February 2014

"Flee! Pursue!"

February 28, 2014

“Flee! Pursue!”

Blessings folk!

Ungodliness
Conceit
Morbid interest in controversy
Disputes about words
Envy
Strife
Abusive language
Evil suspicions
Constant friction
Depraved of mind
Deprived of truth
Pursuit of gain
Love of money
Wandering away from the faith
Pierced with grief

Such are those who do not know the sound doctrine of the Most High God.

Many within the professing church are among such.

What are we to do?

The Word tells us.

We are to:
  • flee
  • pursue
  • fight
  • take hold
  • keep

Read:

1 Corinthians 6:11
11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.


Flee what things?
The evil things mentioned earlier.

Pursue what?

  • Righteousness
  • Godliness
  • Faith
  • Love
  • Perseverance
  • Gentleness

These are what the man of God is to pursue.
These are what the Body of Christ should be exhibiting.

Sadly, we see more of the earlier, fleshly list than we do of the “pursue” list.

What are you pursuing?

Ask the Lord.
Listen.
Give heed to His response.




"Roots of All Sorts of Evil…"

February 27, 2014

“Root of All Sorts of Evil…”

Blessings folk!

What is the motivation of your life?
What is your purpose when you arise in the morning?
What drives you?

For too many, even Believers, the motivation is stuff.
Riches.
Material gain.

Such should not be.
Such is the foundation for many of the problems that we encounter.

The Lord warned us.

1 Timothy 6:9-10
9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.


If your desire is riches, then you will fall into temptation.
You will be ensnared.
Foolish and harmful desires will result.
You will be ruined.
You will be destroyed.

Why?

Because, the love of money...not money...but the love of money, is a root of all sorts of evil.

It is a heart issue.

Loving money will deny the ability to love God.
Money will be god.
Because of this, many have wandered away from the true faith.
Many have pierced themselves...note again...pierced themselves...with many griefs.

This does not mean that having money is evil.
The Lord blesses many with abundance.
The reality is that each of us is rich according to the historical standards of the world.
We all have more than one shirt, pair of shoes, etc.

We are rich.

Riches are given to meet needs of others, beginning with the household of faith.

When we have abundance of something, it is given to help others.

Seek first the Kingdom of God.
He will provide all else.

Give thanks for the blessings.
Share the blessings as the Lord directs.


"Contentment"

February 26, 2014

“Contentment”

Blessings folk!

Oh yeah…

They are slick…
They sound good…
They make so much sense…
They speak to the desires that I want…

Yet, they are false…
They are puffed up with conceit…
They understand nothing…
They have an unhealthy craving for controversy, for quarrels about words…
They produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions…
They are a source of constant friction…
They imagine that godliness is a means of gain.

Such are those who teach a doctrine that does not agree with Jesus.
Many, many...many...are in “church leadership” today.
They are often exalted as “great successes”.
In the eyes of the world they are “successful”.
Yet, what does the Lord think?

1 Timothy 6:6-8
6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.
8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.


Godliness is a means of great gain.
It is just not the “gain” that the world thinks about.
What is the “gain” of godliness?
Godliness itself...when accompanied by contentment.

This is something that is rarely addressed in the Body.
Are we content in the Lord, regardless of situation?
Are we trusting Him?

We see the “level” that is being addressed.
We brought nothing into the world.
We will take nothing from the world.
If we have food and covering, then we shall be content.

Most of us have more food than we need...we carry around the evidence.
Most of us have more covering than we need...think of the clothing you have...think of where you live...most have more space than needed for safe existence.

So, are you living a Godly life?
Are you content in the Lord?
Or, are you listening to the lies of the evil one and the flesh and living in discontentment.

Such is sin.

Be contented.
Let godliness be manifest.

"Depraved and Deprived"

February 25, 2014

“Depraved and Deprived”

Blessings folk!

As we continue to see, the Scripture gives us a vast amount of instruction and command related to the life of OneAnother.

One of the primary things is related to Truth.
We are to know Truth.
We are to teach Truth.
We are to live Truth.

Let us look at some of what the Spirit of the Most Hight led Paul to say to Timothy.
Timothy was Paul’s protege.
Paul was reaching the end of his corporeal existence.
He knew this.
Paul was “passing the baton” in the two letters we have that were written to Timothy.

Yes, we are “jumping in the middle” (perhaps we will examine it all later), but for now, read the following…

1 Timothy 6:2b-5

2b Teach and urge these things.
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,
4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,
5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.


We see the instruction.
Teach these things...the things that had previously be discussed in the letter.
Urge (preach) these things.

Why?

Because the Truth is so lacking today, especially within the Body of Christ.
Deception is rampant.
Ignorance is the norm.
Such should not be.

The Lord gives us some insight into this.

Many will come, and are here, who will teach a doctrine that does not agree with “the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness.”

Yes, these teachings of man will sound good.
They will often speak to the want and desires of the flesh.
Flee from such.

Learn and live the words of the Lord.

Such teaching of man puffs up with conceit.
Such individuals who teach these things understand nothing.

Look at what the Word says.
They:

  • have an unhealthy craving for controversy and quarrels about words
  • produce…
    • envy
    • dissension
    • slander
    • evil suspicions
    • constant friction among people

I see much of this.

Note how they are described…
  • Depraved in mind
  • Deprived of the Truth

Lack of Truth will bear deprivation of mind.

Where does this lead?

Selfishness…
Greed…
Lust…

“Imagining that godliness is a means of gain”.

They believe that material gain and goods will be attained by that which is impossible - “fleshly godliness”.

We will look at more next time.
For now…

Be not depraved of mind.
Be not deprived of Truth.

Learn the Truth.
Know the Truth.
Live the Truth.

The life of OneAnother will know Truth and proclaim Truth.

"Revenge"

February 24, 2014

“Revenge”

Blessings folk!

Let us take a moment and review what we have learned to this point from Romans 12 related to OneAnother.

We are to:
  • love without hypocrisy
  • abhor what is evil
  • cling to the good
  • be devoted to OneAnother in brother love
  • not lag in diligence
  • be fervent in spirit
  • serve the Lord
  • rejoice in hope
  • persevere in tribulation
  • be devoted in prayer
  • contribute to the needs of the saints (OneAnother)
  • practice hospitality
  • bless those who persecute us
  • bless, not curse
  • rejoice with those who rejoice
  • weep with those who weep
  • be of the same mind toward OneAnother
  • not be haughty of mind
  • associate with the lowly
  • be not wise in our own estimation
  • never pay back evil for evil...to anyone
  • respect what is right in the sight of all men
  • as far as possible...so far as it depends onus, be at peace with all men.

Of course the question begs to be considered.
Do we live this way?
This is the life of OneAnother...before OneAnother and the world.

Here are the last three verses from Romans 12.
Give heed.

Romans 12:19-21
19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.


Some strong instructions/commands.
Never...never...take your own revenge.
We must leave room for the wrath of God.
The Lord will avenge.
Trust Him.
Take not things into your own hands.

Rather than revenge, we are to provide the needs of our enemy…
We are to feed them…
We are to give them drink…

“Heaping burning coals…”
This is not an avenging of the “nah, nah, nah, nah, nah nah” type.
This speaks of meeting the basic needs of life.
Of providing fire…
Warmth…
Provision…

We live in the Lord.
We trust in the Lord.
We manifest the Love of the Lord...especially to those who would declare themselves our enemies.
We trust the Lord with the outcome and judgment.



"At Peace…"

February 23, 2014

“At Peace…”

Blessings folk!

Romans 12:17-18
17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.


As a true believer we never pay back evil for evil.
To anyone.
We stand by what is right...in the sight of all men.

Then this…

As for as it depends upon you, be at peace with all men.

We cannot “make someone” be at peace.
But, we can be at peace.

It is the peace of the Lord.
The power of the Lord manifest through His Body.

Choose the peace of the Spirit over fear of the flesh.

"Rejoice/Weep/One Mind"

February 22, 2014

“Rejoice/Weep/One Mind”

Blessings folk!

We continue with the instructions/commands of the Life of OneAnother…

Romans 12:15-16
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.


Rejoicing…
Weeping…

We share emotions with OneAnother…
Not isolated…
Not guarded…
Not protected…
Rather we trust OneAnother in joy and grief.

Verse 16 brings it home.

We are of the same mind One to Another.
The Mind of Christ.
The Mind of the Lord.

Haughtiness is of the flesh.
The same Mind is of the Lord.

Love all.
Be not wise in your own estimation.

"Blessings and Love"

February 21, 2014

“Blessings and Love”

Blessings folk!

The passage we having been reading the past few days has been described as “the marks of a true Christian”, “Christian ethics”, etc.

Useful.

These instructions/commands are simply the life of OneAnother.

Read again.
A couple of verses have been added - 9, 14.
What do we learn?

Romans 12:9-14
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.


We are to love...without hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is one of the subtle strategies of the evil one.
It is rampant within the professing church.
Be not a hypocrite.

Then…
Abhor what is evil.
Reject evil.
Have nothing to do with evil.

Rather…
Cling to what is good.

So…
We reject the evil.
We cling to the good.

Finally, for today…
We are to bless.
Bless those who persecute.
We are not to curse anyone...friend nor foe.
Speak blessings.
Watch what the Lord does.

"We Are To…"

February 20, 2014

“We Are To…”

Blessings folk!

We continue to examine the “how” of OneAnother…

Romans 12:10-13
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.


Look at the actions involved…
Look to who/where/how the action is directed…

We are to…

  • be devoted...to OneAnother...in brother love
  • give preference...to OneAnother...in honor
  • be diligent...not lagging behind
  • be fervent...in spirit
  • serve...the Lord
  • rejoice...in hope
  • persevere...in tribulation
  • be devoted...to prayer
  • contribute...to the needs (not greeds) of the saints
  • practice...hospitality

Let us ask ourselves if we do so…
  • hospitable?
  • contributing?
  • devoted?
  • persevering?
  • rejoicing?
  • serving?
  • fervent
  • diligent?
  • honoring?
  • loving?
  • devoted?

OneAnother/Saints/Lord/Me

If we live this way, the world will be drawn to the Lord.
If not?
Well, we see that already…
  • people leaving the fellowship of the church
  • people refusing to gather with the Body

They see the hypocrisy.
Live this way and hypocrisy will be crushed.

"Preferential Honor"

February 19, 2014

“Preferential Honor”

Blessings folk!

We looked yesterday at the following passage.
Did you note the “OneAnother”s?

Read again…

Romans 12:10-13
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.


We see that we are to be devoted to OneAnother.

Our relationship is covenant in nature.
We are One in the Spirit.
The “devotion” is already there.
We are to live in it.
When we abide in the Lord, we will do so.
When we “step outside” the abiding of the Lord, we will not.

I like this next part…”give preference to OneAnother in honor”.
We are to think of the other before ourselves.
We are to walk in humility before OneAnother.
We are to honor OneAnother.

Often within the Body of Christ we see that “honor and preference” are expected/demanded due to the nature of the functioning within the Body.

This is wrong.

We are to walk in honor before each other.
Every member of the Body.
Yes, there are different callings/functions...some more visible than others...but each is to give preference to OneAnother in honor.

How different the Body would be if simply did this.

Join me in living this way?


"Be Devoted…"

February 18, 2014

“Be Devoted…”

Blessings folk!

In Romans 12 we encounter another OneAnother statement.

Read the verses...we will expand upon the context later.

Note how it is a series of instructions.
What is the Lord saying to us?

Romans 12:10-13
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.


What is the first commandment that is mentioned in relationship to OneAnother?

  • Be devoted to OneAnother

How?
  • in brotherly love

How is that lived out?
  • give preference to OneAnother
  • honor OneAnother
  • do not lag behind in diligence
  • be fervent in spirit
  • serve the Lord
  • rejoice in hope
  • persevere in tribulation
  • be devoted in prayer
  • contribute to the needs of the saints
  • practice hospitality

We will examine close later...for now...

Are we doing as He instructs?

"Witness 4- Scripture"

February 17, 2014

“Witness 4 - Scripture”

Blessings folk!

As you will remember, Jesus is speaking to the Religious rulers.
We are reviewing His Words to establish the context for the situation and all He was stating.


John 5
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;
40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.
41 I do not receive glory from men;
42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.
43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?45 Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.
47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”


To this point Jesus has told them that three things testified of Who He is…

  • John the Baptist
  • The Works
  • Father

Now, the fourth - Scripture.

The Truths are profound.
The logic devastating to the Religious ruler’s lifestyle.

They searched out the Scripture.
They knew the Scripture - likely better than any of us.
They thought they had eternal life due to their knowledge of the Scripture.
Yet, they denied the obvious Truth - the Scripture...remember...we are speaking of what we call the Old Testament...the Scripture testified of Jesus!

They were unwilling to come to Jesus to have life.
They could have.
They refused.

Jesus reveals them…
  • they had not the love of God in them
  • they wanted the glory of man - Jesus refused the glory of men
  • they refused to receive Jesus - though He came in Father’s Name
  • they would receive a man coming in his own name...his own power, etc.
  • they believed/received glory for one another, yet rejected the glory which came from God
  • they would not be accused by the Lord, Moses (the Law) would accuse them. The very thing upon which they had hope would find them guilty. Why? Moses wrote of Him. If they believed Moses then they would have believed Jesus. They professed to believe Moses, but their rejection proved that their faith was in man and not the Lord.
  • they did not believe Moses’ writings
  • how would they believe Jesus?

Jesus undercut their entire existence.
Their refusal to believe brought death rather than life.

There is hope.

Later own in the Word we see “not a small number of the priests” believed.
After the resurrection.

Do we truly believe?
Or, do we have a religious guise of belief?

Blessings!


"Witness 3: Father"

February 16, 2014

“Witness 3: Father”

Blessings folk!

The third witness that Jesus provides…

John 5:37-38
37 And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form.
38 You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.


Remember, Jesus is speaking to the Religious leadership.

Jesus states that Father sent Him.
Jesus then says that Father testifies of Him.

But, the Religious leadership had not heard the voice of God nor His form.

The Religionists do not have the Word of the Lord abiding in them.

Why?

It is not because they did not know the Word.
These folk new the Scripture better than most.
It was their “job”.

The Word did not abide because they did not believe Jesus.
They did not believe the One sent by Father - Jesus.

Such is the same today.
So many “believe”, yet they are not truly saved.
So many “believe”, yet they have not the Word abiding in them.

The Word abides today in the truly saved.
The Holy Spirit dwells within us.

Examine yourself.
Are you of the faith that brings forth salvation?

"Witness 2: Works"

February 15, 2014

“Witness 2: Works”

Blessings folk!

Jesus was telling the Jewish Religious leadership that there were several witnesses that testified of Him.

Yesterday, we saw the witness of John the Baptist.

Read closely of the next witness.

John 5:36

36 But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.

Jesus straightly states that His testimony is greater than John’s.

What was the testimony?

The works.
The works that were given to Jesus by Father to accomplish.
These very works testify of Jesus.

What does the testimony say?

That Jesus was sent by Father.

The Religious knew exactly what Jesus was saying.
That He was of God.
That He was sent by God.
That the works He did...and which they hated...were of God.

What do our works testify of us?
Do we do the work that Father has given each of us to accomplish?
Or, do we manifest works of the flesh disguised as religious activities?

Do our works testify that we are of the Lord?

"Witness 1: John the Baptist"

February 14, 2014

“Witness 1: John the Baptist”

Blessings folk!

Jesus continues speaking to the Religious rulers.

Remember, they are furious.
They want Jesus dead.
Jesus is laying forth the case of their rejection of Him.

Jesus now shows the things that witness against them.

John 5:33-35
33 You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
34 But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.
35 He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.


The first witness that Jesus mentions is John the Baptist.

Jesus confirms that John testified to the truth.

Jesus then states that His testimony is not from man.
He had already told them that He spoke what God spoke.

(Can you imagine what they were thinking?)

Verse 34 gives us a heartbreaking insight…” but I say these things so that you may be saved.

Jesus desired the salvation of the Religious rulers.
He was telling them these things that they might believe.

Jesus points out that they were willing to rejoice in the light of John - for awhile.
John was a lamp burning, shining.
They rejoiced in his message of repentance...for awhile.

But no longer.
Now they wanted the message of the Lord killed.

Such is the way of deception.
It blinds.
It perverts.
It leads to darkness.

Seek the Light.

"An Hour is Coming…"

February 13, 2014

“An Hour is Coming…”

Blessings folk!

Jesus continues.
Remember the context.
The Religious leadership was furious.
They desired to kill Jesus.
Jesus is speaking to them after He had healed a man on the Sabbath.

John 5:25-32
25 Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;
27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
28 Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,
29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
30 “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
31 “If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true.
32 There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true.

Let us continue as we did earlier...what do we learn of the Son? of Father?

Son:

  • dead will hear His voice, will live...an hour to come and is now!
  • given Life by Father
  • given authority by Father to execute judgment
  • is the Son of Man
  • hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, will come forth
  • can do nothing of His own initiative…
  • as He hears He judges
  • does not seek His own will
  • seeks the will of Him who sent Him
  • does not testify of self alone
  • another testifies of Him
  • knows this testimony is true

Father: - has Life in Himself
  • gave to the Son to have Life in Himself
  • gave Son authority to execute judgment
  • initiates
  • speaks to Son
  • Son does His will
  • judges justly
  • testifies of Jesus, truth

An hour is coming and now is:
  • speaks of the spiritual dead who hear the voice of the Son of God and believe.
  • they hear and live

An hour is coming:
  • all in the tombs will hear His voice
  • all will come forth...from the tombs
  • those who did good...to a resurrection of life
  • those who committed evil...to a resurrection of judgment

Jesus was explaining to the Religious rulers Who He was/is.
He was giving details. Great details.

All who have lived will be resurrected from the dead.

Where will eternity be spent?
The resurrection of Life.
The resurrection of judgment.

Choose ye today...


"Father/Son, Hear/Believe"

February 12, 2014

“Father/Son, Hear/Believe”

Blessings folk!

The leaders of the Jews were furious with Jesus.

Jesus had healed on the Sabbath.
This was against the leaders interpretation of the command of the God.
When confronted with this, Jesus responded that “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”

This heightened the conflict.
The Jews knew what Jesus was saying.
This continues the context…

John 5:18-24
18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.
20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.
21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.
22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,
23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has (passed out of death into life.

Now, the Jews “sought all the more to kill Him”.
Why?
In their eyes Jesus had broken the Sabbath.
Jesus called God His Father.

We learn much about the Son and the Father.

Son:

  • can do nothing of Himself
  • does what He sees Father doing, in like manner
  • gives life to whom He wishes, even as Father raises the dead
  • judgment belongs to Son, from Father
  • all will honor

Father:
  • loves the Son
  • shows the Son all the things that He Himself is doing
  • even greater works were to come from that point in time
  • raises the dead and gives life
  • given all judgment to the Son
  • all honor

Jesus draws the truth home for the Religious.
They thought they were having a debate on the technicalities of the Law.
Jesus was speaking of eternity, of life.

Jesus told them what to do:
Hear My Word…
Believe Him Who sent Me…

Jesus told them the fruit:
You will have eternal life.
You will not come into judgment.
You will pass out of death into life.

Do you honor the Son?
One cannot honor Father and not honor Son.

"Healer Told Me To…"

February 11, 2014

“Healer Told Me To…”

Blessings folk!

So…
The Religionists...the Religious leaders and those affiliated with them… knew that God healed “supernaturally” (a term that I do not believe applies to God...but, understand what folk mean).
The pool at Bethesda was evidence.

The Religionists knew that a man who had an infirmity for 38 years had been healed..
They chose to ignore the healing.
They chose to focus on the fact that the healing had occurred on the Sabbath.
The man was doing what Jesus had told him to do…”take up your bed and walk.”
This was determined to be work.
Work was not to be done on the Sabbath.

Watch the progression…

John 5:9-17

Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.
10 So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.”
11 But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’
12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk’?”
13 But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.”
15 The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
16 For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.
17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
The man believed Jesus.
He obeyed Jesus.

What about us?

Will we believe/follow the Lord or man?

Note that Jesus sought the man.
Note what Jesus told him…

  • you are well
  • sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you.

Does this mean that a sin had caused his 38 year infirmity?
Perhaps.

Regardless, he was told to sin no more, lest worse things occur.

Let us hear.

The Word is clear.
If we do as the Lord instructs, we will be persecuted, we will have trials, tribulations and the like.

The Religious leaders were fuming.
The man was literally inferring…”do I listen to the One Who healed me or to y’all?”
The persecution was increasing.

Remember, Jesus was persecuted for His obedience.
So will we.

“My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
Let us do the work of the Kingdom.

"Healed…Wrong Day"

February 10, 2014

“Healed...Wrong Day”

Blessings folk!

It “natural in the flesh” to desire to received glory.

From the moment that man rebelled against God, humans have sought the glory that belongs to the Most High.

Yesterday, we saw this statement from Jesus…

John 5:44
How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?


Let us back up and look at the context/situation of the statement.

John 5:1-10
5 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him,
Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him,
Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

Even when backing up a bit in the text we see that we are joining an account…”after this”…

It was feast time for the Jews.
One of three times a year that the Jewish man was required to attend Feasts in Jerusalem.

Therefore, Jesus went.

We read the account.
We see that the people had no problem whatsoever with accepting the reality that an angel would, from time to time, trouble the water with healing power. The first infirmed person that entered would be healed.

They readily accept this.
They apparently had seen it occur on a regular basis.
Many were the people gathered around awaiting an opportunity.

Jesus saw a man.
Jesus knew that he had been there a long time.

Jesus asked him a curious question, “Wilt thou be made whole?” Do you desire to be healed.

The obvious answer would be “yes”, since the man had been there a long time.
Yet, Jesus asked.

What was Jesus seeking?
Had the man lost faith?
Did the man believe?

The man then explained the reason it was taking so long.
Others would step in the troubled pool ahead of him.

Jesus simply told him to rise, take his bed and walk.
He did.

Waters troubled by angels carrying healing power.
A man healed of a decades-long infirmity.

Did the religious rulers rejoice?
Did they proclaim the glory of God?
Did they rejoice in the work of the Kingdom manifest before them?

No.

They were immediately correcting the man.
It was the Sabbath.
He could not carry his bed on the Sabbath.

We begin to see the cold heart of religion.
The conflict between the religious and the Lord is building.



"Glory"

February 9, 2014

“Glory”

Blessings folk!

What “glory” do you seek?

Look at this question from Jesus.
Reflect upon it.
We will look at it in greater detail...especially the context, who is being addressed, etc.

John 5:44
How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?


If we seek glory from one another, then it is impossible to believe.
The power of God will not be released through those who seek glory from others and for themselves.

We are to seek the glory from above, the glory of God.

Seek that of God.
Everything else will fall into place.

Blessings!

"Disciples Amazed…"

February 8, 2014

“Disciples Amazed…”

Blessings Folk!

We continue to look at what we learn about the disciples from the phrase “one another”.

Mark 14:4
But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted?


The disciples were just like us.
Tempted to act under a religious spirit.
Indignant that at what they consider to be an extravagant waste upon the Lord.
Can you imagine the “remarks” to one another?

Luke 4:36
And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, “What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.”
Luke 8:25
And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”

They were amazed at what they saw in the Lord.
They spoke with one another about Jesus’…

  • authority and power over unclean spirits
  • authority and power over nature...the winds and water.

All obey the Word of the Lord.

Do we heed the message?
Do we have faith?

"Disciples…oneanother"

February 7, 2014

“Disciples...oneanother”

Blessings folk!

OneAnother.
We are to love OneAnother.

In examining the occurrence of the word “one another” in the Word we learn much about the relationship of the disciples.

Read the following and note what we learn…

Mark 4:41
They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
Mark 8:16
They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread.
Mark 9:10
They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant.
Mark 9:34
But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.



The disciples were afraid and discussed it with one another…
The disciples began to discuss with one another the lack of bread...they blamed one another.
The disciples seized upon the statement...discussed what “rising from the dead meant”.
The disciples discussed...aggressively...which of them was the greatest. They kept silent when confronted by Jesus.

We see they faced…

  • fear
  • lack of food, “mistakes”
  • confusion over the Word
  • the tendency to exalt self

May we have eyes to see.
May we have ears to learn.


"Betrayal vs. Enduring"

February 6, 2014

“Betrayal vs. Enduring”

Blessings Folk!

We have been looking at loving OneAnother.
True Believers loving Believers.

We have been warned that their will be false believers - NonAnothers.

Note in the following passage what happens to the NonAnothers.
Note what happens to the OneAnothers.

Matthew 24
1 Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him.
2 And He said to them,
“Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”
3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered and said to them,
“See to it that no one misleads you.
5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.
6 You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
10 At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.
11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
12 Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Look at verse 10 again.
I believe these are the NonAnothers in the organization church.
It also refers to Jews who turn from a superficial, societal belief in God to man.

They will “fall away”.
They will turn away from the faith they professed yet never possessed.

If they were truly saved they would not turn away.

We see hints of this in verse 13.

The OneAnother is the one who endures to the end.

Enduring to the end…
Pressing on…
Remaining stedfast in the faith…
All are evidence of true salvation.

OneAnothers will endure to the end, loving while the world’s love grows cold.
NonAnothers will turn on one another and betray one another “at that time”...the time of tribulation.

Prepare your Spirit.
Rejoice.
“It is gonna get worse”.

"The Greatest"

February 5, 2014

“The Greatest”

Blessings folk!

We are quickly entering into the man-made silly season of pagan, fertility love rites.
(There, that should have confused/offended many. LOL)

What is love?

We are told to love OneAnother.

How is this done?
How is this lived out?

Surely it is not limited to worldly, pagan fertility rites.

Let us consider the Word of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,endures all things.
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 butwhen the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Of faith, hope and love - love is the greatest.

Love has characteristics. We will manifest these if we love…

  • patient
  • kind
  • does not envy
  • does not boast
  • is not arrogant
  • does not rejoice in wrongdoing
  • is not irritable
  • not resentful
  • does not insist on its on way
  • not rude
  • bears all things
  • believes all things
  • hopes all things
  • endures all things
  • never ends

This is love.

We might have the tongues of men and angels…
We might have tremendous prophetic power…
We might understand all mysteries…
We might have all knowledge…
We might have all faith…
We might give all away...even unto ourselves…

The Lord might empower us to do all these things.

But, if we do so without love, we are nothing.

The church at Ephesus was like this - Revelation 2.
They did great things, yet the Lord stated He had something against them.
They had left...not lost...left, their first love.
He told them to repent and return to the first love.

So should we.


"Buildings"

February 4, 2014

“Buildings”

Blessings folk!

The world will know that we are true disciples of the Lord Jesus by our love for OneAnother.

One would not know this truth by looking at most of the western church.

The western church is totally sold-out and enamored with the concept of a building being associated with the Body of Christ.

Many believe that a “real church” has to have a building.

The Real Church is a building, but not in the sense that man believes.
It is the organism of the Body of Christ.

Now, may I hasten to say, there is nothing wrong with a building.
It is good to be dry.
It is good to be temperature comfortable.
It is good to have a place for corporate gathering.

But never make the mistake of treating the building, its maintenance, its construction, etc. as the Kingdom and the work of the Kingdom.

The Kingdom is God and people.
The buildings are simply useful tools.

At this moment I am sitting in a building that was constructed by an elderly gentleman that had received a directive from God. He was told to build the complex and the Lord would send forth folk. It was to be a place of praise, worship, prayer, healing, etc.
So it is.
And we are thankful and grateful to the Lord and His obedient servant.

We need to realize that we are blessed to have somewhere to meet, but that blessing is not the “church”.

What does the Word say?

Look a Jesus’ response when approached with how beautiful the Temple was…

Luke 21:5-6
5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, 6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.


Jesus was having nothing to do with the distraction.
The stones of the Temple would be overturned.
The Kingdom would not.

Paul is a good example for us.

As he traveled proclaiming the gospel, Paul would always enter the synagogue first and speak the truth to the Jews. It is good to have a building.

But, if there were no synagogue, Paul would go down by the river...the traditional Jewish a place of prayer when there was no building.

Paul taught in “rented” facilities.
Paul met in homes.
Paul met in the market place, in courtyards, in town squares.

He set the girl free from demons...on the streets.

All this to say that we a Believers should love OneAnother and the world as we are going about every element of our life.

We do not “go to church”.
We are the church.

Be the Light.
Be the Life.
Be the Salt.
Be the Manifest Power of the Presence of God.

The world will drawn to the Lord and His Kingdom.

"Not the Same Love"

February 3, 2014

“Not the Same Love”

Blessings folk!

Clearly the Lord was letting us know that there will be tare among the wheat…
False believers among the True Believers…
Religious charlatans among the True life of the Kingdom.

How does this impact our lov’n OneAnother?

Remember what Jesus said…

John 13
35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”


The world will know that we...True Believers...are His disciples by our love for OneAnother.

This love is from the Spirit.
Spirit unto Spirit.
It is a love that goes beyond the flesh and soul.
It is the Most High God dwelling within each Believer.
When each Believer chooses, and it is a choice, to abide in the Lord, then His love is released.

We as believers are to love OneAnother.
We are also to love the world.

But the love will not “be the same”.

From our perspective, it is the love of the Lord through us, but the world cannot reciprocate because they have not the love of the Lord

Such are the NonAnothers in the organizational church.

They have not the love of the Lord.
By definition, they are not a part of the True Organism of the Body of Christ.

They go about religious exercises, events, practices and deeds, yet they do not manifest the love of the Lord. They do not have it.

At best, they love in the flesh and the soul.

Many of the situations that the organizational church faces is due to this fact.

The NonAnothers have not the love of God.

The OneAnothers have the love.

Tare.
Wheat.

Often Believers seek to handle a situation the way the Lord tells us to, yet it “does not work.”

Why is that?

Because we are assuming that all parties are true Believers.

Such is not so.

This is not to create an air of suspicion.
Nor, are we to seek to categorize folk.
We are to seek the Kingdom.
We are to exhort and encourage OneAnother unto righteousness and holiness.
We are to exalt the Lord above all.
We are to seek the well-being and salvation of all...especially the NonAnother who believes he is “alright with God”.

Redeemed love is the way.
Therefore, love OneAnother.
Love the NonAnother, seeking their conversion.

"Reapers"

February 2, 2014

“Reapers”

Blessings folk!

So, what did you see/learn from the parable?

Matthew 13:24-30
24 
Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
25 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away.
26 But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. 27 The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’
28 And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’
29 But he *said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them.
30 Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”


Note that this is a “kingdom” parable.

Jesus is speaking of the Kingdom of Heaven/God.

It says that the Kingdom “may be compared”...there is a point that Jesus is making.
What do you think the point is?
Especially considering the context of this chapter.

Tares and wheat look the same, until harvest time.
Tare has not fruit, nor grain.

Jesus is showing us that there will be those, tares, who think that they are Kingdom people, yet they are not.

You saw the eagerness that the slaves had to do away with the tares.
The Lord did not allow this.
It would cause harm to the wheat.

Oh that the slaves had been so zealous to be awake and aware.
Remember, the tare was sown while they were asleep.

Let us sleep not.
Let us be aware of the strategy of the evil one to sow bad seed.

We will have unsaved people who claim faith in the organizational church.

Jesus tells us that He will literally sift them out at the time of Reaping.

Jesus will send Reapers (angels) to gather first the tares.
The tares will be bound in bundles and burned.

Reapers will also gather the wheat..into “The Barn”.

Happy

"Wheat/Tare"

February 1, 2014

“Wheat/Tare”

Blessings folk!

We have been looking at what the Lord tells us about loving OneAnother.

We began with…

John 13
35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”


We are looking at what love means.
We are looking at who OneAnother is.

We have spent several days on the “parable of the sower” in Matthew 13.
Review if needed… see blog… dalemoore.tv

Immediately after telling the parable, answering a question, then interpreting the parable, Jesus speak another parable.

This is important.
The sequence.
The context.

Remember the setting.

John 13
1 That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.
2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.



Now, ask the Lord to speak…
Be certain to take captive the thought of “I know what that means”…
Determine to hear the heart of the Lord…
Take your questions to Him…
Listen…

Matthew 13:24-30
24 
Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
25 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away.
26 But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. 27 The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’
28 And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’
29 But he *said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them.
30 Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”


What is the Lord saying?
How do we respond?
How do we live?
Which are you?