#endtimes #lastdays

Joh 13:1  "Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end."

Passover, commemorating the angel of death passing over the homes of the Israelites while all around the first born of the Egyptians were killed. Jesus is the passover Lamb and His blood covers over the sins of the people who acknowledge Him. He is Absolute Love. Justice and Mercy- Grace and Wrath take part in love- Some will be left outside, rejecting the Absolute Love. 

Exo 12:11-42 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD's Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. "This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land. You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread. Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever.  And when you come to the land that the LORD will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. And when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?  you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the LORD's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.'" And the people bowed their heads and worshiped. Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead.  Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, "Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said. Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!" The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, "We shall all be dead." So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders.  The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.  And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. It was a night of watching by the LORD, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the LORD by all the people of Israel throughout their generations." 

Be ready, be vigilant, He is coming not as a lamb, but as a lion. Why are people so casually uncaring about the Absolute Love. Don't take Him for granted!

Mat 24:42-44  "Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." 

"But the love of Christ, being the love of God, is infallibly effectual. It produces all good things Christ desires to produce in his people. Christ loves us also into covenant of love with himself. Christ loves us into heaven. Love in Christ is his will to do good to the one he loves. Whatever good Christ by his love wills to do to anyone is infallibky done to that person."

John Owen, Communion With God Banner of Truth Trust, Abridged by R.J.K Law, 1991 p 63

Blogs to return Monday.

"Assure yourself, then, that there is nothing more acceptable to the Father than for us to keep our hearts filled with him as the eternal source of all that rich gracewhich flows out to sinners in the blood of Jesus.
Many saints have no greater burden in their lives than that their lives than that their hearts do not constantly delight and rejoice in God. There is still in in them a resistance to walking close with God. Why is this? Is it not because they are not skilful and so neglect having loving fellowship with the Father? But the more we see of God's love, so much more will we delight in Him. All that we learn of God will only frighten us away from him if we do not see him as loving and merciful to us. But if your heart is taken up with the Father's loveas the chief property of his nature, it cannot help but choose to be overpowered, conquered and embraced by him. This if anything, will arouse our desire to make an eternal home with God. ... So do this: set your thoughts on the eternal love of the Father and see if your heart is not aroused to delight in him. Sit down for awhile at this delightful spring of living water and you will soon find its streams sweet and delightful. You who used to run from God will not now be able, even for a second, to keep any distance from him. "
John Owen, Communion With God  Banner of Truth Trust, Abridged by R.J.K Law, 1991 p 32,33

Blogs to Resume Monday

#endtimes #lastdays

It is a special treasure to have a picture into the life and ministry of Jesus through the eyes of His closest follower-John. John begins the gospel message with a picture of Jesus as the eternal Word of God. The book is totally focused on the mission of Christs passion. John starts the life of Jesus of Nazareth at his baptism and over half of the book is dedicated to the final weeks leading up to Jesus' death and resurrection.

Joh 1:4 "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Joh 12:1  "Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead." 

Jesus had no doubt about the Resurrection. His Father is Absolute Love. He proved His power over death by the raising of Lazarus and others from the dead. 

Joh 12:2-7  "So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, "Leave her alon this world e, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial." 

You do not spare extravagance, sacrifice, humility or worship in the presence of Absolute Love. Absolute Love knows the meaning of true poverty. He cares more than we know for the poor of of this world, knowing that true poverty of spirit is the real source of all hunger, need or want.

Joh 12:8  "For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me." 

The contrast of seeking life and the plotting of death is stark between the people seeking out Jesus and the religious bigots and politically motivated leaders seeking the death of Lazarus.
Ha! What folly. What good to kill a man already raised from death. To have that Jesus holds power over death
demonstrated once more? How much would they bring condemnation upon themselves by their evil intentions.

Joh 12:9-12  "When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus." 

Yet, are we any different. We, as his disciples and the crowds of people, follow easily Him in triumphal procession. Yet in he moment of sacrifice and death- denial.
Do you want Him for Himself or for what you receive?
Joh 12:12-19 "The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt! His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him." 



The judgment on Satan and His followers has come. Death as the power that Satan had held upon us is to be conquered!
The eternal plan of the Absolute love is now to be revealed. Following Christ means giving up your life, don't hold onto a love of your life in this world and give up your life for eternity.

Joh 12:20-33  "Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.  And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him."  Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."  He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die."

Rev 20:1,2 "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, "

Jesus is the blood of the passover

Joh 11:47-57  "So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.  If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish." He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,  and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?" Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him."


Jesus not only gave Himself freely as a sacrificial passover lamb. He dictated, the time, place and people who would carry out His betrayal! Jesus is the Passover Lamb and His blood is the blood of the passover covenant. He is Absolute Love.


View the video link below.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVolBDlWloQ

Unforgiven

I was struck this past week in this 3rd chapter of Mark, as we are going through Mark in Sunday Worship, how much this passage helps to lead me into passion week. 


Mar 3:1-6  "Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come here." And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.  The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him." 


The stark contrast here of the religious bigots; Those who love their own righteous actions, and use their adherence to certain actions in order to proclaim superiority over others. Over against the absolute love of Jesus Christ is overwhelming. 
Religious adherence is about rules. God's absolute love is about healing.
Religious adherence is about, anger over personal rejection. God's absolute love is about anger over insensitivity to the Spirit of God and our fellow image bearers. 
Religious adherence is about sitting in a room and plotting how to silence those who don't conform. God's absolute love is about being different in order to make a difference in other people's lives. 
Religious adherence is about destruction of those who are stronger to maintain strength. God's absolute love is about healing those who are weak and in need, in order to give strength away. 


Religious adherence is about maintaining fear. God's absolute love is about establishing hope, that causes people to be built up in faith and be established in love. 


People are hungry for God's absolute love. Satan flees from absolute love. He can not stand before the presence of God' s absolute love.  


Mar 3:7-12  "Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea  and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him.  And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him,  for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him.  And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." And he strictly ordered them not to make him known." 


Religious bigots, and politically minded leaders hate being challenged. What they love to do is advertise indiscriminate lies and distorted opinions of opponents in order to discredit them. How can we spin this in order to get rid of the threat? 
For leaders of the Jewish community at the time of Jesus, even though they should have clearly seen the miracles of healing and restoration as a sign of God's presence- Yahweh among them, they could not see past their own self-righteousness. 


Here was the promise. Satan was being thrown down right before their own eyes. 
The binding of Satan and the plundering of His rule over this world was occurring- they could not see past their rules based system. Why? 
Because it was based on the very lies of Satan and demons. 


Mar 3:22-30  "And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "by the prince of demons he casts out the demons." And he called them to him and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.  "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter,  but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"-- for they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit." 


The unforgivable sin- hardness of heart, rejection of love, unforgiveness, not recognizing God or Godliness. 
It is the sin we all carry and have no hope of being forgiven for apart from the sacrificial, substitutional, expiatiational, death of Jesus Christ. Throw all of your hope upon Him, He is Absolute Love. In all ways acknowledge His worth alone, we are made worthy in Him alone. 


In this week, in the days leading up to the passion of Jesus Christ think on what it is you have to present to Him in response to His brokenness-as for my contribution it could only be brokenness- contriteness heart and humility spirit that would be a worthy act of worship- celebrating Him. He is Absolute Love. 



Joh 1:29-34  "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."  And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." 

Rom 16:1-16 " I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,  that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.  Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.  Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.  Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.  Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.  Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.  Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus.  Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you." 

There were actual friends and foes that Paul had in mind when he wrote this letter. 
Some people are remembered well, they have been helpful, risked their lives for others, responded in acceptance and love, these people you really want to warn and encourage. Paul had them in mind throughout his writings. 
Others just want to be contrary, they want attention. It is not the quiet person who most leaders just ignore, even though they may have something beneficial to contribute. These people are working their way into the forefront, they want recognition- even at the expense of the current leaders. 
Naive leaders are led about by those who are the loudest, they like to grease squeaky wheels- that are just inherently squeaky. Discerning leaders know how to separate noise from genuine concern for truth. 

Rom 16:17,18  "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive." 

Rom 16:19 "For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil." 

The strength of God is awesome- and through His grace in you and in us we will endure and conquer.

Rom 16:20-23  "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you." 

It is all to Him, all for Him, He is the only strength, he is the eternal word, and to Him belongs eternal glory. He is Absolute Love and is bringing about an obedience that comes from faith in His love and goodness. Amen!

Rom 16:24-27 " [The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.] Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages  but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith--  to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen." 

Rom 15:13,14  "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another." 

Faith, Hope, Love, these three demonstrative qualities are gifts from God. These are found in us and fill us up when in relationship with God. He is Absolute Love.  

Rom 15:15-22 "But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit."  "In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience--by word and deed,  by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God--so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written, "Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand."  This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you." 

I want you to know that fulfilling the purpose of telling others who have not heard is my main hearts desire given to me by God. I haven't been avoiding you, in fact I long to see you. When I do see you I will be full of, knowing Christ's blessing is on our reunion. 

Rom 15:23-29  "But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you,  I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while,  At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.  When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ." 

Until I come pray for me- for safety and acceptance- what a refreshing and joyful time it will be when we are together again. My prayer is God's presence in your life, bringing peace to you. He is Absolute Love. 

Rom 15:30-33  "I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. May the God of peace be with you all. Amen." 

"The whole message of God can be summarized in one short sentence: Love God and love people. Eight times in the Bible we are told to "love your neighbor." It's one of the most repeated commands. And it's clear from the teachings of Jesus that our "neighbor" is basically anyone we meet who is in need (which would be everyone). As we've discussed, Jesus seems to have a bias toward the "wrong crowd." I hate to say it, but Muslims probably fit into this category! They're outsiders here in the West: wrong religion, wrong language, wrong temperament. Sounds like Jesus' kind of people."

Carl Medearis. Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Relationships (pp. 151-152). Kindle Edition.

"I often have people ask me how I got such a "love for Muslims." My typical answer is, "I don't love Muslims." I love Samir and Ahmad and Ali and their families. It's a funny idea that we can love a group of people or an ideology or a principle. Jesus seemed to love individual people."

Carl Medearis. Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Relationships (pp. 178-179). Kindle Edition.

Blogs to return Monday

"It is vitally important to know that Allah is Arabic for "God." Many people wrongly believe Allah is the name of a god whom Muslims worship-that Allah is a pagan god or some other strange deity. In fact, the word Allah was used by Arab Christians during Muhammad's time, and it is still used today. Christians in the Arab world-even as you read this-pray to Allah every day. They're praying to God. When any true believer prays in Arabic, God is Allah, and Allah is God. Moreover, every translation of the Bible into Arabic uses the word Allah for God."

Carl Medearis. Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Relationships (p. 30). Kindle Edition.

"In my reckoning, there is nothing helpful in telling a Muslim he or she believes in "the wrong God." What may be true, and definitely more helpful, is to show our Muslim friends how they can believe in God more fully in and through Jesus Christ."

Carl Medearis. Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Relationships (p. 31). Kindle Edition.

Blogs to return on Monday

Rom 14:22  "The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves." 

You may have a strong faith, let God be the judge of that! You know sometimes faith can become a means of reliance on self- not reliance on God. This faith becomes unloving. 


1Co 13:1-2  "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." 

So don't lose faith and don't act out of wanting to fit in with others. If you don't believe something is right, graciously decline and let the other person deal with their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

 

Rom 14:23  "But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." 

On the other hand if you feel something is acceptable, yet it would offend those around you, your first obligation is love. 
Insenstivity to the needs of others is not Kosher!

Rom 15:1  "We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves." 

The purpose of your faith is to build up others and follow the Lord in learning to love as He loved you. The result is full fellowship with God and one another. If what you believe doesn't lead to mighty crescendo of everyone glorifying and thanking God you are on the wrong track in your faith. 

Rom 15:2-6  "Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.  For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

So everyone around you should be welcomed, if your traditions are different from one another realize that your traditions were meant to point others to who God is, He is Absolute Love. Faith in Him through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and have fellowship together with Him in the Holy Spirit results in hope and joy. 

Rom 15:7-13  "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,  and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name." And again it is said, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."  And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him." And again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope." May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." 

Rom 14:10-12  "Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;  for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."  So then each of us will give an account of himself to God." 

Judgement of others is a very serious undertaking. It is a matter far too easily undertaken by all of us. We all want to be godlike and take the place of god- beware, He is the judge of all. So Thankful-He is Absolute Love. 

Submission to God, even in seemingly small matters like observing special days or eating particular foods, is an eternal decision. The determinate factor is love. Simple, easy- but so complicated and difficult. Even though something is good and your conscience remains clear in the activity- your conscience can be ruined in that activity by the grievance formed in your neighbor- it becomes a violation of love. It causes something good to be spoken of as evil. 

Love gives us freedom to (not) do something that is acceptable in order to show love to others, to provide mercy, to act graciously. 

Rom 14:13-16  "Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.  I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.  For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.  So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil." 

Let your fulfillment come from pursuing doing what is right, pursuing peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. He is Absolute Love.

Rom 14:17,18  "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men." 

Faith proves itself in acting out of love. So even if you belief something is acceptable, doubt is given a seat in your conscience if what is acceptable harms others. Doubt itself, then, becomes the sin of indulging in something that is perfectly acceptable. 

Rom 14:19-23  "So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up-building.  Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.  The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.  But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." 

Our example is Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah, Isa Al Masih- He bore our judgement- don't pour judgement back on yourself- by harshly judging others. If your faith is strong you are obligated through God's gift of grace to bear with others failings. 


Rom 15:1-3  "We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.  For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." 

Rom 14:1-5 "As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind."

When it comes to matters of opinion, love takes the posture of grace. Days that are held as holy or special- Food that is deemed acceptable or unacceptable are not a matter worthy of offense. 

So if you want to show how strong your faith is be gracious in accepting the differences of tradition, culture and personal observances of another. A strong faith takes care to cover over and redeem the weaknesses of others. It is the Lord Jesus Christ we are serving not ourselves! He is the Lord of all. He is Absolute Love. 


1Pe 4:8-9  "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." 

Rom 14:6-9 "The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living."

So there is no reason to look down on another person if you disagree, or judge yourself to be superior. For if we judge others harshly and unmercifully what kind of judgement do we have to look forward toward for ourselves? 


Mat 6:14-15  "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,  but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." 

Mat 18:21-35  "Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.  "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.'  So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'   He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'  And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." 

Rom 14:10-13"Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother."

 

Rom 13:10-14 "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires."

Love is not only an emotion, filled with passion. It is a passion that requires action. Heat and light are part of the fire. Cast off the night and walk in the light, both are part of putting on the personal nature of Jesus Christ. He is Absolute Love.

This putting on is both positive and negative activity. The desires of self-gratification are powerful masters- they can displace the lie of temporary fulfillment for true eternal absolute fulfillment. Don't throw away what is eternal for the temporary!

The light from the fire is the armor of protection, temporal self-gratification darkens the conscience and entraps to captivity, delusion and impurity.
The result is a loss of integrityand the inability to love with a pure heart.

Jas 2:14 "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?"

Impurity brings an unloving spirit of judgementalism.

Rom 14:1-4 "As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand."

Rom 13:8-9  "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.  For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 

Owing Love vs Adultery-Murder-Stealing- Coveting. 

Makes you wonder about the philosophy of those controlling the media?

Even more makes you wonder about all that we are enthralled with, captivated by the entertainment we consume. 

Our hearts are so sick! Lord give us the sense of owing to others love- how you have demonstrated love to us. You are Absolute Love.

Rom 13:10  "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." 

Doing no wrong is not only active!

1Jn 3:14-19  "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.  Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.  By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.  But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?  Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.  By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;" 


Rom 13:11-12  "Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." 

Love and Light- a true reflection of God in us. 

1Jn 2:9-11  "Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.  Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.  But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." 

Selfish and hateful desires abound, they tempt and destroy!

Rom 13:13-14 " Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." 

There is a way to have desires fulfilled!


Psa 37:4  "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

He is Absolute Love. 

God's Power and Glory in Salvation Must Remain Preeminent.

"If it is indeed true, as Scriptures abundantly teach, that grace in the soul is so the effect of the power of God, that it is with propriety compared to those affects which are the farthest from being owing to any strength in the subject, such as a generation, being begotten or raised from the dead, created, etc. then how shall we account for the circumstance, that the Almighty, in so great a work, should so carefully hide his power that the subjects of it should not be able to discern it? If we may form any conclusion from Scripture, God, in the great works of His power and mercy which he performs for His people, orders things so as to make his power conspicuous, and our dependence on him so evident, that no flesh should glory in his presence, I Cor 1:27-29; that He alone should be exalted, Isa. 2:11-17; that the excellency of the power should be of him, and not of man, 2 Cor. 4:7; that the power of Christ should be manifest in our weakness, 2 cor. 12:9; and that none should say, Mine own hand hath saved me, Judges 7:2." 
Jonathan Edwards, A Treatise on Religious Affections  ; Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI. 1992, pgs 66,67.


Blogs to Return Monday

Love with passion removed- Lifeless Spirituality an oxymoron.

"One of the main ends for which God has ordained that his word, delivered in holy Scriptures, should be explained and supplied in preaching was, evidently, that divine things might be thus impressed upon the affections of men. ...
...the devil sees it to be to his advantage to go another way to work, and to endeavor, to the utmost of his power, to propagate and establish a persuasion that all affections and emotions of the mind, with respect o religion, are to be disregarded, or rather opposed , as having a pernicious tendency. This he knows is the likeliest way to reduce all religion to a mere lifeless formality, and effectually to banish the power of godliness, and everything that is truly gracious. For although in true religion there is something more than affection, yet it consists so much in the affections that there can be no true religion without them. He who has no religious affections is in the state of spiritual death, wholly destitute of the powerful, quickening, saving influences of the Spirit of God upon His heart. As there is no true religion where there is nothing else but affection, so there is no true religion where there is no religious affection."
Jonathan Edwards, A Treatise on Religious Affections  ; Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI. 1992,
pgs.37, 43,44.

Blogs to return Monday

Rom 13:1 " Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." 

Governments that exist are instituted by God? The ultimate of ultimate of absolutes, any one who has authority has it from God. 

As much as we would like to rationalize this away or dismiss this as to say; "this doesn't really mean what it seems to say", it is clear that the world is exactly as God intends it to be. 

He is not through with His plan. Even so, His plan will not be entered into through knowledge-only by faith.
How we rebel against giving God this much sovereignty!! Not wanting to allow Him this level of control. 

No it is not put right, yet! God is in the midst of bringing about His plan, and it will be marvelous and wonderful! We all can become a part of fulfillment by submission or be passed by through resistance. 
No, not submission to evil and evil rulers- but submission to loving enemies and doing good to those who persecute you for doing good. Imaging forth God- is imaging forth love to those who are lost in their sin. He is Absolute Love. To follow after Jesus is to become His image bearer. He is Absolute Love.
This is where all appeals to religious adherence, and moral superiority fails. The Christian, Muslim, Jewish or other religious person who hates others, does not know or understand God. Civil and religious bigotry has the same root-the abandonment of love.  

(Caveat: Love requires discipline and even punishment. The two are not the same and are not implemented in the same way. In particular institutions such as the family, municipalities, states or nations have the loving duty to in appropriate and specific ways, discipline and punish, based on the relationships with constituents. God's Love is displayed through both discipline and punishment. The scope of such a discussion goes beyond this blog.)

Governments in the main have been given by God to protect and serve citizens. God has strewn the ages with the ruins of those nations and governments that have not rightly performed this God given duty. Our God Reigns!


1Co 15:25-28  "For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all." 

Rom 13:2-4 " Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. "

One submits them-self to this law of love in submission to God instituted authorities not only to avoid penalties that might be imposed but also to keep purity of conscience. You can make your own prisons within that are just as binding as iron bars. Indebtedness of any kind places undo burden upon the debtor.

Rom 13:5-7  "Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.  Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed." 

So if you want to remain free of conscience, pure in heart, the only thing to owe anyone is love. This is the summation of all laws. The law of love. "God is Love"

Rom 13:8-10  "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." 

 

Rom 12:3  "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." 

One of the greatest dangers in life is being dis-satisfied with what God has given you, how you were put together or that your not like or don't have what others around you have. 
This leads to irrationality, a kind of unrealistic expectation and obsession. A step away from faith to folly.

Rom 12:4,5  "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another."

You weren't meant to be like others, God has gifted you and granted to you a particular way to glorify Him. The only way to live this out is to be yourself and let God's love shine within and through you. Whatever you do do it as a gift to God, to reflect God's love, in the power and giftedness that God has supplied to you.

Rom 12:6-8  "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;  the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." 

Here is the practicality of knowing God. genuinely loving. He is Absolute Love. Fervent, Zealous love, that in every way seeks to outdo itself in honoring God and others. 
It's very hard to do if you think yourself to be superior- wiser and more deserving than others. You can only love like this from a humble reliance on mercy and grace. 

Rom 12:9-16  "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight."

Why the need to be humble before God, in reliance on His mercy and grace? If you live like this you will encounter evil, Satan hates righteousness in any form. Many people do also, it is a judgment to some. They will oppose leaving you at peace. 

Rom 12:17,18  "Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." 

Yet, here is the very difficult, narrow way of love. No avenging wrongs even though it may seem right to seek revenge. Judgement is the right reserved by God. Do not try to play God and become the very evil you are opposing. Doing good to enemies reflects the very nature of Jesus Christ. 

Rom 12:19-20  "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."  To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."

Rom 12:21  "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." 

He is Absolute Love and knows how to overcome evil, by His sacrificial love.

Php 2:3-8  "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." 

 

Thinking rightly about the greatness and glory of God!

Rom 11:33-36  "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"   "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." 

Is the path to right actions, giving yourself over totally to Him from a sense of what is reasonable as an act of spiritual worship. 
Rom 12:1  "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." 

It is also the path to correct thinking. Clarity of mind that understands humility and the hideous nature of pride. Faith and belief guide. There is no arrogance of high mindedness in the presence of a holy, merciful absolutely loving, sovereign eternal ruler. "From Him, through Him and to Him are all things"

Rom 12:2  "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." 

He is Absolute Love. His will is good-acceptable-perfect.