Tag: Faith

Taking Captive Every Thought 2 Corinthians 10:5

September 10th, 2024

I have quoted, taught, and preached on this passage many times. It is yet one of those verses/passages that perhaps we would like to ignore – but we must not. Even the thought to “put it aside” must be taken captive and made obedient to Christ.

v3 says “for although we live” – literally, peripateo “because we walk about, conduct ourselves, behave in a matter… in the flesh – sarki – physical earthly bodily – YET – we do not fight spiritual battles in that manner. We must engage in a spiritual pattern, a spiritual manner.

And don’t say, “I can’t” because v4 the weapons of our warfare are not flesh

If we were not equipped that would be a different conversation, but we know that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is in you, which you have of God.

So our weapons – hopla = tools, implements, weapons, armor – are powerful – dynata = able, could, influential men, man of power, possible – through God

why? it continues FOR – see God gives us all we need… Oh I remember another of those verses I love and hate – excuse removing verses – 2 Peter 1:3 – all we need for life and godliness

our Weapons are powerful for the demolition of strongholds

Yes – strongholds will rise and be built within and without, but through God, in Christ, by the Power of the Holy Spirit; we have powerful weapons for the demolition of those strongholds.

Follow the structure here: “Although” – we are in a fleshly world – “Since” – our weapons are NOT fleshly, and ARE powerful, and FOR demolition. (THEN) we “Demolish” arguments, pride against the knowledge of God…

AND – Take Captive Every Thought – that Greek word aichmalotizo = captivate, lead captive, make a prisoner – That’s what we are supposed to be doing and this isn’t a once, check the box, kind of thing. It is in the Present, Active, Participle, Plural Tense. That means this is something that we DO, we Are DOING, and we are doing to ALL things. It’s not just “take” but takING. It’s not just back then, but now, and now, and now, and now, always.

We take very thought captive- we do not give it freedom to run AMUK.

That’s a word I love. It’s such a funny sounding word, but powerful in description. It means to “behave in a violent an uncontrol. led manner.

We can’t control the arrival of false thoughts, or suggestions of ungodly thinking, but we CAN powerfully take those thoughts captive, chain them up, counter them with the truth of God’s Word and the Spirit’s direction, and make those thoughts obey Christ.

OH My – if we would live this, how free we would be – binding the attacks of the evil one to our thought life, before it ever becomes action.

And YES, we can, in Christ live like this.

I referenced, 2 Peter 1:3-4 His divine power has given us EVERYTHING required for Life and Godliness

Sometimes we think – oh this is just “Spiritual” stuff not “Life” stuff. No it is both. 1Peter 1:5 says by faith we are shielded by God’s power until the coming of final salvation.

his divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Hiim who called us (no one comes except the Father draws him John 6:44) by his glory and goodness – by these he has given us great and precious promises – SO THAT – through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in this world because of evil desires

Oh my fellow travelers – the battle is real, but we have access to all we need.

What did the Great Yogi Berra say? “Baseball is 90% mental… the other HALF is physical” Wow that’s funny math… but do you get what he’s saying?

So here then, perhaps we are saying that Our Battle is 100% Spiritual and the other half is Mental – and so take captive every thought and make it obey Christ and then the Physical Half will take care of itself – selah
Shaping Your Plans

July 16th, 2024
I think back on my nearly 60 years of life, and more than 40 years of active ministry, and so much I have wanted to do, and so much I still want to do. My natural competitive nature often sees the things I didn’t get to do as failure of some form or another. And yet, the things I have done have been driven by the “obligation” I feel to the call I have.

Paul, writing to the church in Rome says in 1:14-15 “I am obligated... so I preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.“

He writes with such passion for people whom he had not met. v8 “I thank God … for all of you because of the news of your faith is being reported all over the world… I constantly mention you always asking in prayers that if it is… God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you.”

There is that word I relate to, “succeed”, this was something he had wanted for a long time, but still as of yet had not been able to succeed, which means in his mind, “I’ve failed to do this”.

And yet Paul was amazed at the power and scope of the gospel, without us. Paul didn’t start that church, he was just in awe of what God had done in the seat of world power, driven by some many things apart from God, and yet God was there and active.
- Paul knew that the Gospel was the answer and the power needed in the world
v9 “I’m telling the good news”

v11 “I want to see you… that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you… 12… to be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith”

The Gospel was the answer to error in society, to error in politics and Paul wanted to share the gospel and shape his plans around that desire and belief, the power of the gospel.
- God’s Plans are more important than ours
v13 I’ve often planned to come to you (but I was prevented)” – Sometimes God’s gospel plans are different than ours…
- There Is An Obligation
Paul expressed his global, cross cultural, obligation to the Greeks and Barbarian… wise and foolish… and to these Romans in his heart.

Paul’s obligation was always to the Gospel Call and the will of God.

He had plans, things he thought would best serve his obligation, but God often has different plans. I thought immediately of Acts 16. Paul went to Phrygia and Galatia in v6 but was Forbidden by The Spirit.

He’s trying to move East, but God is pushing him West. In Mysia, v7, “tried to go to Bithynia, but The Spirit of Jesus did not allow” . Sometimes God says “no” to our best laid plans.

Then he came to Troas, on the coast of the Aegean Sea. God gave him a clear call in a dream to go to Macedonia (Greece) and so they set out to sea and came to Neapolis, near the modern day city of Kavala, and climbed the mountain, along the Via Egnatia – the ancient Roman Road, and went to Philippi. And begins a great part of Paul’s life and ministry.
- God Shapes our Plans
Our obligation is not to the plans, but to our Lord and God, and to the Gospel we share along the way. Plans are important, they keep us moving, but we must be open to the redirection.

Paul was committed to the Gospel, more than the destination. He took it to the peaceful and the fierce, the civilized and the wild, to the wise and the foolish.

Why? Romans 1:16 – I am not ashamed of the Gospel – it is the power of God for Salvation to everyone who believes

If you look at the society Paul lived in, I don’t think it much different than ours, besides clothing and technology, much of the “problems” were the same. I believe Paul hoped to allow the Gospel to change the world, but was also in awe of the fact that God was already doing it without him. He just wanted to get in on it, if allowed.

It was an awful, sin-driven world as described in 1:18-32. That list of cultural sin in verses 26-32 is all because v19 what CAN be know is evident… God has shown it… 23 (they) exchanged truth for a lie

It’s the same things we face today. We often want to focus on “pet sins” in the list, but if you look closely you will find yourself in that list, as have I.

Ok, I HAVE rambled a bit, but Paul knew that the Power and the Plans belong to God

Paul knew that his job was to go where instructed. Paul knew then that “success” was defined by obedience, not desired destination.

Oh, and Paul DID get to go to Rome – but he went there in Shackles, on a Prison Ship, through a Shipwreck, under house arrest for 2 years, and then a second time, to the executioners blade.

But the longest reaching work Paul did in the “Roman Realm” was writing this letter from afar and teach the world, for all of history, about sin, salvation, and grace available through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

May our plans e shaped by our Obligation to the Gospel and the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
Choose Who/What You Will Worship – Joshua 24:15

July 9th, 2024
This is one of the most famous verses in scripture. Joshua at this point is 110 and close to the end of his amazing life. He has been a slave, a soldier, a spy, and a servant to Moses. Then he began the Servant of God in leading the people to and through The Promised Land.

What had he learned more than anything else? He learned that every day we struggle with the choice, the opportunity, for Faith and Following the word and plans of God.

In Egypt, on the road to The Promised Land, at Kadesh-Barnea, in the Wilderness, and then going in and taking possession of the Promised Land; he learned “Choose for yourselves TODAY who, which, what you will worship.”

Asad is the word. It is defined as till, toil, work, serve, accomplish, do, let work – who will you serve/worship. Service is Worship, Worship is service.

v14 – Joshua says, fear the Lord and worship him in sincerity and truth

Fear – yare = awe, awesome – This is why about 30 years ago, I decided to stop using the word “awesome” for anything other than the works of God. How can a meal, or a game, or a song be on equal ground in word description with God and his deeds? We too easily say, “this is awesome”.

God IS awesome, some things are good, or exciting, fun, even great, but awesome? God IS AWESOME!

So, while it’s not a BIG DEAL, I just decided to reserve that word for God alone.

I will, with Joshua, worship, be in awe, of God with sincerity and truth, by not giving away his unique quality in description of something else.

sincerity – tamim = complete, sound, unscathed, perfect

truth – emeth = firmness, faithful, lasting

Choose today, each day, to worship God faithfully, firmly, unscathed, completely, serving him with heart, soul, mind, and strength.

When we give some of our worship to false objects, we fail to worship God in truth and sincerity.

In worship, we have to be active in getting rid of the false gods, that others worshipped.

Are there false gods in my life? I’ve often said taht the things that shape our calendar, get our finances, have our allegiance, are at least in danger of becoming an object of worship. Good things / Bad things / Church things, can become an object of false worship. Be careful, be mindful.

Joshua wasn’t forcing he was admonishing. If it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord… then CHOOSE for yourselves

bachar = examine, test, prefer, make a choice

False gods or the True and Living God.

Make a list – what have they done for you. How is your life ordered?

Psalm 13:8 I will sing to the Lord because he has treated me generously

Psalm 52:9 I will praise you forever for what you have done… I will put my hope in your name, for it is good.

Joshua says as for me, and my house, we will worship the Lord

And the People respond emphatically, we will worship the LORD.

Joshua presses them on the harsh reality of that statement. Then insist they will commit to worshiping the Lord and so he gives us a check list –

THEN…v23-25
1. Get Rid of Foreign gods – make a list. For them, there were things they had brought out of Egypt, actually their parents or grandparents had… and they still had them. Make a List. Ask the Lord, “Is there anything I am worshipping besides you, in place of you?”
2. Turn Your Hearts to the Lord – it starts within and then moves outward. Check your heart, your passion, your desires – turn them to the LORD – Make a list at why he is worthy
3. v24 Make a covenant – that word berith = alliance, promise – but I also think of that as the Head Decision to go with the Heart Decision. Get the false worship out of the way, set your heart, and then set your mind, make a commitment
4. Then Worship and Obey – we will worship the Lord our God and Obey Him – this is where we put our hands and feet into the action of our hearts and mind. Do
Choose Today, who you will serve… remove the clutter, set your heart, fix your mind, and get busy in worship
Splinters and Beams

June 18th, 2024

Matthew 7:1-6 is a famous passage. Let’s bookend the passage and then come back to the meat in the middle. Take a minute and read that passage.

Bookend Side 1 – Matthew 7:1. Jesus in the “sermon on the mount” says, “do not judge so that you won’t be judged”

People like this verse from their own perspective, and for their own benefit. The application is “leave me alone and I’ll leave you alone”

Bookend side 2 – v6 finishes, “don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.”

“Dogs” and “Pigs” were slang terms used in pride to refer to “Gentiles” or those who were NOT the people of God. But here in Matthew 7, Jesus is talking to those who claim to follow God. Yet for those who don’t follow God, there are more important things to focus on. Let’s lead them toward a relationship with God first, and then course correction, clean up, comes later.

Proverbs 23:9 “Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words

Proverbs 9:7-10 instructs similarly: “the one who corrects the mocker will bring abuse on himself… 8 Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke the wise and he will love you. 9 Instruct the wise… be wiser still… teach the righteous… will learn more. 10 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom… understanding

So, Jesus is NOT saying, “do not correct”. That Hebrew word in Proverbs 9, yasar = admonish, correct, train. But the Greek word here in Matthew 7 for “judge” is krino = pass judgment on, condemn, go to law

This passage is not saying do not correct in proper time and order, but Jesus is warning about Judgement. In Judgment, Jesus warns the standard you use, will be used on you

The reason people often don’t listen to church folks is they feel us passing judgment, condemning, not simply correcting.

They are also rightly saying that there is much wrong with us too.

I seem to remember that “ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Splinters and Beams are BOTH Short of the Glory.

Interesting words used by Jesus, he asks, “why do you LOOK at the splinter?” that word is blepsis = see – We quickly see the splinter, the speck in our brother…

But you do not NOTICE (katanoeo = consider, contemplate) the beam of word in your own eye

Jesus is not saying do not correct, but he IS saying do not condemn, and be fully aware of the personal situation as well.

He is talking about ORDER

FIRST – take (ekbalein = expel, drive out) the beam from your own eye

THEN – you will see clearly – What will we see? that I’m a sinner too, but for God’s grace – I was condemned too. But Jesus has made me righteous, he has made me whole. He is going to present me blameless in Glory.

In order – THEN you will see, and I would add, gain permission to work with someone else to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye

If your friend then is an unbeliever and if they reject the need and offer of assistance, leave it alone. Continue to bring them to, point them toward, Jesus. Continue to love. Seek the more important stuff.

Often we are trying to deal with splinters when we need to be dealing with heart issues, eternal things, not the temporary.

Oswald Chambers, speaking on this passage said, “stop having a measuring rod… there is always one more fact in every case about which we know nothing.”

Then he went on to say, “I have never met the man I could despair of after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God”

Remember, Jesus said in John 3:17 – God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him
Endurance – Gain

May 21st, 2024

“No Pain, No Gain” – That’s what coach always said, right?

Well, that phrase gained popularity in the early 1980s with Jane Fonda’s workout video empire.

Her idea was that muscle is built up by being broken down, it rebuilds after tearing down.

According to Wikipedia, Greek poet Hesiod(750-650) said, “before the road of excellence the immortals have placed sweat. And the way to it is long and steep, and rough at first. But, when one arrives at the summit, then it is easy, even though remaining difficult.”

Rabbi Ben Hei Hei is recorded as saying, “According to the pain is the reward”

English Poet, Robert Herrick’s version in 1650, “if little labor, little are our gains. Man’s fate is according to his pain.”

Benjamin Franklin is famous for saying “God helps those who help themselves”. In defense of this belief he wrote, “he that lives upon hope will die fasting. There are no gains without pains…”

And one other, R.C. Trench, Dean at Westminster, said, “For the most part, they courageously accept the law of labor, no pains, no gains, no sweat, no sweet, as the appointed law and condition of man’s life.”

Why did I “chase this rabbit”? I was reading Jesus in Luke 21 talking about the end of the age.

v9 when you hear of wars and rebellions, don’t be alarmed, it is necessary that these take place… but the end won’t come right away

v11 earthquakes… famines… plagues…

v12 (they will) …lay their hands on you and persecute you…

v13 this will give you an opportunity to bear witness…

v14 therefore make up your minds not to prepare a defense….

v15 (but) I will give you words of wisdom…

v17 you will be hated by everyone because of my name

v18 but not a hair of your head will be lost

v19 by your ENDURANCE, GAIN your lives

Hmmm… Coach Jesus is taking us somewhere in our focus, isn’t he?

So I began to be reminded of other scripture…

Hebrews 10:34 teaches us to accept with joy even the confiscation of our possessions because we know that we have better and enduring possessions

v35 don’t throw away your confidence

v36 … for you need ENDURANCE so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive God’s PROMISE… in a little while (v37)

Which leads my mind to James 1

v2 Consider it joy… whenever you experience various trials

v3 because you know that the TESTING of your faith produces ENDURANCE

v4 and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be MATURE and complete, lacking nothing

Oh it would be a good idea for you to read ALL of James 1, so much there.

But the underlying point here is that none of this life is the summit, or the tableland, it is just the journey, the preparation; the real life, the real reward, is coming.

We are working, not to gain it, but to prepare for it, and to bring others with us. We are sweating to get stronger, to serve greater, to see more opportunities, and be pleasing to our Savior who has laid the path.

Our lives are to serve him. Our pain enables us to serve him better, longer, and give greater pleasure to the one who gave it all to include us.

That took me to one other passage, Romans 5:3-5 – affliction produces endurance… endurance character… character… hope… this hope will not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Pain for Gain
Remain – Children

May 1st, 2024

In John’s day, in the early church, there were already those who distorted truth for their own benefit. All of the Apostolic writers had to address it.

John was the last of them and the deception of gnostic teachers remained as he wrote toward the end of the first century. They taught that special knowledge was needed, and they had it.

They didn’t believe that Jesus was God IN FLESH, but that he only appeared that way, or that the Divine came and inhabited the body of Jesus of Nazareth at baptism and left him before death on the cross.

That taught either all flesh was evil or that flesh and spirit were separate so do as you want, one doesn’t affect the other.

John says in 1 John 2:21 I have not written because you do not know the truth, but because you DO know it, and because no lie comes from truth

v24 What you have heard from the beginning is to remain in you… then remain in the Son and the Father

v26 I have written these things concerning those who are trying to deceive you.

v27 as for you, the anointing you have received from him remains in you – and you don’t need anyone to teach you

in other words, you have been given, anointed with, the Holy Spirit to, as Jesus promised, will lead you into truth and remind you of truth (John 14:26). So, if someone is trying to teach you something different, something “special” or “secret” – get away!

Instead, REMAIN in Him, so when he appears we may be confident and not ashamed v28 and he continues, everyone who does right has been born of him.

I used to tell my sons when they left the house, “Don’t forget you are a Goforth”. I meant, remember and act like who you are.

John continues – remember he is writing to the CHURCH. He identifies him as “The Elder” (Pastor) so he is talking to the Church.

3:1 How great the love given by the Father… that we are called children…

3:3 everyone who has this hope… purifies himself – ACTS LIKE A FAMILY MEMBER

3:6 everyone who remains in him does not sin (KEEP ON SINNING) That rendering of “sin” is in present active indicative tense. It doesn’t mean we aren’t able to sin, or don’t do sin, but that it is not our lifestyle.

Why? Because wea are children of God – we have new DNA, we have a family way now.

v9 we don’t keep on sinning because the SEED remains and he is not able to sin. That word dynamai – talking about our power to sin. That power is no longer present in a controlling fashion. That word here is in active passive. It is no longer a passive active force in our lives that we must obey, be a slave to sin.

v10 this is how God’s children and the devil’s children become obvious… the one who does not do what is right is not of God. Especially the one who does not LOVE his brother or sister

And here is where John really shows us something…

There are those who ACT “righteous” but are self-righteous, and yet they do NOT Love – and John says “that is not the family way.”

He is saying that it is more than just sin – but that a life without love is a sign that God doesn’t live in us. Oh, I’m over reading that right?

v14 the one who does not love REMAINS in DEATH

v15 the one who hates is a murderer

Well – thanks for clarifying that – maybe John was there when Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount – you think?

v16 this is how we know love, he (Jesus) laid down his life for us. We SHOULD (opheilo = obligate – present active indicative) also lay down OUR lives.

Well – Child of God – we have an Obligation that shows that we are in the family, and we need to Remain There.

v18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth

v19 this is how we will know that we belong to the Truth

well – pretty plain I think… so I’ll just leave it there

Remain Children Remain
Has God Proven Himself? Give Him Your All – 2 Chronicles 16:9

April 16th, 2024

King Asa of Judah, just third King after Solomon and Second after Rehoboam split Israel. Judah and Benjamin made up the southern kingdom.

The people quickly, in both group, began worshipping false gods. Good King Asa served for 41 years after Abijah served just three. His son Jehoshaphat served 25 years and was also a good King.

Asa’s years he was mostly faithful to the Lord. He got rid of false worship and the altars to idols. He had the priests performing their duties. He sought the Lord when under attack, and build fortified cities. Over and again, they cried out to the Lord – he brought them victory.

They battled with Cush, Libya, and Israel. Of course many other countries – when they turned to the Lord and cried out, they found him strong in their behalf.

In 2 Chronicles 15:2 they prophet Azariah told Asa “the Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will abandon you.”

I’m reminded of Abraham Lincoln being asked if he thought God was FOR the Union or the Confederacy, and Lincoln said, “I’m not as much concerned as if God is with us as if WE are WITH GOD.”

Read down through 2 Chronicles 14, 15, and 16, but in 15:7 the prophet tells the king, “but as for you, be strong; don’t give up, for your work has a reward.”

And let me stop and say that the greatest reward is always being WITH God.

Asa removed the idol, he renovated the Altar to God at the Temple, and many people from surrounding tribes defected and lived in Judah because, v9, they saw the Lord was with him.

v14 they took an oath and promised to seek their help only in the Lord

v17 says Asa was wholeheartedly devoted his entire life. They experienced 10 years of peace. Then Israel came against Judah. They began to build a road block in Ramah to block people entering or leaving Judah.

Now 15:18 says that Asa had brought silver and gold, that was consecrated to the Lord by himself and his father, into the Temple and dedicated it to the Lord. That’s important to see.

So, when the conflict with Israel began, rather than cry out to God, 16:2 says he took the silver and gold from the Lord’s Temple and sent it to the King of Aram looking for help.

Aram had a treaty with Israel. Asa paid them to break their treaty with Israel and sign a treaty with Judah. Well, it seemed to work and Israel stopped building the roadblock and Judah’s people carried away the stones and timbers.

Success… Right?

The Seer Hanani came to Asa in 16:7 and said, “because you depended on the King of Aram and have not depended on the Lord, the army of the King of Aram has escaped you”
He reminds him that the Cushites and Libyans had vast armies yet they were defeated, “when you depended on the Lord.”

Then comes a verse I have often quoted as a life verse, the first half, but the second half is a warning, a cautionary proclamation.

Remember 15:17 said Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his WHOLE life

Well… sometimes our definition is different than God’s. “Oh yes I worship the Lord, I go to church, I pray. Asa gave his heart to God, he executed worship, he eliminated false worship, he led others to do the same… But “well this is politics Lord, this is nation building, this isn’t religious stuff”. Well, when you are King, everything is a display of worship, and that’s not just about kings.

There isn’t anything inherently wrong with treaties, unless God says, “no”, unless it is a substitute for trusting him.

16:9 the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him…

Then the warning for us, the reality for him… “…You have been foolish in this matter. Therefore, you will have wars from now on.”

Oh my when we try to make peace our own way and not God’s way. When we depend on ourselves and not God – the battle always rages. Sadly Asa became angry, had the preacher thrown in prison, mistreated many others, then got a disease in his feet and even then he wouldn’t go to the Lord only sought help in the doctors. Nothing wrong with doctors, and I believe in them, but we need to go to the Lord, humble ourselves and seek him.

The Battle is always the Lord’s. If we don’t go to him, and follow him, we will always be at war, even in peace. But if we go to and follow the Lord we can be at peace even in the midst of war.

Yes God has proven himself, remember and give him your whole heart, whole life, whole faith.
“Jesus came near and began to walk along with them…” Luke 24:15-27

April 16th, 2024
… but they were prevented from recognizing him” Does God move among us and we miss it? Does he work and yet he hides it? Yes and Yes

I wrote a few weeks ago that I have long been fascinated with Genesis 18 that Abraham was so close to God that the question was if he should hide his work from Abraham. I definitely try to be sensitive and aware of the ways and work of God around me. But God is always at work around us, that’s what Jesus said.

So, if God is always at work, then reality is:
1. sometimes we don’t care to know
2. Sometimes we fail to know
3. Other times it is hidden from us, but he is still desiring to teach us.
Luke 9:45: 18:34 Jesus speaks about his coming death and resurrection and it says, “it was concealed from them – so that they could not grasp, and were afraid to ask”

Interesting

I think it was hidden because although well-meaning, they would have gotten in the way. But also interesting they sensed something but, “were afraid to ask.” Maybe sometimes he hides fullness because we don’t want to know what he is doing – we are a little scared that if we know we will be accountable for action.

There was another time, after the resurrection, in John 21 when they didn’t recognize him. Now it certainly could be they didn’t recognize because he “hid” himself, or because they were considering going back to the old business, leaving their call.

Remember they had “pulled their boats on shore and left their nets and followed him.” Then Peter says, in John 21, “I’m going fishing.” Commercial fishing happened mostly at night, so they could sell in the morning – so perhaps this wasn’t casual fishing. Peter didn’t go alone, he took his partners – it was Peter and 6 others. Maybe – though Jesus was alive – they thought their opportunity was gone because of “failure” in leaving Jesus.

But Jesus renewed their call that morning. Feed my sheep… Follow Me… Don’t worry about anyone else… YOU… Follow me

So, I chased a rabbit there, but come back to these men on Resurrection Sunday, on the road to Emmaus. They were discussing and arguing about everything that happened. Jesus shows up – they didn’t recognize. I wonder if maybe his skin had been refreshed and renewed and he just looked a little different.

Jesus says, “what’s the dispute… 17b … they stopped walking and looked discouraged…” WOW that got my attention

Stuff happens – we don’t understand what God is doing – but Jesus IS Teaching and he is Walking With us.

They told this one, who they didn’t recognize, about “Jesus of Nazareth a Powerful Prophet and Preacher… but he was killed… we thought he was going to redeem Israel… Now it’s the Third Day.” Hmm … could it be that they had heard the previous statements of Jesus and half hoped…”

Then they said, “we heard some women saw angels… but the tomb was empty”

Often we are so close to understand… but we are stuck in unbelief.

Jesus says in v25 – “how foolish… and slow to believe… wasn’t it necessary to suffer those things…”

Believe what we already know and what we see will make more sense. Stop trying to make Jesus “fit” your path and agenda

“Beginning with Moses and the Prophets he interpreted for them the things concerning himself.”

Would you have loved to hear Jesus break down the Word? Perhaps he used a list like this:
- Pentateuch (Moses) – Genesis 3:15, 12:3, 22:18; Numbers 21:9, 24:17
- Prophets – 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, 52:13-53:12; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Daniel 7:13-14, 9:24-27; Miah 5:2; Zechariah 9:9, 12:10
- Perhaps the Psalms – Psalm 2, 8, 16, 22, 23 – among others
They ate it up! They invited him to stay with them for dinner, and then he broke bread and gave it to them and their eyes were opened, they recognized and he disappeared.

“weren’t our hearts burning while he was talking… explaining”

It was evening, but they left and went and told everyone what had happened.

Oh my, look for Jesus, Recognize his teaching, Believe what you already know, and then Tell everyone that he is Risen
I must become Less because I’m a Friend

March 26th, 2024
The idea of being a “friend of God” is something that I have longed for and striven toward for most of my life.

Do we ever get “jealous” of the attention given Jesus? Of course not – well – not that we would admit. In John 3, John the Baptist has been active on a mission for God, but ever since he baptized Jesus, Jesus is starting to get the attention. v26, his followers say, “that man, who was WITH you on the other side of the Jordan… well, he is baptizing and everyone is going to HIM”.

Such a real and funny incident. They meant well, they wanted the best for John. And John says, “a man can receive only what is given him from Heaven… I am not the Christ (I am) the friend who attends to the bridegroom… waits and listens for him and is full of joy when he hears (his) voice. The joy is mine and is now complete.”

A lot of wonderful truth there. When people forget my name and know and love Jesus, my joy is complete, my job is fulfilled.

John 15:15 – Jesus says, “I no longer call you servants… I have called you friends… I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit.” That usage of philos for “friend” is the same word John used. The idea of a friend of the bridegroom. The “groomsman”, if you will, had the job of 1) going to the potential bride and asking for her hand in marriage for the groom 2) to make arrangements for the wedding.

I am a friend of God

Abraham’s relationship with God caught my attention when I was a teenager trying to serve the Lord, Preach, and share Jesus.

In Isaiah 41:8, God calls Abraham his “friend”. In 2 Chronicles 20:7, Jehoshaphat prays, “are you not our God… of Abraham, your friend”

Why? How?

James 2:23 says “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called, ‘God’s Friend’”. James is explaining that, yes, “legally” our justification is by faith in the work of Christ, but it is shown, it is proven, by our actions. It isn’t either or, Salvation is by Faith, but the Works should follow and prove our faith.

Genesis 15, God had given Abram a promise, more than 20 years earlier of his blessing, a family, a land, blessing the world. But a lot had happened since then, Abram had failed the Lord in many ways, and the promise hadn’t come and Abram thought, “maybe I missed my chance, maybe the deal isn’t still on.” God takes him outside his tent, points to the stars in a cloudless night and says “If you can count the stars, you can count my fulfillment of my promise to you.”

Genesis 15:6 – “Abram believed God and he credited to him as righteousness”

And here, the true friendship begins to take flight. God says “I brought you from Us… to give you the Land” Friendship is in believing God, trusting, and doing what he says. Then in chapter 17 at 99, God changes his name from “exalted Father” Abram – to “Father of a Multitude” Abraham.

In Genesis 18, God reveals that fulfillment is coming for this 100 year old childless Father. And it is this interaction that has inspired me since I was a teenager. God promises the child, which is crazy by the way, he’s 100, wife is 90. But then in v17 The Lord (Jesus) and two angels are there and about to go down to Sodom and destroy it because of it’s wickedness and the three from Heaven have a conversation, “Should I hid this thing I’m about to do from Abraham?”

Abraham was close enough to God that IF God was going to move and he didn’t want Abraham to know, he would have to hide it. My prayer has been, “Lord I want to be close enough to you that if you move near me, you will have to hide it or I will know. My desire is for his desire, my mission for his mission, my passion be his passion.

Knowing God is always then about doing. Abraham was immediately then concerned about the people in Sodom, which to me is evidence of a shared heart of God. Even if God is bringing judgment, he isn’t happy about it, he desires repentance and blessing. Abraham intercedes for any who might be faithful / righteous. He finally gets down to “Lord if there are Ten, will you withhold judgment? The Lord agrees, but as it turns out, only four – Lot, his wife, and two daughters leave, and even his wife looked back.

But I want to be a close, perceptive friend of God.

And so back to John the Baptist in John 3:30. He says that as a friend – “He must increase, I must decrease… The one from above is above all. The one from earth speaks earthly things. The one from God speaks God’s words”. Then v35 “the Father loves the Son and has given all thing into his hands. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on them

I want to be a friend of God.
- A Friend hides IN the Son
- A Friend Tells about the Son
- A Friend Obeys the Son
- A Friend stays close to the Son so he hears the Father, points to the Son, and receives the blessing of the overflow of all that comes to the Son.
I just want to be a Friend of the Son.

Finishing with Abraham – Hebrews 11:8-10 tells us what a Friend does by Faith
- when called – obeyed and set out
- went through did not know where – Oh the Destination was WITH not Where – not a Place – the Destination is always WITH Jesus
- stayed a foreigner – this earth is not my home
- was an heir of the promise
- looked forward to the fulfillment in Heaven – a Friend of God isn’t a friend of the world – not even in the good sense, this earth is temporary
I want to be a Friend of God – Ultimately I want to just be “That Guy who told me about Jesus – Just a Friend of Jesus.
Be Courageous

February 28th, 2024
John 16:25-33

Ok so Jesus is in that night before his crucifixion interaction with his disciples. They don’t know what’s coming – even though he has told them many times that he is going to suffer, die, and be resurrected.

We know that Jesus has done most of his teaching through parables – so maybe when he spoke plainly – they were still trying to get the object lesson. So many he didn’t mean he was going to ACTUALLY DIE…

Let me say that we should always assume that Jesus is trying to tell us something ACTUALLY – and unless there is reason to believe it is figurative – then assume it is literal and even then it is a figurative explanation of a Literal Thing.

Jesus said “I’m the Gate to the Sheep” and so yes he isn’t a door with hinges and a lock, made of wood or steel, but he IS the only way in. So it’s a figurative picture but a literal reality.

In the previous verses Jesus tells them “Listen life is going to get tough. They are going to kick you out of the synagogues and think they are doing a ‘service to God’.”

He said “but they haven’t known the Father.” He said “I’m telling you this so when it happens you will remember, he told us.”

Then he tells them that the Holy Spirit, a Counselor, is coming to be with them and encourage and teach them.

He says, ”in a little while you won’t see me, then in a little while you WILL see me”

That totally blew their mind… and he called them on it, asking why this so worried them… life was going to get tough, but sorrow will turn to joy – just like when a couple is expecting a baby there are tough times but after the birth there is joy!

So, he says you will have sorrow, but joy is coming.

Now look and read with me vv 25-28

John 16:25–33 (CSB) — 25 “I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 On that day you will ask in my name, and I am not telling you that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” …

Man… what is Jesus talking about?

Well, they think they have finally heard something they can connect with…

29 His disciples said, “Look, now you’re speaking plainly and not using any figurative language.

Ok Jesus … you’ve taken this out of theory and into practicality … out of Spiritual and into the Personal.

“Now you speak plainly…”

30 Now we know that you know everything and don’t need anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.”

Now we KNOW – that you know EVERYTHING and don’t need anyone to question you.

“By this we believe that you came from God…”

Really?

Jesus says…

31 Jesus responded to them, “Do you now believe?

If we NOW Believe… won’t that make a difference?

If you believe it is plain.

If you believe that Jesus KNOWS Everything

If you believe that we don’t need to QUESTION Him

If you believe he comes from God…

Then Stop Questioning – Start Doing – Put your focus on where we are heading.

DO you? Do You BELIEVE?

In other words … Let me See it?

32 Indeed, an hour is coming, and has come, when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave me alone. 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 peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

When we Understand Jesus… Then the Hard Work Comes

An Hour has Come… When Jesus is PLAIN… Tells us how we should live… we better get with it.

What are some “Plain Things” that Jesus says that we don’t do? Let’s get a list… make your own list and check yourself on how you are following what you know is plain.

Jesus is going to tell them, in Acts 1 to GO… and Be Witnesses… Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the Ends of the Earth. He’s going to tell them… Stay right here until you receive the Holy Spirit… But once they Received the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 then it’s time to what? Be happy and have a worship service?

No – GO

An hour is coming and has come when you will be scattered… and leave me alone

When Jesus was arrested and tried, and put on the cross – they all ran away, all except John. Maybe they weren’t as ready as they thought

Jesus had told Peter in Luke 22 – “I’m praying that your faith will not fail… when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” – Sometimes we fail to be as strong as we think we are – but Jesus is still praying and making provision for the other side of the challenge.

Peter thought he could go to jail or even die for Jesus – And truth is he DID on both accounts… but in the meantime, Jesus was encouraging and praying strength for him because it was going to come differently than he thought and great things were going to happen along the way.

Jesus DOES know everything and he knows where we will fail and is waiting to pick us back up and get us busy

He said “In Me… you may have peace… you WILL have Suffering…” but

What’s the Proper Response to Knowledge, Suffering, and Peace?

Be COURAGEOUS –

What is Courage?

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” ― Nelson Mandela

And before him…

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear. – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Courage is doing the right thing in the MIDST of Fear

Courage is not giving in to Fear but Getting Passed it

Courage is not being misdirected by fear, but maintaining our effort toward our purpose.

He doesn’t tell us to understand Courage

He doesn’t tell us to teach about it

He doesn’t tell us to explain it

He tells us to BE –

What’s the famous quote of Shakespeare – “to Be or Not to Be that is the question” – he was talking about LIVING or NOT Living. It’s a quote regarding taking one’s own life or living in it. That is not for us, that is not the understanding of Being. To Be or Not to Be in Life is God’s decision… but HOW we live… Be…

www.grammarly.com – says “The irregular verb to be is the most complicated of all the English verbs—and it just so happens to be the most used, too. The to be verbs are am, are, is, was, and were, along with the bare infinitive be, the present participle being, and the past participle been.”

Grammarly goes on to explain

The verb to be means to exist (I am here), to occur (The meeting is Tuesday), or to have the characteristics of something (She was a quiet child). It is the most common verb in English, partly because of its additional uses in grammar: to be verbs can be auxiliary verbs that help create other tenses or linking verbs that help describe the subject of a sentence.

BE –
- Present – am, is, are,
- Past – was, were
- Past Participle – been
- Present Participle – being
- Future – Will Be
- Possibility – Can Be, Should Be, Might Be Must Be,
- Negative – are not, was never, will not be, is not, cannot be,
Jesus says, if you know me – if you believe me, if you understand where I’m from and where I am going – thus where you are going, why you exist…

Be COURAGEOUS!

Why?

I can’t do this… How can I be Courageous?

Jesus says, I Have Conquered the World!
- All you see
- All you face
- All you will experience
Jesus has WON

And yet with Jesus – sometimes “winning” is NOT the Absence of Difficulty – Difficulty is sometimes part of the path

Winning for him is not the absence of Pain

Winning is not the absence of what looks like defeat

The CROSS was coming – suffering, pain, appearance of losing, coming

What’s the Opposite of Being Courageous?
- Paralyzed by Fear
- Hiding instead of facing it
- Being disconnected with God’s purpose
It is not a lack of fear or even failure…It is Perseverance, Patience, Persistence

Knowing that Victory is won, I’m just not living IN it, yet the Celebration has already begun.

Oh and By the way… As Soon as Jesus says all of these things

John 17:1 continues Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven and said, “Father the hour has come. Glory your Son so that the Son may glorify you…”

Being Courageous is about knowing Jesus, Believing in His Purposes, Following Him and Letting him Lift you Up to the Place where YOU can Lift HIM Up.