Born of Women or Born of God?

Among all who were born of women there's not one greater than John the Baptist, but he who is least in God's Kingdom is greater than John. Jesus spoke those words and we could assume He was referring only to Himself as the greater one because we may think it's impossible for any one else to be greater than John. Beside that Jesus said John was Elijah who was prophesied to come. How could anyone be greater than Elijah except Jesus? Greatness in the Kingdom is not determined by the power displayed but by humility and service. He who is great in God's Kingdom is the servant of all. Both Elijah and John were born of women, not having received the new birth, but those born of God are greater than all the Old Testament saints.

God's plan to populate the earth was through the union of husband and wife and the womb as the portal of entry, but His plan to populate God's Kingdom is through the new birth. Jesus told Nicodemus he would not see the Kingdom of God except he be born again. Nicodemus began to reason how he could enter his mother's womb the second time and be born, but Jesus explained that it wasn't about recreating new flesh and blood but a new spirit man. When we are born again we are born from above or born of God as a new creation and as citizens of heaven. Those born from above are superior to the original man God made from the dust of the earth. Adam didn't have the Holy Spirit living on the inside directing and empowering him.

Owning Your New Identity

Jesus wants us to identify with the heavenly family and not the earthly. Those who are born of women are of this earth and their days are numbered, but those who are born of God are from above and have received everlasting life. God's plan wasn't only to save the people from hell, but to save them from everything inconsistent with eternity and heaven such as sickness, decay and death. As new heavenly creatures we re-present heaven on the earth. We are God's heavenly garden in the midst of chaos and darkness. We are now a new creation, old things have passed away and the new has come. We are to identify with our eternal family not the temporary flesh and blood we received in our mother's womb.

In Mark 3:31-35 Jesus was told that His mother and brother's were outside the house wanting to see Him, and He responded with an unusual question. "Who is my mother, or my brother?" Then He looked around the room and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! for whoever does the will of the Father is my brother, my sister and my mother."

One might think Jesus was a bit confused, but both His and our eternal heritage is the family of God those who are obedient to their heavenly Father. Identifying with our temporary flesh and blood family or making it a priority over God's Kingdom shows we lack understanding of our eternal inheritance. Jesus lessened the importance of natural family because temporary flesh and blood does not inherit the Kingdom of God. One day Jesus told a man to come follow Him, but he wanted to stay with family until his father was dead and buried. Jesus said, "Let the dead bury the dead." Jesus was not promoting dishonor of parents, but emphasizing the greater value of God's eternal family. Paul says if we mind the things of the flesh we will die, but if our minds are set on the things of the spirit and eternity we will live. The family we identify with will determine the inheritance we receive and the reality we walk in either temporary flesh and blood or God's eternal family.

Identity Determines Inheritance

We all expect wonderful things some future day in heaven, but God wants us to enjoy the future now. His death opened the door to eternity we don't have to wait until we die to experience it. All that stands between time and eternity is our thought patterns and our beliefs. We are eternal creatures, all we have to do is believe it and act upon it. All the Father has is already at our disposal in the eternal spirit realm. The reason most haven't accessed it is because they are dwelling in the temporary realm of time and identifying with flesh and blood which doesn't inherit the Kingdom. Most are waiting to die, but Jesus died in our place and has invited us into eternal life now including an inheritance beyond our wildest imagination. Earthly mindedness binds us to the realm of time where decay and death are free to operate we must set our minds on things above and take our seat with Christ in heavenly places far above death, decay and the works of darkness.

Your Future is Now

Most people have little idea about what the future holds.  Some live like there in no tomorrow and others live with regrets of their past.  They are trapped in time and held captive to fate believing the words of an old song. "Que sera, sera what ever will be will be the future is not ours to see que sera, sera."  Well, I am here to tell you the future is yours to see and not only to see but experience in the present.  That sounds impossible but nothing is impossible with God, but all things are possible to those who believe.  Scripture tells us our eye has not seen and ear has not heard neither has it entered into the heart of man the things God has prepared for those who love Him, but God has revealed them to us by His Spirit.  The future is already revealed by God's Spirit not some day in the future, but to those who engage the Spirit of God. 

Jesus said blessed are the pure at heart for they shall see God.  For most people the future is hidden behind a veil of guilt, shame,offense, timidity and many more similar conditions.  All these  prevent us from seeing God and what the future holds.  Becoming pure in heart is to be free of the conditions mentioned above.  Our hearts have already been cleansed by the blood of Christ but it is not a reality in many of our lives.  The shame, guilt and condemnation of past failures comes back to haunt and imprison us in the past.

Just as memories use our imagination to bring back the past, so our imagination can use God's promises to take us into the future.  The past is something we've already experienced whether good or bad it is real to us.  We try to forget the bad but the devil is prompt to remind us.  It is to his benefit that we never move out of the past and never hope for the future but remain in defeat.

There is a glorious future ahead of us, but it's hidden behind the curtain of time, space and law.  We are so used to the limitations of time and the laws that govern nature that we don't even expect anything different.  We get caught in the hamster wheel of life's predictive cycles and become bored to death.  As glorious as Solomon's kingdom was he said it was all vanity and vexing to his spirit.  Solomon had a great imagination and built the most amazing kingdom earthbound eyes have ever seen, yet he became very bored with the predictive cycles of life and nature.  Solomon was trapped in time, space and the laws of nature.  The greatest vision and wisdom known to humanity could not release him from the jaws of law and time.  He didn't have the same passion to worship God as his father David and that was likely why the veils were not lifted from his imagination.  The good news for us is that Jesus, the Greater One than Solomon has come and through His sacrifice upon the cross has released humanity from every governing law and border wall that separates us from God and the future.

God lives in eternity and the only way to experience His world is to move out from under the government of law, time and space into the realm of eternity and the glorious liberty of the sons of God.  The first step in making that a reality is to rid ourselves of every blinding veil.  Sin caused Adam and Eve to cover themselves with fig leaves because they were ashamed.  Then they hid further behind the bush because they were fearful.  Getting free from fear, shame, lack of forgiveness and guilt will unveil our spiritual eyes and we will begin to see beyond the veil.  The veil between the present and the future is actually in our own minds.  We must renew our minds to know what the will of God is for us.

King David was a passionate worshiper of God a man after God's heart.  Though he had many life experiences that could have driven him to the pit of despair he maintained a passionate relationship with God.  He didn't allow the negative things of his life to form a veil over his eyes, but encouraged himself in the Lord.  David saw the future and brought it into his day.  He pressed through the barriers of time and law.  He went to the house of God and unlawfully partook of the showbread which was strictly for the priests.  He saw the future day when all God's children would be priests and able to partake of the bread of life.  David built a tabernacle that contained the ark of God surrounded only by musicians and worshipers allowing all to enter God's presence.  Again he saw the future removal of the veil that concealed the presence of God in the most holy place where only the high priest could go once a year with blood.  David din't do these things out of defiance, but he had an understanding that God's laws are there to separate the passive from the passionate, the mild from the wild, the lukewarm from the hot and the blind from those who see. 

The ball has been in our court so to speak, it is time to take a swing.  God is gracious and knows our heart so don't be afraid of a few misses, just determine not to allow shame or guilt to overtake you for there is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

John Scheda
   

Overcoming Offence

                                                                                                                                                                      There were many times in my life that I was easily offended and hurt by other people, especially by those in leadership or positions of authority, even those I looked up to and admired would occasionally offend me.  I always managed to forgive them but many hurts remained unhealed.   I discovered that the people who caused my pain were not always the true source of the pain, some just happened to bump into an unhealed wound that had been festering for years in my soul.  I misinterpreted most of these painful confrontations, thinking they were just very rude or inconsiderate toward me, but in reality they were bumping into preexisting wounds in my soul.  

The wounds originated in my life from abusive people that were often authority figures like a parent, teacher, pastor or an employer.  Some wounds were even handed down to me from wounded parents.  We can even be wounded while in our mother's womb.  Hurting people often hurt other people unintentionally, but the enemy uses these things to keep us off the playing field, sitting on the bench so to speak. 

In my heart I would forgive those who hurt me, but it seemed to be inadequate, I didn’t experience healing as a result of forgiving.  I usually felt better for a while but couldn’t understand why it didn’t last or bring final closure to these issues.  In my search for answers, God revealed some things to me.  Even though I was a believer in Christ and agreed with His finished work of the cross, I had not been taking up the cross daily and applying it properly in my life.  The sacrifice of Christ on the cross is where all our offences and debts were canceled.  Our debts were not only canceled but Christ included a deposit of grace so that we were not left with zero in our spiritual bank account.  He gave us grace so that we never need to relive the pain of past or experiences.      

Though forgiveness is good and required, forgiveness alone isn’t the full application of the cross of Christ.  I had not been properly applying the cross of Christ to the offences that I experienced.  Yes, there is forgiveness in the cross, but there is much more than that.  There is healing and a clear conscience toward God and men.  When Jesus died upon the cross, He not only forgave us, but He released grace to us.  Grace is defined as unmerited favor, God’s divine ability to do what we can not do in our own strength.  My application of the cross did not include releasing favor or divine ability to those who offended me.      

Now when someone does something that could offend me, at that point I have to make a choice.  Will I respond by just blowing it off or sucking it up like a good forgiving Christian, or will I respond with grace?  My grace response is to forgive and release that person from all judgment and condemnation,  then I pray that God would bless them with mercy and grace, that He would empower them to be a blessing to everyone they come in contact with.  In addition to that, if I have opportunity, I will do something tangible to bless them with a gift.  That kind of prayer and blessing for others will result in me receiving the same blessing returned back to me.  

The cross not only provided forgiveness for everyone, but includes grace, the power to walk in a higher dimension.  Grace empowers us to live and walk in righteousness and freedom from the guilt and condemnation of the law.  The enemy then has no legal access to agitate those wounded areas and prevent the healing process.         

   Luke 6:37—38

“Judge not and you shall not be judged.

Condemn not and you shall not be condemned.

Forgive and you shall be forgiven.

Give and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. 

For with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” 

There are four steps mentioned in the above verses. 

#1 I released my offender from judgment, #2 I released them from condemnation.  #3 I forgave their debt of sin against me.  But God showed me that I had not been doing #4.  I didn’t empower my offenders with the overflowing measure of grace.  As a result it didn’t come back to me as an overflowing blessing to empower me toward healing.    

The measure I used toward my offender was filled with forgiveness, but not overflowing with grace.  I let them go free, but I didn’t empower my offender to rise to a greater dimension through grace filled prayer.  Jesus not only forgave the woman who was caught in adultery, but He empowered her with grace filled words.  "Go and sin no more."  Jesus' grace filled words contained the power within them to perform what was spoken.  God never expects us to do anything that He doesn't empower us to do.  

We are only saved, healed and delivered by God’s grace.  Once we begin to grow in God we will receive according to the measure we use in giving to others.  If our measure is filled to the rim with forgiveness, we will receive forgiveness.  If our measure overflows with abundant grace toward our offender, we will receive abundant grace overflowing back to us.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

The DNA of Faith

In recent years we have heard many amazing stories of children who were separated from their birth parents and grew up not knowing their true identity only to discover it all as adults through DNA testing.  Wrongly imprisoned men and women have been exonerated while in many cases the real perpetrators have been caught all because of DNA testing.

The Gospels record conversations taking place between Jesus and the Pharisees concerning who their fathers were.  The Pharisees didn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God and Jesus told the Pharisees they were not Abraham’s descendants.  Of course Jesus was right and they were wrong, but what if there were a DNA test of sorts that would prove spiritual lineage, what do you suppose it would entail?

In Genesis 24 there is a wonderful story of Abraham in his old age desiring to find a wife for his son Isaac.  Abraham knew his days were numbered and he wanted to go to his grave in peace knowing Isaac had taken a proper wife.  Isaac was God’s promised seed that would bring blessing to all nations, but his choice of a wife was very critical to the promise being fulfilled.  The promise was to Abraham and Sarah the free woman, but when Abraham took Hagar to bear a child, she gave birth to Ishmael which proved to be a mistake.  Hagar was a slave woman and her offspring would also be in bondage to slavery and unable to inherit the promise.  Abraham learned a difficult, but valuable lesson through all this, and didn’t want his son Isaac to follow his error. 

Abraham called his servant in to instruct him concerning finding a wife for his son.  He made him promise not to take a wife from the daughters of the Canaanites who were close by, but to go to the city of Nahor, to Abraham’s own kindred.  It would have been convenient to get a wife for Isaac from the daughters of Canaan, but Abraham knew that his descendants would eventually inherit that land and drive out all its inhabitants.  If Isaac were to bear offspring through a Canaanite woman he would be in a real jam, and they would be disqualified from the inheritance as was Ishmael.  Therefore Abraham’s servant proceeded to the city of Nahor.  It wasn’t enough to just choose a distant relative of Abraham’s, but she must also be free as was Sarah.  As he approached the well just outside of town, he devised a plan that reveals the DNA test for faith. 

Abraham’s servant prayed to the Lord that when he asked the woman at the well for a drink of water that he would know she was the one for Isaac if she not only agreed to draw water for him, but offered to draw water for the camels also.  Sure enough when he arrived she was there by the well.  When he asked her for some water she agreed, and without hesitation offered to draw out water for the camels.  Because of her response she was rewarded with valuable gifts and given the choice to be the bride of a man she hadn’t met.  Her response again was of faith, believing and trusting that she was chosen for greatness. 

You might ask how that could be a DNA test?  Well, believe it or not, faith is manifest through work and the attitude behind it.  Attitude determines if a person is free or in bondage?  James said he would show you his faith by his works.  (See James 2:18)  This young woman named Rebekah tested positive for faith when she offered to exceed duty or obligation.  It would have been considered an obligation to give water to someone who asked, but she greatly exceeded the obligation as she watered several camels.  This test also proved Rebekah to be a free woman and not a slave.  Slaves are bound by law to their master and are not free to leave and be married.   

Not every slave works out of slavery mentality, only those who limit what they do to the level of their obligation.  A slave who works off his debt and fulfills his obligations is free to go, but some chose to stay because of love.  A love slave was freed yet stayed and worked out of love for the master.  Love slaves were distinguished from those who were not free by having their earlobe pierced with awl.  Faith is not only manifested through work but by freedom.  Those who work when they are not required to, but do so because of love are faithful love servants. 

The Pharisees tested negative for faith, but positive for a slavery mentality.  Even though they were physically free they were spiritually bound.  Because they hated Jesus and sought His death, was another indicator they had no faith.  Faith works by love and they had neither.  They claimed to be Abraham’s descendants, but there was no real evidence.  Though they may have had some of his blood in their veins they proved by their works to be the children of the devil.  (See John 8:44)  When Jesus was questioned concerning His identity, He told them if they couldn’t believe based on His words then at least believe because of His works. 

The story of Abraham’s servant searching for a bride for his son is a parallel story to Father God sending His Holy Spirit into the earth to find a wife for His Son Jesus.  Many of the tests we face in life are actually testing us for faith and love.  The first and greatest desire of God’s heart is that we would love Him and the second is that we would love one another.  In Hebrews 11:6 we see that without faith it is impossible to please God, and it takes faith to believe that He rewards the diligent.

Another example of the DNA test is found in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.  The master had three servants he entrusted with a portion of his wealth.  Since the master already knew their abilities the amount given to each varied.  To one he gave 5 talents, to another he gave 2 talents and to the third he gave 1.  He told them to take charge of it while he was away.  The first two began immediately investing the wealth while the third servant just hid his in a safe place until his master returned.  After a season the master came to see how his servants were doing and found that the first two had doubled their talents but the third had done nothing with his. 

My interpretation of this story may be unusual, but follow along with me. The master didn’t instruct them, but wanted to see what they would do with wealth on their own.  In reality he already knew them well enough, the test would only confirm what he already suspected.  The test really was for them, so they would know and understand the basis of promotion.

This test proved the first two servants had faith.  They were like Rebekah at the well, they had no idea they were about to be rewarded and promoted for their work.  They likely expected the master would take back his wealth including what was gained by trading, and they were good with that because they knew God rewards the diligent in due season.  The third servant only did what he felt obligated to do, and returned his master’s wealth to him in tact.  When questioned about it his true feelings came to light.  It was unfair of the master to expect him to perform extra work, and he assumed the master would just take advantage of him without compensation.  Was he ever wrong, he totally misinterpreted the master’s intentions.  This DNA test revealed faith or a lack of it.      

Those who have received Christ are free from the obligations of the law and now work from a different motivation.  We now have access to Grace.  We don’t work to gain favor but work out of the favor we have in Christ.  Being free from the law doesn’t mean we ignore the law or violate it, but what formerly was our ceiling has become our floor.  A law minded slave strives to meet obligations, but to those with faith, meeting obligations is second nature.  In other words, duty or obligations are no longer a difficult thing because of His love in us.  Against love there is no law, love naturally rises above legal obligations.

Financial debt is often described as being in the red, owing more than we can pay.  Having our debts paid in full brings us out of the red into the black.  Instead of drowning in red ink if you will, grace lifts us out of the red, yet not leaving us at zero, but into the black with access to abundance.  What used to be a goal we would strive for has become our starting point.  

Many who serve their time in prison are released having nothing.  They have paid their debt to society, but have nothing to start a new life with.  They are left vulnerable to committing another crime unless someone helps them transition.  In a similar way, when we are released from our debt of sin by receiving Christ as our payment, He not only paid our debt, but has given us grace whereby we can live debt free.  Jesus brought us above the obligation line, we now exceed our obligations easily because an abundance of grace has been deposited into our account.  

Abraham believed and trusted God, resulting in a huge deposit into his righteousness account.  This is How Abraham became the father of faith and why we who have faith are included in his seed line.  The Pharisees claimed Abraham as their father but their works proved otherwise.  Jesus said they liked to weigh people down with legal obligations, but wouldn't lift a finger to lighten the load.  The third Servant who was given the wealth of grace didn’t use it, but lived in the red below the obligation line.  Rebekah, through works, displayed that she was free and had faith because she lived and operated above the obligation line.

As Good As Dead

In Hebrews 11 the writer compiles a list of people that we often refer to as the heroes of the faith.  These saints of old obtained a good report because of their belief and trust in God’s promises even though circumstances were opposed to them.

Without faith it is impossible to please God.  By faith Enoch escaped death because he had this testimony, that he pleased God.  He walked so close to God that one day he just stepped over into heaven.     

Noah and his family escaped the destruction of the flood because they believed God and acted on His instructions to build an ark.  They were as good as dead except that they obeyed God. 

Abraham and Sarah were beyond child bearing age yet God promised them a Son.  The scripture speaks of the deadness of Sarah’s womb; they were both as good as dead, yet by the miraculous power of God Sarah received strength to conceive.  After giving birth to Isaac, God told Abraham to sacrifice him upon an altar.  Isaac was as good as dead when Abraham lifted the knife but God intervened and provided a ram for a sacrifice. 

As a baby, Moses was as good as dead when his mother constructed a little boat and sent him down the river.  By the miraculous intervention of God the daughter of Pharaoh heard his cry and rescued him from the slaughter of the Hebrew children.  

Rahab the harlot was as good as dead during the destruction of Jericho.  By God’s miraculous intervention she and all her house were spared because she hid the spies and helped them escape. 

Though there are many points to be made from this list, I want to focus on the aspect of being as good as dead.  Joseph was as good as dead when his brothers threw him into a pit to die, but a pattern in scripture is revealed here.  It goes back to the death, burial and resurrection cycle that is necessary for entrance into God’s Kingdom and the subsequent increase.

Enoch stepped over into the heavenly kingdom.  Noah and his family entered into salvation and went on to repopulate the earth.  Abraham and Sarah went from being childless to having offspring numbering as the sand of the sea and the stars of the sky.  Through Isaac and his descendants would come God’s promised redeemer, the Messiah.  We also find the harlot Rahab named in the lineage of the Christ child.  Moses was used of God to deliver the Israelites who were held captive to bondage in Egypt for over four hundred years. 

All those mentioned above were in one form or another as good as dead, but by God’s intervention went on to greatness.  There are at least three types of increase revealed in the cycle of sowing and reaping, or death burial and resurrection.  Enoch received power and authority to overcome death.  Moses and Joseph increased in authority to rule and reign.  Noah, Abraham and Rahab are mentioned as having many offspring.  I am sure all of those mentioned above received an increase in intimacy with God as well. 

Everything we do is by God’s empowering grace, but it requires faith on our part to act on the promise we receive.  Taking up the cross is to be as good as dead.  In other words we are to be a living sacrifice.  Our increase in life comes as God responds to our faith with miraculous intervention to bring about His promise for our destiny. 

EVERY DAY IS "GOD AWARENESS DAY"

Living as Christ

Christ not only died for us but He died as us.  We should not only live for Him but live as Him in His place.  He took our place in death that we might take His place in life.  As He is, so are we in this world.     1 John 4:17

New Book

My new book "The Hidden Wisdom of the Cross" is now available at Amazon.com and through the Kindle Store.  Enjoy

My new book, "The Hidden Wisdom of the Cross" is soon to be released as an e-book on Amazon.com. Please see the back cover text below. 

The bible is clear that Christ has already defeated and disarmed the powers of darkness yet it’s evident that darkness continues to steal, kill and destroy like never before.  In the pages of this book you will discover the enemy’s strategy to draw God’s people away from that place of victory into a state of defeat.  We face an onslaught of darkness that conventional wisdom has no answers for.  We must walk in the wisdom revealed through the cross.  In 1 Corinthians 2: Paul declares this mysterious hidden wisdom which is reserved for our glory, a wisdom that the rulers of darkness do not understand.  If they had they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.  We must use this same wisdom in our application of the cross to our every day life.  Jesus said if anyone wants to be His disciple they must deny self and take up the cross daily and follow Him.  Our enemy is a legalist and is empowered by the law to harass and condemn those who walk in the realm of law.  We rise far above our enemies as we choose the superior form of justice Christ introduced through the New Covenant.  Those who settle for legal justice find that the enemy continues to condemn and harass them.  Learn how to apply the wisdom revealed through the cross of Christ and keep your enemy under your feet.                    

Hindrances to Spiritual Perception

 

One of the most popular prayer requests in the body of Christ myself included is that we might better see and hear what the Father is doing and saying that we might be more effective in our walk with Him and ministry to others.  Since Jesus is our role model it is fitting that we should follow in His footsteps.   

 

In John 5:19 we see that Jesus did nothing of Himself.  He only did the things He saw His Father doing.  Likewise in John 14:10 we see that Jesus spoke nothing on His own accord only that which He heard His Father saying.  Some might disqualify themselves from being able to hear and see what the Father is doing as Jesus did because He was God and we are not.  Though Jesus was with God and was equal to God from the beginning, He laid aside His equality and privileges as God to take on the form of a servant.  He (The Word) became flesh and dwelled among men.  (See Philippians 2:5-8 John 1:14)

 

Jesus was both the Son of God and the Son of man.  He was on an assignment from heaven to redeem mankind from the fall and only an innocent man could become the sacrifice necessary to pay the required price.  If Jesus had used any of His privileges as God and not faced His assignment as a man He would have disqualified Himself as the perfect human sacrifice.  Everything He did and said was as a man under the influence of the Holy Spirit.  Those who have been born again from above and filled with His Spirit have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son.  Now we are the sons of God with the same Holy Spirit dwelling within and directing our lives.  Now we too can say and do what we hear and see our Father doing. 

 

If we have any disadvantage to Jesus it’s because of our past.  Jesus had no corrupt past to hinder His ability to see and hear.  The rest of us need to repent and change our way of thinking.  We need our minds renewed that we can develop hearing ears and eyes that see.  Jesus made a remarkable statement in John 9:39.  “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”  It is easy to understand that Jesus came to give sight to blind people but why would He make blind those who see?  Jesus was not speaking of natural eyesight but spiritual vision.  The Pharisees and religious people of that day thought they could see but Jesus revealed their blindness.  Jesus tried to convince the Pharisees even calling them blind leaders of the blind.  Most of them rejected Him as their Messiah while others saw Him for who He truly was.  The Pharisees were students of the word of God but somehow when the living word came on the scene they didn’t recognize Him.  Their spiritual blindness prevented them from entering God’s Kingdom and they became a roadblock to others who sought to enter in.  (See Matthew 23:13) 

 

In John 3 Jesus said He didn’t come into the world to condemn the world but to save it.  When Jesus said He came for judgment it was to judge or condemn the things that block spiritual vision.  There are several things that cause spiritual blindness and deafness but the main culprit is deception and hardness of heart.

In Mark 8:11-12 Jesus and the disciples had a discussion with the Pharisees who wanted a sign from heaven but Jesus did not accommodate them.  ¹³ And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side. ¹⁴ Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. ¹⁵ Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” ¹⁶ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.” ¹⁷ But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still^] hardened? ¹⁸ Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?

Though the disciples heard Jesus with their natural ears they did not perceive of His words.  We see in verse 17 Jesus points to a heart condition as the reason for their misunderstanding.  Hardness of heart is the major cause of blindness but what causes our hearts to become hard?

Hebrews 3:12  Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; ¹³ but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Sin is deceitfully attractive because it appears to be the answer to our immediate need.  Unbelief is the major sin the Pharisees were bound by.  Unbelief is rooted in pride which says (I know best).  Fallen humanity needs something to elevate itself back up from the fall and pride presents itself as the solution.  Jesus warned His disciples of religious pride that puffs men up in their mind.  It falsely elevates and only sets us up for a greater fall.

 

Out of the heart the mouth speaks.  Whatever is planted and growing in the heart will come forth like seed from the mouth.  Those who receive the word or seed will find the same things sprouting up in their own heart.  Doctrine is like seed sown that reproduces after its own kind.  The hearts of the Pharisees were so overgrown with unbelief and pride their teaching was toxic.  As Jesus spoke out the pure doctrine of God it could not take root in their hearts because of their overgrown condition. 

 

Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.  Matthew 13:22

 

Though wealth is not sinful it has a deceitful tendency.  Wealth can lead one to believe they are in need of nothing while not recognizing their true condition.  The church of Laodicea in Revelation 3 is an example.  ¹⁷Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

 

Wealth empowers us to do whatever we want.  It is good if our desires are one with Christ but the Laodiceans evidently allowed wealth to rule in their lives above God.

 

 

Jesus also warned His followers of the deceitfulness of the doctrine of Herod.  Herod represents political power.  People have a tendency to rely on government to meet all their needs.  Though wealth, religion and government are all God’s idea without the influence of His Spirit in our lives these things become perverted little gods.  God’s Kingdom is not void of wealth, governing authority or religious worship but it is never used to coerce or manipulate people.  We see today how people have become so dependant upon government that they can hardly function otherwise.

 

Though there are many other ways our hearts can become hardened I will end with self deception.  Anyone who repeatedly hears the word without doing it develops a hardened heart.  James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

 

A deceived person doesn’t know it.  The Pharisees were deceived they appeared holy on the outside but were full of corruption on the inside.  Jesus came as the light to expose darkness but men loved and held on to darkness rather than the light because they didn’t want their deeds exposed.  Religious pride is likely the most powerful bondage there is.  It appears to be powerful enough to block the effect of God’s word.  Jesus told the Pharisees they made the word of God ineffective by their own traditions.  (See Mark 7:13)    

 

When Jesus said “beware” He was saying guard your heart, don’t allow any deceptive thing to harden your hearts and cut off spiritual perception.  We have seen that sin, riches, religious pride, dependence upon human government and hearing the word without doing it all contribute to blindness of heart.  These things only have power if we don’t recognize them for what they are and keep them in the dark.  Light is more powerful than darkness but we must be willing to expose our hearts to the light of Christ. 

 

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

(1 John 1:6-7)

 

 I am reminded here of a word pastor Greg Daley shared recently concerning the above verse.  He pointed out that the blood of Jesus Christ only cleanses in the light.  Anything we hide in darkness or behind a religious façade will miss the cleansing process.  Though darkness is powerless against light it appears possible to make the light and the blood ineffective by hiding our stuff in the darkness or covering it with a religious appearance.   

 

Written By John Scheda 

    

 

   

 

        

  

 

 

 

 

Two Masters

The following is my own paraphrase of the story Jesus told in Luke 16 called the parable of the unjust Steward.  A certain rich man had a manager who was accused of wasting his master’s wealth.  The master confronted him and decided to fire him.  The manager thought about his options and the slim chance of being hired with a bad reputation, so he devised a plan.  He decided to visit those who owed money to his master and cut some quick deals.  Since he had been the record keeper for years he thought the master wouldn’t notice the difference.  He agreed with them to decrease the balance they owed in hopes they would feel obligated to help him in his day of need.  When the master heard of it he called the steward in again and commended him for his shrewd skills.  Then Jesus commented: “The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.”    The Pharisees that heard Jesus speak scoffed and sneered at this because they perceived He spoke of them.  

The manager in this story was given oversight of God’s people.  The manager’s earthly values differed greatly from his master’s which were heavenly.  The goal was to lead and empower the people into freedom from a debt of sin.  Rather than seeing their debt as a despised thing to be rid of he saw it as job security and a way to empower himself.  His worldly minded sense of prosperity led him to further strap obligation on the people when all along he should have led them to freedom.  The master commended him for being so adept at using worldly tactics but obviously it wasn’t something the master valued. 

The children of the world are quick to make the system work in their favor but the children of light are slow to catch on to heaven’s ways.  Their earthly mindedness hinders their understanding. They often settle for the world’s covetous ways because it makes more sense to them.  Setting people free, releases them from all obligation and even the need of worldly management.  What would a manager do without obligated people?

The master placed greater value on freedom than on earthly wealth.  The accusation against the manager was not for wasting earthly wealth but the true wealth is people and their freedom from sin.  They had been forgiven their debts but the manager was withholding the truth in fear of loosing his position and advantage over the people. 

No one can serve two masters, either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other.  We can not serve both God and mammon.

The manager’s goal should have been to do business with heaven, to bring the resources of heaven to earth setting free those who were bound to sin.  Transforming society includes the influence of heavenly wisdom.  It appears foolish to the natural mind but it is far superior to worldly wisdom.  When we do it right we can sow into this world and reap from heaven.  As Kingdom citizens we are not limited to this earth’s resources.  We actually open up heaven’s windows as we sow into the weak and needy of this world.  We can not follow this world’s ways and expect Kingdom results.  The key to this world doesn’t fit the windows of heaven, to receive its wisdom or resources.

Grace is the seed or the currency of the Kingdom.  As we empower the weak we reap from the Mighty One.  God has hidden the latch that open’s heaven’s windows in plain sight.  It is worldly wisdom that prevents us from seeing it.  Jesus came and sowed His life into those without strength and reaped a harvest.  The same pattern was to continue but in some cases earthly wisdom has influenced the church and hinders progress. 

We can not serve two masters, following the wisdom of this world results in further burdening people for gain.  Heaven’s wisdom is to bless and do good toward those who do not deserve it and those who cannot return the favor.  It is to set the captives free from those who take advantage of their weakness.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:46 “If you love those who love you, what reward have you?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”  In other words sowing into those who can easily return the favor will not return the heavenly reward.

Proverbs 19:17 says; “He who has pity on the poor lends to the lord, and He will pay back what he has given.”  What better investment can we find than to help the helpless and give to those who can not repay us?  In extending both the earthly and the heavenly commodities to empower others we reap more power from above in our own lives.

Grace is a heavenly commodity, it can not be worked for or earned but is a free gift.  It increases in our lives as we freely give to empower others.  This world’s system has molded our mindset to earn and gain through work.  That is fitting and right in the world but not applicable to the Kingdom.  Applying this principal to God’s Kingdom only leads to bondage and lack of grace.  Increase through giving or sowing into the fields of the world (people) causes a heavenly harvest.  As we empower the weak we are empowered to do greater works.

Jesus also said in Luke 16:9 Make friends by the proper use of earthly wealth so in your time of need they will invite you into their everlasting family and home. (My paraphrase)

Our use of earthly wealth to empower the weak without obligating them will make them eternally grateful to us. They will freely invite us to their home both on earth and in heaven as eternal fiends.

God has given us earthly wealth and it is a good thing.  The way we handle it reveals our true master and where our heart is.  Though heaven is loaded with silver, gold and precious stones none of it could redeem one soul.  It required the blood of an innocent man.  God’s goal is to lead all mankind into innocence.  Only the innocent can truly represent The Innocent One.  Those who work through obligation or guilt can not lead people into innocence or freedom.

Wealth is given us to facilitate that process and we dare not be distracted from the goal by it.  God has given us both seed for sowing and bread for our own food.  It takes wisdom to discern between the two.  Eating the seed which was intended to be sown will reap no harvest and we’ll soon find ourselves low on empowering grace.  In the same way to give away what was intended by God for our own life will not return a harvest.  Bread sown into the field will not bring a harvest.  Obviously this doesn’t mean we never give away food, it just requires wisdom to know what, where and when to sow.