Matt 6:12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. NKJV
By these verses, we see that our own forgiveness is based upon our forgiveness of others.
Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." NKJV
To “judge not” means: do not pass judgment or sentence anyone to punishment. It is perfectly ok to make a judgment, to determine if something is right or wrong to avoid getting involved with evil, but we are not to pass judgment. If we sentence someone by wanting them to pay or be punished for their own debt of sin, we sentence ourselves to the same punishment; in doing so we disregard and make ineffective the payment that has already been made by Jesus on the cross.
Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. KJV
The measure of law is on a lower level than that of grace. The Galatians fell from grace by trusting in their own efforts to do things by the law. They had not gone back to sacrificing animals for their sins, but they forfeited the full power of Christ’s sacrifice by reverting back to requiring circumcision for salvation, which was only an outward, prophetic sign of what was accomplished by Christ. They, in effect, traded in their newly acquired measure of grace and faith for the inferiority of the law.
There is a legal measure and there is the measure of mercy and grace, through faith. The pressed down, shaken together and running over measure is mercy and grace which surpasses the law. Jesus’ death on the cross was a pressed down, shaken together and running over payment. It far surpassed the payment of the blood of animals prescribed by the law. The payment that Jesus made for our sin debt included everything the law provided and much, much more.
Legal forgiveness cancels the debt but comes short of grace. Our debt is canceled by a legal payment but it affords us nothing extra: as it were, money in the bank. Those under the old covenant (law), who offered animals as a sacrifice for their sin, were forgiven but had nothing in the bank for future debt. They had to return every year to offer another animal to renew their forgiveness. The payment of Christ on the cross includes grace, an abundant supply, added to our account, available to pay off debt the moment we need it. We do not have to wait another year as if Jesus needed to die again for our sin.
This grace account is available to us through the cross. Our use of the grace, filled overflowing measure, ensures that it will be used toward us. If we prefer to use the legal measure toward others, it will be the standard of measurement used toward us. Those under the Old Covenant (law) did not have their consciences cleared of offences nor could they enter the intimate presence of God. That was only experienced, once a year, by the high priest as he entered with the blood of innocent animals. The people were forgiven of sin but the enmity, or animosity, between the offended parties was not cleared from their consciousness. The old sacrificial system of the law allowed the devil to take advantage of its legalities and continued to accuse and bring guilt and condemnation upon the people.
Though we do not offer animals as a temporary sacrifice for sin, it is possible to reduce the effectiveness of Christ’s once and for all time sacrifice, to that of the old law. We determine which will be used toward us by the one we want others to have. If we forgive others, that is good, but the law system did that. If we go beyond forgiving their debt, by blessing them and praying that God will have mercy and give them a repentant heart, we will also receive what we ask for others. Jesus said:
Matt 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. NKJV
In these verses, Jesus describes the use of the overflowing measure of grace. The old way was to only return good for good but now under grace we are to return good for evil. This could be misinterpreted as rewarding evil with good, but it is the power to overcome evil, not to reward it. Returning blessing for cursing and good for evil is God’s wisdom. Man would call it foolishness but what does the scripture say?
1 Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. NKJV
What appears foolish and weak to men is mighty to destroy the works of the devil.
Rom 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. NKJV
The law was ineffective at destroying the power of sin. The only way sin could be destroyed was to destroy the sinner. The use of grace and faith, as our measuring standard, overcomes evil with good. The power of evil is destroyed for the one who uses the overflowing measure. Our enemy, the devil, is only powerful over us if we remain in legal territory. Our use of the legal measure keeps us in his territory but we move to higher ground, and have advantage over him, if we use the overflowing measure of faith.
In Jesus’ model prayer He says “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” We are delivered from the evil one as we not only receive His undeserved mercy and grace, but as we extend it to others. It probably takes more faith on our part to bless and to do good to those who have wronged us than it does to receive it from God for ourselves. It is more blessed to give than to receive. When we extend undeserved mercy, grace and blessing to others we are, at the same time, adding to our own account.
So when Jesus prays “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,” it is much like when He says “forgive and you shall be forgiven. “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:37 NKJV
This scripture has often been used when speaking about giving an offering, but the context is speaking of forgiveness. Forgive and you shall be forgiven, then, by adding giving to our forgiving, it becomes a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. Forgiveness without the added giving is a legal measure. Though forgiveness was a gift undeserved it was still a benefit of offering the sacrifices of the law. By adding a gift of undeserved blessing and favor to our forgiveness we press beyond the legal territory where Satan traffics.
Paul speaks often in his epistles concerning our natural inclination to gravitate toward the law. The flesh man wants desperately work off his debt. He has a hard time accepting a free, undeserved gift from God and he has an even tougher time extending such a gift to other undeserving souls.
As New Covenant believers, we can think we have this grace all figured out, but it stands to reason that, if the Galatians, and others, needed a course correction so soon after this grace was first revealed, we should not think we are beyond falling back under the law as they did.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Our Daily Bread
The prayer that Jesus modeled shows us how important it is to integrate the eternal realm with the temporary: walking here in time and space, yet living as though we are already in eternity. Heaven invades earth as the two agree as one. Jesus, God’s Son, is the heavenly pattern for the children of this earth. The kingdom of heaven is the pattern for order and rules of authority on earth. Lack, and worry about provision, is a foreign concept in heaven. We, here on earth, must look beyond our limited abilities and resources into the endless resources of heaven.
Matt 6:9-13
9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. NKJV
To summarize: we are to address God as “Our Father.” We come to Him as His children. We are His family, not outsiders attempting to gain His favor.
His name is hallowed, holy and highly honored. His name is our family name and our authority is in that name.
We are to pray that His kingdom will come and that His heavenly purposes would become the practice of this earth.
We focus our attention now on receiving daily bread both for this natural life and our spiritual life. Jesus taught us that we are not to be anxious or worried about where our provision will come from.
Matt 6:31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV
If God supplies food for the birds of the air, and grass for the cattle of the fields, will He not also provide for those who are made in His own image?
Seeking first the kingdom of God is looking to heaven as the source rather than to man or even the earth. God uses the natural process of our sowing and reaping to provide food, but we tend to see this earth as our source, rather than the One who made it.
Ps 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters. NKJV
When we seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first, we will come into agreement with His total ownership and His care for creation. We are able to leave the responsibility of provision with Him. We work to harvest a crop but we can rely on God to provide all the necessary ingredients.
Ps 37:25 I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread. NKJV
There were many who began to follow Jesus and seek after Him, but they were not submitting to God’s kingdom authority over their lives: they just liked the free food. They experienced the miracle of Jesus multiplying the loves and fishes and assumed it would be an every day occurrence.
John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." NKJV
Here Jesus sets the priority. He says to labor for, or seek after, the food that endures to everlasting life. Though we do labor to receive food for our natural life, it is obvious that eternal life has to be the priority. This natural life will come to an end and, if we have not sought after the food that comes from knowing Him, we will not have life.
1 John 5:10 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. NKJV
John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. NKJV
The same power that multiplied the natural bread and fish will be at work in everyone who eats of this heavenly bread. They will never again hunger for the things they previously used to fulfill the soul. It is obvious that Jesus did not mean one taste would keep us full the rest of our lives but that we would never hunger again for that which does not satisfy.
Give us this day our daily bread, refers to both the natural and the spiritual. We need fresh bread every day. We can not live on yesterday’s experience. Life with God is a continual, relational experience, not a fast food on the run type of thing. Too often we get our priorities reversed. We seek diligently for this life’s provision and occasionally hit the holy “drive through” for a quick bite of heavenly bread. A lifestyle like that leaves us very unhealthy, spiritually speaking, and open to afflictions in our soul. We need the bread of heaven, daily, to remain spiritually healthy.
There is a keen balance in living our temporary, natural lives as eternal creatures. It boils down to maintaining proper alignment. We are a spiritual being with an eternal soul living in a natural body. Though we want every part whole and completely healthy we must not allow the desires and appetites of our body to rule over our soul. Our spirit, in submission to God’s Spirit, takes charge over our soul and body, keeping them in alignment with God’s heavenly kingdom. Our eternal soul is satisfied with the eternal bread of heaven. Our body feels left out because it is earthly and does not hunger for the heavenly bread, but we must discipline it.
1 Cor 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. NKJV
Paul is using the illustration of those who are disciplined athletes training for a race. Their body has to be in top physical condition to win. Our race for the heavenly prize is more likely lost by allowing the appetites of our natural bodies to make us spiritually unfit to run. We can get so busy, even preaching the Gospel, that the appetite of our flesh gains priority over our spirit man.
So let us maintain a healthy spiritual diet and discipline our bodies so that we are not disqualified from this race for the eternal prize.
Matt 6:9-13
9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. NKJV
To summarize: we are to address God as “Our Father.” We come to Him as His children. We are His family, not outsiders attempting to gain His favor.
His name is hallowed, holy and highly honored. His name is our family name and our authority is in that name.
We are to pray that His kingdom will come and that His heavenly purposes would become the practice of this earth.
We focus our attention now on receiving daily bread both for this natural life and our spiritual life. Jesus taught us that we are not to be anxious or worried about where our provision will come from.
Matt 6:31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV
If God supplies food for the birds of the air, and grass for the cattle of the fields, will He not also provide for those who are made in His own image?
Seeking first the kingdom of God is looking to heaven as the source rather than to man or even the earth. God uses the natural process of our sowing and reaping to provide food, but we tend to see this earth as our source, rather than the One who made it.
Ps 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters. NKJV
When we seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first, we will come into agreement with His total ownership and His care for creation. We are able to leave the responsibility of provision with Him. We work to harvest a crop but we can rely on God to provide all the necessary ingredients.
Ps 37:25 I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread. NKJV
There were many who began to follow Jesus and seek after Him, but they were not submitting to God’s kingdom authority over their lives: they just liked the free food. They experienced the miracle of Jesus multiplying the loves and fishes and assumed it would be an every day occurrence.
John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." NKJV
Here Jesus sets the priority. He says to labor for, or seek after, the food that endures to everlasting life. Though we do labor to receive food for our natural life, it is obvious that eternal life has to be the priority. This natural life will come to an end and, if we have not sought after the food that comes from knowing Him, we will not have life.
1 John 5:10 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. NKJV
John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. NKJV
The same power that multiplied the natural bread and fish will be at work in everyone who eats of this heavenly bread. They will never again hunger for the things they previously used to fulfill the soul. It is obvious that Jesus did not mean one taste would keep us full the rest of our lives but that we would never hunger again for that which does not satisfy.
Give us this day our daily bread, refers to both the natural and the spiritual. We need fresh bread every day. We can not live on yesterday’s experience. Life with God is a continual, relational experience, not a fast food on the run type of thing. Too often we get our priorities reversed. We seek diligently for this life’s provision and occasionally hit the holy “drive through” for a quick bite of heavenly bread. A lifestyle like that leaves us very unhealthy, spiritually speaking, and open to afflictions in our soul. We need the bread of heaven, daily, to remain spiritually healthy.
There is a keen balance in living our temporary, natural lives as eternal creatures. It boils down to maintaining proper alignment. We are a spiritual being with an eternal soul living in a natural body. Though we want every part whole and completely healthy we must not allow the desires and appetites of our body to rule over our soul. Our spirit, in submission to God’s Spirit, takes charge over our soul and body, keeping them in alignment with God’s heavenly kingdom. Our eternal soul is satisfied with the eternal bread of heaven. Our body feels left out because it is earthly and does not hunger for the heavenly bread, but we must discipline it.
1 Cor 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. NKJV
Paul is using the illustration of those who are disciplined athletes training for a race. Their body has to be in top physical condition to win. Our race for the heavenly prize is more likely lost by allowing the appetites of our natural bodies to make us spiritually unfit to run. We can get so busy, even preaching the Gospel, that the appetite of our flesh gains priority over our spirit man.
So let us maintain a healthy spiritual diet and discipline our bodies so that we are not disqualified from this race for the eternal prize.
Monday, April 13, 2009
He Is Risen
Mark 16:1-8
Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away — for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples — and Peter — that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." 8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. NKJV
These three women went to the tomb of Jesus early in the morning of the third day fully expecting to find his dead body. They carried spices with which they were planning to anoint Him. They pondered how they would get into the tomb because they knew the stone covering it was very large and heavy.
It appears that the enemies of Christ remembered His words concerning the resurrection better than His own followers.
Matthew 27: 62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise.' 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse than the first." NKJV
The chief priests and the Pharisees thought some of Jesus disciples would carry out a deceptive plan to make it look like He had risen from the dead, but his followers were not even thinking of the possibilities of His resurrection, let alone faking it. They were so overcome with the sadness of His death that they seemingly forgot everything He said on the subject.
Jesus even told them where He would meet with them after His resurrection.
Matt 26:32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee. NKJV
This was confirmed by the angel messenger at the tomb.
Mark 16:7 But go, tell His disciples — and Peter — that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you. NKJV
Matthew records three separate occasions that Jesus spoke of His death and resurrection.
Jesus speaks of His death and resurrection
Matt 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." NKJV
Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection
Matthew 17:22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful. NKJV
Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection
Matthew 20:17 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again." NKJV
Jesus probably spoke to His disciples concerning this subject more than three times but we know that He did at least these three times. The Apostle Paul makes an interesting statement in 2 Corinthians 13:1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established." NKJV
Jesus taught that every truth shall be established or confirmed by two or three witnesses. We most often think this has to refer only to separate people as witnesses of the same incident, but Paul uses this truth in reference to his third visit to the Corinthian Church. He may have been saying that, after hearing the same message of truth three times, it should be established in their hearts.
Since Jesus spoke to His followers in detail about the truth of His death and resurrection three times, or even more, they should have had the same level of expectation as those who opposed Christ. They could have posted a watch at the tomb to wait for something to happen but they were seemingly convinced it was all over.
Jesus appeared to two of His followers on the day of His resurrection.
Luke 24:13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?" 19 And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."
25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. NKJV
Cleopas revealed his lack of understanding of how the Christ would redeem Israel. He concluded that Christ’s death was somehow a failure rather than the first phase of a two part victory. The prevailing expectation among Jesus’ followers was that He would defeat those who opposed Him through physical force or power. They lacked perception into the spiritual realm where His real enemies reside. Through His death and resurrection, He defeated all spiritual powers and made it possible for mankind to remove themselves from their influence by entering into the freedom of God’s Kingdom.
How are we doing today? Do we still struggle or wrestle with flesh and blood in an attempt to realize the promised victory of His resurrection. Due to a lack of perception into the spiritual realm we often launch an attack against what we see with our natural eyes rather than the spiritual forces that are manipulating things behind the scenes.
2 Corinthians 13:3 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. NKJV
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. NKJV
Because of His resurrection we have hope of our own resurrection from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. NKJV
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.NKJV
Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away — for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples — and Peter — that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." 8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. NKJV
These three women went to the tomb of Jesus early in the morning of the third day fully expecting to find his dead body. They carried spices with which they were planning to anoint Him. They pondered how they would get into the tomb because they knew the stone covering it was very large and heavy.
It appears that the enemies of Christ remembered His words concerning the resurrection better than His own followers.
Matthew 27: 62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise.' 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse than the first." NKJV
The chief priests and the Pharisees thought some of Jesus disciples would carry out a deceptive plan to make it look like He had risen from the dead, but his followers were not even thinking of the possibilities of His resurrection, let alone faking it. They were so overcome with the sadness of His death that they seemingly forgot everything He said on the subject.
Jesus even told them where He would meet with them after His resurrection.
Matt 26:32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee. NKJV
This was confirmed by the angel messenger at the tomb.
Mark 16:7 But go, tell His disciples — and Peter — that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you. NKJV
Matthew records three separate occasions that Jesus spoke of His death and resurrection.
Jesus speaks of His death and resurrection
Matt 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." NKJV
Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection
Matthew 17:22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful. NKJV
Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection
Matthew 20:17 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again." NKJV
Jesus probably spoke to His disciples concerning this subject more than three times but we know that He did at least these three times. The Apostle Paul makes an interesting statement in 2 Corinthians 13:1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established." NKJV
Jesus taught that every truth shall be established or confirmed by two or three witnesses. We most often think this has to refer only to separate people as witnesses of the same incident, but Paul uses this truth in reference to his third visit to the Corinthian Church. He may have been saying that, after hearing the same message of truth three times, it should be established in their hearts.
Since Jesus spoke to His followers in detail about the truth of His death and resurrection three times, or even more, they should have had the same level of expectation as those who opposed Christ. They could have posted a watch at the tomb to wait for something to happen but they were seemingly convinced it was all over.
Jesus appeared to two of His followers on the day of His resurrection.
Luke 24:13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?" 19 And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."
25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. NKJV
Cleopas revealed his lack of understanding of how the Christ would redeem Israel. He concluded that Christ’s death was somehow a failure rather than the first phase of a two part victory. The prevailing expectation among Jesus’ followers was that He would defeat those who opposed Him through physical force or power. They lacked perception into the spiritual realm where His real enemies reside. Through His death and resurrection, He defeated all spiritual powers and made it possible for mankind to remove themselves from their influence by entering into the freedom of God’s Kingdom.
How are we doing today? Do we still struggle or wrestle with flesh and blood in an attempt to realize the promised victory of His resurrection. Due to a lack of perception into the spiritual realm we often launch an attack against what we see with our natural eyes rather than the spiritual forces that are manipulating things behind the scenes.
2 Corinthians 13:3 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. NKJV
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. NKJV
Because of His resurrection we have hope of our own resurrection from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. NKJV
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.NKJV
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Coming Kingdom
The Coming Kingdom and Heaven on Earth
Matt 6:9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven. NKJV
This chapter began with the emphasis on the wrong way to give charitable donations and to offer prayers to God. Then Jesus says: “In this manner, therefore pray: Our Father in heaven Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The hypocrites came before God in such a way that they were trying to attract attention to themselves and to their charitable giving. They were not focused on the audience of one, but the many and, as a result, they had received a vanishing reward.
The prayers and giving of the hypocrites revealed that they had no intimate relationship with God. What they did was an attempt to earn respect or reward through much show and effort. They were coming to God as strangers and not His children. Jesus, as our elder brother says: “therefore, when you pray, come to God as His children, recognizing Him as Father and honoring Him as our Father.
Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. On earth we have man’s kingdoms and we have man’s will being done which, in most cases, is directly opposed to that of God’s. God has revealed His kingdom and His will to the church for the purpose of releasing it into the earth. We as the church must enter His kingdom and come into agreement with His will so that heaven’s influence can affect this earthly realm. Man’s will and man’s kingdom always points to man as the solution to his own deficit. Jesus directs man’s eyes to God’s will and His kingdom as the answer. In verse 33 of Matthew 6 Jesus says;
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV
Though man thinks his own will and kingdom will solve the world’s problems, Jesus points us, as His church, to the real solution. God’s will and kingdom coming into power and authority over this earth is the only lasting solution. His kingdom comes to earth in two stages. The first comes as an option to man. He can receive or reject God’s will and rule over his life but the second will not be optional. Those who have refused to submit to the will and kingdom of God during this period of grace, and continue to exalt man’s kingdom, will be forced to bow the knee.
Phil 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. NKJV
Even though all will eventually bow to Jesus as Lord and King, only those who willing surrender to Him will enter His Kingdom and reign with Him. Jesus will actually remove all other rulers from power when He comes to establish His Kingdom in the natural realm.
Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" NKJV
In teaching His followers how to pray, Jesus was emphasizing our position in the family and making us aware of our royal heritage. Our entrance and function in His Kingdom is as kings and priests. As priests we have access to God to know His heart and will. As kings we have power to decree His Kingdom come and will be done on earth as in heaven.
Revelation 1:5 To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. NKJV
Revelation 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth." NKJV
In this age of grace, God’s Kingdom is not manifested through a show of natural might or religious activity but it is hidden in the hearts of believers.
Luke 17:20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." NKJV
Speaking to Pilate: John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." NKJV
So the bottom line is that we function in His Kingdom through the Spirit of God. The things of the eternal Spirit are invisible to man. All that we do must be by the power of faith and love, not an outward display of religious activities, human influence or military power. So let’s not pray as if we are strangers or orphans who do not know their father or his will, but pray as children who are made to be kings and priests to our God in His Kingdom. Let us come into agreement with heaven and decree that heaven be manifest on earth. What ever is not allowed in heaven, we disallow on earth and what ever is welcomed in heaven, let it be at home on earth.
Matt 6:9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven. NKJV
This chapter began with the emphasis on the wrong way to give charitable donations and to offer prayers to God. Then Jesus says: “In this manner, therefore pray: Our Father in heaven Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The hypocrites came before God in such a way that they were trying to attract attention to themselves and to their charitable giving. They were not focused on the audience of one, but the many and, as a result, they had received a vanishing reward.
The prayers and giving of the hypocrites revealed that they had no intimate relationship with God. What they did was an attempt to earn respect or reward through much show and effort. They were coming to God as strangers and not His children. Jesus, as our elder brother says: “therefore, when you pray, come to God as His children, recognizing Him as Father and honoring Him as our Father.
Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. On earth we have man’s kingdoms and we have man’s will being done which, in most cases, is directly opposed to that of God’s. God has revealed His kingdom and His will to the church for the purpose of releasing it into the earth. We as the church must enter His kingdom and come into agreement with His will so that heaven’s influence can affect this earthly realm. Man’s will and man’s kingdom always points to man as the solution to his own deficit. Jesus directs man’s eyes to God’s will and His kingdom as the answer. In verse 33 of Matthew 6 Jesus says;
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV
Though man thinks his own will and kingdom will solve the world’s problems, Jesus points us, as His church, to the real solution. God’s will and kingdom coming into power and authority over this earth is the only lasting solution. His kingdom comes to earth in two stages. The first comes as an option to man. He can receive or reject God’s will and rule over his life but the second will not be optional. Those who have refused to submit to the will and kingdom of God during this period of grace, and continue to exalt man’s kingdom, will be forced to bow the knee.
Phil 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. NKJV
Even though all will eventually bow to Jesus as Lord and King, only those who willing surrender to Him will enter His Kingdom and reign with Him. Jesus will actually remove all other rulers from power when He comes to establish His Kingdom in the natural realm.
Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" NKJV
In teaching His followers how to pray, Jesus was emphasizing our position in the family and making us aware of our royal heritage. Our entrance and function in His Kingdom is as kings and priests. As priests we have access to God to know His heart and will. As kings we have power to decree His Kingdom come and will be done on earth as in heaven.
Revelation 1:5 To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. NKJV
Revelation 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth." NKJV
In this age of grace, God’s Kingdom is not manifested through a show of natural might or religious activity but it is hidden in the hearts of believers.
Luke 17:20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." NKJV
Speaking to Pilate: John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." NKJV
So the bottom line is that we function in His Kingdom through the Spirit of God. The things of the eternal Spirit are invisible to man. All that we do must be by the power of faith and love, not an outward display of religious activities, human influence or military power. So let’s not pray as if we are strangers or orphans who do not know their father or his will, but pray as children who are made to be kings and priests to our God in His Kingdom. Let us come into agreement with heaven and decree that heaven be manifest on earth. What ever is not allowed in heaven, we disallow on earth and what ever is welcomed in heaven, let it be at home on earth.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Hallowed Be Your Name
Matt 6:9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
NKJV
There is a similar account of this prayer in Luke 11
11:1-2 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."
2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
NKJV
Jesus was responding to a request from one of His disciples. It appears that the disciple saw his need to learn how to pray when he overheard Jesus’ prayer. In Matthew 6, Jesus first told them how not to pray like the hypocrites, who made a big show of practicing their religion. Those who are interested in making a scene of their religious exercises have their reward already but getting alone in a secrete place to pray to the Father brings real lasting rewards.
The religious hypocrites do not think like children of God but like slaves. They expect to be heard based on how much time and effort they give to prayer and even, fasting. But we come to God as our Father, not as slaves or hired workers, but as His children. We have His name and are included in His will. When we ask anything according to His will, He hears us and we know we have the petition we ask of Him. (See 1 John 5)
When we pray “Our Father in heaven,” we are speaking as one of His own; we are acknowledging Him as Father of the greatest family that is both in heaven and on earth. His name is Hallowed, esteemed as Holy, and is to be celebrated and honored among all people. As His children we come boldly before the throne of grace knowing we are included in the inheritance given to His Son.
We have not received the spirit of bondage that promotes religious works but we are sons.
Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,"Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, NKJV
We are His children by faith. Through faith we inherit the promises of God. Faith asks with confidence not doubting or wavering.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; NKJV
I can imagine the disciples overhearing Jesus pray with great confidence and boldness. As the Son of God, His prayers always got results. Jesus knew, beyond a doubt, that His prayers were always heard.
John 11:41 And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." NKJV
Jesus evidently wanted to build confidence in those who heard Him pray; confidence that the Father always hears the prayers of His children. Lazarus was sick, near death and his family called upon Jesus to come and heal him. How many of us would have the confidence in knowing the Father’s will to the point that we would wait until he died before going there to pray. We know it is not God’s perfect will that sickness would take a life yet, in this case, there was a greater purpose and plan. Jesus had the confidence in His ability to hear and know the plan of the Father, so He waited until Lazarus had been dead for four days.
No wonder the disciples asked Jesus for a lesson in prayer. Prayer is not just one way communication, but it is also hearing the answer and getting direction. I believe Jesus emphasized addressing God as our Father in heaven so that we would come to Him as His children, to celebrate and make known His Father name. We come with boldness and confidence as part of the family that is in heaven and on earth, as opposed to those who approach God as orphans or slaves, expecting to be heard based on the performance of their religious duties.
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
NKJV
There is a similar account of this prayer in Luke 11
11:1-2 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."
2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
NKJV
Jesus was responding to a request from one of His disciples. It appears that the disciple saw his need to learn how to pray when he overheard Jesus’ prayer. In Matthew 6, Jesus first told them how not to pray like the hypocrites, who made a big show of practicing their religion. Those who are interested in making a scene of their religious exercises have their reward already but getting alone in a secrete place to pray to the Father brings real lasting rewards.
The religious hypocrites do not think like children of God but like slaves. They expect to be heard based on how much time and effort they give to prayer and even, fasting. But we come to God as our Father, not as slaves or hired workers, but as His children. We have His name and are included in His will. When we ask anything according to His will, He hears us and we know we have the petition we ask of Him. (See 1 John 5)
When we pray “Our Father in heaven,” we are speaking as one of His own; we are acknowledging Him as Father of the greatest family that is both in heaven and on earth. His name is Hallowed, esteemed as Holy, and is to be celebrated and honored among all people. As His children we come boldly before the throne of grace knowing we are included in the inheritance given to His Son.
We have not received the spirit of bondage that promotes religious works but we are sons.
Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,"Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, NKJV
We are His children by faith. Through faith we inherit the promises of God. Faith asks with confidence not doubting or wavering.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; NKJV
I can imagine the disciples overhearing Jesus pray with great confidence and boldness. As the Son of God, His prayers always got results. Jesus knew, beyond a doubt, that His prayers were always heard.
John 11:41 And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." NKJV
Jesus evidently wanted to build confidence in those who heard Him pray; confidence that the Father always hears the prayers of His children. Lazarus was sick, near death and his family called upon Jesus to come and heal him. How many of us would have the confidence in knowing the Father’s will to the point that we would wait until he died before going there to pray. We know it is not God’s perfect will that sickness would take a life yet, in this case, there was a greater purpose and plan. Jesus had the confidence in His ability to hear and know the plan of the Father, so He waited until Lazarus had been dead for four days.
No wonder the disciples asked Jesus for a lesson in prayer. Prayer is not just one way communication, but it is also hearing the answer and getting direction. I believe Jesus emphasized addressing God as our Father in heaven so that we would come to Him as His children, to celebrate and make known His Father name. We come with boldness and confidence as part of the family that is in heaven and on earth, as opposed to those who approach God as orphans or slaves, expecting to be heard based on the performance of their religious duties.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Get Down to Stand
Don’t Babble
Matt 6:5-9 "When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
7 "When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
(Holy Bible, New Living Translation)
Our prayers are not a religious exercise to gain favor with God. They are not to be repetitious babbling, as if God will answer because of many words, but our prayers should be personal, private communion with God. Those who think they will be heard because of their eloquence or communication skills have missed the point. We only have access to God through His Son Jesus. As long as we know how to connect with Him it doesn’t much matter how great our language skills are; our communication is more heart to heart than verbal.
John 16:23 "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. NKJV
Find a solemn place to pray where only God hears. Pray boldly to the Father in Jesus name and He will reward you openly. Our prayers should be evidenced by the answers received rather than the words spoken. Humility seeks a place of solitude away from the busyness and the eyes of men. Jesus often got alone with His Father to pray and commune with God. He knew His effectiveness in ministry was dependant upon hearing from heaven.
John 8:28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. NKJV
The hypocrites thought they were in good standing with God based on doing all their various religious exercises but they had it all backwards. They were exalting themselves based on good works instead of allowing God to raise them up from a place of humility.
Luke 14:11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." NKJV
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. NKJV
Getting down, to stand, is all about humility. Our battle is not against flesh and blood and our enemy is not our neighbor. Our authority in the spiritual realm indirectly affects our natural circumstances. We really do not know how or what to pray in many cases, so we desperately need to enter regularly into our place of solitude, to connect with the Spirit of God, so that we might stand up against our unseen enemies in the spirit realm.
They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. (See Isaiah 41) In our place of prayer and solitude we wait upon the Lord. It is easy to become so busy ministering to the needs of people that we loose our strength in God. Too much time spent ministering to people, and not enough time spent with our Father, can kill the power. Sometimes God purposely delays giving attention to a need for good reasons. Jesus was not operating on the people’s schedule but on God’s. He was called late to the tomb of Lazarus but it was in God’s time. He purposely did not respond immediately to the woman from Canaan in Matthew 15:23 but she was not left out.
We have to be careful not to allow the urgent needs of people to usurp or disconnect us from our power supply. Humility is the understanding that, without Him, we can do nothing. Waiting on God can make us late in the eyes of people but on time in the eyes of God. He could instantly meet every need on earth without straining His power but He uses the needs of people to draw them to Himself. We generally focus on the immediate need but He is focusing on the greater need in the heart. As we wait on Him in prayer and communion we gain more understanding about His timing and purposes for delay. If we wait, He will not be late.
Matt 6:5-9 "When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
7 "When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
(Holy Bible, New Living Translation)
Our prayers are not a religious exercise to gain favor with God. They are not to be repetitious babbling, as if God will answer because of many words, but our prayers should be personal, private communion with God. Those who think they will be heard because of their eloquence or communication skills have missed the point. We only have access to God through His Son Jesus. As long as we know how to connect with Him it doesn’t much matter how great our language skills are; our communication is more heart to heart than verbal.
John 16:23 "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. NKJV
Find a solemn place to pray where only God hears. Pray boldly to the Father in Jesus name and He will reward you openly. Our prayers should be evidenced by the answers received rather than the words spoken. Humility seeks a place of solitude away from the busyness and the eyes of men. Jesus often got alone with His Father to pray and commune with God. He knew His effectiveness in ministry was dependant upon hearing from heaven.
John 8:28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. NKJV
The hypocrites thought they were in good standing with God based on doing all their various religious exercises but they had it all backwards. They were exalting themselves based on good works instead of allowing God to raise them up from a place of humility.
Luke 14:11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." NKJV
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. NKJV
Getting down, to stand, is all about humility. Our battle is not against flesh and blood and our enemy is not our neighbor. Our authority in the spiritual realm indirectly affects our natural circumstances. We really do not know how or what to pray in many cases, so we desperately need to enter regularly into our place of solitude, to connect with the Spirit of God, so that we might stand up against our unseen enemies in the spirit realm.
They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. (See Isaiah 41) In our place of prayer and solitude we wait upon the Lord. It is easy to become so busy ministering to the needs of people that we loose our strength in God. Too much time spent ministering to people, and not enough time spent with our Father, can kill the power. Sometimes God purposely delays giving attention to a need for good reasons. Jesus was not operating on the people’s schedule but on God’s. He was called late to the tomb of Lazarus but it was in God’s time. He purposely did not respond immediately to the woman from Canaan in Matthew 15:23 but she was not left out.
We have to be careful not to allow the urgent needs of people to usurp or disconnect us from our power supply. Humility is the understanding that, without Him, we can do nothing. Waiting on God can make us late in the eyes of people but on time in the eyes of God. He could instantly meet every need on earth without straining His power but He uses the needs of people to draw them to Himself. We generally focus on the immediate need but He is focusing on the greater need in the heart. As we wait on Him in prayer and communion we gain more understanding about His timing and purposes for delay. If we wait, He will not be late.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Passion Fuel III
A Revelation of God’s Destiny for you
God spoke to Abram and called him out that he might enter into his destiny.
Gen 12:1 Now the Lord had said to Abram:
"Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father's house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
NKJV
Abram’s destiny was revealed to him that day and the scripture says that he departed, just as the Lord had spoken to him. Abram’s promises were totally dependant upon the word of the Lord. The very things God was asking him to leave behind ( country, family and inheritance) were also the things he was promised to receive. Sometimes God has to remove us from where we are so that we might become what he wants us to be.
God’s promise to Abram was the revelation of his future. But if we look closely we see that all those who are in Christ are the descendants of Abraham and are included in this promise.
Gal 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. NKJV
We are promised a country and a family. We are to be a blessing to families and to nations. We are promised an eternal inheritance.
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God NKJV
Though Abraham had promises that pertained to his present temporary life, he also knew it included an eternal heavenly city whose designer and builder was God.
We enter into the promises given to Abraham by entering into Christ. We also inherit promises that God spoke concerning the seed of the woman in Genesis 3.
Gen 3:14 So the Lord God said to the serpent:
"Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel." NKJV
We are also included in God’s promise that the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head. Jesus confirms this in Luke 10:19.
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. NKJV
God has revealed in His word that we have an awesome inheritance and it is not only speaking of heaven. We are part of this great family now and we are a blessing to the nations, here and now. We are destined to tread upon the serpent’s head now in this life; figuratively speaking Satan is under our feet.
God has called us to come out from the world and to follow Christ into our destiny. We must leave our former worldly life and seek that heavenly country whose designer and maker is God.
Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. NKJV
John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. NKJV
James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. NKJV
There is always an extreme application to scriptures that can be promoted by a spirit of religion. Paul clarifies this in 1 Corinthians 5. He says; “Though I told you earlier not to keep company with sexually immoral people, I did not mean you should not try to befriend those outside the church for the purpose of winning them to Christ. It stands to reason if we were to never have contact with sinners, we would have to totally leave this world.” My own paraphrase
1 Corinthians 5:9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. NKJV
Paul is drawing a distinction between people in the church who confess Christ, yet live an unrepentant life of immorality, and those who are serious about holiness. We should endeavor to get close to those who are lost, without entering into their sin, so that we can give them the good news of the gospel.
So, like Abraham was called to leave the familiar behind to discover what God had in store, we are called out of this world’s system and influence to become representatives of another kingdom. This is our destiny. Having a revelation of our destiny should fuel our passion.
God spoke to Abram and called him out that he might enter into his destiny.
Gen 12:1 Now the Lord had said to Abram:
"Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father's house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
NKJV
Abram’s destiny was revealed to him that day and the scripture says that he departed, just as the Lord had spoken to him. Abram’s promises were totally dependant upon the word of the Lord. The very things God was asking him to leave behind ( country, family and inheritance) were also the things he was promised to receive. Sometimes God has to remove us from where we are so that we might become what he wants us to be.
God’s promise to Abram was the revelation of his future. But if we look closely we see that all those who are in Christ are the descendants of Abraham and are included in this promise.
Gal 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. NKJV
We are promised a country and a family. We are to be a blessing to families and to nations. We are promised an eternal inheritance.
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God NKJV
Though Abraham had promises that pertained to his present temporary life, he also knew it included an eternal heavenly city whose designer and builder was God.
We enter into the promises given to Abraham by entering into Christ. We also inherit promises that God spoke concerning the seed of the woman in Genesis 3.
Gen 3:14 So the Lord God said to the serpent:
"Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel." NKJV
We are also included in God’s promise that the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head. Jesus confirms this in Luke 10:19.
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. NKJV
God has revealed in His word that we have an awesome inheritance and it is not only speaking of heaven. We are part of this great family now and we are a blessing to the nations, here and now. We are destined to tread upon the serpent’s head now in this life; figuratively speaking Satan is under our feet.
God has called us to come out from the world and to follow Christ into our destiny. We must leave our former worldly life and seek that heavenly country whose designer and maker is God.
Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. NKJV
John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. NKJV
James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. NKJV
There is always an extreme application to scriptures that can be promoted by a spirit of religion. Paul clarifies this in 1 Corinthians 5. He says; “Though I told you earlier not to keep company with sexually immoral people, I did not mean you should not try to befriend those outside the church for the purpose of winning them to Christ. It stands to reason if we were to never have contact with sinners, we would have to totally leave this world.” My own paraphrase
1 Corinthians 5:9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. NKJV
Paul is drawing a distinction between people in the church who confess Christ, yet live an unrepentant life of immorality, and those who are serious about holiness. We should endeavor to get close to those who are lost, without entering into their sin, so that we can give them the good news of the gospel.
So, like Abraham was called to leave the familiar behind to discover what God had in store, we are called out of this world’s system and influence to become representatives of another kingdom. This is our destiny. Having a revelation of our destiny should fuel our passion.
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