I am very sorry for the lack of posts on this blog. Life got a bit away from me and needed my attention. I hope to be posting again soon. Thanks!
Let me cry out also! The time is short, people! Be ready for the Lord's coming.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Symbolic, slightly terrifying but wonderful dream
This morning, just before waking up on Thursday, May 17, I had the most wonderful, scary, beautiful, terrifying dream.
I dreamed that my youngest daughter was a little way away from me, and suddenly, right next to her was an enormous lion. She saw him and was very startled. I started to run towards her, thinking the worst. As I ran, the lion roared – the loudest, fiercest roar that had ever been heard, and it should have terrified me, but the closer I got, the less scared I was. Finally, I was there, and the lion roared again, but instead of being scared, I was absolutely thrilled, because it was Aslan!!
He punched a hole in the brick wall near us with his huge paw, and then he roared again, “COME!” My daughter leaped through the hole, but I was just standing there. I said, “Can I come, too?” afraid that he'd say no, but he just looked at me with tender amusement and somehow I knew that I could go, too.
On the other side of the wall was a train, but on the train, you sat single file, with a harness over you like on a roller coaster. Aslan put the harness on me. I could have taken it off myself, but I had no desire to undo what he had done. So, we take off, and it's like a roller coaster – the scariest roller coaster I had ever been on. It was terrifying, but thrilling, because I knew I was perfectly safe. It was Aslan's roller coaster, and he was right there, too, even though we couldn't see him.
My husband was in the seat in front of me, and at one point, the ride to the high point and the plunge down was so scary that I screamed, “I hate this! I want it to stop!” even though deep inside me, I knew nothing could happen to me with my harness on. Then, I went upside down – but held in by my harness – and suddenly, just like that, while I was still upside down, the ride ended, and we were in the train station. Except the train station wasn't little – it was everywhere. I looked down at the tracks, and they just ended there. It was a one-way ride.
So, people were getting off the train, a little dazed, as the ride had ended so suddenly – at what seemed like the very peak of the ride – the scariest part – it was just over. There wasn't any jolt from the sudden stop or anything. Just at one point we are careening along, going up so far and so high that we are upside down, and the next instant, we're stopped at the train station. I stayed in my harness for awhile, because it was safe there, but finally, I realized it was safe everywhere.
I was really tired after that ride, so I lay down to rest on this lovely bed that was suddenly there, and Aslan was stretched out next to me. I can still feel his warm, solid lion body and soft fur. As I lay there, I thought about the ride, and I realized that all during the ride, I had somehow been holding this little, gray kitten. The kitten was all matted and its poor fur was in horrible shape. I remembered that (somehow this had all happened during the ride, apparently) Aslan had come and taken the kitten and by stroking it with his huge claws (every one was the size of my finger), he had just cut away the mats of fur. It seemed like it was impossible for the kitten to not be hurt, but it wasn't. In fact, it just lay there on its back and let Aslan do that, until the mats were gone. Afterward, the kitten was so happy to be free of the mats.
I got up from my rest, and I couldn't see Aslan, but I knew he was there. In fact, I knew that he would always be right there, now, and I was just so thrilled and excited about that. I wouldn't ever be apart from him. Still, I was confused about what had happened, and where we had been, and as I wondered that, I remembered the ride again, and it was though I was standing next to the ride, watching it, but remembering it (I know – confusing, but it was like time was different in the train station), and I asked, as though we were still on the journey/ride (so that I would know during the journey, even though from my perspective, the journey was done), “What's going on? What are we doing here?”
I dreamed that my youngest daughter was a little way away from me, and suddenly, right next to her was an enormous lion. She saw him and was very startled. I started to run towards her, thinking the worst. As I ran, the lion roared – the loudest, fiercest roar that had ever been heard, and it should have terrified me, but the closer I got, the less scared I was. Finally, I was there, and the lion roared again, but instead of being scared, I was absolutely thrilled, because it was Aslan!!
He punched a hole in the brick wall near us with his huge paw, and then he roared again, “COME!” My daughter leaped through the hole, but I was just standing there. I said, “Can I come, too?” afraid that he'd say no, but he just looked at me with tender amusement and somehow I knew that I could go, too.
On the other side of the wall was a train, but on the train, you sat single file, with a harness over you like on a roller coaster. Aslan put the harness on me. I could have taken it off myself, but I had no desire to undo what he had done. So, we take off, and it's like a roller coaster – the scariest roller coaster I had ever been on. It was terrifying, but thrilling, because I knew I was perfectly safe. It was Aslan's roller coaster, and he was right there, too, even though we couldn't see him.
My husband was in the seat in front of me, and at one point, the ride to the high point and the plunge down was so scary that I screamed, “I hate this! I want it to stop!” even though deep inside me, I knew nothing could happen to me with my harness on. Then, I went upside down – but held in by my harness – and suddenly, just like that, while I was still upside down, the ride ended, and we were in the train station. Except the train station wasn't little – it was everywhere. I looked down at the tracks, and they just ended there. It was a one-way ride.
So, people were getting off the train, a little dazed, as the ride had ended so suddenly – at what seemed like the very peak of the ride – the scariest part – it was just over. There wasn't any jolt from the sudden stop or anything. Just at one point we are careening along, going up so far and so high that we are upside down, and the next instant, we're stopped at the train station. I stayed in my harness for awhile, because it was safe there, but finally, I realized it was safe everywhere.
I was really tired after that ride, so I lay down to rest on this lovely bed that was suddenly there, and Aslan was stretched out next to me. I can still feel his warm, solid lion body and soft fur. As I lay there, I thought about the ride, and I realized that all during the ride, I had somehow been holding this little, gray kitten. The kitten was all matted and its poor fur was in horrible shape. I remembered that (somehow this had all happened during the ride, apparently) Aslan had come and taken the kitten and by stroking it with his huge claws (every one was the size of my finger), he had just cut away the mats of fur. It seemed like it was impossible for the kitten to not be hurt, but it wasn't. In fact, it just lay there on its back and let Aslan do that, until the mats were gone. Afterward, the kitten was so happy to be free of the mats.
I got up from my rest, and I couldn't see Aslan, but I knew he was there. In fact, I knew that he would always be right there, now, and I was just so thrilled and excited about that. I wouldn't ever be apart from him. Still, I was confused about what had happened, and where we had been, and as I wondered that, I remembered the ride again, and it was though I was standing next to the ride, watching it, but remembering it (I know – confusing, but it was like time was different in the train station), and I asked, as though we were still on the journey/ride (so that I would know during the journey, even though from my perspective, the journey was done), “What's going on? What are we doing here?”
Because the ride had also been a journey that Aslan was taking us on. It was simultaneously a ride with set tracks and set parts that were scary (all while locked into a harness to keep us safe), and also a journey that Aslan was guiding us on, where I was walking with him and could have gone off in my own direction if I had really wanted to (which, of course, you can't do on a roller coaster ride). I didn't want to, because only Aslan knew the way, and I wanted to stay with him. I know – only in a dream – but it was both at the same time.
So, anyway, while at the train station, but somehow asking for the “self” that was still on the journey, I'm yelling, “What are we doing here?” There is this very large figure behind and to the left of me, that I can just see out of the corner of my eye. He's way taller than a man, and he's dressed in white, and he answers in this voice that somehow could be heard all over the world, “We are here to celebrate Christ's victory in ten days!”
And, I woke up. Instantly, the verse in my head was “You shall have tribulation ten days.”
So, that was the dream. The symbolism was very clear to me about most of it. The only part that wasn't clear was the “ten days.” It seems logical to assume that since everything else was in symbols, the ten days might be, too, but I don't know. Exactly ten days from the dream is Pentecost. Does that mean anything? I don't know. Certainly Pentecost was a victory for Christ in historical reality, because that was the day the Holy Spirit came.
So, here's what I got out of it, even if it was just a dream:
Aslan represents Jesus, of course. The road ahead – the journey ahead – the “ride” ahead, is going to be scary, even terrifying, but Jesus has locked us in. If we are in Jesus, we are in his safety harness, and nothing can prevent us from getting to our destination at the end of the ride. While on the ride, Jesus is going to purify us – to “comb out our mats” and free us from what has been weighing us down. The journey has a zillion directions you could go, but only one right way, and that is to stick with Jesus and let Him lead. We will get to our destination, which is heaven, and we will always be with Jesus, and that will be more wonderful than you can possibly imagine.
So, those things I know for sure – because they are biblical and simply a reminder of what God has already told us in His word.
So, beyond that is just speculation, but here is what I think it means, if it means anything beyond a really cool dream. Something just changed. God has started us on the end journey. He is calling us out of whatever we have been doing and saying “follow me.” In the dream, if I hadn't gone through the hole and gotten on the train, I would have missed out. So, I think the dream is saying, “Now's the time, folks. Follow Me NOW or be left out. I have no idea what happened with anyone who didn't go through the wall in the dream. Once through, I had no more thought for what I left behind.
Anyway, even locked in to a set ride with set tracks and set “thrills,” it was terrifying. I wanted off and for it to be over. There was no getting off, though. It was kind of “count the cost” before you got on. But why wouldn't you get on? Only by getting on would I be with Aslan, and that's what I wanted. I didn't care where the journey took me. I just wanted to stay with Aslan. Being with him was so wonderful. I think, perhaps, before we are home in heaven, the ride is going to be very, very scary, but we need to remember that we are locked in, and perfectly safe. Maybe it's going to seem like Tribulation, capitol "T."
I don't know what the ten days means. Interpret as you will. But, as believers, we ARE here to celebrate Christ's victory – no matter what happens or how scary it seems to be. We are on Jesus' path, like a train on rails – a roller coaster with a predetermined course. Yet, I think something is different. A journey is starting that you don't want to miss out on. Time to be seeking Aslan's country.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
E-mail subscription
Since I haven't been posting that often, if you would like to be e-mailed whenever there is a new post, please send me a note, and I will add you to the list.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Interesting Links
I"m sorry that I haven't kept this up. I'm struggling with some health issues. I hope, with God's help, to conquer them and get back to writing my own things. In the meantime, I've run across interesting things. I'm not endorsing them - just find them interesting. You may also.
Chaotic Weather in April - YouTube Video
God's Time Patterns - This one is rather speculative. Is he right? Maybe, but Jesus reminds us that no one knows the day or hour. What I do find fascinating, though - and agree with completely - is that EVERYTHING God says in the Bible is there for a reason. Every name, every place, every date, every everything. I also believe that God does use patterns. In fact, He declares that to be true here:
Hosea 12:10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets. (NKJV)
I actually think the King James is more clear:
Hosea 12:10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. (KJV)
What does that mean, that God has used "similitudes?" It means that He uses pictures. Some are obvious - and even explained, such as the Passover Lamb being a picture of Jesus - the coming perfect sacrifice. What did John the Baptist say about him? "Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world." He was calling Him the Passover lamb.
I believe there are far, far more pictures in the Bible than we will ever realize, and when you start to see that, you will know - beyond a shadow of a doubt - that mere men did not, could not, have written the Scriptures without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. That's why it makes me so angry when so called "scholars" with their great learning cast doubt on the Bible and say things like "Moses did not write the Pentateuch." or "Paul did not write Ephesisans." even though the Bible itself says they did.
Sir Isaac Newton, known as one of the world's greatest scientists, wrote more about the Bible (specifically Bible prophecy) than he ever did about science. Why? Because he saw those pictures, and like me, was fascinated by them.
The Old Testament was not just a recording of history, or prophecy for them, but were for us, too:
Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
May Earthquakes - For entertainment purposes only
Chaotic Weather in April - YouTube Video
God's Time Patterns - This one is rather speculative. Is he right? Maybe, but Jesus reminds us that no one knows the day or hour. What I do find fascinating, though - and agree with completely - is that EVERYTHING God says in the Bible is there for a reason. Every name, every place, every date, every everything. I also believe that God does use patterns. In fact, He declares that to be true here:
Hosea 12:10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets. (NKJV)
I actually think the King James is more clear:
Hosea 12:10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. (KJV)
What does that mean, that God has used "similitudes?" It means that He uses pictures. Some are obvious - and even explained, such as the Passover Lamb being a picture of Jesus - the coming perfect sacrifice. What did John the Baptist say about him? "Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world." He was calling Him the Passover lamb.
I believe there are far, far more pictures in the Bible than we will ever realize, and when you start to see that, you will know - beyond a shadow of a doubt - that mere men did not, could not, have written the Scriptures without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. That's why it makes me so angry when so called "scholars" with their great learning cast doubt on the Bible and say things like "Moses did not write the Pentateuch." or "Paul did not write Ephesisans." even though the Bible itself says they did.
Sir Isaac Newton, known as one of the world's greatest scientists, wrote more about the Bible (specifically Bible prophecy) than he ever did about science. Why? Because he saw those pictures, and like me, was fascinated by them.
The Old Testament was not just a recording of history, or prophecy for them, but were for us, too:
Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
May Earthquakes - For entertainment purposes only
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Does the idea of "Judgment Day" coming soon weaken your faith?
I was visiting an online forum today, and one of the posters made this statement: 'The focus on "imminent end times" actually weakens ones Christian walk.'
Now, not being able to read his mind, there are a variety of things he could have meant. He could have meant that dwelling on the "tribulation" aspect of the end of the age frightens people and weakens their faith. He could have meant a variation of the old, "So heavenly minded that you're no earthly good." (not true, and a very good subject for an upcoming blog) He could have meant that speaking out on end times means you're not speaking the gospel, which could be true if someone is dwelling on end times in an "end of the world disaster movie" sort of way. He could have meant something that I'm not even thinking of. That's the nature of online written discussions and interpreting a stranger's thoughts.
But, what about that first idea? If a church, a pastor, me, whoever, speaks on "imminent end times," DOES that weaken your faith? I have a vested interest here, as that IS pretty much the focus of this blog. I would not want to be guilty of this:
Mark 9:42 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
Jesus doesn't appear to think it weakens our faith or deters from our Christian walk. In Matthew 24:42-44, He says,
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
What is He saying? He is warning that "that day" could come any time and to be ready. So, apparently, Jesus believes that watching and waiting will actually strengthen your Christian walk. In Luke, He even goes so far as to say,
Luke 21:28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
"When these things begin to take place," - in other words, imminent end times - "stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
End times - something to look forward to? Yes! Not a weakening of faith, but a strengthening!!!
And, look what Peter has to say:
2 Peter 3:3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. In Peter's day, people were looking for "imminent end times" - yearning for them - and others were scoffing at them. Peter is warning the scoffers that that day WILL come.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Peter speaks to the believers, those who want "that day" to come (sound familiar?), to be patient.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.[a]
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives What is Peter pointing out? That "Judgment Day" is coming, and therefore, be living as you should. In other words, talking about imminent end times, focusing on Judgment Day, actually HELPS our Christian walk. 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[b] Here is the answer for those who want to focus on end times in an "end of the world disaster movie" kind of way. We look forward to the day of God - we WANT Jesus to come and we "speed its coming." How do we do that? We share the Gospel. As Peter says earlier, God is patient, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Why are we still here? Because God wants more people to believe. And, thank goodness He has been patient. I was one He was patient with! That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
What is Peter's point in this passage? That God is patient, but that day IS coming. The warning of its coming calls us to live as we should and to share God's message of forgiveness through Jesus with any and all who will listen. It is a help to our Christian walk. And, far from threatening our faith, it should strengthen it. The time of destruction is also our time of redemption. This world is not forever; heaven waits!! No matter how bad things are here, eternal life in glory is coming!
Nearly every single one of the New Testament writers speak of end times. In some cases, it's in warning, to encourage repentance. In others, it's a comfort and a call to be patient: this world is not forever. Jesus WILL come. In fact, read through the letters to the churches in the Book of Revelation. Those are Jesus' words to correct problems in the churches. In how many of them does He use the idea of coming judgment in their correction?
Time is short, people! We are no longer talking hundreds of years. We may even be looking at months or weeks. Perhaps even today. Jesus is coming! Let your walk be strong and faithful, and others will be drawn to you because they want what you have.
As always, I'd love to hear from you. If you don't want to respond here, send me an email.
A few more thoughts, prompted by a friend's comment. Here's what she wrote with such sweet honesty:
"My question is this, how does one,like myself, do it all? Be the titus 2 woman, proverbs 31 woman, open to hospitality, witness to others, love everyone, and keep watch? It seems that you are saying watching is the most important, but I think what you mean is that all are important, right? For example, the man who is keeping watch and is prepared for the thief, also is mowing the lawn, and painting the walls, and inviting his neighbors over for bible study. I also know that I can do all things through Christ, I just cannot figure out why I am weary, when I am not supposed to be weary if I have faith in my Savior. "Come to me all who are weary..." Can you touch on these things?"
You may have felt the same way. There is a recent blog that touches on some of her exact thoughts, here. And, maybe this one, too: The next thing.
But, just in case I have mistakenly given you the same impression that I gave her, let me share my answer to her.
We are called to watch, yes, but, as my friend pointed out, watching among other things. (although, if you fail to watch, that's not a good thing).
Some are called to watch as a specific job. Remember this verse:
Mark 13:34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
Were ALL the servants crowded around the door watching? No - or nothing would get done. The one at the door watched and yelled when he saw his master coming. And then it was repeated throughout the house.
Perhaps I am at the door yelling - and you, at your assigned task, hear me and repeat it to those near you. And then everyone makes their last minute preparations. I am at the door and have spotted the dust in the distance. Is it our Master? I think so, and so am calling out, "I think He's coming!!!" And, you, perhaps in the upstairs window, look out too, and also see the dust rising. Is it Him? Maybe. In any case, it is a warning that His return could happen soon and to be working hard at your assigned task, to do it as well as possible.
And, for those of you feeling weary, remember that word "assigned." You're not called to do everything - just those things He has given you. It is the fruit of the Spirit, not something you do in your own strength. There is a reminder, here, of how to live in the Spirit.
NOTE: In answering her, I have realized something about myself. Watching must really be one of my assigned tasks. I could no more not do it than not breathe. It is the whole reason I started this blog. I have seen the rising dust in the distance. Is it our Master? I really do think so - and so I call out, "Jesus is coming! Be ready!"
Now, not being able to read his mind, there are a variety of things he could have meant. He could have meant that dwelling on the "tribulation" aspect of the end of the age frightens people and weakens their faith. He could have meant a variation of the old, "So heavenly minded that you're no earthly good." (not true, and a very good subject for an upcoming blog) He could have meant that speaking out on end times means you're not speaking the gospel, which could be true if someone is dwelling on end times in an "end of the world disaster movie" sort of way. He could have meant something that I'm not even thinking of. That's the nature of online written discussions and interpreting a stranger's thoughts.
But, what about that first idea? If a church, a pastor, me, whoever, speaks on "imminent end times," DOES that weaken your faith? I have a vested interest here, as that IS pretty much the focus of this blog. I would not want to be guilty of this:
Mark 9:42 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
Jesus doesn't appear to think it weakens our faith or deters from our Christian walk. In Matthew 24:42-44, He says,
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
What is He saying? He is warning that "that day" could come any time and to be ready. So, apparently, Jesus believes that watching and waiting will actually strengthen your Christian walk. In Luke, He even goes so far as to say,
Luke 21:28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
"When these things begin to take place," - in other words, imminent end times - "stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
End times - something to look forward to? Yes! Not a weakening of faith, but a strengthening!!!
And, look what Peter has to say:
2 Peter 3:3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. In Peter's day, people were looking for "imminent end times" - yearning for them - and others were scoffing at them. Peter is warning the scoffers that that day WILL come.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Peter speaks to the believers, those who want "that day" to come (sound familiar?), to be patient.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.[a]
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives What is Peter pointing out? That "Judgment Day" is coming, and therefore, be living as you should. In other words, talking about imminent end times, focusing on Judgment Day, actually HELPS our Christian walk. 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[b] Here is the answer for those who want to focus on end times in an "end of the world disaster movie" kind of way. We look forward to the day of God - we WANT Jesus to come and we "speed its coming." How do we do that? We share the Gospel. As Peter says earlier, God is patient, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Why are we still here? Because God wants more people to believe. And, thank goodness He has been patient. I was one He was patient with! That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
What is Peter's point in this passage? That God is patient, but that day IS coming. The warning of its coming calls us to live as we should and to share God's message of forgiveness through Jesus with any and all who will listen. It is a help to our Christian walk. And, far from threatening our faith, it should strengthen it. The time of destruction is also our time of redemption. This world is not forever; heaven waits!! No matter how bad things are here, eternal life in glory is coming!
Nearly every single one of the New Testament writers speak of end times. In some cases, it's in warning, to encourage repentance. In others, it's a comfort and a call to be patient: this world is not forever. Jesus WILL come. In fact, read through the letters to the churches in the Book of Revelation. Those are Jesus' words to correct problems in the churches. In how many of them does He use the idea of coming judgment in their correction?
Time is short, people! We are no longer talking hundreds of years. We may even be looking at months or weeks. Perhaps even today. Jesus is coming! Let your walk be strong and faithful, and others will be drawn to you because they want what you have.
As always, I'd love to hear from you. If you don't want to respond here, send me an email.
A few more thoughts, prompted by a friend's comment. Here's what she wrote with such sweet honesty:
"My question is this, how does one,like myself, do it all? Be the titus 2 woman, proverbs 31 woman, open to hospitality, witness to others, love everyone, and keep watch? It seems that you are saying watching is the most important, but I think what you mean is that all are important, right? For example, the man who is keeping watch and is prepared for the thief, also is mowing the lawn, and painting the walls, and inviting his neighbors over for bible study. I also know that I can do all things through Christ, I just cannot figure out why I am weary, when I am not supposed to be weary if I have faith in my Savior. "Come to me all who are weary..." Can you touch on these things?"
You may have felt the same way. There is a recent blog that touches on some of her exact thoughts, here. And, maybe this one, too: The next thing.
But, just in case I have mistakenly given you the same impression that I gave her, let me share my answer to her.
We are called to watch, yes, but, as my friend pointed out, watching among other things. (although, if you fail to watch, that's not a good thing).
Some are called to watch as a specific job. Remember this verse:
Mark 13:34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
Were ALL the servants crowded around the door watching? No - or nothing would get done. The one at the door watched and yelled when he saw his master coming. And then it was repeated throughout the house.
Perhaps I am at the door yelling - and you, at your assigned task, hear me and repeat it to those near you. And then everyone makes their last minute preparations. I am at the door and have spotted the dust in the distance. Is it our Master? I think so, and so am calling out, "I think He's coming!!!" And, you, perhaps in the upstairs window, look out too, and also see the dust rising. Is it Him? Maybe. In any case, it is a warning that His return could happen soon and to be working hard at your assigned task, to do it as well as possible.
And, for those of you feeling weary, remember that word "assigned." You're not called to do everything - just those things He has given you. It is the fruit of the Spirit, not something you do in your own strength. There is a reminder, here, of how to live in the Spirit.
NOTE: In answering her, I have realized something about myself. Watching must really be one of my assigned tasks. I could no more not do it than not breathe. It is the whole reason I started this blog. I have seen the rising dust in the distance. Is it our Master? I really do think so - and so I call out, "Jesus is coming! Be ready!"
Monday, April 16, 2012
Yes, you do believe in the rapture
Have you ever heard someone say, "There's no such thing as the rapture"? Maybe you, yourself have said or believe the same thing: the rapture is a myth. Some will go so far as to say that not only is it a myth, but it was created in the 1800's by John Nelson Darby (not true, but that's a subject for another day). And, how many times have I read, "No passage in the Bible uses the word "Rapture""?
Fellow Lutherans, and all you mainline Christians out there, listen up. If you believe in the Bible, you believe in the rapture. The "rapture" is when Jesus catches away the believers into the air and takes them to be with Himself. Granted, a strange idea, but completely biblical. It comes from these verses:
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
That word, translated "caught up" is harpazō (här-pä'-zō). It means:
1) to seize, carry off by force
2) to seize on, claim for one's self eagerly
3) to snatch out or away
Kind of an odd thing, actually - but, it's the same word used here:
Acts 8:39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
and here:
2 Corinthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.
It's sudden. It's unexpected. It's harpazō.
Harpazo is a Greek word. It was the language of the day. However, as time went on, Latin became the language of the civilized world. So, in the early 5th century (early 400's), Jerome translated both the Old and New Testament into Latin. When he came to Paul's passage in Thessalonians, he translated harpazō as rapiemur or rapturo (Rapiemur and rapturo are two forms of the same verb, viz: rapio, rapere, rapui, raptus - "to catch or seize". Rapiemur is the first person, plural, future, indicative, passive. Rapturo is the future active participle. as here):
1 Thessalonians 4:17 deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus.
That word in the Latin Vulgate, rapturo, became simply "rapture." So, those people who say that "rapture" is not found in the Bible are either revealing their ignorance or have something else they want to fight about.
So, if you believe in the Bible, you believe in the rapture. What you may MEAN to say, is that you disagree with the rapture as presented in the "Left Behind" books - where Jesus comes, takes away the believers, and leaves everyone else to face horrible tribulation. That view of the rapture is called "Pre-Tribulational", meaning "before the tribulation." There are lots of other views, including "Post Trib," "Mid-Trib", "Pre-Wrath" "Rapture after no trib" and others.
I've studied end times for a very long time. I've studied the rapture for a very long time. In all honesty, I've probably studied the whole end times issue more than 90% of the pastors out there. I want to say something in love. When I first studied the rapture, it was perfectly obvious that it was post trib. But, when I went back to it and studied it some more, I thought that mid trib or pre wrath might be closer to the truth. Then, I studied it more and became convinced that it was pre trib. In fact, it was obviously pre trib. Then, I studied it some more and realized that even partial rapture (a very controversial view) might have some elements of truth to it. So, I studied it some more (we are talking about 15 years of study here), and decided that I don't know what view is right. They may all be partially true. They may all be at least partially false. I just don't know.
One thing I DO know - those people who say that it's absolutely this or absolutely that - to the point where they say that everything else is unbiblical, haven't studied it enough. Don't be one of them. You may disagree with a view with your current understanding, but unless you are God, you don't know exactly how it's going to happen. Treat your brothers and sisters who have different views with love. Don't call them heretics. Don't call their views heresy.
And, by all means, don't go out and buy books like "The Rapture Exposed" by Barbara Rossing. She not only thinks that there is no rapture (we are not EVER caught away into the air to be with Jesus), but, in fact, thinks there is no literal second coming at all and that Revelation is really about environmentalism and healing the world. Good grief.
Jesus IS coming. And, one day, (if you are trusting Him as your savior), you WILL be caught up into the air to be with Him forevermore. We're supposed to encourage each other with this idea - that this world is not forever, and that Jesus really is coming for us. Suddenly. Unexpectedly.
Maybe you can't bring yourself to say Rapture. That's OK. Call it the Harpazo. Call it the "Catching away." Or, just say, "When Jesus comes to take us to be with Him. . ." Just don't say it's not in the Bible. Don't belittle people who have different timing views. Trust me, we're all going to be surprised by something on that day.
That day, when Jesus comes for us, is a day to look forward to. There may be some very difficult days leading up to that time, but He is with us. He will lead us, protect us and keep us on His path. And, when that day finally comes, we will be with Him, forever and ever. No more good-byes, ever again.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The next thing
Sometimes, life is just overwhelming. Do you ever feel that way? For days, weeks, now, my prayers have been variations of "Lord, please help me. Help me just do what you want me to do, because I don't know what I'm doing or where I'm going."
Do you ever have dreams where you want to run, but you somehow feel like you're running through marshmallow? Or you have a hundred things to do, but you can't even start?
Our faith in God doesn't depend on happy families, healthy bodies and brains that work right. Our faith depends on who God is, not who or what we are. Our faith hinges on HIS character, not ours - His work, not ours - His love, not ours. When we feel like we are at the bottom of a well, and the little light that comes through is so far above that we can't reach it, God is still there. His love for us doesn't change with our feelings or our circumstances.
If you are mired in something that drags you down, holds you back - then cry out to Him for help, and believe that He will help you. KNOW that He hears you, and that He cares.
You may be one, like me, that likes to have a plan - likes to see the the path lying clearly before you. It might be a difficult path, but that's OK, as long as it's a clear path. Well, sometimes that path isn't so clear, and our brains are foggy and our bodies are tired, and if we really, really admitted what we feel deep down inside, we might just start crying and not stop.
God has a plan, dear ones. No matter where you are in your walk with Him - whether you've just started or you've been following Him a long time, He has a plan.
Do you ever have dreams where you want to run, but you somehow feel like you're running through marshmallow? Or you have a hundred things to do, but you can't even start?
Our faith in God doesn't depend on happy families, healthy bodies and brains that work right. Our faith depends on who God is, not who or what we are. Our faith hinges on HIS character, not ours - His work, not ours - His love, not ours. When we feel like we are at the bottom of a well, and the little light that comes through is so far above that we can't reach it, God is still there. His love for us doesn't change with our feelings or our circumstances.
If you are mired in something that drags you down, holds you back - then cry out to Him for help, and believe that He will help you. KNOW that He hears you, and that He cares.
You may be one, like me, that likes to have a plan - likes to see the the path lying clearly before you. It might be a difficult path, but that's OK, as long as it's a clear path. Well, sometimes that path isn't so clear, and our brains are foggy and our bodies are tired, and if we really, really admitted what we feel deep down inside, we might just start crying and not stop.
God has a plan, dear ones. No matter where you are in your walk with Him - whether you've just started or you've been following Him a long time, He has a plan.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
That was written specifically to the Jews, but spiritually, it applies to every believer. He has a plan - and it's a good one. This world is passing away. The time remaining is very short. If you are ready, that idea may fill you with joy. If you are not, it might create terror. Or, you may believe it, but you are tired and sad and confused, and life is just really too hard right now to think much about it at all.
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Stop trying so hard, and just be that little toddler who trusts that His daddy is there, taking care of him. Getting ready for Jesus' return is not about what you do - it's about trusting what He has already done.
Speaking as one who likes that plan, likes to have everything mapped out - it's OK if you don't know where you're going. It's OK if you have no idea what this whole "Jesus is coming" thing is going to look like. When your children were very small, did they know what their whole day was going to contain? Of course they didn't - and they didn't worry about it. They went about their day, fairly oblivious until you scooped them up and said, "Time to go!"
It's really OK if you are like that toddler. The important thing is that your trust is strong (which you remember is not a feeling, but a DECISION based on who your savior is and all that He has done for you), and that you are depending on Jesus.
He does have work for you to do, but it's nothing to overwhelm you: "my yoke is easy and my burden is light." It's nothing that should make you frantic, wondering how in the world you're going to get it all done.
When my father was dying, I couldn't bear to think beyond the immediate. I couldn't deal with what came after. All I could do was ask God to help me do the next thing. And, at that moment, the next thing was just holding my daddy's hand while his body died.
In some ways, that's still where I'm at. I want the plan - I want the clear path, the whole picture. But, you know what? God says, "No, that's not what I want for you." He might be saying something else to you, but to me, He says, "Just do the next thing - and I'll take care of it beyond that."
That's tough, you know, for a planner. If I ever appear to be spontaneous, it's only because I've planned very, very quickly. I'm not very good at winging it. But, God appears to be asking me to wing it these days.
Jesus is coming. Time is very, very short. And, I have no plan. I have no plan, but I do have trust. I trust that my God who is my savior has a plan - and if HE has a plan, I can be that toddler who has no idea what's going on.
Please, Lord, just keep my on that path. Keep me in the center of your will, because I have no idea where I'm going. Help me do the next thing.
If you are feeling any of these things, I'd love to hear from you. If you don't want to say it here for all to see, just send me an e-mail.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Add to your godliness, brotherly kindness
I'm sorry, anyone who is actually reading this blog. Life got busy, and I got discouraged from the apparent lack of interest and zero comments I was getting. But, I should just be faithful and let God do with this blog as He will.
The last actual blog was Add to your perseverance, Godliness. So, I will finish Peter's list, and then (hopefully tomorrow) start something new. It should be very freeing, knowing that virtually no one actually reads these. I can just write what's on my heart. But first Peter.
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.
That's the full section of Peter we're working through, and now we have gotten this far:
2Peter 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
"Brotherly kindness" is the seventh trait that Peter talks about. You'll remember that seven is the number of completeness. And, yet, this full list has eight - the number of resurrection and new beginning. Interesting, huh?
7. Brotherly kindness: philadelphia {fil-ad-el-fee'-ah}
1) love of brothers or sisters, brotherly love 2) in the NT the love which Christians cherish for each other as brethren
The verb form is phileo.
1 John 3:11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
1 Peter 1:21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart
1 Thessalonians 4:9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other
Brotherly kindness or phileo love seems to come with salvation. It is evidence that we have been saved. Why does Peter command us to add it, then? Again, I believe this means to practice using it. It comes fairly late in the list, so I think this will grow as the others do.
The eighth trait is agape love:
8. Love: (KJ - charity) agape {ag-ah'-pay}
the love of God, the way God loves us, to love completely without thought of recompense, abundant, overflowing, unconditional love
The verb form is agapao {ag-ap-ah'-o}. There is no way that anyone can have agape love without being saved. Only through the Spirit can you have this kind of love. It's last on the list because it is the hardest. Peter thought he had agape love:
John 13:37 Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." 38 Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
But, as we know, he didn't really have agape love. He did disown Jesus, just as Jesus predicted. Later, after Jesus' resurrection, they had a little conversation after a fish breakfast on the shore. We miss what really was going on in the English:
John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me agapao more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love phileo you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love agapao me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love phileo you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love phileo me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love phileo you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
In the end, Jesus is saying that phileo is enough to start with. Peter can feed the sheep with phileo love. Is it any wonder that Peter listed agape love last? And, yet, that is what Jesus commands:
John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love agapao one another. As I have loved agapao you, so you must love agapao one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Mark 12:28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." 32 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
Luke 10:25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
So, how is it possible? Only through the Holy Spirit. That is the only way. It is simply not possible through human will.
From E-Devotionals.org:
So, make every effort to add those eight traits, and you will be ready for Jesus' coming. (still intrigued by the fact there are eight). BUT, you need to remember, to live as God expects - to be truly holy - to do the works that God desires - is impossible in our human strength. We all want to be Christ-like, but no one gets that way by just deciding to. It ISN'T a matter of figuring out what Jesus would do and then doing it.
Ladies, have you ever read Proverbs 31 and wanted to be a wife of noble character? You could make a list in your head - up before dawn, prepare the food, make clothes for the family, run the household, bring in extra money, give to the poor, dole out wisdom. . . Are you up for it? That's what God wants, right? How long before you give up in utter exhaustion, a complete failure? That's what happens when you try to do it in your own strength.
OR - you can seek God every day, in His word and in your prayer. Trust Him. Depend on Him. And, someday, when you look back, you'll realize that you're a lot more of that Proverbs 31 woman than you used to be. It was in God's time and in God's strength. That's what it means to walk in the Spirit. It's God working in you - not anything you did yourself.
It is possible to do what appears to be good works and commanded of God and have it turn out to be works of the flesh. Remember this verse?
1 Corinthians 3: 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.
The work here was the work of believers - God's fellow workers - and yet some of it may burn up when tested in the fire. Work directed by the Spirit is pleasing to God. Work done in the flesh (in your own strength and will) is not pleasing, even if it appears righteous to us.
What you do in the Spirit will not burn you out (and will not burn up). There is time enough in every day to do what God wants you to do in that day. If it appears that there is not, then you are trying to go beyond what the Spirit wants for you.
That's part of the problem with many, many things on the Christian scene these days. Their basic message is, "This is what you were created for. Get out there and do it - spread the good news, make disciples, help the poor. Find out what your spiritual gift is and put it to work!"
Well, that's all well and good. It IS what the Bible says. But - they leave out the whole part about it being fruit of the Spirit. You go and do all that in your strength and will, and not only will you fail to please God, you will wind up feeling like an utter and complete failure. They call it being "purpose driven." Really, it's being "law-driven." We want to be led by the Spirit, not driven by the law.
So, what do we do? Go sit in a dark room until we FEEL the Spirit? No, that's not the way it works. (Don't you wish it was sometimes?)
Ephesians 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
How can we be filled with the Spirit? How can we actually walk by the Spirit, live by the Spirit?
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.
These two passages suggest two things. The first is simply to ask, as Jesus tells us:
Luke 11:9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
The second is to "feed" your new man and "starve" your old man. Stay away from things of the world. Instead, drink deeply, daily of God's word, as the many, many passages we've gone through in the past say. Speak and sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Be thankful for all things and keep your mind on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.
And, my favorite verse of all:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
I believe that's the key right there - trust. We always want to make things complicated. We seem to always stray one way or the other. Either we try to do things in our own strength and wind up exhausted and burned out, feeling far from the very One we wanted to serve -- or, we go too far the other way and find ourselves paralyzed because we don't hear or FEEL God telling us what to do. It's not supposed to be that hard.
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me , all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
We need to just trust God to lead us, and He will! It's that simple. (I know - I know. While it's simple in truth, we are feeling creatures, and too often we confuse trust with feeling. Our feelings so often mislead us). Just remember, we are to bear fruit, yes, but we are neither the gardener nor the vine:
John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
The branches do not strain to produce fruit. They simply soak up the "Son" and the fruit grows!
One last - very important! - point: The "law" (all those expectations of God) does a number of things, but most importantly, it shows us our sin as we fail to live up to it. Only Jesus could keep it all perfectly. We will never be without sin on this earth. We will never walk perfectly in the Spirit. We will never be perfectly obedient. You can do everything we discussed here, and you will still screw up. We all do, no matter how long we've been Christians. When we acknowledge our sin, we remember again our need for our savior. The gospel is not something you believe and are done with. The gospel is an entire way of life. We need to remember that because of what Jesus did for us, we are already right with God. We are His dearly loved children, not because of ANYTHING we do, but because when the Father looks at us, He sees the righteousness of Jesus instead of our sin.
It's easy to know that in your head - that we're never trying to "earn points" by our works, but very hard to remember it in your heart. Our feelings are deceptive, and sometimes they will trip us up. We start to feel like God is not pleased with us, and He begins to feel very, very far away. Or, we start to feel like God IS pleased with us, because of the good things we've done. Neither is right thinking. God is already perfectly pleased with you, not because of what you've done or not done, but because when He looks at you, He sees His dear child, bought with the blood of Jesus.
God did everything in your salvation - and He will do everything in your sanctification, too. Just trust Him to lead you, and He will! (Remembering that He can use even your screw-ups for your eternal good!)
To summarize this whole study:
The last actual blog was Add to your perseverance, Godliness. So, I will finish Peter's list, and then (hopefully tomorrow) start something new. It should be very freeing, knowing that virtually no one actually reads these. I can just write what's on my heart. But first Peter.
2 Peter 1
1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Making One’s Calling and Election Sure
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.
That's the full section of Peter we're working through, and now we have gotten this far:
2Peter 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
"Brotherly kindness" is the seventh trait that Peter talks about. You'll remember that seven is the number of completeness. And, yet, this full list has eight - the number of resurrection and new beginning. Interesting, huh?
7. Brotherly kindness: philadelphia {fil-ad-el-fee'-ah}
1) love of brothers or sisters, brotherly love 2) in the NT the love which Christians cherish for each other as brethren
The verb form is phileo.
1 John 3:11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
1 Peter 1:21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart
1 Thessalonians 4:9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other
Brotherly kindness or phileo love seems to come with salvation. It is evidence that we have been saved. Why does Peter command us to add it, then? Again, I believe this means to practice using it. It comes fairly late in the list, so I think this will grow as the others do.
The eighth trait is agape love:
8. Love: (KJ - charity) agape {ag-ah'-pay}
the love of God, the way God loves us, to love completely without thought of recompense, abundant, overflowing, unconditional love
The verb form is agapao {ag-ap-ah'-o}. There is no way that anyone can have agape love without being saved. Only through the Spirit can you have this kind of love. It's last on the list because it is the hardest. Peter thought he had agape love:
John 13:37 Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." 38 Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
But, as we know, he didn't really have agape love. He did disown Jesus, just as Jesus predicted. Later, after Jesus' resurrection, they had a little conversation after a fish breakfast on the shore. We miss what really was going on in the English:
John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me agapao more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love phileo you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love agapao me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love phileo you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love phileo me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love phileo you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
In the end, Jesus is saying that phileo is enough to start with. Peter can feed the sheep with phileo love. Is it any wonder that Peter listed agape love last? And, yet, that is what Jesus commands:
John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love agapao one another. As I have loved agapao you, so you must love agapao one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Mark 12:28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." 32 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
Luke 10:25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
So, how is it possible? Only through the Holy Spirit. That is the only way. It is simply not possible through human will.
From E-Devotionals.org:
- The Greek Language has five words for love. Eros is sensual love between the sexes. Phileo is friendship among friends -- kind feelings and natural affection. We think of Phileo love being brotherly love. Storge love is love within a family. Love for your kids, parents, and so on. Agapao love is to be totally given over to someone or something. Agape love is lavished on others without any thought of whether they deserve or are worthy of the love. It is totally unconditional love. It proceeds from the one giving the love and not from the attractiveness of the beloved. It is a commitment, not a feeling.
So, make every effort to add those eight traits, and you will be ready for Jesus' coming. (still intrigued by the fact there are eight). BUT, you need to remember, to live as God expects - to be truly holy - to do the works that God desires - is impossible in our human strength. We all want to be Christ-like, but no one gets that way by just deciding to. It ISN'T a matter of figuring out what Jesus would do and then doing it.
Ladies, have you ever read Proverbs 31 and wanted to be a wife of noble character? You could make a list in your head - up before dawn, prepare the food, make clothes for the family, run the household, bring in extra money, give to the poor, dole out wisdom. . . Are you up for it? That's what God wants, right? How long before you give up in utter exhaustion, a complete failure? That's what happens when you try to do it in your own strength.
OR - you can seek God every day, in His word and in your prayer. Trust Him. Depend on Him. And, someday, when you look back, you'll realize that you're a lot more of that Proverbs 31 woman than you used to be. It was in God's time and in God's strength. That's what it means to walk in the Spirit. It's God working in you - not anything you did yourself.
It is possible to do what appears to be good works and commanded of God and have it turn out to be works of the flesh. Remember this verse?
1 Corinthians 3: 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.
The work here was the work of believers - God's fellow workers - and yet some of it may burn up when tested in the fire. Work directed by the Spirit is pleasing to God. Work done in the flesh (in your own strength and will) is not pleasing, even if it appears righteous to us.
What you do in the Spirit will not burn you out (and will not burn up). There is time enough in every day to do what God wants you to do in that day. If it appears that there is not, then you are trying to go beyond what the Spirit wants for you.
That's part of the problem with many, many things on the Christian scene these days. Their basic message is, "This is what you were created for. Get out there and do it - spread the good news, make disciples, help the poor. Find out what your spiritual gift is and put it to work!"
Well, that's all well and good. It IS what the Bible says. But - they leave out the whole part about it being fruit of the Spirit. You go and do all that in your strength and will, and not only will you fail to please God, you will wind up feeling like an utter and complete failure. They call it being "purpose driven." Really, it's being "law-driven." We want to be led by the Spirit, not driven by the law.
So, what do we do? Go sit in a dark room until we FEEL the Spirit? No, that's not the way it works. (Don't you wish it was sometimes?)
Ephesians 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
How can we be filled with the Spirit? How can we actually walk by the Spirit, live by the Spirit?
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.
These two passages suggest two things. The first is simply to ask, as Jesus tells us:
Luke 11:9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
The second is to "feed" your new man and "starve" your old man. Stay away from things of the world. Instead, drink deeply, daily of God's word, as the many, many passages we've gone through in the past say. Speak and sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Be thankful for all things and keep your mind on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.
And, my favorite verse of all:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
I believe that's the key right there - trust. We always want to make things complicated. We seem to always stray one way or the other. Either we try to do things in our own strength and wind up exhausted and burned out, feeling far from the very One we wanted to serve -- or, we go too far the other way and find ourselves paralyzed because we don't hear or FEEL God telling us what to do. It's not supposed to be that hard.
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me , all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
We need to just trust God to lead us, and He will! It's that simple. (I know - I know. While it's simple in truth, we are feeling creatures, and too often we confuse trust with feeling. Our feelings so often mislead us). Just remember, we are to bear fruit, yes, but we are neither the gardener nor the vine:
John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
The branches do not strain to produce fruit. They simply soak up the "Son" and the fruit grows!
One last - very important! - point: The "law" (all those expectations of God) does a number of things, but most importantly, it shows us our sin as we fail to live up to it. Only Jesus could keep it all perfectly. We will never be without sin on this earth. We will never walk perfectly in the Spirit. We will never be perfectly obedient. You can do everything we discussed here, and you will still screw up. We all do, no matter how long we've been Christians. When we acknowledge our sin, we remember again our need for our savior. The gospel is not something you believe and are done with. The gospel is an entire way of life. We need to remember that because of what Jesus did for us, we are already right with God. We are His dearly loved children, not because of ANYTHING we do, but because when the Father looks at us, He sees the righteousness of Jesus instead of our sin.
It's easy to know that in your head - that we're never trying to "earn points" by our works, but very hard to remember it in your heart. Our feelings are deceptive, and sometimes they will trip us up. We start to feel like God is not pleased with us, and He begins to feel very, very far away. Or, we start to feel like God IS pleased with us, because of the good things we've done. Neither is right thinking. God is already perfectly pleased with you, not because of what you've done or not done, but because when He looks at you, He sees His dear child, bought with the blood of Jesus.
God did everything in your salvation - and He will do everything in your sanctification, too. Just trust Him to lead you, and He will! (Remembering that He can use even your screw-ups for your eternal good!)
To summarize this whole study:
As Walter Martin had said," Now, we don't begin our day saying, "Today I am going to make the effort to keep the Ten Commandments." We begin our day saying, "Lord Jesus, give me the grace that I may walk with you." Because if I am going to walk with Christ, I'll be obeying the will of God and the law of God."
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
More Bible studies loaded
Hello to anyone who actually sees this blog! I've been spending some spare time working on orders for my shop (EvenTheStones at Etsy) and getting some Bible studies updated and back online. Should you be interested, you may find several more new ones here: Berean Bible Study Gospel of John. Those include John 7, about the Feast of Tabernacles, John 8, about the eighth day of the feast, and the events that happened on that day, John 9 with the man born blind and John 10, about the Good Shepherd and the Good Shepherd in contrast to that coming worthless shepherd, that most people call the antichrist.
If you are reading this, I really would like very much to know what you'd like to see here. This blog can go pretty much any direction that you would find helpful. Since I'm just getting started, there are very few readers, so if you are one of them, you represent a very large proportion of my audience! What do you want to read more about? Please let me know. Thanks!
If you are reading this, I really would like very much to know what you'd like to see here. This blog can go pretty much any direction that you would find helpful. Since I'm just getting started, there are very few readers, so if you are one of them, you represent a very large proportion of my audience! What do you want to read more about? Please let me know. Thanks!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Back soon!
My daughter has been home from college this week, so I haven't been posting. I will get back to it shortly.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Several new studies added
I finished updating several of my studies. You can find the links to them here: Berean Bible Study
For those of you who are familiar with my studies, you know that I have many, many more to get back online. I will try to get more of them on soon.
For those of you who are familiar with my studies, you know that I have many, many more to get back online. I will try to get more of them on soon.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Add to your perseverance, godliness
Last time, we covered perseverance. Now God, through Peter, tells us to "make every effort" to add godliness to our perverance.
2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
So, what is godliness?
Godliness: eusebeia {yoo-seb'-i-ah}
1) reverence, respect 2) piety towards God, godliness
It is a very important characteristic in these end times. Paul says to Timothy:
1 Timothy 4:7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
How is godliness different from goodness, which was earlier in the list? Goodness was the very first thing after faith, and meant "a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action, moral goodness, and any particular moral excellence, as modesty, purity." A simple way to put it, is that goodness is being good rather than evil. The very first thing to do after being made alive through faith, is to get untangled from your grave clothes. Put off the things from your former life that hinder you. All of us have a list of those. Maybe it was sex outside of marriage or lustful thoughts, partying, drugs, being dishonest. Maybe, like me, it was mystical books or books that are practically pornography. Get rid of all that. That's what it means to "add goodness."
So, what is different about godliness? And, why is it so much further down the list - meaning much more difficult to get to? Godliness is having a reverence toward God, but it is also becoming more like God. This is not to be confused with becoming gods, which is idolatry at its worst. Remember, that was Satan's first temptation for Adam and Eve as the King James puts it, "Ye shall be as gods." No, God doesn't want you to try to take His place - either through literally trying to "become a god" as in the New Age, Mormonism or Christian Science - or more subtly, through trying to control your own life and circumstances and that of others. No, He wants you to become more like Jesus. That was His original intent, after all, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness." (Genesis 1:26)
We are meant to become like Jesus, to be Christ-like:
Ephesians 4:22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
2 Corinthians 3:12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Colossians 3:10 put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
So, how do we obtain godliness? It seems to come through the Spirit as we spend time in God's word and learn about Him. This very section that we're studying says that:
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
And, it says that elsewhere as well:
1 Timothy 3:14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
1 Timothy 6:3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness,
So, the Spirit uses God's word to work godliness - Christ-likeness - in us. God's Word has power:
John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
That word "Sanctify" means to purify, to bring in line with holiness. You can study it more here. "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." What is this saying? It is saying that God's Word will bring purification; God's word will bring holiness. God's word will bring this Christ-likeness that we want.
Here, in John 17, Jesus is praying to His Father before He faces His crucifixion. You can imagine that what He prays, in this last prayer before the cross, is very important. In this verse, the word "sanctify" is in the aorist tense, which means that, in a sense, it is outside of time all together. There is no real English equivalent. The verb is active. It is Jesus who is doing the action of asking and God the Father who will do the action of sanctifying. In other words, we're not doing the action here at all. If we are in God's word, HE is the one who makes it work in us. So, in this verse, He's asking God the Father to make the Word live in us, change us, transform us. He's really doing even more than that, though. The verb is also in the imperative. That means that God the Son is actually commanding God the Father to do this in us. So, does spending time in God's word actually change us? If it does not, than God the Father did not answer Jesus' prayer.
It is possible to have "pretend" godliness - such as you might see in the Jehovah Witnesses, the Mormons or even in Christian churches that have strayed into legalism. Things done in the flesh are not pleasing to God, even if they appear right and good to other men and even if they appear right and good to other Christians.
2 Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
Romans 8:8 (NKJV) So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
So, godliness comes through our knowledge of God - and knowledge of God comes through His word. It is real, it is powerful and, through the work of the Spirit, it will create in you all that God wants for you.
2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Making One’s Calling and Election Sure
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
So, what is godliness?
Godliness: eusebeia {yoo-seb'-i-ah}
1) reverence, respect 2) piety towards God, godliness
It is a very important characteristic in these end times. Paul says to Timothy:
1 Timothy 4:7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
How is godliness different from goodness, which was earlier in the list? Goodness was the very first thing after faith, and meant "a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action, moral goodness, and any particular moral excellence, as modesty, purity." A simple way to put it, is that goodness is being good rather than evil. The very first thing to do after being made alive through faith, is to get untangled from your grave clothes. Put off the things from your former life that hinder you. All of us have a list of those. Maybe it was sex outside of marriage or lustful thoughts, partying, drugs, being dishonest. Maybe, like me, it was mystical books or books that are practically pornography. Get rid of all that. That's what it means to "add goodness."
So, what is different about godliness? And, why is it so much further down the list - meaning much more difficult to get to? Godliness is having a reverence toward God, but it is also becoming more like God. This is not to be confused with becoming gods, which is idolatry at its worst. Remember, that was Satan's first temptation for Adam and Eve as the King James puts it, "Ye shall be as gods." No, God doesn't want you to try to take His place - either through literally trying to "become a god" as in the New Age, Mormonism or Christian Science - or more subtly, through trying to control your own life and circumstances and that of others. No, He wants you to become more like Jesus. That was His original intent, after all, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness." (Genesis 1:26)
We are meant to become like Jesus, to be Christ-like:
Ephesians 4:22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
2 Corinthians 3:12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Colossians 3:10 put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
So, how do we obtain godliness? It seems to come through the Spirit as we spend time in God's word and learn about Him. This very section that we're studying says that:
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
And, it says that elsewhere as well:
1 Timothy 3:14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
1 Timothy 6:3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness,
So, the Spirit uses God's word to work godliness - Christ-likeness - in us. God's Word has power:
John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
That word "Sanctify" means to purify, to bring in line with holiness. You can study it more here. "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." What is this saying? It is saying that God's Word will bring purification; God's word will bring holiness. God's word will bring this Christ-likeness that we want.
Here, in John 17, Jesus is praying to His Father before He faces His crucifixion. You can imagine that what He prays, in this last prayer before the cross, is very important. In this verse, the word "sanctify" is in the aorist tense, which means that, in a sense, it is outside of time all together. There is no real English equivalent. The verb is active. It is Jesus who is doing the action of asking and God the Father who will do the action of sanctifying. In other words, we're not doing the action here at all. If we are in God's word, HE is the one who makes it work in us. So, in this verse, He's asking God the Father to make the Word live in us, change us, transform us. He's really doing even more than that, though. The verb is also in the imperative. That means that God the Son is actually commanding God the Father to do this in us. So, does spending time in God's word actually change us? If it does not, than God the Father did not answer Jesus' prayer.
It is possible to have "pretend" godliness - such as you might see in the Jehovah Witnesses, the Mormons or even in Christian churches that have strayed into legalism. Things done in the flesh are not pleasing to God, even if they appear right and good to other men and even if they appear right and good to other Christians.
2 Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
Romans 8:8 (NKJV) So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
So, godliness comes through our knowledge of God - and knowledge of God comes through His word. It is real, it is powerful and, through the work of the Spirit, it will create in you all that God wants for you.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Add to your self-control, perseverance
We've been working through the list that Peter gives in his second letter - because he says, "For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
Again, not to be confused that we are doing ANYTHING that aids in our salvation. That is completely and totally done for us. And, not to be confused that we are even doing the things in this list in our own power. It is the Spirit who works in us to produce faith and fruit. These are simply putting those things into action and showing both ourselves and others that our faith is real. It IS possible to hinder the Spirit, by chasing after the things of the world. Don't do that, but do these things instead, says Peter (and virtually every other New Testament writer):
2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
So, we are up to Perseverance: add to your self-control, perseverance. What does that mean?
Perseverance: (KJ - patience) hupomone {hoop-om-on-ay'}
1) steadfastness, constancy, endurance a) in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings b) patiently, and steadfastly 2) a patient, steadfast waiting 3) a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance
Where do we get perseverance? The Bible gives a number of ways. We ask for it:
Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
We gain it through God's word and the example of others who have persevered:
Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope
James 5:10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
We look eagerly for Jesus' return, which produces perseverance:
Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay.
We gain perseverance by going through trials. (Don't worry - you don't have to seek them. They will simply come.)
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Romans 5:3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
And, we simply trust God to provide it:
2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.
May God grant us all perseverance as we get ready for Jesus' return.
I'd sure love to hear from you. I have no idea if these blogs are answering a need in anyone's life. If you don't want to post here, please feel free to e-mail me.
Again, not to be confused that we are doing ANYTHING that aids in our salvation. That is completely and totally done for us. And, not to be confused that we are even doing the things in this list in our own power. It is the Spirit who works in us to produce faith and fruit. These are simply putting those things into action and showing both ourselves and others that our faith is real. It IS possible to hinder the Spirit, by chasing after the things of the world. Don't do that, but do these things instead, says Peter (and virtually every other New Testament writer):
2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Making One’s Calling and Election Sure
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
So, we are up to Perseverance: add to your self-control, perseverance. What does that mean?
Perseverance: (KJ - patience) hupomone {hoop-om-on-ay'}
1) steadfastness, constancy, endurance a) in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings b) patiently, and steadfastly 2) a patient, steadfast waiting 3) a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance
Where do we get perseverance? The Bible gives a number of ways. We ask for it:
Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
We gain it through God's word and the example of others who have persevered:
Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope
James 5:10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
We look eagerly for Jesus' return, which produces perseverance:
Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay.
We gain perseverance by going through trials. (Don't worry - you don't have to seek them. They will simply come.)
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Romans 5:3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
And, we simply trust God to provide it:
2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.
May God grant us all perseverance as we get ready for Jesus' return.
I'd sure love to hear from you. I have no idea if these blogs are answering a need in anyone's life. If you don't want to post here, please feel free to e-mail me.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Trust is not a feeling
I am going to resurrect an older blog for the sake of a friend who is going through difficult days right now:
Do you trust God? Really trust Him, no matter what?
If we were honest, most of us would say that trusting is hard. We "trust" when our loved ones are safe, there is food on the table, our lives are secure. What does it even mean, anyway, to "trust" God?
Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
Fellow Lutherans will likely recognize this verse as one we sing often as part of our liturgy. It starts out "God is my salvation." Literally, it is God ('el) is salvation ( yĕshuw`ah). For those with a bit of Hebrew knowledge, you may recognize the name of Jesus there. In other words, one way of understanding that first line is "God is Jesus." Yĕshuw`ah is salvation. You may remember the angel said to Joseph, "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."(Matthew 1:21)
So, the verse starts out, "God is Jesus. I will trust and not be afraid."
I will trust (batach). It means:
The part that says "the LORD, the LORD" is actually Yah, he is Yĕhovah. The preexisting one - the "I am that I am." The voice of the burning bush. The all mighty, all powerful creator of the universe. HE is the one who is my strength. HE is the one who is my song (zimrath), my reason for praise, my reason for comfort, for life, for security - my reason to trust! Not a feeling at all - but a knowing of who your savior is!
That One, that all powerful, all knowing, all loving Yĕhovah, HE is my salvation. He controls all and is worthy of my decision to trust. Faith is a gift, and trust is certainly related to faith. Without faith, we cannot trust. However, trust implies action on our part. It flows from faith. But, don't get it confused with feeling. Trust is a decision based on your knowledge of all that your Savior is.
In the Hebrew, there is another way of looking at the verse, too. Yĕhovah, the all powerful One, is MY salvation. He is MY Jesus. He has connected Himself to ME, and to you - and to all who believe. The all powerful creator of the universe has intentionally connected Himself to each of us who believe in Him as savior. Yĕhovah is my Jesus. That's why you trust. That's why you can face each day and whatever it brings.
Do you understand that it doesn't matter what you FEEL? I WILL trust, regardless of what I feel. I WILL face this day and every day, no matter what it brings, because Yĕhovah is my salvation. He is my Jesus.
Do you trust God? Really trust Him, no matter what?
If we were honest, most of us would say that trusting is hard. We "trust" when our loved ones are safe, there is food on the table, our lives are secure. What does it even mean, anyway, to "trust" God?
Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
Fellow Lutherans will likely recognize this verse as one we sing often as part of our liturgy. It starts out "God is my salvation." Literally, it is God ('el) is salvation ( yĕshuw`ah). For those with a bit of Hebrew knowledge, you may recognize the name of Jesus there. In other words, one way of understanding that first line is "God is Jesus." Yĕshuw`ah is salvation. You may remember the angel said to Joseph, "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."(Matthew 1:21)
So, the verse starts out, "God is Jesus. I will trust and not be afraid."
I will trust (batach). It means:
1) to trust
2) to have confidence, be confident
3) to be bold
4) to be secure
1) to cause to trust, make secure
2) (TWOT) to feel safe, be careless
It is a verb, but it's an ongoing action - an incomplete action. Something that happens again and again, sometimes extending from the past into the future. Although the last part of the definition can include "to feel safe," this is not a feeling. This is a conscious decision - one that has to be made again and again. I WILL trust. I will take confidence. In what? In the fact that Jesus is God, and, as the verse continues, "he has become my salvation."
The "afraid" there is pachad and it means to fear or dread. The verse goes on:
The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
That One, that all powerful, all knowing, all loving Yĕhovah, HE is my salvation. He controls all and is worthy of my decision to trust. Faith is a gift, and trust is certainly related to faith. Without faith, we cannot trust. However, trust implies action on our part. It flows from faith. But, don't get it confused with feeling. Trust is a decision based on your knowledge of all that your Savior is.
In the Hebrew, there is another way of looking at the verse, too. Yĕhovah, the all powerful One, is MY salvation. He is MY Jesus. He has connected Himself to ME, and to you - and to all who believe. The all powerful creator of the universe has intentionally connected Himself to each of us who believe in Him as savior. Yĕhovah is my Jesus. That's why you trust. That's why you can face each day and whatever it brings.
Do you understand that it doesn't matter what you FEEL? I WILL trust, regardless of what I feel. I WILL face this day and every day, no matter what it brings, because Yĕhovah is my salvation. He is my Jesus.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Desert days
I'm going to pause again in my going through Peter's list of how to be ready for Jesus and just ask some questions for you (and me) to think about.
Is your heart heavy? Do you feel like you're just trudging through your days? Or maybe you just feel kind of dead inside - spiritually dry, emotionally empty? Do you spend too much time trying not to think about the things in your life that hurt? Does God feel far away? Do your prayers feel like they're just bouncing off the sky?
I think I mentioned right at the beginning of this blog that my father was burned to death this past fall. I'm never going to be OK with that, but I would have had to be blind not to see how every aspect of that terrible time was orchestrated by God. My parents would have been married 53 years this Valentine's Day - and yet, as he lay there the first night in the hospital, my mother still didn't know what he believed.
I loved my father very, very much - but in all honesty, he was a stubborn, self-righteous man who thought he knew all the answers. He had grown up in the Christan Science church, and he never really left that behind. When I realized that, I wrote him a letter, to share the true Gospel and the truth about Christian Science, but I never knew whether he actually read it or not.
My father was welding on October 5, when his clothes caught on fire. By the time he could get the flames out, it was much, much too late. He had third degree burns over most of his body. I didn't know what happened – just to get to the Burn Center at UW Hospital in Madison as fast as I could. It took several hours to get there, and they let me in to say good-bye almost immediately, because they didn't expect him to live through the night. He looked at me, and said, “I love you, Jacqui. I'm going to miss you.” and then he slipped back into the morphine sleep.
After we had all said good-bye, they started cleaning up his burns, which took all the rest of the night. All that long night, my mother talked about him, and their marriage and how she still didn't know what he believed. In the morning, they let us in to be with him without restriction. We all knew (he knew, too) that he was dying. That first day, he was able to respond to questions. They'd ask him if he was in pain, and he'd say, “Not right now.”
From then until he died, we shared Jesus with him. We shared the Gospel, over and over, in all different ways. We prayed out loud; we read the Bible to him; we sang hymns to him. He lived for nearly three full days, when he was expected to die in a couple of hours. He waited for my brother from New Mexico to get there.
I told my dad about Jesus and what He had done for us. I shared everything I knew about heaven. Towards the end, a pastor who actually understood what it means to be saved (the hospital chaplains are very kind men, but until then, not one of them understood salvation but assumed that everyone goes to heaven) stopped in to visit with us. At that point, it was me and my husband, and one of my brothers who was there. My father was not responding any more. My brother held my father's unburned hand and I had my hand on his unburned shoulder (really the only two places we could touch him that hadn't been burned). The pastor asked, “Where is your father, spiritually?” I answered, “Well, we have shared the Gospel with him over and over. I have prayed for years for his salvation. I know that it is God's will that he be saved, and I have asked repeatedly in Jesus' name that he be saved, so we are trusting and believing that he believes.”
As soon as I said that, my brother said, “Hey, he just squeezed my hand!” So, then, I said it right to my father, “Daz, DO you believe?” and he squeezed my brother's hand again.
So, I guess it took a taste of hell's flames to put my father in the right frame of mind to listen – and then days to lay there and think about it. And, with absolutely nothing to lose and eternity to gain, I was bold to share God's truth over and over again. Laying in that hospital bed, wrapped in bandages, my dad couldn't get away from me even if he wanted to! And, so he heard and he listened, and glory to God – he believed!!
So much of my father's passing was a miracle. Even the staff there at the hospital believed it could be nothing but God who caused him to wait days for my brother to get there. The nurses told me they were all talking about it. His vital signs were all dropping, dropping. But, when I told him my brother was only six hours away and could he hold on a little longer, all of them went right back up to normal. The nurse came running in, exclaiming, “What just happened in here?”
Finally, on Saturday morning, I kissed him on his head and said, “Daddy, I'll never be ready to say good-bye, but it's just going to be for a little while. We'll all be with you soon. Go be with Jesus now,” and in just a couple of minutes, he did just that.
I had said many times during those days that it would just be a little while until we were all together forever. I know my family believed that I was just talking about our lifetimes as being just a little while. And, in light of eternity, that is absolutely true. However, I really did mean “just a little while.”
What's troubling to me, personally, is that while I absolutely believe that Jesus is coming soon - really soon - my heart is still heavy. I'm grieving my father's passing, still, even though it was obviously arranged by God to save him. I'm grieving my daughters' absence from my daily life, even though I wouldn't have it any other way. They need to be out there, becoming the women God intends them to be. I'm grieving my work life, which is very, very stressful right now. I have to pray my way into going each day.
So, the truth, is that all the while I'm here, writing to you about getting ready for Jesus - about being daily in God's word, about spending time in prayer - about connecting in a real way to your creator - I, myself, am running on empty. I, myself, am failing to do what I am telling you to do. Funny, huh?
Yesterday, I read something that really hit home with me. It was about finding God again when you are spiritually dry and empty. If I can find it online, I will post it for you. Basically, it was the account of a man - a well known preacher - who was going through a desert time. He had a contest with his will and his emotions. His emotions didn't want to connect with God, because they were telling him that God was far away, not listening, and that praying and studying God's word was pointless. But, he determined by his will that he would pray anyway - that he would study anyway. And, that if his emotions ran contrary to that, he would ignore them. And so he did. It seems like it might have taken a long time, but eventually, his emotions caught up with his will - and then, once again, God felt close and dear.
What he learned is that emotions lie. They tell us that God is not near, not listening. Nothing could be further from the truth. I must, once again, relearn the truth from Psalm 42: I will yet praise Him!!!!
One of my posts was on this subject, and I wrote a whole study on it (Trusting God in a Night Season). So, you'd think I'd learn, wouldn't you? Still, God knows where I'm at, and what He wants for me and for you:
I'm sorry, Lord, for avoiding You. I'm sorry that I felt, even for a second, that You weren't listening, and that You didn't care. Please, Father, in Jesus' name I ask, bring me back to the relationship You want me to have with You. Please, bring anyone reading this into that close relationship with You. Make us ready for Jesus' coming. Please, if He really is coming shortly, encourage us with that. Put that truth inside us and let it bring us joy. I am thirsty for You, Lord. I don't want to be in this desert any more. Please, help me to come meet with You, to read your word. Please, strengthen my will to do that and help me ignore my emotions. And please, Lord, please, let the emotions catch up soon. In Jesus' name, I ask these things for me - and for anyone reading this. Amen.
Is your heart heavy? Do you feel like you're just trudging through your days? Or maybe you just feel kind of dead inside - spiritually dry, emotionally empty? Do you spend too much time trying not to think about the things in your life that hurt? Does God feel far away? Do your prayers feel like they're just bouncing off the sky?
I think I mentioned right at the beginning of this blog that my father was burned to death this past fall. I'm never going to be OK with that, but I would have had to be blind not to see how every aspect of that terrible time was orchestrated by God. My parents would have been married 53 years this Valentine's Day - and yet, as he lay there the first night in the hospital, my mother still didn't know what he believed.
I loved my father very, very much - but in all honesty, he was a stubborn, self-righteous man who thought he knew all the answers. He had grown up in the Christan Science church, and he never really left that behind. When I realized that, I wrote him a letter, to share the true Gospel and the truth about Christian Science, but I never knew whether he actually read it or not.
When I wrote that letter, I was desperately afraid that if my father died, I would have to stand next to my daddy's grave believing him to probably be in hell. But, thanks to God's great mercy and grace, my father believed before he died. It took until the very, very end. In fact, I guess he had to have a taste of the flames of hell.
After we had all said good-bye, they started cleaning up his burns, which took all the rest of the night. All that long night, my mother talked about him, and their marriage and how she still didn't know what he believed. In the morning, they let us in to be with him without restriction. We all knew (he knew, too) that he was dying. That first day, he was able to respond to questions. They'd ask him if he was in pain, and he'd say, “Not right now.”
From then until he died, we shared Jesus with him. We shared the Gospel, over and over, in all different ways. We prayed out loud; we read the Bible to him; we sang hymns to him. He lived for nearly three full days, when he was expected to die in a couple of hours. He waited for my brother from New Mexico to get there.
I told my dad about Jesus and what He had done for us. I shared everything I knew about heaven. Towards the end, a pastor who actually understood what it means to be saved (the hospital chaplains are very kind men, but until then, not one of them understood salvation but assumed that everyone goes to heaven) stopped in to visit with us. At that point, it was me and my husband, and one of my brothers who was there. My father was not responding any more. My brother held my father's unburned hand and I had my hand on his unburned shoulder (really the only two places we could touch him that hadn't been burned). The pastor asked, “Where is your father, spiritually?” I answered, “Well, we have shared the Gospel with him over and over. I have prayed for years for his salvation. I know that it is God's will that he be saved, and I have asked repeatedly in Jesus' name that he be saved, so we are trusting and believing that he believes.”
As soon as I said that, my brother said, “Hey, he just squeezed my hand!” So, then, I said it right to my father, “Daz, DO you believe?” and he squeezed my brother's hand again.
So, I guess it took a taste of hell's flames to put my father in the right frame of mind to listen – and then days to lay there and think about it. And, with absolutely nothing to lose and eternity to gain, I was bold to share God's truth over and over again. Laying in that hospital bed, wrapped in bandages, my dad couldn't get away from me even if he wanted to! And, so he heard and he listened, and glory to God – he believed!!
So much of my father's passing was a miracle. Even the staff there at the hospital believed it could be nothing but God who caused him to wait days for my brother to get there. The nurses told me they were all talking about it. His vital signs were all dropping, dropping. But, when I told him my brother was only six hours away and could he hold on a little longer, all of them went right back up to normal. The nurse came running in, exclaiming, “What just happened in here?”
Finally, on Saturday morning, I kissed him on his head and said, “Daddy, I'll never be ready to say good-bye, but it's just going to be for a little while. We'll all be with you soon. Go be with Jesus now,” and in just a couple of minutes, he did just that.
I had said many times during those days that it would just be a little while until we were all together forever. I know my family believed that I was just talking about our lifetimes as being just a little while. And, in light of eternity, that is absolutely true. However, I really did mean “just a little while.”
What's troubling to me, personally, is that while I absolutely believe that Jesus is coming soon - really soon - my heart is still heavy. I'm grieving my father's passing, still, even though it was obviously arranged by God to save him. I'm grieving my daughters' absence from my daily life, even though I wouldn't have it any other way. They need to be out there, becoming the women God intends them to be. I'm grieving my work life, which is very, very stressful right now. I have to pray my way into going each day.
So, the truth, is that all the while I'm here, writing to you about getting ready for Jesus - about being daily in God's word, about spending time in prayer - about connecting in a real way to your creator - I, myself, am running on empty. I, myself, am failing to do what I am telling you to do. Funny, huh?
Yesterday, I read something that really hit home with me. It was about finding God again when you are spiritually dry and empty. If I can find it online, I will post it for you. Basically, it was the account of a man - a well known preacher - who was going through a desert time. He had a contest with his will and his emotions. His emotions didn't want to connect with God, because they were telling him that God was far away, not listening, and that praying and studying God's word was pointless. But, he determined by his will that he would pray anyway - that he would study anyway. And, that if his emotions ran contrary to that, he would ignore them. And so he did. It seems like it might have taken a long time, but eventually, his emotions caught up with his will - and then, once again, God felt close and dear.
What he learned is that emotions lie. They tell us that God is not near, not listening. Nothing could be further from the truth. I must, once again, relearn the truth from Psalm 42: I will yet praise Him!!!!
Psalm 42
1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.
5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and 6 my God.
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and 6 my God.
One of my posts was on this subject, and I wrote a whole study on it (Trusting God in a Night Season). So, you'd think I'd learn, wouldn't you? Still, God knows where I'm at, and what He wants for me and for you:
Psalm 139
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
I'm sorry, Lord, for avoiding You. I'm sorry that I felt, even for a second, that You weren't listening, and that You didn't care. Please, Father, in Jesus' name I ask, bring me back to the relationship You want me to have with You. Please, bring anyone reading this into that close relationship with You. Make us ready for Jesus' coming. Please, if He really is coming shortly, encourage us with that. Put that truth inside us and let it bring us joy. I am thirsty for You, Lord. I don't want to be in this desert any more. Please, help me to come meet with You, to read your word. Please, strengthen my will to do that and help me ignore my emotions. And please, Lord, please, let the emotions catch up soon. In Jesus' name, I ask these things for me - and for anyone reading this. Amen.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Make every effort: Who does the work?
We've been working our way through Peter's list in his second letter of how to get ready for Jesus. At the end of his list, he says,
2 Peter 1:10 For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Now, it's easy to start in the middle of this and somehow get the idea that it's all up to us - that if we DO these things (which is what it says, after all), we will receive a rich welcome into heaven. A new believer, starting here with these verses might get very confused:
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Because, this DOES say "make every effort," which is in the active tense - something we do and keep on doing. To back up, and just remind ourselves of where this all started:
Galatians 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
It is God, working in us through the Spirit that produces this fruit - not something we do on our own. As Jesus put it:
John 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
You are IN Christ if you believe the Gospel. That is absolutely the first step in being ready for Jesus' return. If there is ANY question in your mind about what that means, please, please, review these studies:
The Gospel, Part 1 - What is the Gospel? The three ways the Gospel saves us. Jesus is the Messiah.
The Gospel, Part 2 - Christ DIED. Jesus is fully man.
The Gospel, Part 3 - Christ died FOR OUR SINS. Jesus is fully God.
The Gospel, Part 4 - Jesus was buried and rose again. When we are resurrected, we will be like Him.
How do you remain in Him? How do you remain connected? By staying in His word - by feeding that new person inside of you, and starving the old one.
So, if you remain in Jesus and allow the Spirit to work, you WILL produce fruit. It just comes naturally. The vine is not straining to produce fruit. It just does. It soaks up the sun (Son!) and drinks in the water (of the word!) and the fruit just grows.
But, Peter's list DOES say, "make every effort." It DOES say, "For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." So, how do you reconcile that? Is it a direct contradiction? No - not at all. It is putting into action the things the Spirit is doing in you. It is ALLOWING the Spirit's work to actually make a difference in you. You can hinder the Holy Spirit. You can actually grieve the Holy Spirit - by constantly turning from His guidance. After awhile, you won't even notice that you are. If you keep choosing the things that are contrary to God and His will, you will be feeding the old person inside of you. Meanwhile, the new person grows weaker, and finally, puts up no fight at all.
What do I mean? Well, what do you watch on TV? What movies do you see? What games do you play? How do you spend your free time? What music are you listening to? And, by writing this, I am by no means saying that I myself always choose the right thing. I don't. In fact, I recently read part way through a book from the library before I finally heard the Spirit saying, "What are you doing? This book is virtually pornography!" Wow - was I convicted. I'm supposed to be a child of God and there I was - reading something like that. So, I closed it and brought it back to the library without reading one more word. Good for me, right? Better for me if I hadn't checked it out in the first place. These verses speak to that:
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Like a newborn baby, the new person inside us needs to be fed. We need to stay in God's word, which is our pure food. We need to "Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" as it says above. Philippians says more about how to feed that new person and starve the old one:
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Stay in the word. Listen to godly music. Think about pure, wholesome things. Have nothing to do with darkness. That's how you feed your new person. It's the Spirit who does the work inside you, but you CAN hinder His work. And, it is up to us to cooperate with Him to put our faith into action.
Tomorrow, we'll go back to Peter's list and work through "Perseverance."
I'd love to hear from you - either here or e-mail me.
2 Peter 1:10 For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Now, it's easy to start in the middle of this and somehow get the idea that it's all up to us - that if we DO these things (which is what it says, after all), we will receive a rich welcome into heaven. A new believer, starting here with these verses might get very confused:
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Because, this DOES say "make every effort," which is in the active tense - something we do and keep on doing. To back up, and just remind ourselves of where this all started:
Galatians 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
It is God, working in us through the Spirit that produces this fruit - not something we do on our own. As Jesus put it:
John 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
You are IN Christ if you believe the Gospel. That is absolutely the first step in being ready for Jesus' return. If there is ANY question in your mind about what that means, please, please, review these studies:
The Gospel, Part 1 - What is the Gospel? The three ways the Gospel saves us. Jesus is the Messiah.
The Gospel, Part 2 - Christ DIED. Jesus is fully man.
The Gospel, Part 3 - Christ died FOR OUR SINS. Jesus is fully God.
The Gospel, Part 4 - Jesus was buried and rose again. When we are resurrected, we will be like Him.
How do you remain in Him? How do you remain connected? By staying in His word - by feeding that new person inside of you, and starving the old one.
So, if you remain in Jesus and allow the Spirit to work, you WILL produce fruit. It just comes naturally. The vine is not straining to produce fruit. It just does. It soaks up the sun (Son!) and drinks in the water (of the word!) and the fruit just grows.
But, Peter's list DOES say, "make every effort." It DOES say, "For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." So, how do you reconcile that? Is it a direct contradiction? No - not at all. It is putting into action the things the Spirit is doing in you. It is ALLOWING the Spirit's work to actually make a difference in you. You can hinder the Holy Spirit. You can actually grieve the Holy Spirit - by constantly turning from His guidance. After awhile, you won't even notice that you are. If you keep choosing the things that are contrary to God and His will, you will be feeding the old person inside of you. Meanwhile, the new person grows weaker, and finally, puts up no fight at all.
What do I mean? Well, what do you watch on TV? What movies do you see? What games do you play? How do you spend your free time? What music are you listening to? And, by writing this, I am by no means saying that I myself always choose the right thing. I don't. In fact, I recently read part way through a book from the library before I finally heard the Spirit saying, "What are you doing? This book is virtually pornography!" Wow - was I convicted. I'm supposed to be a child of God and there I was - reading something like that. So, I closed it and brought it back to the library without reading one more word. Good for me, right? Better for me if I hadn't checked it out in the first place. These verses speak to that:
Ephesians 5
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Like a newborn baby, the new person inside us needs to be fed. We need to stay in God's word, which is our pure food. We need to "Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" as it says above. Philippians says more about how to feed that new person and starve the old one:
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Stay in the word. Listen to godly music. Think about pure, wholesome things. Have nothing to do with darkness. That's how you feed your new person. It's the Spirit who does the work inside you, but you CAN hinder His work. And, it is up to us to cooperate with Him to put our faith into action.
Tomorrow, we'll go back to Peter's list and work through "Perseverance."
I'd love to hear from you - either here or e-mail me.
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