and blessing to each of them.

The great thing about this event is this: Jesus has immediately provided each of us with the blessed assurance of both God’s great favor and abundant delight.

Christ’s death on the Cross not only paid the price for our sins, it also opened up the way to the loving-kindness and great goodness of God. Just as the Father was proud of His Son, God can now cherish and embrace us in the same way.

Are not these the words we all need to hear from the ones we love the most?

Look at what was being said by Father God: “I completely claim you as my child! I completely, utterly love you! I am fully, utterly completely max pleased with you!”

The Father shared these incredible affirmations with his Son.

And by extension, our Father God shares these incredible affirmations with us.

In the subsequent verses, the man Jesus will face the temptations of Satan in the wilderness armed with the understanding his Heavenly Father lovingly and proudly claims him as his child – those words infusing Jesus with God’s might.

You know, when we were baptized,

I cannot help but believe my God immediately quietly expressing the very same fatherly sentiments about you and me – with the exact same degree of His love!

In this moment, what does that thought immediately do for your self-esteem?

No matter what you or I think of or about ourselves, here is a wonderful hint:

OPEN WIDEST THOSE EYES OF YOURS, GIVE GOD YOUR “GOD” SMILE NOW …

God has entered the affairs of all mankind, come into the world with the loving intention of bringing about a new creation that includes you. What in your life needs to be re-created by the transformation and blessings of Savior Jesus Christ?

Jesus himself declares in Chapter One verse 15: “The time has come. . . . The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and (hardcore) believe the good news!”

No matter who you are or what you’ve done; no matter how you’re feeling or what you’re going through right in this exact moment, please know this: You are a beloved child of God, lifted up by His grace, and cherished by Him forever.

Just a Quiet, Timely Reminder of Exactly Whose Beloved Child You Are?

He was the Son of God.

He was the Son of Man.

He came down from heaven.
He was born in a stable.

Kings came to his cradle.
His first home was a cave.

He was born to be a king.
He was a child of Mary.

He was the greatest among rulers.
He was the least among servants.

He was loved and honored.
He was despised and rejected.

He was gentle and loving.
He made many enemies.

He counseled perfection.
He was a friend of sinners.

He was a joyful companion.
He was a man of sorrows.

He said, “Rejoice.”
He said, “Repent.”

“Love God with all your heart.”
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

“Don’t be anxious.”
“Count the cost.”

“Deny yourself.”
“Ask and receive.”

In him was life.
He died on a cross.

He was a historic person.
He lives today.

He was Jesus of Nazareth.
He is Christ the Lord.

He was with God in the beginning of all created things because He is God!

And there is exactly NOTHING the darkness of sin and death can do about it!

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

ABBA, My Loving and adoring Father, I know I do not merit your love and grace. Yet, dear Heavenly Father of mine, I am completely and utterly overwhelmed with them and beyond thankful for the abundance of them. As your beloved child, please know that I love and adore you… even in those times when I make wrong choices and also when I succumb to temptation’s power. Father, do not ever let the evil one strip my love for you from me or let him cloud my eyes to your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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The Only Place to Begin when we do not know where to Begin. Mark 1:4-8

Mark 1:4-8Amplified Bible

4 [a]John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins [that is, requiring a change of one’s old way of thinking, turning away from sin and seeking God and His righteousness]. 5 And all the country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem were continually going out to him; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a [wide] leather [b]band around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was preaching, saying, “After me comes He who is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, and I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the straps of His sandals [even as His slave]. 8 As for me, I baptized you [who came to me] with water [only]; but He will baptize you [who truly repent] [c]with the Holy Spirit.”

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

Where did the Gospel actually begin?

Where did God’s Good News originate?

Narrators Matthew and Luke began their accounts of Jesus’ life with the stories surrounding his Genealogy an his birth.

Narrator John began his narrative before the creation of the world where the Son of God was not only present, but he also did the creating.

Mark, with his focus on Good News, chose to begin in a different place.

If folks are going to be open to the Good News of God, then someone is going to have to be a servant and prepare the way for Jesus to come and for his word to be heard. In many respects, the Good News always begins in this way.

The real question is whether we are willing to be used as servants like John the Baptist — who is introduced in verse four — and immediately, if not sooner, to begin to prepare the way for Savior Jesus’ Good News to be heard by our friends.

The next question for the reader of Mark’s narrative then becomes …. where do you immediately begin, when you do not know where to immediately begin?

A very valid question to ask when an immediate response to change is required.

At work, your supervisor suddenly hands you an outline for major project with major financial implications for your company which has never been attempted before – and the supervisors instructions are: I need this ASAP, as in 7 days!

With that kind of pressure and responsibility on your shoulders, ever sat and stared at a blank piece of paper or computer screen, wondering where to begin?

Any sort of task or project always has a beginning, and sometimes starting can prove a challenge especially when there is no previous effort to be inspired by. 

You can further complicate this situation by being the first person to do it.

That is what Mark faced.

His written story of Jesus will be the first ever!

Perhaps his narrative will serve as a model, inspiration for any future writers.

Mark 1:1-3Amplified Bible

The Preaching of John the Baptist

1 The beginning of the [facts regarding the] good news of [a]Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written and forever remains in the [writings of the] prophet Isaiah 40:1-4 and Malachi 3:1-3:

“Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way—
3 
A voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
[b]Make His paths straight!’”

So far, Mark has hit us with a big (seemingly logical) opening sentence,

“The Beginning of the [facts regarding the] Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

Then used an Old Testament quote from the writings of God’s Prophet, Isaiah. 

The Old Testament quote, while making sense to Bible scholars, may or may not be the one to immediately grab your or your supervisors undivided attention.

I noodled over Mark’s choice of those first verses because I believe there is no superfluous material anywhere in the Biblical Canon.

All the words are there because God’s intention is that every word speak to his children – every word of every verse, however obscure it (they )may be – is the source of an important life lesson for someone, somewhere and at some point.

2 Timothy 3:16-17Amplified Bible

16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 so that the [a]man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

In the process I reached a “Holy Spirit inspired” conclusion.

The divinely inspired conclusion: Mark wants to make sure we understand that Jesus coming to planet earth is huge AND has always been a part of God’s plan.

Later Narrators, such as Matthew and Luke, will accomplish this drawing on Jesus’ birth and lineage. Mark made the same point with much fewer words.

Now Mark, in his typical “get to the point” style starts with Jesus’ ministry—and Jesus’ ministry begins with his baptism by a fella named John the Baptist.

As I read and continually re-read verses 4-8, and know John the Baptist’s story, I’m again getting that one feeling that it is easy for me to rush past these verses.

Let’s not

– because God put it there for His own very specific reasons. (Isaiah 55:10-13)

John the Baptist’s current modus operandi is that of an Old Testament prophet.

He wants to make sure the people of his day understand what is happening.

We would also be well advised to give our immediate, if not sooner, attention to first engage God in prayer, then come to the divinely inspired understanding;

Amid a world where things are wrong: 

  1. God is definitely coming (immediately, if not sooner) to put things right.
  2. People, even (or especially) religious people, need to therefore get themselves fully turned around to the ONLY “right way around”. They need to repent.

John the Baptist notes differences between himself and Jesus.

First, that he is not worthy to untie the strap of Jesus’ sandal.

Second, that his baptism is with water while Jesus’ will be with the Holy Spirit.

He is immediately saying, “Don’t look at me (a mere man), look at Jesus!”

Look at Jesus Christ – “THE SON OF GOD!”

I began this reflection with,

“Wondering where to begin when you do not know where to begin?”

I noted Mark immediately began with the FACTS and TRUTH of Jesus’ ministry. 

Yet, you might say that he started his Gospel about Jesus, with us in mind. 

With you and with me!

Truth is: and a whole lot of other people the future writers of Hebrews noted:

Hebrews 12:1-2Amplified Bible

Jesus, the Example

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of [a]witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, 2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, [b]disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].

YES! And with very single generation of believers who have gone before us and every single generation of believers who will come after us – (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Narrator Mark wants to make sure that we more than merely understand the immediacy of his message of connecting and relating to what is happening in our world, and God’s plan for it all—but that this message penetrates and changes us. 

We will in the coming days of Jesus’ ministry see some people as onlookers.

Mark suggests they will be immediately impressed by Jesus, but they will also immediately recoil at his new teachings, stay an arm-lengths distance away. 

The question for us:

Will we be mere onlookers, standing aside, pondering curious points of the text, googling different versions, and even allowing ourselves to be distracted by curious characters, such as John the Baptist – as critically important as he is?

(It is so easy to do when we engage the whole length and breadth of Scripture.)

Or will we let God’s Word penetrate our hearts?

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”

The Choice is always are to make ….

The immediate question is – when we aren’t sure if it is the right place to begin;

Search first for the TRUTH of God – is it YOURS or is it a divinely inspired one?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Creator God in this your exact time and in this your exact season
dangling, suspended between all of our hopes and your fulfillment,
let we never come any moment, to forget what you have done.
May we be immediately overwhelmed by your great mercy,
which flows in tsunami after tsunami from your Truth alone.
May we be decisively honest about the darkness of sin within us,
and immediately perceptive of the light of Salvation around us.
May we begin, to prepare to make straight the path for the Lord,
that together we may immediately see God’s glory revealed.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.

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Do we need a New Beginning? Do we need a Fresh Start with God? Mark 1:1

Mark 1:1 Amplified Bible

The Preaching of John the Baptist

1 The beginning of the [facts regarding the] good news of [a]Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

Sometimes, the truth is directly in front of our noses – things just need to end – despite all of one’s very best intentions, and “maxed out” maximum efforts, they have reached a point where things can go no further – but they need to.

A job which has no promotional future – that “dead end” job.

A job which is unfulfilling – we have been in it for a long time, dissatisfied, no amount of joy no matter how hard the effort being made to turn things around.

Not meeting our personal educational or family financial goals ….

A wrong career path ….

We have reached an age in life where developmentally, we cannot help but feel the need to try something new, something exciting, invigorating, challenging.

A relationship with some place, something, someone which is not mutually fulfilling or just plain became abusive to either one or both parties involved.

Perhaps we have come to that place in life where we realize that relationship is us unsuccessfully trying to get along with ourselves in a world of uncertainty.

Wrong choices made at the wrong times …. which has caused someone we care about very deeply – to feel betrayed, unloved, immeasurable needless distress.

Poor decisions now being lived out through lasting undesirable consequences.

We are just feeling empty, spiritually unfulfilled in too many ways to count.

Nowhere to turn ….

No place to run ….

No one to turn to ….

No one to trust ….

No more drugs and no more alcohol …. all the bottles are broken and empty.

This vessel we occupy called our body – our flesh and bones – broken, empty.

Life Sentence in a “maximum security prison of our own design and strength.”

Sick and tired of being sick and tired ….

Where do the descriptions end?

Where does the new life, the fresh start in life begin?

When does the new life, the fresh start begin ….

From our state of brokenness – from our state of utter emptiness, with such a severe distrust of everyone and everything reigning and ruling over our souls,

What else is there to try – what else is left for us to literally risk “everything we do not believe we have left to risk – in a “life or death struggle winner take all?”

Perhaps the answer is … the very Creator of our Life, the Author of our life itself!

The question we all dare need to ask ourselves – Do we need a fresh start with God?

If you do, the opening verse of the gospel of Mark has something for you.

It speaks of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to offer new beginnings to all who seek God’s mercy and strength in a time of need.

Mark’s opening words to his narrative remind us of the first verse of the Bible: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

When all which came before was being defined, ruled, by unimaginable chaos.

God spoke into that undefinable, unimaginable, immeasurable chaotic mess.

And afterwards everything which came into existence, which proceeded from the mouth of God, which was created by God, was declared by God “to be good!”

Mark apparently wanted his readers to remember that God is present and at work in the beginning of all good things.

When God created the world, everything was good.

But Adam and Eve sinned against God, and things began to go wrong.

But that was not the end of the story, for God immediately set out to restore what was broken and lost, and his work centered on the coming of Jesus Christ.

What does this mean for us?

Well, we know God loves us and did not turn away from his rebellious creation.

God directly and decisively came into the world, entered (barged) into mans affairs through His Son Jesus, to save us from our sin and its consequences.

Because Jesus came to die in our place, paying the price for our sin, all who with their whole hearts confess and believe in him aren’t under sin’s curse anymore.

They are given a new beginning,

and that is what the gospel (“good news”) is all about.

Have you received a new beginning through Jesus Christ?

Is it time for you or I to consider a new beginning, a fresh start through Jesus?

Here are 3 signs God is calling you to start fresh in a certain area of your life:

1. If Guilt Has Been Hindering us from Moving Forward and Thriving in Life, The truth of Scripture is this: God Wants us to Embrace a Fresh Start with Him

Please read this carefully: I want us to be careful when using the phrase “fresh start” because as Christians we must always remember our “righteousness” in God’s judgement is based on Jesus Christ alone and never upon our own works.

One reason humans crave a fresh start is because we want the chance to do things right on our own – under our own “acceptable terms and conditions.”

We want a clean slate so we can have a chance of keeping our slates clean through our own flawed logic and severely flawed ideas of ‘our’ lack of sin.

But this is not the Christian way. 

For as Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians succinctly teaches each one of us;

Philippians 3:8-9Amplified Bible

8 But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.

So the necessary first step of embracing your fresh start with God is:

by our fully embracing, surrendering ourselves to the truth, that no matter what has happened in our life, no matter what sins we have committed, we are still righteous before God if you have placed your whole faith in Jesus Christ because your righteousness is now based on Christ and not your own actions.

With that being said, even when we know these biblical truths intellectually, the actual real life lessons of our actual real life experiences can feel very different.

As Christians, even though we are fully righteous in Christ because he has justified us through our faith, we can still be burdened with shame and guilt because of the lingering memories, ongoing consequences, of past mistakes.

God does not want this for us.

So if you have committed a sin that you keep thinking about and is holding you back from living the life you know God wants you to live, it’s time to let that go.

The choices cannot be undone –

Decisions cannot be undecided

Consequences will forever still be the consequences we have to live into …

Now is absolutely the right time, God’s Kairos, to embrace God’s grace:

Psalm 103:11-13Amplified Bible

11 
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence].
12 
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 
Just as a father loves his children,
So the Lord loves those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence].

If you have confessed it with your whole heart (Romans 10:9-13)

and repented, it’s over …. FOREVER ….

2 Corinthians 5:16-19Amplified Bible

16 So from now on we regard no one from a human point of view [according to worldly standards and values]. Though we have known Christ from a human point of view, now we no longer know Him in this way. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. 18 But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him], 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God].

God’s grace is ALWAYS and ABSOLUTELY enough, 

Romans 5:20-21Amplified Bible

20 But the Law came to increase and expand [the awareness of] the trespass [by defining and unmasking sin]. But where sin increased, [God’s remarkable, gracious gift of] grace [His unmerited favor] has surpassed it and increased all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness which brings eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God’s grace is greater than our guilt. Lay it down. God has forgiven you if you confessed it (1 John 1:9).

You now need to forgive yourself, live in His Grace and start fresh with the Lord.

2. If Too Many Rules and Obligations Have Sucked the Life Out of You, It’s Time to Start Fresh with the Lord

As Christians, our journeys often start with an immense sense of freedom and joy when we realize we are not saved by obeying the Law but rather through faith in Jesus Christ and by God’s grace alone.

However, what too often happens as we begin to walk the Christian path is that we begin to subtly or not so subtly, overtly, covertly, start picking back up those self same rules and regulations that by His resurrection, Christ set us free from.

While God definitely want us to read our Bibles, pray daily, go to church, take communion, serve others, obey a whole host of other biblical commandments, God doesn’t want us to return to our old self-defeating ways, become legalistic.

Now that we have been saved by God’s freeing grace, we do not have to obey his commands out of fear and with a religious spirit.

Rather, now we can obey God’s commands because we want to, because it is a joy, and because we know it pleases the Lord.

If you have lost that perspective and have begun to dutifully obey the Bible rather than out of the freedom Christ has given you, this is a definitely a sign God wants us to reconsider our “self-defeating ways” start fresh with him.

The path forward is not to now throw away your Bible and act like there are no commands God tells us to follow.

Rather, the key is to embrace the freedom you have in Christ that has nothing to do with your obedience to the law.

When you and I know that you and I are free because of the free gift of Christ, you and I can obey God from a different spirit.

You can obey him out of freedom and not out of obligation.

Galatians 5:1Amplified Bible

Walk by the Spirit

5 It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].

Galatians 5:13-14Amplified Bible

13 For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the [a]sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through [b]love serve and seek the best for one another. 14 For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].”

So if the overly complex, hard and inflexible “bondage” of rules and obligations have made you feel “chained” enslaved, to an old and outdated system of living and loving and stolen your freedom in Christ, it is definitely time to start fresh.

Just make sure you are starting fresh in the name of God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit – not in some new manifestation, same old wardrobe of worldly backwardness.

Embrace God’s grace.

Obey God …

not in order to be saved by him but because you already are saved by him.

3. If the Circumstances in Your Life Are Giving You a Fresh Start in a Certain Area of Your Life, This Is a Sign God Wants You to Embrace This with Him

Recognize sometimes we don’t need a total fresh start in every area of our lives.

Sometimes our walk with God is going great and we just need to keep growing with him.

What we often need is just a fresh start in one specific area of our lives like in the area of raising newly teenage children, our physical health, or our careers.

God is in control of everything, so if the circumstances of your life are panning out in a way where you have the chance to start fresh in an area you know you really need a fresh start – don’t fight it, embrace it.

For example, if you know your children are entering “dating life” and you remember your own efforts way back when was an utter mess for awhile but God had cleared the deck and there is now one relationship (wife) in your life,

see this as a fresh start with sharing a new facet of life with your child and a new life lesson for you both to be cherished and experienced with the Lord.

Or if you lost your job and now you are needing a new one, this can be a fresh beginning of learning, working on something even better than what you lost.

In short,

if you lost something in life, perhaps it is God’s Kairos, God’s time! God allowed that loss to happen to you because he wanted to get excited, to give you the new opportunity to start over, completely a fresh with him in that area of your life –

As much as you may or may not realize, desire or not desire, a deeper, fresher connection – relationship with God, with Savior Jesus through the Word of God:

The beginning verses of The Gospel of Mark immediately gives each one of us uniquely Christ Centered Kairos moments to immediately kickstart our hearts:

Mark 1:1Amplified Bible

The Preaching of John the Baptist

1 The beginning of the [facts regarding the] good news of [a]Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Lord, my teacher, sometimes I find that I am too often confused when I need to make important decisions about my life’s work, my relationships with myself, my family and my friends, my health, or finances. Too many times I have failed and have failed very badly and the consequences are ever before me, plaguing me with their “finger pointing” and soul piercing eyes. Show me the way I should go when I just don’t know which way to turn. Help me remember to come to you, rather than trying to figure everything out on my own. Guide me along the best pathway for my life. Advise me and guide me, Shepherd over me. Help me to listen to your guidance and not resist it. I thank you that your unfailing love surrounds those who trust you. My God, Thank you for these Kairos opportunities to start afresh through thy Son. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.

https://translate.google.com/

 

How Hard is it to Communicate the Good News Effectively? Acts 17:16-34

Acts 17:16-34Amplified Bible

Paul at Athens

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was greatly angered when he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he had discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place day after day with any who happened to be there. 18 And some of the [a] Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to engage in conversation with him. And some said, “What could this idle babbler [with his eclectic, scrap-heap learning] have in mind to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities”—because he was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 They took him and brought him to the [b]Areopagus (Hill of Ares, the Greek god of war), saying, “May we know what this [strange] new teaching is which you are proclaiming? 20 For you are bringing some startling and strange things to our ears; so we want to know what they mean.” 21 (Now all the Athenians and the foreigners visiting there used to spend their [leisure] time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

Sermon on Mars Hill

22 So Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I observe [with every turn I make throughout the city] that you are very religious and devout in all respects. 23 Now as I was going along and carefully looking at your objects of worship, I came to an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN [c]UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you already worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who created the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He [d]served by human hands, as though He needed anything, because it is He who gives to all [people] life and breath and all things. 26 And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands and territories. 27 This was so that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grasp for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. 28 For in Him we live and move and exist [that is, in Him we actually have our being], as even some of [e]your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ 29 So then, being God’s children, we should not think that the Divine Nature (deity) is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination or skill of man. 30  Therefore God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God’s purpose for their lives], 31 because He has set a day when He will judge the inhabited world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed and destined for that task, and He has provided credible proof to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

32 Now when they heard [the term] resurrection from the dead, [f]some mocked and sneered; but others said, “We will hear from you again about this matter.” 33 So Paul left them. 34 But some men joined him and believed; among them were Dionysius, [a judge] of the Council of Areopagus, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

One Sunday as they drove home from church, a little boy turned to his father and said, “Daddy, there’s something weird about the preacher’s message this morning that I don’t understand.”

The father said, “Oh? What is it?”

The little boy replied, “Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. He said God is so big that He could hold the world in His hand. Is that true?”

The father replied, “Yes, that’s true, son.”

“But daddy, he also said that God comes to live inside of us when we believe in Jesus as our Savior.

Is that true, too?”

Again, the father assured the little boy that what the pastor had said was true.

With a puzzled look on his round face the little boy then asked, “If that is true, if God is way, way bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?”

I love that little story; it’s cute, and it makes me smile. However to effectively communicate the good news it does take more than a smiling silent witness.

Don’t get me wrong there are times that it is appropriate.

But a silent witness, smiling or otherwise, in and of its self will never bring in the harvest called for by God – it will never get a conversion or commitment.

Sometimes it seems difficult to communicate the love of Christ to others. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer weight of Biblical data and too become tongue-tied when trying to correctly share how one can know Savior Christ. 

So what does it take to clearly and effectively communicate the good news of the gospel?

To find the answer to this question let’s turn to the manual.

The answer book!

God’s Word for God’s Children!

Come with me again to the Book of Acts of the Apostles, the 17th chapter.

This is the story of the Apostle Paul in Athens.

The Apostle Paul was arguably one of the most effective first century communicators of the good news of the gospel.

Paul was an effective communicator of the good news of the gospel because;

1. He had a powerful passion for the message itself – it drove him forward.

Acts 17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

Please try to understand ‘passion’ – I am not talking about an emotion.

The greatest problem of emotions is that change, wax and wane too easily.

I am talking about the definition that Webster gives that says:

– An intense, driving or overmastering conviction.

Do you see what fuels passion according to this definition? —— Passion is fueled by a deep and unwavering conviction to “I must get something done.”

His passion was fueled by the conviction that every man, women, boy or girl faces heaven or hell – and Jesus Christ was the only path to one’s salvation.

That there is no in between.

No one will receive a sentence of 2 to 20 years.

It is a forever and ever and ever and ever sentence of eternal never ending separation from God – in torment and burning in hell. (Luke 16:19-31)

Why was he distressed?

Because of his deep conviction and understanding these people were doomed to an eternity in hell unless the strong power of idolatry was broken in their lives.

A. Notice what Paul saw – He literally saw the idolatry everywhere he looked.

1. As Paul moved about Athens he was not impressed by the great glitz and the grandeur of the Greeks, he wasn’t taken or overwhelmed by the Acropolis or the Parthenon – buildings considered even today to be true wonders of the world.

2. As Jesus’ own soul zealously saw the Israelites (Matthew 23:37) (Luke 13:34), Paul’s passion for Christ, Paul’s zealousness saw the lost ness of the Athenians!

3. What do we see as we walk or drive through our neighborhoods, walk through the shopping Malls, move about our own workplaces and visit the “sights of our cities?“

B. If we are going to be effective communicators we must look and pray to God our Father whose first passion sent His Son to us – for that same #1 Passion!

2ndly Paul was an effective communicator of the good news of the gospel because:

2. He engages people on common ground.

Acts 17:22-23

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.

23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

A. He uses the familiar to explain the unfamiliar or unknown.

1. Talks about them being very “religious” – trying not to offend ‘lesser god’s.’

2. Talks about one specific idol they have – all the god’s of the Greek Pantheon

3. Tells them he knows his God is their “Unknown God!” – known to Everyone!

B. Jesus used the same approach (common ground or interest) with the woman at the well in John chapter 4.

John 4:7-11 Amplified

The Samaritan Woman

7 Then a woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink”— 8 For His disciples had gone off into the city to buy food— 9 The Samaritan woman asked Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me, a [a] Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (For Jews have nothing to do with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew [about] God’s gift [of eternal life], and who it is who says, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him [instead], and He would have given you living water (eternal life).” 11 She said to Him, “Sir, [b]You have nothing to draw with [no bucket and rope] and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?

One of those barriers to effectively communicating the Good News of the Gospel is the belief that there is no common ground between them and the “stranger.”

No Common Ground – therefore No Conversation – therefore no “Known God.”

A quick shrug of the shoulders – no common ground – no conversation ensues and that “Unknown God” remains that “Unknown God,” lost to our “wisdom.”

Lost to our “wisdom” because in ‘our wisdom’ we feel we have nothing to say or somehow believe that our words have no value to the Kingdom (Exodus 4:1-5).

Lost to our “wisdom” because in “our wisdom” we are tired of words because too many of the “right words on deaf ears” already been spoken and ignored.

Lost to our “wisdom” because in “our wisdom” we find it too easy to be mad and get too easily offended – let emotions govern how we see our neighbors.

Lost to our “wisdom” because in “our wisdom” we raise the authority and the power of our words above and beyond the power behind the Word of our God. (Proverbs 1:1-7, 20-33, Proverbs 3:5-8, Proverbs 8:11-20, Proverbs 16:1-9, Proverbs 29:18, Isaiah 1:18-20, Isaiah 2:1-4, Isaiah 55:10-13, Hebrews 4:12)

Lost to our “wisdom” because in “our wisdom” we have somehow become too easily contented with being a “Divided” Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:10-17).

Lost to our “wisdom” because in “our wisdom” we think our words are wasted, useless, because God is going to do what God is going to do anyway. (Jonah 4:2)

So many excuses – too many wrong headed reasons, rationales to keep silent.

Too many opportunities to believe we have nothing to contribute nor want to contribute because we are too mad at everything and prefer to wash our hands of any responsibility or accountability to help our neighbors. (Matthew 27:24)

So many excuses – so many reasons and rationales – offered up to the God we allegedly believe and confess “we know” to let ‘the kingdom be the kingdom.’

For which Jesus gives an answer ….

John 13:34-35 (Amplified)

34 I am giving you a new commandment, that you [a]love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”

John 14:11-14 (Amplified)

11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe [Me] because of the [very] works themselves [which you have witnessed]. 12 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in My name [[a]as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified  and celebrated in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it.

John 15:9-11 (Amplified)

9 I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. 10 If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. 11 I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.

John 15:12-16 (Amplified)

Disciples’ Relation to Each Other

12 “This is My commandment, that you [a]love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you  My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father. 16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you.

C. I am thoroughly, passionately convinced that the Holy Spirit gives us these same scriptural invitations, GOD openings and opportunities every single day.

We just aren’t deliberately, intentionally, passionately looking for them and recognizing them with the same deliberation, intent, passion as Paul did.

Reminds me to the story … of a guy who “prayed” this prayer every morning:

“Lord, if you really and truly and passionately want me to Your witness to someone, somewhere today, please give me a sign to show me who it is.”

One day he found himself on a bus when a big, burly man sat next to him.

The bus was nearly empty but this hulking guy sat next to our praying friend.

The timid Christian anxiously waited for his stop so he could exit the bus.

But before he could get either very nervous about the man next to him, or as far away from him as he could as quick as he could exit the bus, the big guy burst into tears and began to weep uncontrollably, then cried out with a loud voice,

“Life is nothing to me anymore, just no purpose anywhere, I need to be saved. I am a lost sinner and I need the Lord. Won’t somebody tell me how to be saved?”

He turned to the Christian and pleaded, “Can you show me how to be saved?”

The believer immediately bowed his head, praying, “Lord, is this Your sign?”

Most of the time it just doesn’t happen like that.

But if we have a passion that is driven by a deep conviction we will be watching, looking for opportunities to “give an answer” in the message of the good news.

You see the point is this –

We don’t need another sign from God because we have a LIVING HOPE in Christ:

1 Peter 3:14-16 (Amplified)

14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness [though it is not certain that you will], you are still blessed [happy, to be admired and favored by God]. Do not be afraid of their intimidating threats, nor be troubled  or disturbed [by their opposition]. 15 But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect. 16 And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every time you are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words].

You see the point is –

We do not need another “sign” to know IF God and Christ wants us to witness:

He has already commanded us to go, be his witness. Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:25-31 then 32-35 then 36-49, feed one another John 21:15-19.

Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, Ye shall be my witnesses … yea, unto the uttermost part of the earth:  Acts 1:1-8 KJV.

Apostle Paul was an effective communicator of the good news because he had a deep, powerful passion, because he engaged the people on common ground and

3rdly because:

3. He kept it Simple!

Paul presented 3 simple points:

1- God is the Creator and owner of the universe …. Acts 17:24

2 – God wants everyone to know him … Acts 17:26-27

3 – Men must repent for judgment day is coming. Acts 17:30-31

You can’t get much simpler than that.

The point is that the enemy wants you and I to think and believe with our whole hearts the effective communication of the good news is complex and difficult.

The Adversary wants you and I to think and believe that you, I, need to be an expert in Greek and Hebrew, Biblical Scholarship to communicate the gospel.

The Truth is simple; the gospel is simple

· Every man is a sinner

· God loves every man, wants a relationship with all sinners

· He died to pay the penalty for every man sin …

· By repentance and faith we can be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

The point is every born again believer can communicate the gospel.

Apostle Paul was an effective communicator of the good news because he had a deep, and powerful passion for all things Jesus Christ, he engaged the people on common ground (issues), and because he kept it simple and finally because …

4. He was realistic in his expectations

A. We must realize not everyone is going to respond nicely when we present Christ, but we must yet continue to respond to him or her in faith and love.

Acts 17:32 (Amplified)

32 Now when they heard [the term] resurrection from the dead, [a]some mocked and sneered; but others said, “We will hear from you again about this matter.”

But we must also realize that the gospel the good news will not return void.

Acts 17:33-34 (Amplified)

33 So Paul left them. 34 But some men joined him and believed; among them were Dionysius, [a judge] of the Council of Areopagus, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

And as discouraging and disheartening as this fact can definitely be ….

Believe that God gives us His Answer and His Assurance on this matter too:

Isaiah 55:10-13 (Amplified)

10 
“For as the rain and snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth,
Making it bear and sprout,
And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 
So will My word be which goes out of My mouth;
It will not return to Me void (useless, without result),
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
12 
“For you will go out [from exile] with joy
And be led forth [by the Lord Himself] with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13 
“Instead of the thorn bush the cypress tree will grow,
And instead of the nettle the myrtle tree will grow;
And it will be a memorial to the Lord,
For an everlasting sign [of His mercy] which will not be cut off.”

How eager are we for such an “Athenian Experience” as Apostle Paul was?

Are our hearts and souls as “greatly distressed and disturbed” as Paul’s?

What do we really think and believe to be the value of our “wisdom” to God?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

God, from the beginning, you were the word. You sent your only son to save us all and he even allowed himself to be tortured and crucified to obey you. Bless me with the gift of passion and understanding and of unshaken faith in you. Let me know the meaning of your words of ministry and mission in the Bible, how to live accordingly. Open the door of my heart, and fill me with your light and understanding. Amen.

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Being Troubled for the Right Reason: Right Answer for the Right Question. The Right Place at God’s Right Time! Acts 17:16-20

Acts 17:16-20Amplified Bible

Paul at Athens

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was greatly angered when he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he had discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place day after day with any who happened to be there. 18 And some of the [a] Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to engage in conversation with him. And some said, “What could this idle babbler [with his eclectic, scrap-heap learning] have in mind to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities”—because he was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 They took him and brought him to the [b]Areopagus (Hill of Ares, the Greek god of war), saying, “May we know what this [strange] new teaching is which you are proclaiming? 20 For you are bringing some startling and strange things to our ears; so we want to know what they mean.”

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

In our Scripture text today we hear about the Apostle Paul in the city of Athens.

This Greek city was an intellectual centre of its day.

Here the philosophers, intellectuals, and students would gather to discuss the latest intellectual fads.

Athens was also a pagan city.

As many as 30,000 statues had been erected as idols to various gods in the city.

Archaeologists and Historians suggest that there were more idols in the city of Athens than in all the rest of Greece combined.

There can be no doubt that the Greeks were religious people.

They had a different god for almost every aspect of life.

They believed their gods were able to bring fortune or evil.

They had even spent the resources and built, dedicated an altar ‘To an Unknown God’ just in case they may have missed giving honor to one of the myriad gods.

It would have been easy for Paul to shy away from even opening his mouth in this pagan city.

We would understand that.

But Dr. Luke records,

“So (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him.  Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him” (Acts 17:17,18).

In amongst all those pagan statues, the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul, debated with the great teachers of Athens and the Jewish leaders in their synagogues.

This was tough going.

It was even dangerous.

Paul knew that if he was going to speak with, debate, preach, teach anyone, he had to step out of his comfort zone, and put himself at risk to speak the truth.

Let’s face it – it’s easy to hang around with Christians.

We worship the same God, the Father and God the Son and Holy Spirit.

We share the same values, and we speak the same language (that is, we all know what we mean when we talk of Salvation, Redemption and Holy Communion.

It is natural for us to gravitate towards the people who are more like ourselves.

Paul had a lot to do with his fellow Jewish Leaders and Christian friends and the congregations that were scattered around in most of the large towns and cities.

When he was in Athens, we notice that (as was his tradition) Paul first of all had deep discussions with both Jewish leadership & Gentiles who worshipped God.

 It’s worth noting how Paul intentionally stepped out of his comfort zone to share the Good News with those who were caught up in pagan ways.

Notice what I said about Apostle Paul’s actions – they were intentional – they were deliberately, innately made, a decision to make the most of the moment.

To hesitate, to stall, to put it off, would mean a lost opportunity.

Think what would have happened if Paul (who made all that effort just to get to Athens) hesitated, said to himself, “I’ll wait for a while and see what happens”.

Maybe you, like me, have let what we know to be a decisive moment go by and afterwards regretted not saying or doing something when we had the chance.

Paul followed a general pattern as he traveled.

Upon entering a city, he would go first to the local Jewish synagogue.

At some point, he would explain from the Scriptures about Jesus, the Messiah.

Some Jews and Godfearing Gentiles would listen carefully, ask their questions, Paul would answer and they come to faith, but others would leave and oppose Paul and angrily stir up crowds against him as he taught in the marketplace.

Apparently they did not want to risk “offending” any of the myriad known and unknown gods and idols and the myriad of “high priests and temple leaders.”

No one was going to be allowed to upset or disrupt their accepted “status-quo.”

To quiet the mobs and stay safe, (perhaps even to stir up debates there) Paul often had to leave, and the pattern would repeat when he went to another town.

In Acts 17, however, we see a change in the pattern, though. Paul went to Athens while Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea a little longer.

In Athens, Paul went to the synagogue and then to the marketplace, and some Greek philosophers brought him to the Areopagus, where ideas were debated.

When addressing the intellectuals of his day in the city of Athens, Apostle Paul discovered that his audience of hearers and listeners had been influenced by two fundamental ideas: Stoicism and Epicureanism.

The Philosophy of Stoicism holds that the events of the world are determined by a merciless, cold, and impersonal fate, while the Philosophy Epicureanism teaches that what is good is determined by what will bring the most pleasure.

Neither one of these philosophies hold up for the children of Almighty God.

One of the most distinctive features of Christianity is the way in which we are able to articulate our view of the world.

In contrast to much of the diverse culture around us, we know that every single second of our lifetime rests in God’s hands (Psalm 31:15)—that we’re neither trapped in the grip of blind forces nor tossed about on an ocean of chance.

Whether people have been drawn in by Marxism, Hinduism, nihilism, or any one of countless other philosophies and religions, they are all faced with myriad questions and hosts of complex nuances, insecurities, regarding their beliefs.

Have they been caught in a struggle for a classless society or in an endless cycle of birth and death?

Perhaps they’re convinced that overall, life has really little to no meaning at all.

No matter someone’s simple, complex or “unanswerable, or imponderable” their questions or hardcore beliefs are, God provides every answer they need.

Instead of their feeling as if they are living life caged by a senseless, uncaring fate or endless uncertainty, as believers we now believe with unfailing hope.

“Since you cannot do good to all, you are to give special attention to all of those who, by the sheer accidents of time, or of place, or circumstances, are brought into and unto a closer connection with you and God.” – Saint Augustine of Hippo.

We need to be especially deliberate and intentional when it comes to talking and debating about our Savior Jesus to unbelievers or those who have fallen away.

Like Jesus at the Samaritan well and Paul in Athens we need to be deliberate about connecting with those who are not part of the Kingdom of God.

Of course, there are risks – being ridiculed, being called a religious freak, having your physical body attacked or imprisoned or feelings hurt, but as is often the case when someone needs rescuing, there are risks and dangers.

If we are not so deliberate, if we are not intentional, then we can easily lose a golden “GOD” opportunity to speak God’s truth when it was needed the most.

We, like the Apostle Paul, those first, first century and early Biblical writers of the subsequent centuries, are now stewards of all the answers God has given us through His word—answers we must share with all the “Athens” of the world.

He has given us a great confidence, and the greatest answer: His name is Jesus.

The question, therefore, is not whether we have a message that can answer the deepest longings, most imponderable answers to impossible questions of every human, the various objections of every other philosophy and religion: we do.

The question is whether we will get all on fire for God and share that message.

Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth. Rev. John Wesley

When Paul was in Athens, he saw what others did not see, he did not enjoy the impressive touristy sites or stand in awe of the city’s intellectual reputation.

Quickened by the Holy Spirit, Paul saw a city lost in idol-worship, and “his spirit was provoked, “stirred up mightily” within him,” for every time an idol is worshiped, his, our, Savior Jesus, is robbed of the glory that He alone deserves.

“So,” without any regard for his own personal reputation, Paul reasoned with and proclaimed the gospel of resurrection hope to the inhabitants of that city. (Acts 17:18)

So, the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul, jumps into the life of the city of Athens,

And with both feet securely cemented upon the Rock, Foundation of his Savior Jesus Christ and with a full throated oratory second to no one, talks about God.

He says:

• God made the world! Since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not need even one temple to live in – let alone hundreds if not thousands of them.
• God gives maximum life in abundance and breath to all living creatures.
• God created all the people of the world and gave them countries to live in.
• God is above all things and doesn’t have any particular needs that can be satisfied by the words of human wisdom, works of human hands and feet.
• God is not, never will be far away from any of us, wants people to seek him.

Can you and I see what Paul has done for the rest of us on Mars Hill here?

He hasn’t hit them over the head with a whole lot of ‘Jesus talk’.

He has said very little that the learned teachers of Athens would disagree with.

He has built a relationship with them.

They are becoming curious and they are growing more curious by the moment and by the thoughts which are being freely expressed in that very public forum.

They are listening.

God is working ….

The Holy Spirit is weaving the words and simple truths of Jesus into their souls.

They are agreeing.

Paul knows that you can’t come in cold and expect people to listen to the important message he has to tell them. He first built a rapport with them.

The often overlooked if not completely, deliberately ignored truth: There are lots of people in our lives which we have never taken the time to get to know.

While out walking, we can stop to talk to the new neighbour who is washing his car, or we can stroll on by.

We can linger around after church and talk to people we hardly know, or the stranger who is visiting for the first time, or we can ignore them.

At the local restaurant where we sit down to lunch after church to discuss the days worship and the days Scripture and the impact of the Pastor’s Sermon,

There will be a host or a hostess – there will be a server – someone to take our order – who might just “randomly” find themselves “within easy earshot …!”

“Are you busy today?” What is the Chef’s Special for Today?”

“What do you personally recommend we try today?” “How is it with your day?”

When they casually ask, “is that all, will there be anything else for today?”

Try responding … “Yes! there is one more thing – “How is it with your Soul?”

And “SNAP!”

In that exact instant – without saying God, the Father, the Son, Holy Spirit …

God, the Father and God the Son, God the Holy Spirit “introduced themselves!

Who knows what opportunities might arise in your conversation to share your faith, or how you can help when a crisis arises and they come seeking your help.

Wherever you live, wherever I live, in one way or another we will inevitably find ourselves in a modern-day Athens – whether geographically or by the internet.

What are the myriad of idols that those around you are worshiping?

Is your spirit provoked by that?

You have an answer that satisfies human longing in a way no idol can.

You have an opportunity to bring glory to God.

With whom can you reason today?

Can I share with you of the God who brings meaning and hope to life?

Can I tell you about the answers I have found in coming to know Jesus Christ?”

Paul took this opportunity to draw people’s attention to the “unknown God” that was mentioned on an altar nearby.

Paul was “greatly distressed” at seeing so many idols in Athens, and he wanted to tell risk it all, tell everyone about the true God whom they all needed to know.

When was the last time your heart was distressed and troubled in this way?

We live in a world of idols today too.

The idols of social networks, technology, individualism, materialism, greed, money, political and military power, and so much more are all around us.

There are “tons and tons” of people, inhabiting “tons and tons more” places who are and who have “tons and more tons” of those imponderable questions which no one else can even begin to provide reasonably ponderable answers to.

There is only just one with all of the answers to every imaginable, imponderable question we may have the courage, the intentionality, be able to imagine to ask:

John 14:5-6 (Amplified)

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “[a]I am the [only]  Way [to God] and the  [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

We can follow Paul’s pattern of engagement, or we can scroll on through life …

Some may appear to “fall asleep” during the Pastor’s efforts at teaching them.

Others may just come across as “being polite” or “completely disinterested.”

There is always one inescapable truth which the Apostle Paul always knew …

No matter how “unknown” that “unknown god (unknowable GOD) is to the people who do not yet know Him or do not desire to ever get close enough …

God never slumber or sleeps …. Psalm 121

There is no place anyone can ever hide from God …. Psalm 139

God is ALWAYS coming to His Garden, ALWAYS looking for you and there is nothing or no one who can ever hide anything from Him … Genesis 3:8-13

For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth so that He may support those whose heart is completely His. 2 Chronicles 16:9a

God is going to do whatever it is God is going to do … Isaiah 55:10-13

And even if we somehow thought we were clever enough or wise enough …

There is not one thing anyone of us can do about any of what God does for us.

May God give us the courage and the wisdom through the Holy Spirit to seize the moment to speak clearly and appropriately and deliberately, intentionally, about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is life and gives life and salvation.

Let God guide us as we make better use of those small windows of opportunity.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Lord God my Father, Creator and Author of my life, Giver of all Wisdom, I need You. Lord, I feel held back by my timidity and fear of what others think of me. In times when I should speak up, I remain silent. And because of this, I feel like I let You down. Help me to show sure confidence in You and to be bold in saying what needs to be said. I ask I be granted the courage to not let others talk over me. Please ease my fears that others will dislike me because of my words. Give me the wisdom to speak truthfully and sensitively. You are my #1 source of boldness and strength. Amen.

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