Don't Retaliate
Mt 5:9-26 Blessed are the peacemakers! For they shall be called the sons of God.
"Blessed are they who have been persecuted for righteousness sake! For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
"Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for your reward in Heaven is great. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
"You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its savor, with what shall it be salted? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and to be trodden underfoot by men.
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the grain-measure, but on a lampstand. And it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.
"Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the law until all is fulfilled. Therefore whoever shall break one of these commandments, the least, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven. But whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.
"For I say to you that unless your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
"You have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'You shall not kill' --and, 'Whoever shall kill shall be liable to the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be liable to the judgment. And whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be liable to the sanhedrin; but whoever shall say, Fool! shall be liable to be thrown into the fire of hell.
"Therefore if you offer your gift on the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
"Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are in the way with him; that the opponent not deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, You shall by no means come out from there until you have paid the last kodrantes."
The overlap with previous verses demonstrates the way all the law overlaps, one teaching feeding into another, flowing like living waters.
Mt 5:38-42 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist evil. But whoever shall strike you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. And to him desiring to sue you, and to take away your tunic, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two.
"Give to him who asks of you, and you shall not turn away from him who would borrow from you."
Luke 6:28-35 "Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you.
"And to him who strikes you on the one cheek, also offer the other. And to him who takes away your garment, do not forbid your tunic also. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from him who takes away your goods, do not ask them again.
"And as you desire that men should do to you, you do also to them likewise.
For if you love those who love you, what thanks do you have? For sinners also love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks do you have? For sinners also do the same. And if you lend to those of whom you hope to receive, what thanks do you have? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return. And your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil."
Keep a Proper Attitude Toward Wealth
Mt 6:19-21 "Do not lay up treasures on earth for yourselves, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up treasures in Heaven for yourselves, where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Mt 6:24-33 "No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
"Therefore I say to you, Do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Behold the birds of the air; for they sow not, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them; are you not much better than they are? Which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his stature? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They do not toil, nor do they spin, but I say to you that even Solomon in his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Therefore if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much rather clothe you, little-faiths? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed? For the nations seek after all these things. For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you."
Forgive
Mt 6:12"...and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors."
Mt 6:14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Mt 18:21-35 "Then Peter came to Him and said, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times?'
"Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.
"'Therefore the kingdom of Heaven has been compared to a certain king who desired to make an accounting with his servants. And when he had begun to count, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he had nothing to pay, his lord commanded that he, and his wife and children, and all that he had, be sold, and payment be made.
"'Then the servant fell down and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, have patience with me and I will pay you all."
"Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.
"But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. And he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe.' And his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will pay you all.' And he would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay the debt.
"So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry. And they came and told their lord all that was done.
"Then his lord, after he had called him, said to him, O wicked servant, 'I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have pitied your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?' And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him.
"So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also to you, unless each one of you from your hearts forgive his brother their trespasses."
Mark 11:25-26 "And when you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive it so that also your Father in Heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in Heaven forgive your trespasses."
Luke 11:4 "...and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
Lu 17:3-4 "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him. And if he repents, forgive him. And if he trespasses against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns again to you, saying, I repent, you shall forgive him."
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
II. The Self-Denial Commandments: "...Let him deny himself..." (6)
Don't Be Anxious
Mt 6:25 "Therefore I say to you, Do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Behold the birds of the air; for they sow not, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them; are you not much better than they are? Which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his stature? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They do not toil, nor do they spin."
Mt 6:31 "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed?"
Mt 6:34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow; for tomorrow shall be anxious for its own things. Sufficient to the day is the evil of it."
Luke 12:22 And He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, Be not anxious as to your life, what you shall eat; nor for the body, what you shall put on."
Luke 12:25 "And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his stature?
If then you are not able to do even the least, why are you anxious about the rest?"
Don't Be Angry With Your Brother
Mt 5:22 "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be liable to the judgment. And whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be liable to the sanhedrin; but whoever shall say, Fool! shall be liable to be thrown into the fire of hell.
"Therefore if you offer your gift on the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."
Mt 18:15 "But if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother."
Luke 6:41 "And why do you look at the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not see the beam that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me pull out the splinter in your eye, when you yourself do not see the beam that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First cast out the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to pull out the splinter that is in your brother's eye.
Luke 17:3 "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him. And if he repents, forgive him."
The responsibility for dealing with anger, whether its mine or yours, is mine. Both are to pursue the other until it is worked out, but if one does not pursue then the other must take it on their shoulders. Pride over being correct must yield to dealing with the issue.
Don't Judge Unfairly
Mt 7:1-2 "Judge not, that you may not be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with whatever measure you measure out, it shall be measured to you again."
Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven."
John 5:30 "I can do nothing of My own self. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of the Father who has sent Me."
John 7:24 "Do not judge according to sight, but judge righteous judgment."
John 8:15-16 "You judge after the flesh, I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent Me."
Mt 6:25 "Therefore I say to you, Do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Behold the birds of the air; for they sow not, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them; are you not much better than they are? Which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his stature? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They do not toil, nor do they spin."
Mt 6:31 "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed?"
Mt 6:34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow; for tomorrow shall be anxious for its own things. Sufficient to the day is the evil of it."
Luke 12:22 And He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, Be not anxious as to your life, what you shall eat; nor for the body, what you shall put on."
Luke 12:25 "And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his stature?
If then you are not able to do even the least, why are you anxious about the rest?"
Don't Be Angry With Your Brother
Mt 5:22 "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be liable to the judgment. And whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be liable to the sanhedrin; but whoever shall say, Fool! shall be liable to be thrown into the fire of hell.
"Therefore if you offer your gift on the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."
Mt 18:15 "But if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother."
Luke 6:41 "And why do you look at the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not see the beam that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me pull out the splinter in your eye, when you yourself do not see the beam that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First cast out the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to pull out the splinter that is in your brother's eye.
Luke 17:3 "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him. And if he repents, forgive him."
The responsibility for dealing with anger, whether its mine or yours, is mine. Both are to pursue the other until it is worked out, but if one does not pursue then the other must take it on their shoulders. Pride over being correct must yield to dealing with the issue.
Don't Judge Unfairly
Mt 7:1-2 "Judge not, that you may not be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with whatever measure you measure out, it shall be measured to you again."
Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven."
John 5:30 "I can do nothing of My own self. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of the Father who has sent Me."
John 7:24 "Do not judge according to sight, but judge righteous judgment."
John 8:15-16 "You judge after the flesh, I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent Me."
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
II. The Self-Denial Commandments: "...Let him deny himself..."(5)
Keep The Personal Disciplines to Yourself
Mt 6:1-6 "Take heed that you do not do your merciful deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in Heaven. Therefore when you do your merciful deeds, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory from men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
"But when you do merciful deeds, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does, so that your merciful deeds may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret Himself shall reward you openly.
"And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
"But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly."
Mt 6:16-18 "And when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, of a sad face. For they disfigure their faces so that they may appear to men to fast. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.
"But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to fast, but to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly."
(One can add that to our fasting list as well.)
Don't Fear
Mt 10:26-31 "Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, and nothing hidden which shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear, proclaim on the housetops.
"And do not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for an assarion? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear, you are of more value than many sparrows."
Mt 14:26-27 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a phantom! And they cried out for fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer, I AM! Do not fear."
Luke 5:10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not fear, from now on you will be taking men alive."
Lu 8:49 He was still speaking when someone came from the synagogue-ruler, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead, do not trouble the Teacher."
But when Jesus heard, He answered Him, saying, "Do not fear, only believe and she shall be healed."
And coming into the house, He allowed no one to go in, except Peter and James and John, and the father and the mother of the girl.
And all were weeping and bewailing her. But He said, "Do not weep; she has not died, but sleeps."
And they ridiculed, knowing that she was dead.
And He put them all out. And He took her by the hand and called, saying, "Little girl, arise!"
And her spirit came again, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that food be given her to eat. And her parents were astonished. But He charged them to tell no one the thing that happened.
Luke 12:5-7 "But I will warn you of whom you shall fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you, fear Him. Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear, you are of more value than many sparrows."
Re 2:10 "Do not at all fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the Devil will cast some of you into prison, so that you may be tried. And you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life."
Mt 6:1-6 "Take heed that you do not do your merciful deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in Heaven. Therefore when you do your merciful deeds, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory from men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
"But when you do merciful deeds, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does, so that your merciful deeds may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret Himself shall reward you openly.
"And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
"But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly."
Mt 6:16-18 "And when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, of a sad face. For they disfigure their faces so that they may appear to men to fast. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.
"But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to fast, but to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly."
(One can add that to our fasting list as well.)
Don't Fear
Mt 10:26-31 "Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, and nothing hidden which shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear, proclaim on the housetops.
"And do not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for an assarion? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear, you are of more value than many sparrows."
Mt 14:26-27 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a phantom! And they cried out for fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer, I AM! Do not fear."
Luke 5:10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not fear, from now on you will be taking men alive."
Lu 8:49 He was still speaking when someone came from the synagogue-ruler, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead, do not trouble the Teacher."
But when Jesus heard, He answered Him, saying, "Do not fear, only believe and she shall be healed."
And coming into the house, He allowed no one to go in, except Peter and James and John, and the father and the mother of the girl.
And all were weeping and bewailing her. But He said, "Do not weep; she has not died, but sleeps."
And they ridiculed, knowing that she was dead.
And He put them all out. And He took her by the hand and called, saying, "Little girl, arise!"
And her spirit came again, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that food be given her to eat. And her parents were astonished. But He charged them to tell no one the thing that happened.
Luke 12:5-7 "But I will warn you of whom you shall fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you, fear Him. Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear, you are of more value than many sparrows."
Re 2:10 "Do not at all fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the Devil will cast some of you into prison, so that you may be tried. And you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life."
II. The Self-Denial Commandments: "...Let him deny himself..." (4)
Know The Scriptures
Mt 4:4 But he answered and said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."
Mt 13:19-20 "When anyone hears the Word of the kingdom and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown by the wayside.
"But that which was sown on the stony places is this: he who hears the Word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root in himself, and is temporary. For when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, he immediately stumbles.
"And that sown into the thorns is this: he who hears the word; and the anxiety of this world, and the deceit of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
"But that sown on the good ground is this: "he who hears the Word and understands; who also bears fruit and produces" one truly a hundredfold; and one sixty; and one thirty."
Mt 19:11 But He said to them, "Not all receive this word, except those to whom it is given."
Mark 4:14-20 The sower sows the Word.
"And these are those by the wayside, where the Word is sown. And when they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts.
"And these are those likewise being sown on stony places; who, when they hear the Word, immediately receive it with gladness. But they have no root in themselves, but are temporary. Afterward when affliction or persecution arises for the Word's sake, they are immediately offended.
"And these are those being sown among thorns; such as hear the Word, and the cares of this world, and the deceit of riches, and the lust about other things entering in, choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.
"And these are those sown on good ground, who hear the Word and welcome it, and bear fruit, one thirty, one sixty, and one a hundredfold."
Mark 7:11-13 "But you say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, Corban! (that is, A gift to God, whatever you may profit by me) and you no longer allow him to do anything toward his father or mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have delivered. And you do many such things."
Mark 12:10 And have you not read this scripture "The Stone which the builders rejected has become the Head of the corner:
Mark 15:28 And the Scripture was fulfilled which said, "And he was numbered with the lawless."
Luke 1:13 Since many took in hand to draw up an account concerning the matters which have been borne out among us, even as those who from the beginning delivered to us, becoming eye-witnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, following all things accurately from the very first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus,
Note: I've included these last two "non-Jesus" quotes here as well to point out two things:
a) Knowing Scripture, Mark is able to say Jesus fulfilled it. He has a more powerful witness because of it.
b) Luke makes it clear that HE wrote his scripture as an eye-witness. This contradicts the teachers who say that the Gospels were concocted long after Christ's death. Knowing this Scripture helps us defend the rest. These are "active" examples of the efficacy Jesus' command.
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written that 'man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"
Luke 4:21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your ears."
Luke 8:11-15 "And the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God.
"Those by the roadside are the ones who hear; then the Devil comes and takes the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
"Those on the rock are the ones who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy. And these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
"And those which fell among thorns are the ones who, when they have heard, go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of life, and do not bear to maturity.
"But those on the good ground are the ones who, in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience."
Note: Jesus parable repeats in three Gospels while John expands on it in his own more extensive way. Keeping the word results in bearing fruit, in the eventual creation of new Christians. Life by study and example.
Luke 11:28 But He said, "No; rather, blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it."
John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.
There was a man sent from God; his name was John. This one came as a witness, to bear witness concerning the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
He (the Word) was the true Light; He enlightens every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and the world did not know Him.
He came to His own, and His own received Him not.
But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name, who were born, not of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God.
And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth.
Note: John gives us the history of the world in a few sentences. Not the human history of strife and violence and rage, but the history of God's intent for the humanity and the origin of the plan for healing it. More pertinent to this section, we learn the the study of the Word IS the study, the getting to know Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, he inhabits every page.
John 2:22 Therefore when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them, and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
John 5:37-38 "And He sending Me, the Father Himself, has borne witness of Me. Neither have you heard His voice at any time nor seen His shape. And you do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He has sent."
John 7:38 "He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.'"
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed on Him, "If you continue in My word, you are My disciples indeed."
John 8:37 "I know that you are Abraham's seed, but you seek to kill Me because My Word has no place in you."
John 8:51 "Truly, truly, I say to you, If a man keeps My Word, he shall never see death."
John 8:55 "Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I should say I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I know Him and I keep His Word."
John 10:34 Jesus answered them, "Has it not written in your law, 'I said, You are gods?'
"If He called those gods with whom the Word of God was, and the Scripture cannot be broken, do you say of Him whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, You blaspheme, because I said, I am the Son of God?
"If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me."
John 12:48 "He who rejects Me and does not receive My words has one who judges him; the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."
John 13:18 "I do not speak of you all; I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture might be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.'"
John 14:23-24 Jesus answered and said to him, "If a man loves Me, he will keep My Word. And My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words, and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me."
John 15:3 "Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you."
John 17:12 "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those that You have given Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled."
John 17:14 "I have given them Your Word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
John 17:17 "Sanctify them through Your truth. Your Word is truth."
John, who lived longer than the rest of the Twelve, stressed the importance of the Word throughout his scriptures, having seen the way men of even that early time misused and wrongly taught the Word. Many of his teaching undercut the sect who worshiped John the Baptist as the Christ, the Gnostics who claimed a "greater enlightenment" and pointed out Christ came to fulfill the longing of all religions, the desire to somehow reach God. As the Church lost it's original Apostles and those who actually knew the physical Jesus, John foresaw the continued rise of other teachings and took steps to say that Jesus wanted everything built on the Word, on Him.
Mt 4:4 But he answered and said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."
Mt 13:19-20 "When anyone hears the Word of the kingdom and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown by the wayside.
"But that which was sown on the stony places is this: he who hears the Word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root in himself, and is temporary. For when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, he immediately stumbles.
"And that sown into the thorns is this: he who hears the word; and the anxiety of this world, and the deceit of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
"But that sown on the good ground is this: "he who hears the Word and understands; who also bears fruit and produces" one truly a hundredfold; and one sixty; and one thirty."
Mt 19:11 But He said to them, "Not all receive this word, except those to whom it is given."
Mark 4:14-20 The sower sows the Word.
"And these are those by the wayside, where the Word is sown. And when they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts.
"And these are those likewise being sown on stony places; who, when they hear the Word, immediately receive it with gladness. But they have no root in themselves, but are temporary. Afterward when affliction or persecution arises for the Word's sake, they are immediately offended.
"And these are those being sown among thorns; such as hear the Word, and the cares of this world, and the deceit of riches, and the lust about other things entering in, choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.
"And these are those sown on good ground, who hear the Word and welcome it, and bear fruit, one thirty, one sixty, and one a hundredfold."
Mark 7:11-13 "But you say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, Corban! (that is, A gift to God, whatever you may profit by me) and you no longer allow him to do anything toward his father or mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have delivered. And you do many such things."
Mark 12:10 And have you not read this scripture "The Stone which the builders rejected has become the Head of the corner:
Mark 15:28 And the Scripture was fulfilled which said, "And he was numbered with the lawless."
Luke 1:13 Since many took in hand to draw up an account concerning the matters which have been borne out among us, even as those who from the beginning delivered to us, becoming eye-witnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, following all things accurately from the very first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus,
Note: I've included these last two "non-Jesus" quotes here as well to point out two things:
a) Knowing Scripture, Mark is able to say Jesus fulfilled it. He has a more powerful witness because of it.
b) Luke makes it clear that HE wrote his scripture as an eye-witness. This contradicts the teachers who say that the Gospels were concocted long after Christ's death. Knowing this Scripture helps us defend the rest. These are "active" examples of the efficacy Jesus' command.
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written that 'man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"
Luke 4:21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your ears."
Luke 8:11-15 "And the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God.
"Those by the roadside are the ones who hear; then the Devil comes and takes the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
"Those on the rock are the ones who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy. And these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
"And those which fell among thorns are the ones who, when they have heard, go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of life, and do not bear to maturity.
"But those on the good ground are the ones who, in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience."
Note: Jesus parable repeats in three Gospels while John expands on it in his own more extensive way. Keeping the word results in bearing fruit, in the eventual creation of new Christians. Life by study and example.
Luke 11:28 But He said, "No; rather, blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it."
John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.
There was a man sent from God; his name was John. This one came as a witness, to bear witness concerning the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
He (the Word) was the true Light; He enlightens every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and the world did not know Him.
He came to His own, and His own received Him not.
But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name, who were born, not of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God.
And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth.
Note: John gives us the history of the world in a few sentences. Not the human history of strife and violence and rage, but the history of God's intent for the humanity and the origin of the plan for healing it. More pertinent to this section, we learn the the study of the Word IS the study, the getting to know Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, he inhabits every page.
John 2:22 Therefore when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them, and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
John 5:37-38 "And He sending Me, the Father Himself, has borne witness of Me. Neither have you heard His voice at any time nor seen His shape. And you do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He has sent."
John 7:38 "He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.'"
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed on Him, "If you continue in My word, you are My disciples indeed."
John 8:37 "I know that you are Abraham's seed, but you seek to kill Me because My Word has no place in you."
John 8:51 "Truly, truly, I say to you, If a man keeps My Word, he shall never see death."
John 8:55 "Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I should say I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I know Him and I keep His Word."
John 10:34 Jesus answered them, "Has it not written in your law, 'I said, You are gods?'
"If He called those gods with whom the Word of God was, and the Scripture cannot be broken, do you say of Him whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, You blaspheme, because I said, I am the Son of God?
"If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me."
John 12:48 "He who rejects Me and does not receive My words has one who judges him; the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."
John 13:18 "I do not speak of you all; I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture might be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.'"
John 14:23-24 Jesus answered and said to him, "If a man loves Me, he will keep My Word. And My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words, and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me."
John 15:3 "Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you."
John 17:12 "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those that You have given Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled."
John 17:14 "I have given them Your Word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
John 17:17 "Sanctify them through Your truth. Your Word is truth."
John, who lived longer than the rest of the Twelve, stressed the importance of the Word throughout his scriptures, having seen the way men of even that early time misused and wrongly taught the Word. Many of his teaching undercut the sect who worshiped John the Baptist as the Christ, the Gnostics who claimed a "greater enlightenment" and pointed out Christ came to fulfill the longing of all religions, the desire to somehow reach God. As the Church lost it's original Apostles and those who actually knew the physical Jesus, John foresaw the continued rise of other teachings and took steps to say that Jesus wanted everything built on the Word, on Him.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
II. The Self-Denial Commandments: "...Let him deny himself..." (3)
Fast
Mt 6:16-18 "And when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, of a sad face. For they disfigure their faces so that they may appear to men to fast. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.
But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to fast, but to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.
Mt 9:14-15 Then the disciples of John came to Him saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"
And Jesus said to them, "Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast."
Mark 2:18-19 The disciples of John and those of the Pharisees were fasting. And they came and said to Him, "Why do John's disciples and those of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
And Jesus said to them, "Can the sons of the bridechamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast."
Luke 5:33-35 And they said to Him, "Why do John's disciples fast often and make prayers, and also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?"
But He said to them, "Can you make the sons of the bridechamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast in those days."
"Fasting" held a different meaning then. One didn't eat breakfast or lunch and ate only after sundown of that day. The fast wasn't for diet or self-improvement, but to take time from ALL focus on the self and place focus on the Lord. It meant a sacrifice, a consideration of all God gave including every meal and prayer time in communion with Him. One fasted on the Sabbath so one was thinking of God, not the meal before or after contemplation. It may have had similar healthful effects as cleansing fasts today, but the stated purpose was obedience to God.
If we consider fasting, those rules should apply.
Along with our Lord's order not to tell anyone about it. His taboo on hypocrisy laces it's way through many of the commands. Making it worthy of much contemplation as well.
Mt 6:16-18 "And when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, of a sad face. For they disfigure their faces so that they may appear to men to fast. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.
But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to fast, but to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.
Mt 9:14-15 Then the disciples of John came to Him saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"
And Jesus said to them, "Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast."
Mark 2:18-19 The disciples of John and those of the Pharisees were fasting. And they came and said to Him, "Why do John's disciples and those of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
And Jesus said to them, "Can the sons of the bridechamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast."
Luke 5:33-35 And they said to Him, "Why do John's disciples fast often and make prayers, and also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?"
But He said to them, "Can you make the sons of the bridechamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast in those days."
"Fasting" held a different meaning then. One didn't eat breakfast or lunch and ate only after sundown of that day. The fast wasn't for diet or self-improvement, but to take time from ALL focus on the self and place focus on the Lord. It meant a sacrifice, a consideration of all God gave including every meal and prayer time in communion with Him. One fasted on the Sabbath so one was thinking of God, not the meal before or after contemplation. It may have had similar healthful effects as cleansing fasts today, but the stated purpose was obedience to God.
If we consider fasting, those rules should apply.
Along with our Lord's order not to tell anyone about it. His taboo on hypocrisy laces it's way through many of the commands. Making it worthy of much contemplation as well.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
II. The Self-Denial Commandments: "...Let him deny himself..." (2)
Pray
Mt 5:44 "But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you,"
Mt 6:5-8 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
"But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. But when you pray, do not babble vain words, as the nations. For they think that in their much speaking they shall be heard.
"Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask Him."
Mt 9:38 "Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest that He will send out laborers into His harvest."
Mt 23:14 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and pray at length as a pretense. Therefore you shall receive the greater condemnation."
Mt 26:41 "Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Mt 26:53 "Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels?"
Mark 13:33 "Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is."
Mark 14:32 "And they came to a place named Gethsemane. And He said to His disciples, Sit here while I pray."
Luke 6:28 "Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you."
Luke 10:2 "Then He said to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest that He may send forth laborers into His harvest."
Luke 11:1-4 And it happened as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught His disciples."
And He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father, who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, as in Heaven, so also on the earth. Give us day by day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
Luke 18:1-8 And He also spoke a parable to them to teach it is always right to pray, and not to faint, saying, "A certain judge was in a certain city, not fearing God, nor respecting man. And a widow was in that city. And she came to Him, saying, 'Avenge me of my adversary.' And he would not do so for a time.
But afterward he said within himself, Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, that she not wear me down in the end."
And the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge says. And shall not God avenge His own elect who cry day and night to Him, though He has been long-suffering over them?
I say to you that He will avenge them speedily. Yet when the Son of man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?"
Luke 22:40 "And when He was at the place, He said to them, "Pray that you do not enter into temptation."
Luke 22:46 And He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray lest you enter into temptation."
Note: Our Lord prayed at the drop of a sandal. He's depicted as taking hours at night with his Father, as always going off away from the crowd, no matter how tired he was, to pray to the Father, to give the conversation the utmost importance and making solitude a prime concern, that He might focus on his conversation, that God was the only one, no earthly distractions.
And the subject matter becomes everything: the needs of the day, the joy of the relationship, praise of the Father. "In all things", he knelt to pray and provided our example.
We complain about the busyness of modern life. He towed a crowd around behind him. He became the target of every spear in the country. Moving constantly so the religious leaders wouldn't kill him before his appointed hour. Dealing with his disciples bickering, jostling for the spot next to the throne, one flighty, several temperamental, one a traitor. We don't even come close.
Find the time and build the relationship. Nothing mattered more to our Lord. Rank it accordingly.
Mt 5:44 "But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you,"
Mt 6:5-8 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
"But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. But when you pray, do not babble vain words, as the nations. For they think that in their much speaking they shall be heard.
"Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask Him."
Mt 9:38 "Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest that He will send out laborers into His harvest."
Mt 23:14 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and pray at length as a pretense. Therefore you shall receive the greater condemnation."
Mt 26:41 "Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Mt 26:53 "Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels?"
Mark 13:33 "Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is."
Mark 14:32 "And they came to a place named Gethsemane. And He said to His disciples, Sit here while I pray."
Luke 6:28 "Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you."
Luke 10:2 "Then He said to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest that He may send forth laborers into His harvest."
Luke 11:1-4 And it happened as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught His disciples."
And He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father, who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, as in Heaven, so also on the earth. Give us day by day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
Luke 18:1-8 And He also spoke a parable to them to teach it is always right to pray, and not to faint, saying, "A certain judge was in a certain city, not fearing God, nor respecting man. And a widow was in that city. And she came to Him, saying, 'Avenge me of my adversary.' And he would not do so for a time.
But afterward he said within himself, Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, that she not wear me down in the end."
And the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge says. And shall not God avenge His own elect who cry day and night to Him, though He has been long-suffering over them?
I say to you that He will avenge them speedily. Yet when the Son of man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?"
Luke 22:40 "And when He was at the place, He said to them, "Pray that you do not enter into temptation."
Luke 22:46 And He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray lest you enter into temptation."
Note: Our Lord prayed at the drop of a sandal. He's depicted as taking hours at night with his Father, as always going off away from the crowd, no matter how tired he was, to pray to the Father, to give the conversation the utmost importance and making solitude a prime concern, that He might focus on his conversation, that God was the only one, no earthly distractions.
And the subject matter becomes everything: the needs of the day, the joy of the relationship, praise of the Father. "In all things", he knelt to pray and provided our example.
We complain about the busyness of modern life. He towed a crowd around behind him. He became the target of every spear in the country. Moving constantly so the religious leaders wouldn't kill him before his appointed hour. Dealing with his disciples bickering, jostling for the spot next to the throne, one flighty, several temperamental, one a traitor. We don't even come close.
Find the time and build the relationship. Nothing mattered more to our Lord. Rank it accordingly.
Friday, January 22, 2010
II. The Self-Denial Commandments: "...Let him deny himself..."
By faith, we are saved.
By faith, we move on.
Have Faith
Mt 21:21-22 Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, If you have faith and do not doubt, you shall not only do this miracle of the fig tree, but also; if you shall say to this mountain, Be moved and be thrown into the sea; it shall be done.
And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive."
Mark 4:40 And He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"
Mark 5:34 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be whole from your plague."
Luke 5:20 And seeing their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."
Luke 8:48 And He said to her, "Daughter, be comforted. Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not. And when you are converted, strengthen your brothers."
John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me."
John 15:4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me."
John 16:26-27 "At that day you will ask in My name; and I do not say to you that I will pray to the Father for you, for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from God."
Faith underpins everything in our lives, accepts challenges every day to strengthen it, builds on itself as we grow with the building.
Serve Only the True God
Mt 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"
Mt 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
Luke 1:74 "...that He would grant to us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear."
Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.'"
Worship in The Spirit
Mark 7:7 "However, they worship Me in vain, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
John 4:23-24 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to worship Him.
God is a spirit, and they who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth."
By faith, we move on.
Have Faith
Mt 21:21-22 Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, If you have faith and do not doubt, you shall not only do this miracle of the fig tree, but also; if you shall say to this mountain, Be moved and be thrown into the sea; it shall be done.
And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive."
Mark 4:40 And He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"
Mark 5:34 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be whole from your plague."
Luke 5:20 And seeing their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."
Luke 8:48 And He said to her, "Daughter, be comforted. Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not. And when you are converted, strengthen your brothers."
John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me."
John 15:4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me."
John 16:26-27 "At that day you will ask in My name; and I do not say to you that I will pray to the Father for you, for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from God."
Faith underpins everything in our lives, accepts challenges every day to strengthen it, builds on itself as we grow with the building.
Serve Only the True God
Mt 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"
Mt 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
Luke 1:74 "...that He would grant to us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear."
Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.'"
Worship in The Spirit
Mark 7:7 "However, they worship Me in vain, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
John 4:23-24 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to worship Him.
God is a spirit, and they who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth."
Break 2
We accept the gift.
We are filled with the Spirit.
We begin to walk in holiness.
The oddest thing: we stand purified and complete without ever reading the Law or know the Text. Yet we DO know it! We read a page and it sounds familiar, something we've read before, someplace. We feel...at home in the Word. It feeds something in us. We realize we were saved by hearing the Word.
It calls to us now for something more.
We can do as others. We can say, "Thanks for the gift. See you in eternity." We can walk back to the things we used to do. Put our feet up and watch the game. Check out porn on the net. Keep living with our boyfriend. Keep those trysts with someone we meet only for passion. Chase the money and the cars and the houses. Go on as if nothing has happened.
But something happened. And we can't pretend we were not changed.
We watched the old shows and they were pointless.
We tried to find warmth in the affair and found only a dusty, tired lust, meaningless without love.
Even the car polish smells odd. Uninviting.
So we know we've changed. We find joy in just talking to friends about it. In meeting other Christians. In taking time to sit on a park bench.
We know we've changed.
We just don't realize yet how much.
We are filled with the Spirit.
We begin to walk in holiness.
The oddest thing: we stand purified and complete without ever reading the Law or know the Text. Yet we DO know it! We read a page and it sounds familiar, something we've read before, someplace. We feel...at home in the Word. It feeds something in us. We realize we were saved by hearing the Word.
It calls to us now for something more.
We can do as others. We can say, "Thanks for the gift. See you in eternity." We can walk back to the things we used to do. Put our feet up and watch the game. Check out porn on the net. Keep living with our boyfriend. Keep those trysts with someone we meet only for passion. Chase the money and the cars and the houses. Go on as if nothing has happened.
But something happened. And we can't pretend we were not changed.
We watched the old shows and they were pointless.
We tried to find warmth in the affair and found only a dusty, tired lust, meaningless without love.
Even the car polish smells odd. Uninviting.
So we know we've changed. We find joy in just talking to friends about it. In meeting other Christians. In taking time to sit on a park bench.
We know we've changed.
We just don't realize yet how much.
I: The Salvation Commandments: "If anyone would come after me..." (4)
Repent
Paul defines repentance as a turning " to God from idols to serve the living and true God." We repent when we embrace the REAL God instead of our old ideas of who God is. This command could also be regarded as the beginning of salvation since the choice to repent, made at the onset of faith, leads to the choice of salvation. I wouldn't quibble over any placement and will expand on the reasoning for mine after we examine the next few verses.
Mt 9:12-13 But when Jesus heard, He said to them, The ones who are whole do not need a physician, but the ones who are sick. "But go and learn what this is, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God draws near. Repent, and believe the gospel."
Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard, He said to them, "They who are strong have no need of a physician, but the ones who have illness. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Luke 5:32 I did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.
Luke 13:2-3 And answering, Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things? I tell you, No. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
The reason I place repentance here: it is an on-going process. We backslide: we realize our error: we repent and return to the relationship we've weakened finding it actually grown stronger in the weak place. We usually find, like Jonah, that we are pursued by God in one way or another, that He will not let us rest until we get back to Him. Our "first love" process involves walking with Christ, turning from our sins every day, defining discipleship, redefining ourselves, then repeating the process every day, "dying" a little as we go. Repentance means as much for the saved as the lost since we never seem to complete the process of "found" in our lives.
So repentance becomes the ideal transition command to lead us into the next section.
Rev 2:5 "Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent."
Rev 2:15 "So you also have those who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent! But if not I will come to you quickly, and will fight with them by the sword of My mouth."
Rev 2:20-22 "But I have a few things against you because you allow that woman Jezebel to teach, she saying herself to be a prophetess, and to cause My servants to go astray, and to commit fornication, and to eat idol-sacrifices. And I gave her time that she might repent of her fornication, and she did not repent. Behold, I am throwing her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction, unless they repent of their deeds."
Rev 3:1-3 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things. 'I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead.
"'Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die. For I have not found your works being fulfilled before God.
"'Remember then how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.'"
Come to Him if you aren't saved.
Come back if you've lost your way.
The door is open. Heaven waits.
Paul defines repentance as a turning " to God from idols to serve the living and true God." We repent when we embrace the REAL God instead of our old ideas of who God is. This command could also be regarded as the beginning of salvation since the choice to repent, made at the onset of faith, leads to the choice of salvation. I wouldn't quibble over any placement and will expand on the reasoning for mine after we examine the next few verses.
Mt 9:12-13 But when Jesus heard, He said to them, The ones who are whole do not need a physician, but the ones who are sick. "But go and learn what this is, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God draws near. Repent, and believe the gospel."
Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard, He said to them, "They who are strong have no need of a physician, but the ones who have illness. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Luke 5:32 I did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.
Luke 13:2-3 And answering, Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things? I tell you, No. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
The reason I place repentance here: it is an on-going process. We backslide: we realize our error: we repent and return to the relationship we've weakened finding it actually grown stronger in the weak place. We usually find, like Jonah, that we are pursued by God in one way or another, that He will not let us rest until we get back to Him. Our "first love" process involves walking with Christ, turning from our sins every day, defining discipleship, redefining ourselves, then repeating the process every day, "dying" a little as we go. Repentance means as much for the saved as the lost since we never seem to complete the process of "found" in our lives.
So repentance becomes the ideal transition command to lead us into the next section.
Rev 2:5 "Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent."
Rev 2:15 "So you also have those who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent! But if not I will come to you quickly, and will fight with them by the sword of My mouth."
Rev 2:20-22 "But I have a few things against you because you allow that woman Jezebel to teach, she saying herself to be a prophetess, and to cause My servants to go astray, and to commit fornication, and to eat idol-sacrifices. And I gave her time that she might repent of her fornication, and she did not repent. Behold, I am throwing her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction, unless they repent of their deeds."
Rev 3:1-3 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things. 'I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead.
"'Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die. For I have not found your works being fulfilled before God.
"'Remember then how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.'"
Come to Him if you aren't saved.
Come back if you've lost your way.
The door is open. Heaven waits.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
I: The Salvation Commandments: "If anyone would come after me..." (3)
Accept Him as Lord
Mt 11:27-30 "All things are delivered to Me by My Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son will reveal Him. Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."
Mt 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth."
John 12:26 "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there also My servant shall be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him."
Receive the Holy Spirit
Luke 24:49 "And behold, I send the promise of My father on you. But you sit in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high."
John 7:37 And in the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (But He spoke this about the Spirit, which they who believed on Him should receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
John 20:21-22 Then Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you. As My Father has sent Me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
Acts 1:4-5 And having met with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to await "the promise of the Father which you heard from Me. For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
I think about working on the canal for Dad. I "eye-balled" the measurements and lined up the channel by the shore which was itself jagged. I dug with only a vague idea of it's alignment. I had a shovel to use, but no outline on the swampy turf. I worried constantly if it was right. What should have worried me was the depth, but I didn't know. No one coached me and instructions were incomplete and my father was off doing something else all day. I couldn't ask for directions.
Then I think of all those without a Bible or without the Holy spirit. Lining up by the natural they can see. Using the crude tools of logic and an infant science. Or with burned sacrifices of any logic or science. Jumbling to find a way to God with rules, regulations, exercises, rites, gurus or sifus and performances to entertain the masses. Some of them are even sitting next to us in the pews, believing anything said by anyone with the vaguest aspect of authority.
Sometimes, when I go rushing headlong like Peter, running out onto unstable surfaces that can't support me and then floundering for lack of faith, I end up joining them. You, too?
Remember He's there next time and do what I failed to do: Ask Him about your directions before you go digging ditches that are meant to be deeper, wider or more enduring. He'll give you the instructions and always be there if you have questions. You'll have to pay attention when he answers, but that's just to keep you sharp.
And maybe just a little deeper as well.
Mt 11:27-30 "All things are delivered to Me by My Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son will reveal Him. Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."
Mt 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth."
John 12:26 "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there also My servant shall be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him."
Receive the Holy Spirit
Luke 24:49 "And behold, I send the promise of My father on you. But you sit in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high."
John 7:37 And in the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (But He spoke this about the Spirit, which they who believed on Him should receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
John 20:21-22 Then Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you. As My Father has sent Me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
Acts 1:4-5 And having met with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to await "the promise of the Father which you heard from Me. For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
I think about working on the canal for Dad. I "eye-balled" the measurements and lined up the channel by the shore which was itself jagged. I dug with only a vague idea of it's alignment. I had a shovel to use, but no outline on the swampy turf. I worried constantly if it was right. What should have worried me was the depth, but I didn't know. No one coached me and instructions were incomplete and my father was off doing something else all day. I couldn't ask for directions.
Then I think of all those without a Bible or without the Holy spirit. Lining up by the natural they can see. Using the crude tools of logic and an infant science. Or with burned sacrifices of any logic or science. Jumbling to find a way to God with rules, regulations, exercises, rites, gurus or sifus and performances to entertain the masses. Some of them are even sitting next to us in the pews, believing anything said by anyone with the vaguest aspect of authority.
Sometimes, when I go rushing headlong like Peter, running out onto unstable surfaces that can't support me and then floundering for lack of faith, I end up joining them. You, too?
Remember He's there next time and do what I failed to do: Ask Him about your directions before you go digging ditches that are meant to be deeper, wider or more enduring. He'll give you the instructions and always be there if you have questions. You'll have to pay attention when he answers, but that's just to keep you sharp.
And maybe just a little deeper as well.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
I: The Salvation Commandments: "If anyone would come after me..." (2)
Accept Jesus Christ As Your Savior
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 5:34-40 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
John 6:33-51 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."
The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven."
And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?"
Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, "Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
"I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
John 10:7-9 Then said Jesus unto them again, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."
John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
John 12:47 "And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world."
John 17:2-3 "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
I place the last verse out of order because it speaks to every other religion at the time of the Crucifixion. And those that have since derived from them. "Way" speaks to the Buddhist and Taoist. "Truth" speaks to the Hindu and the anti-God religions that stem from Greek-Roman logic systems. "The life" speaks to the Jew and others seeking a physical as well as spiritual resurrection. He came to answer all human longings.
If you've searched those other religions as well, you know they answer only the desires of self-fulfillment, not an answer for eternity. They deliver an intellectual meal, not a soul completing feast. They offer the safety of self, not the "dangerous wonder" of God. A buffer between man and God, not an open door into His presence. If you have never accepted Christ as your savior, I offer you the chance to do that now. But be warned: He is not a safe harbor of laws and structures, rites and penance, but a real breathing being who you get to know over time after your introduction. If you accept Him, simply by saying the words in prayer to God, then you meet the Creator who has known you since before your birth and will care for you, despite your failings, for eternity. He's beyond the walls of religion. Let Him put his Spirit into your life that it may be Life. Listen to Him as he asks you in the next few verses. Believe Him even if you doubt me.
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 5:34-40 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
John 6:33-51 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."
The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven."
And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?"
Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, "Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
"I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
John 10:7-9 Then said Jesus unto them again, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."
John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
John 12:47 "And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world."
John 17:2-3 "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
I place the last verse out of order because it speaks to every other religion at the time of the Crucifixion. And those that have since derived from them. "Way" speaks to the Buddhist and Taoist. "Truth" speaks to the Hindu and the anti-God religions that stem from Greek-Roman logic systems. "The life" speaks to the Jew and others seeking a physical as well as spiritual resurrection. He came to answer all human longings.
If you've searched those other religions as well, you know they answer only the desires of self-fulfillment, not an answer for eternity. They deliver an intellectual meal, not a soul completing feast. They offer the safety of self, not the "dangerous wonder" of God. A buffer between man and God, not an open door into His presence. If you have never accepted Christ as your savior, I offer you the chance to do that now. But be warned: He is not a safe harbor of laws and structures, rites and penance, but a real breathing being who you get to know over time after your introduction. If you accept Him, simply by saying the words in prayer to God, then you meet the Creator who has known you since before your birth and will care for you, despite your failings, for eternity. He's beyond the walls of religion. Let Him put his Spirit into your life that it may be Life. Listen to Him as he asks you in the next few verses. Believe Him even if you doubt me.
I: The Salvation Commandments: "If anyone would come after me..."
HAVE FAITH
Note: Nothing is possible without faith. Here we deal only in commands related to Salvation.
John 6: 29: This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.
Luke 7:50: And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Note: Nothing is possible without faith. Here we deal only in commands related to Salvation.
John 6: 29: This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.
Luke 7:50: And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Break 1
We begin in emptiness. We walk a tattered ancient trail, led by our pride. We seek an answer and settle on one that seems to fit our yearning. We worship gods made by our own hands, cut to our desires. God of wealth. gods of passion. gods who look and sound like us.
Our freedom. Our choice. Our way.
But something happens. A job is lost. The grave claims someone we love. A child wanders into violence or drugs. A spouse finds someone else to answer a need we never understood. The face of our freedom suddenly becomes a death mask. Our liberty tastes like ashes. Our money buys only a second's peace. Poverty beckons.
It's not our god laughing.
It's the true God calling.
"Who then condemns you? Then neither do I."
A hand that once lifted an adulteress from the ground that was almost the site of her execution.
A voice amidst the violent storm saying, "Don't be afraid. I'm not a ghost."
Laughing with a small child.
A shout of victory from the last moment on the cross.
A call into the darkness of our dead lives, into the tombs we've built, painted in whitewash and hidden in: "Come forth! For the sake of your soul, come out into the light!"
Waiting for those sinking and hurting to cry: "Save me!"
The hand reaching for one who's rushed onto the water and been distracted by the winds of living. The voice behind the hand: "Oh, ye of little faith. Take hold and live."
Our freedom. Our choice. Our way.
But something happens. A job is lost. The grave claims someone we love. A child wanders into violence or drugs. A spouse finds someone else to answer a need we never understood. The face of our freedom suddenly becomes a death mask. Our liberty tastes like ashes. Our money buys only a second's peace. Poverty beckons.
It's not our god laughing.
It's the true God calling.
"Who then condemns you? Then neither do I."
A hand that once lifted an adulteress from the ground that was almost the site of her execution.
A voice amidst the violent storm saying, "Don't be afraid. I'm not a ghost."
Laughing with a small child.
A shout of victory from the last moment on the cross.
A call into the darkness of our dead lives, into the tombs we've built, painted in whitewash and hidden in: "Come forth! For the sake of your soul, come out into the light!"
Waiting for those sinking and hurting to cry: "Save me!"
The hand reaching for one who's rushed onto the water and been distracted by the winds of living. The voice behind the hand: "Oh, ye of little faith. Take hold and live."
Monday, January 18, 2010
Introduction (Part 3)
In the creation of his "royal law", he avoided my earthly father's mistake.
While Dad loved the basics of education, he never went much farther. It often made communication difficult.
One day, he asked me to dig a trench about fifty yards long a five yards wide in the swamp behind our house. It fed into the Coldwater River. I spent hours scooping muck into buckets, then to a wheel barrow and then up to the garden where Dad would later till the silt-enriched soil into the seedbed. I worked alone on the project, finishing at dusk, the channel reaching the river.
The next morning, I discovered Dad digging in the trench. I asked him what was going on. He said, "You didn't get this deep enough to get the boat in." He was angry and told me to go away when I offered to help complete the job.
He wanted to launch a boat into the river from the new channel in the swamp. He never explained that to me, merely told a twelve year old to dig a ditch. He assumed I must know that was the reason for the channel. Years later, in Communications 101, I would learn that this happens all the time, people assuming they are understood when they speak, but failing to relate their intention. My father's children learned that in the face of his limited vocabulary and temperamental nature.
Conversely, our Father explains exactly what we are to do to show our gratitude, to become closer to him and to grow in our understanding of him. First century Jewish culture had specific marriage rites. A groom was betrothed at a young age, before even knowing his bride or meeting her briefly at the betrothal. He later claimed her, offered a dowry, a sacrifice, but had to go away right after to build a home for them apart from her family. While he was gone, a close relative would stay with the bride and tutor her on the customs and requirements of the groom's family or tribe so there would be no faux pas. Jesus references this in calling the saved his "bride", saying he goes to prepare a place for us and will return and that he leaves behind the Holy Spirit to tutor us through both the Bible and inspiration. (John 14:2,16,26)
But communication runs both ways. We need to study what is said, not leave it in an unread book, not abandon our prayful communion with God.
"(Study) earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly diving the Word of Truth." (2 Tim 2:15)
As I grew older, I learned to ask my father very tactfully exactly what he wanted done and then do what he wanted. He would, invariably, have someone else check it out or I'd find him correcting something, but I had done my part in trying to make it clear.
Please understand, salvation establishes our need for obedience as a way of deepening our relationship, of understanding we are BOTH servant and friend. I won't argue eternal security. On both sides, that argument tends to flow from a human perspective, as if salvation and justification were things in our hands, determined by some action soley on our part other than mere obedience. It misses the fact God takes the full burden of establishing our relationship on himself.
Study Genesis 15. God offers the rules of sacrifice. Abraham cuts up the animals. God offers the guide to both our understanding of the sacrifice and an understanding of himself, revealed in degrees of contract to Abraham, as if having it all revealed at once would be too much for a human being to grasp. The guide prods us into relationship. It is not coincidence that his "contract" with Abraham is actually established with himself, a contract between God the Father and Holy Spirit which would eventual inhabit Jesus, the "son" of Abraham.
Viewing this as legalism fails because legalism assumes humanity somehow controls either its salvation or it's continued salvation. It stokes our ego to think our successes or failures establish our place in eternity. Even our guilt at failure betrays egotism: "If I'd only been more perfect, God would have wanted me."
That attitude conflicts with the Biblical record.
Jesus sums up the proper attitude in various places:
It is enough for the disciple that he is like his master, the the servant like his lord. (Matt. 10:25)
However, it shall not be so among you. But whoever desires to be great among you, let, let him be your servant. (Matt. 20:26)
He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matt. 23:11)
And whoever of you desires to become first, [he] shall be servant to all. (Mark 10:44)
But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. (Luke 17:7-10)
The establishment of this relationship defines all others. We become his servant, never asking any reward save what he wishes to bestow. Our obedience is essential and yet no source of personal pride rather joy at having obeyed. Worse for our pride, we learn we may be asked to do things when we are weary, when we think we have finished, often without the thanks we may feel we deserve.
We become the servant of other Christians. We learn that all Christians are to behave this way, but not to expect it of them. We are commanded to expect persecution (see Take Up His Cross Daily) from many sources, the world, Satan, even our brothers, even, too, our old selves, demanding to be pleased.
We struggle with servanthood. We struggle to have our way. We struggle to demand rewards from God, now and later, rather than to accept what he offers as best. We struggle to claim that which we can only expect as a gift. We play the victim of sin, drawing succor from Christ when we need to find victory over sin. We pray for revival wearing product placement T-shirts, forgetting Joshua's lesson that revival involves repentance, turning away from anything that even resembles an idol.
Putting it crudely, this ain't nuclear science. Christ laid it out plainly. Do this and this and expect these results. It can cost now, but pays off in eternity.
And even the current cost pays off in real, tangible relationships, not the wispy stuff of party friends and drinking buddies. Even failed relationships teach us something about our own frailty, about God's willingness to accept the weak and wavering.
If failure let's us know him more, how can it be failure?
So read Codex as a guidebook. Let the Holy Spirit direct you. Follow where it leads. Fail. Learn. Grow. Come back later and continue the process. You can do it by rote, like my arithmetic. You can search the Scriptures to be sure I'm right. You may find more commands you feel I've missed. Add them on. I welcome it. Guidebooks are meant to grow and expand, to gather more meaning over time. Seeing the old reference, feeling the twinge of good memory for the place it led you.
Because this is meant for YOUR growth, I've stayed out of the way as much as possible. Commentary is brief and scarce. While they are uniquely organized here, meant to speak in the categories Jesus suggests, let HIS words move you and touch you. I =have said a few things, but tried to stay brief.
The caveat: lingering behind everything we do, we hear the "take up his cross" qualifier. Keep in mind the simple truth: for us to grow in our relationship with God and Christ, some part of us must die daily. It always hurts. Always. Death is like that. But, with Christ's touch, something better always rises, from a dead idol, from a surrendered lust, from a cold, white-washed tomb.
Someone better always rises, remade by God.
While Dad loved the basics of education, he never went much farther. It often made communication difficult.
One day, he asked me to dig a trench about fifty yards long a five yards wide in the swamp behind our house. It fed into the Coldwater River. I spent hours scooping muck into buckets, then to a wheel barrow and then up to the garden where Dad would later till the silt-enriched soil into the seedbed. I worked alone on the project, finishing at dusk, the channel reaching the river.
The next morning, I discovered Dad digging in the trench. I asked him what was going on. He said, "You didn't get this deep enough to get the boat in." He was angry and told me to go away when I offered to help complete the job.
He wanted to launch a boat into the river from the new channel in the swamp. He never explained that to me, merely told a twelve year old to dig a ditch. He assumed I must know that was the reason for the channel. Years later, in Communications 101, I would learn that this happens all the time, people assuming they are understood when they speak, but failing to relate their intention. My father's children learned that in the face of his limited vocabulary and temperamental nature.
Conversely, our Father explains exactly what we are to do to show our gratitude, to become closer to him and to grow in our understanding of him. First century Jewish culture had specific marriage rites. A groom was betrothed at a young age, before even knowing his bride or meeting her briefly at the betrothal. He later claimed her, offered a dowry, a sacrifice, but had to go away right after to build a home for them apart from her family. While he was gone, a close relative would stay with the bride and tutor her on the customs and requirements of the groom's family or tribe so there would be no faux pas. Jesus references this in calling the saved his "bride", saying he goes to prepare a place for us and will return and that he leaves behind the Holy Spirit to tutor us through both the Bible and inspiration. (John 14:2,16,26)
But communication runs both ways. We need to study what is said, not leave it in an unread book, not abandon our prayful communion with God.
"(Study) earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly diving the Word of Truth." (2 Tim 2:15)
As I grew older, I learned to ask my father very tactfully exactly what he wanted done and then do what he wanted. He would, invariably, have someone else check it out or I'd find him correcting something, but I had done my part in trying to make it clear.
Please understand, salvation establishes our need for obedience as a way of deepening our relationship, of understanding we are BOTH servant and friend. I won't argue eternal security. On both sides, that argument tends to flow from a human perspective, as if salvation and justification were things in our hands, determined by some action soley on our part other than mere obedience. It misses the fact God takes the full burden of establishing our relationship on himself.
Study Genesis 15. God offers the rules of sacrifice. Abraham cuts up the animals. God offers the guide to both our understanding of the sacrifice and an understanding of himself, revealed in degrees of contract to Abraham, as if having it all revealed at once would be too much for a human being to grasp. The guide prods us into relationship. It is not coincidence that his "contract" with Abraham is actually established with himself, a contract between God the Father and Holy Spirit which would eventual inhabit Jesus, the "son" of Abraham.
Viewing this as legalism fails because legalism assumes humanity somehow controls either its salvation or it's continued salvation. It stokes our ego to think our successes or failures establish our place in eternity. Even our guilt at failure betrays egotism: "If I'd only been more perfect, God would have wanted me."
That attitude conflicts with the Biblical record.
Jesus sums up the proper attitude in various places:
It is enough for the disciple that he is like his master, the the servant like his lord. (Matt. 10:25)
However, it shall not be so among you. But whoever desires to be great among you, let, let him be your servant. (Matt. 20:26)
He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matt. 23:11)
And whoever of you desires to become first, [he] shall be servant to all. (Mark 10:44)
But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. (Luke 17:7-10)
The establishment of this relationship defines all others. We become his servant, never asking any reward save what he wishes to bestow. Our obedience is essential and yet no source of personal pride rather joy at having obeyed. Worse for our pride, we learn we may be asked to do things when we are weary, when we think we have finished, often without the thanks we may feel we deserve.
We become the servant of other Christians. We learn that all Christians are to behave this way, but not to expect it of them. We are commanded to expect persecution (see Take Up His Cross Daily) from many sources, the world, Satan, even our brothers, even, too, our old selves, demanding to be pleased.
We struggle with servanthood. We struggle to have our way. We struggle to demand rewards from God, now and later, rather than to accept what he offers as best. We struggle to claim that which we can only expect as a gift. We play the victim of sin, drawing succor from Christ when we need to find victory over sin. We pray for revival wearing product placement T-shirts, forgetting Joshua's lesson that revival involves repentance, turning away from anything that even resembles an idol.
Putting it crudely, this ain't nuclear science. Christ laid it out plainly. Do this and this and expect these results. It can cost now, but pays off in eternity.
And even the current cost pays off in real, tangible relationships, not the wispy stuff of party friends and drinking buddies. Even failed relationships teach us something about our own frailty, about God's willingness to accept the weak and wavering.
If failure let's us know him more, how can it be failure?
So read Codex as a guidebook. Let the Holy Spirit direct you. Follow where it leads. Fail. Learn. Grow. Come back later and continue the process. You can do it by rote, like my arithmetic. You can search the Scriptures to be sure I'm right. You may find more commands you feel I've missed. Add them on. I welcome it. Guidebooks are meant to grow and expand, to gather more meaning over time. Seeing the old reference, feeling the twinge of good memory for the place it led you.
Because this is meant for YOUR growth, I've stayed out of the way as much as possible. Commentary is brief and scarce. While they are uniquely organized here, meant to speak in the categories Jesus suggests, let HIS words move you and touch you. I =have said a few things, but tried to stay brief.
The caveat: lingering behind everything we do, we hear the "take up his cross" qualifier. Keep in mind the simple truth: for us to grow in our relationship with God and Christ, some part of us must die daily. It always hurts. Always. Death is like that. But, with Christ's touch, something better always rises, from a dead idol, from a surrendered lust, from a cold, white-washed tomb.
Someone better always rises, remade by God.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Introduction (Part 2)
The record of the events which foreshadowed his coming was brought to life and then recorded again for a newly created people melded from Jew and gentile. "The law of Christ" from Gal. 6:2.
Our sins separate us from God. The message powers so much of the Bible that it can't be stressed enough. Anyone who has not accepted Christ on a personal level, whether they openly reject him or have sat in Church for a thousand Sundays because it's the "right thing to do" and is "good for you," needs Christ. Perfect attendance, memorized sermons and prayer meeting leadership deliver salvation no more than dances at midnight in a Druid worship ceremony.
The first section of Codex examines the Salvation commands, with our way of joining and knowing Him.
Section 2 deals with commands that tell us how we are to begin seeing the world around us. The internal reaction to Christ.
Section 3 lists the external, the sacrifice of our self, our "old man", in surrender to Christ so the outside world sees him in us.
Section 4 gives the overview and love commands from the simple "love thy neighbor" to the great commission or co-mission of salvation.
These are organized under Christ's design for discipleship: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me." Itself a command.
Commands. Please note, if you are uncomfortable with that word, so am I. However, Christ himself calls his directions to us for salvation and Christian living "commands." Even links our depth of love for him to our obedience. The word serves to remind us that HE is king and WE are servants, that he is not a talisman to good fortune or good health, but the one who controls all our lives for HIS glorification. It far surpasses the word "precept" that has become so popular over the years. What Peter meant when he said we were to "respect Christ as the Holy Lord in your hearts" (1 Peter 3:15 NCV). The need to obey.
We can read the commands and repeat some very great men in saying they apply only to the Old Testament believer. We can choose, as some other great men, to dwell on one command or another, making it the focus of our church or denomination. We can "cherry-pick" our way through the commands, obeying some, ignoring others.
But these commands form the way Jesus lived. He told us what he felt, what he did, how he acted or would act (WWJD). He chose his words wisely and often repeated parables, actions or even miracles so the point resonated. He meant for his commands to be treated as James 2:8 suggests: "If ye fulfill the royal law according to Scripture, though shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well."
Christ's "royal law."
Our sins separate us from God. The message powers so much of the Bible that it can't be stressed enough. Anyone who has not accepted Christ on a personal level, whether they openly reject him or have sat in Church for a thousand Sundays because it's the "right thing to do" and is "good for you," needs Christ. Perfect attendance, memorized sermons and prayer meeting leadership deliver salvation no more than dances at midnight in a Druid worship ceremony.
The first section of Codex examines the Salvation commands, with our way of joining and knowing Him.
Section 2 deals with commands that tell us how we are to begin seeing the world around us. The internal reaction to Christ.
Section 3 lists the external, the sacrifice of our self, our "old man", in surrender to Christ so the outside world sees him in us.
Section 4 gives the overview and love commands from the simple "love thy neighbor" to the great commission or co-mission of salvation.
These are organized under Christ's design for discipleship: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me." Itself a command.
Commands. Please note, if you are uncomfortable with that word, so am I. However, Christ himself calls his directions to us for salvation and Christian living "commands." Even links our depth of love for him to our obedience. The word serves to remind us that HE is king and WE are servants, that he is not a talisman to good fortune or good health, but the one who controls all our lives for HIS glorification. It far surpasses the word "precept" that has become so popular over the years. What Peter meant when he said we were to "respect Christ as the Holy Lord in your hearts" (1 Peter 3:15 NCV). The need to obey.
We can read the commands and repeat some very great men in saying they apply only to the Old Testament believer. We can choose, as some other great men, to dwell on one command or another, making it the focus of our church or denomination. We can "cherry-pick" our way through the commands, obeying some, ignoring others.
But these commands form the way Jesus lived. He told us what he felt, what he did, how he acted or would act (WWJD). He chose his words wisely and often repeated parables, actions or even miracles so the point resonated. He meant for his commands to be treated as James 2:8 suggests: "If ye fulfill the royal law according to Scripture, though shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well."
Christ's "royal law."
Monday, January 11, 2010
Introduction (Part 1)
Once someone asked what Jesus would do. It became a slogan. A catch phrase. The initials still occupy necklaces and bracelets.
The answer was always to look in the Bible and find out.
We gather the answers, the Jesus codex, if you will, in one place.
Google it.
Codex means a volume of ancient manuscript remade into a book volume, bound and sealed on one side as opposed to being in scrolls. The most interesting modern revision of the definition lies in the Hakujin gamer website. The Clan Wolf Counsel Hall shows two definitions that ring very true for Christians. Codex means a warrior's "individual identification" everything from his "Blood House" to his DNA codes. A "Master Codex" is the "master file for the Clan's breeding programs."
The Bible was really the first codex from a printing press. Today, they abound. THE bestseller of all time. Mostly an American export, translated into every available language, reaching millions.
The "Old Testament" of law, history and prophecy composed the scrolls of Jesus time. Paul tells us those scrolls predicted Christ's coming, that everything in them was a "shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ"(Col. 2:17). By his life, Christ took the Law, the prophecies and that history of His People and bound them into a volume of flesh. He sealed one side with love and opened the pages of the other with compassion. His every step "read" the reality of the scrolls to those around Him. His words revised, expanded and clarified everything previously recorded on dead skins, even as the atonement sacrifice had been recorded in dead animal flesh and he would revise and perfect it in his own body. A DNA code of holiness.
Like the video game codex, his bloodlines were recorded and repeated and came to fruition in him. His master spiritual bloodline was recorded that it might be imprinted on all those who would accept him as their master. A codex to be read into eternity.
But, as happens when humans handle things, truth sometimes gets lost or misfiled along the way.
In first grade, I struggled with math. It bothered me because everything else had come easily. Try as I might, I couldn't comprehend multiplication.
When I shared my complaint with my father, he said, "You got to learn the three R's."
I asked him what he meant and he explained: "Readin', 'ritin', and 'rithmetic."
Dad was a fairly illiterate man but, like most of his World War II generation, valued the basics. "Work, earn and save" formed their mantra. "You get the foundation right and everything else will come out okay." So his idea of education began with doing the basic things right and building from there.
He labored for hours making me go over my "times tables" again and again, memorizing by rote. He only shared more time with me on the baseball diamond and in the garage. All male basics to him.
If the basics are sound, everything else holds up. Since I can change the oil, rotate my tires, tune the engine and pump gas, my cars seldom needed major repairs. Over time, my knowledge of math grew to trigonometry. In Little League, I became an All-Star.
Like me, Christianity often struggles with the basics. Our ministers sometimes become so steeped in advanced teaching that someone walking in the door of a church doesn't grasp what's going on. They talk in code about "Born again." They call for "tithes." Our music directors become "worship leaders." (A stranger once asked me if that wasn't what the preacher's job.) Some of us talk in funny sounds and wander around the church. Others raise their hands and quip, "It's because we have the answer," forgetting that new comers have yet to learn the questions.
Most churches offer discipleship classes in one form or another for new Christians. As they should, they do well in presenting the belief system of the church or denomination that offers the classes, but sometimes fail in offering, simply, directly, the commands which Jesus himself gave us. Yet his commands form the core of living Christianity. Additions and subtractions dilute the message. The basics fortify and reconstitute the believer.
In this blog, we aim to turn the believer, no mater the denomination, back to basics.
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