Often times when testifying to unbelievers about my salvation experience, they would say, “It sounds like you got religion.” I used to agree with that statement because, to me, that meant my salvation brought me into the Christian religion. But in more recent times I prefer to disassociate myself with that term because religion, to most people, means adhering to a set of rules in order to become acceptable to God. Most unbelievers do not see Christians as God’s family dwelling together in unity but in disagreement over how best to interpret all those rules. It is better to avoid the term religion and focus on being in a family relationship with God instead.
The many religions of the world center their focus on doing something in order to be accepted or to gain eternal rewards. Christianity was never intended to become a religion in that sense of the word. The central theme of the bible is about God’s plan to restore broken relationships, not broken rules. God gave us the commandments as laws to protect relationships, not to be the building blocks of a relationship. Relationships are formed through spending time with someone. God desires a family, having lots of sons and daughters. The idea that we must do something to be accepted by God is actually from a slave mentality. Religion is tailor made, and well suited, for those who have a slavery mentality. Because we were all born slaves to sin and the devil, it is easy to be deceived when he returns in a religious guise.
When I became a Christian many years ago, I got involved in church, along with other believers. I didn’t give a second thought as to whether or not I was being exposed to religious practices designed to neutralize my effectiveness in the world. When we do things religiously we often loose track of why we do them. We continue just because we have always done it that way. Someone once said that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. That is a fitting definition of religion as well. Religion lacks the personal relationship with God. It depends completely on what is written in scripture. Without that relationship, it is like reading someone else’s mail: it would be hard to understand and likely mean very little to us.
In order to overcome religion we must see it for what it is. We must be able to determine to what degree we are affected by it. Jesus often offended the religious people of His day because He exposed their hypocrisy. Religious spirits are at work among us: John calls them antichrists (See 1 John 2). Religious spirits not only oppose Christ but come to take the place of Christ, the anointed one. Religion lacks a true anointing. It is the anointing that breaks the yoke of slavery, so obviously these antichrist spirits want to come in with a counterfeit anointing, to neutralize or displace the true anointing. How do we spot a false anointing? Jesus read the following scripture passage concerning Himself and those who are called to the same ministry.
Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
NKJV
In another place it is written, concerning Jesus. John the Baptist was in prison and about to loose his head. He was likely wondering if his mission of preparing the way for the Lord was accomplished.
Matt 11:2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"
4 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." NKJV
The anointing destroys the yoke of bondage. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the dead are raised. These are signs of the anointing at work. If these signs are not following us and we tend to be offended by them, we are likely under the influence of a religious spirit. Religion hates the “Anointed One” because He breaks its power over people. Religion uses the neediness of people to control them, while the true anointing comes with the answer to those needs. Religion poses as the solution to every need but it is only an empty lifeless disguise.
Religion is of the world, but greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Jesus said in John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
NKJV
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Slavery to Debt
Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender. NKJV
1 Tim 6:9-10 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. NKJV
Those who set their sights on riches and material things position themselves for a fall. The enemy always takes advantage of our desires and lays a trap for us. If we love money more than we love God, it will always lead us astray.
The enemy is so deceitful that he will even use what appears good to snare us. I believe that the spirit of mammon will work together with a religious spirit to draw Christians into debt for a good cause so that God’s people will be in bondage. God’s people forfeit their inheritance through disobedience and enter, instead, into bondage.
Deut. 15:4 for the Lord will greatly bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance — 5 only if you carefully obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today. 6 For the Lord your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you. NKJV
It is our destiny to rule over cities and nations but, instead, we have fallen into bondage through financial debt and the love of money. God’s people should be in control of the money as lenders and not borrowers.
Deut. 28:9 "The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. 10 Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. 11 And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. 12 The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. NKJV
God’s people are not to be slaves to any one, but servants of God only. Jesus said that a man can not serve two masters. He will either despise one and be true to the other, or he will be true to the one and despise the other. If God’s people are servants to the lenders, then are we trying to serve two masters? Jesus said this in the context of wealth. Slavery to wealth is not reserved for those who are in debt. The rich man that wanted to enter into God’s Kingdom was confronted with his love for riches. He was given a choice to either serve his wealth or God. He sadly chose wealth as his master. It was not financial debt that trapped him in slavery, but his love for riches. It is a good thing to love your master; it just better be the right one. The rich man’s love for wealth became a snare that prevented him from serving God.
It is natural for us to become so used to our environment that we can not tell if something is missing or broken. Financial indebtedness is so common place in America that it has become almost as natural as breathing. Our dependency has shifted from God to money. If we were half as dependent upon getting a hold of God as we are about getting more money, we would be much better off.
According to the scriptures in Deuteronomy, there is a definite connection between our obedience to God’s commands and our influence in this world. We have become impotent and ineffective in this world due to being lured into slavery. A slave has no inheritance in God’s plan. The strategy of the enemy is to keep those who would otherwise have authority and dominion over him, in bondage and in slavery. Slavery comes in many forms other than wealth, but because riches, in themselves, are not evil like some other addicting vices, it is more deceitful and adaptable to religion.
1 Tim 6:9-10 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. NKJV
Those who set their sights on riches and material things position themselves for a fall. The enemy always takes advantage of our desires and lays a trap for us. If we love money more than we love God, it will always lead us astray.
The enemy is so deceitful that he will even use what appears good to snare us. I believe that the spirit of mammon will work together with a religious spirit to draw Christians into debt for a good cause so that God’s people will be in bondage. God’s people forfeit their inheritance through disobedience and enter, instead, into bondage.
Deut. 15:4 for the Lord will greatly bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance — 5 only if you carefully obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today. 6 For the Lord your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you. NKJV
It is our destiny to rule over cities and nations but, instead, we have fallen into bondage through financial debt and the love of money. God’s people should be in control of the money as lenders and not borrowers.
Deut. 28:9 "The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. 10 Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. 11 And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. 12 The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. NKJV
God’s people are not to be slaves to any one, but servants of God only. Jesus said that a man can not serve two masters. He will either despise one and be true to the other, or he will be true to the one and despise the other. If God’s people are servants to the lenders, then are we trying to serve two masters? Jesus said this in the context of wealth. Slavery to wealth is not reserved for those who are in debt. The rich man that wanted to enter into God’s Kingdom was confronted with his love for riches. He was given a choice to either serve his wealth or God. He sadly chose wealth as his master. It was not financial debt that trapped him in slavery, but his love for riches. It is a good thing to love your master; it just better be the right one. The rich man’s love for wealth became a snare that prevented him from serving God.
It is natural for us to become so used to our environment that we can not tell if something is missing or broken. Financial indebtedness is so common place in America that it has become almost as natural as breathing. Our dependency has shifted from God to money. If we were half as dependent upon getting a hold of God as we are about getting more money, we would be much better off.
According to the scriptures in Deuteronomy, there is a definite connection between our obedience to God’s commands and our influence in this world. We have become impotent and ineffective in this world due to being lured into slavery. A slave has no inheritance in God’s plan. The strategy of the enemy is to keep those who would otherwise have authority and dominion over him, in bondage and in slavery. Slavery comes in many forms other than wealth, but because riches, in themselves, are not evil like some other addicting vices, it is more deceitful and adaptable to religion.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Modern Day Slavery
John 8:34-36
34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. NIV
All who are born into this earth are born as slaves to sin for all have sinned. (See Romans 3:23) One of sin’s greatest deceptions is that sometimes it appears righteous.
There was a man who came to Jesus asking; "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" 17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 19'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Matthew 18: 16-22 NKJV
The rich man was totally focused on doing good things. He wanted Jesus to tell him which good deed was the magic bullet that would assure him of a place in God’s eternal kingdom. He was likely hoping Jesus would point to some good thing that he had done, or tell him what he could do, to enter into life. When Jesus began to run through the list of commandments I can imagine his hopes rising, yet there seemed to be a nagging lack of assurance. Then Jesus put his finger right on the very problem. "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
The rich man searched for fulfillment in wealth and possessions, yet his apparent emptiness caused him to come to Jesus. The Lord gave him the cure for lack of fulfillment but he chose to hold on and trust in earthly things. He could not trust in the promise of God above the things of this visible world. It proved that wealth was his master. Wealth is not evil in it self but it can become our slave master. Religion, in the same way, can be perverted to be nothing more than a cover for sin.
Sin will try to hide under a cover of good deeds. Jesus taught that sin begins in the heart and He used murder and adultery as examples. Matt 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. NKJV
In effect, Jesus was saying that the sin of anger is just as deadly as the act of murder. We rationalize it away because we did not commit the act, but who can argue with God? He is the only one who can truly define sin.
Again Jesus speaks of adultery; Matthew 5:27-29 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. NKJV
Recognizing Slavery
When Jesus spoke of the Son making them free, some in His audience were offended at His words. He was basically calling them slaves that needed to be set free.
John 8:33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, 'You will be made free'?" NKJV
Not all who are actual descendants of Abraham are free from slavery: only those who trust and believe God’s promises, as did Abraham. Abraham believed that God would raise up a deliverer, the Messiah, to remove the sins of the people. There were some that claimed Abraham as their father but did not act at all like him. They were of their father, the devil, looking for opportunity to kill Jesus, the very deliverer that Abraham believed would come.
Slavery cloaks itself in a religious robe of good works but on the inside there is hatred, anger and a murdering spirit. These religious people were slaves to sin while claiming to be servants of God.
The only escape from slavery is to have a new father. We must be born again into the family of God. We become sons and daughters who remain in the Father’s house forever. Through the new birth we obtain a new inheritance. We inherit a righteous nature in place of the old sinful one. Freedom from slavery to sin comes by obeying our new master. We are no longer slaves to sin but servants of righteousness.
34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. NIV
All who are born into this earth are born as slaves to sin for all have sinned. (See Romans 3:23) One of sin’s greatest deceptions is that sometimes it appears righteous.
There was a man who came to Jesus asking; "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" 17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 19'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Matthew 18: 16-22 NKJV
The rich man was totally focused on doing good things. He wanted Jesus to tell him which good deed was the magic bullet that would assure him of a place in God’s eternal kingdom. He was likely hoping Jesus would point to some good thing that he had done, or tell him what he could do, to enter into life. When Jesus began to run through the list of commandments I can imagine his hopes rising, yet there seemed to be a nagging lack of assurance. Then Jesus put his finger right on the very problem. "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
The rich man searched for fulfillment in wealth and possessions, yet his apparent emptiness caused him to come to Jesus. The Lord gave him the cure for lack of fulfillment but he chose to hold on and trust in earthly things. He could not trust in the promise of God above the things of this visible world. It proved that wealth was his master. Wealth is not evil in it self but it can become our slave master. Religion, in the same way, can be perverted to be nothing more than a cover for sin.
Sin will try to hide under a cover of good deeds. Jesus taught that sin begins in the heart and He used murder and adultery as examples. Matt 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. NKJV
In effect, Jesus was saying that the sin of anger is just as deadly as the act of murder. We rationalize it away because we did not commit the act, but who can argue with God? He is the only one who can truly define sin.
Again Jesus speaks of adultery; Matthew 5:27-29 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. NKJV
Recognizing Slavery
When Jesus spoke of the Son making them free, some in His audience were offended at His words. He was basically calling them slaves that needed to be set free.
John 8:33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, 'You will be made free'?" NKJV
Not all who are actual descendants of Abraham are free from slavery: only those who trust and believe God’s promises, as did Abraham. Abraham believed that God would raise up a deliverer, the Messiah, to remove the sins of the people. There were some that claimed Abraham as their father but did not act at all like him. They were of their father, the devil, looking for opportunity to kill Jesus, the very deliverer that Abraham believed would come.
Slavery cloaks itself in a religious robe of good works but on the inside there is hatred, anger and a murdering spirit. These religious people were slaves to sin while claiming to be servants of God.
The only escape from slavery is to have a new father. We must be born again into the family of God. We become sons and daughters who remain in the Father’s house forever. Through the new birth we obtain a new inheritance. We inherit a righteous nature in place of the old sinful one. Freedom from slavery to sin comes by obeying our new master. We are no longer slaves to sin but servants of righteousness.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Don't Tempt Me
Matt 6:13 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
We could say it as follows: “Lead us away and help us avoid tempting circumstances and deliver us from the evil one.” God does not tempt us with sin but He will allow our faith to be tested.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. NKJV
When Jesus was praying in the garden just prior to His arrest, He returned twice to where His disciples were.
Matt 26:40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." NKJV
Watching can help keep us aware of the snares of the enemy.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. NKJV
Our enemy knows our weaknesses and waits for opportunity to tempt us in the area of that weakness. Trusting in our own will power and human strength makes us prey to the roaring lion. Faith is trusting in the strength and will of God even if it seems contrary to human reasoning.
God does not tempt us with sin but He will allow our faith to be tested.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. NKJV
We endure temptation through faith believing that, even though our flesh might fail and fall into sin, faith will cause us to endure knowing that God’s grace is greater than our sin. The process of enduring temptation may include some failures but, as long as we do not forsake our faith and trust in God, He will cause us to be triumphant. This process is to test or prove our faith. Faith is not defined by sinless perfection but by trusting in God to complete the work He has begun in us. As long as we confess and forsake our sin, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus surely knew the weakness of Peter’s flesh and thus warned him to watch and pray lest he would fall into temptation. Our prayer time is much more than words or requests. It is a time when we are sober and vigilant, watching out for the enemy’s traps. Peter may have been a bit too confident in his own ability to stand beside Jesus even unto death. Jesus maintained mastery over His flesh, surrendering to the will of His father in the garden, but Peter and the others were sleeping.
It appears that Satan, having observed Peter’s extreme self confidence, then asked for the right to test him, or sift him as wheat, in order to prove if he would actually stand by Jesus unto death. Any time we make such a bold statement in self confidence we may be inviting a challenge of the enemy to try to prove us wrong.
Luke 22:31And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." 33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death." 34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
By the time Peter wrote his first epistle he had gone through a lot of enduring and humbling and is well able to give us advice that will strengthen us.
1 Peter 5:5-11 Submit to God, Resist the Devil
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble."
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. NKJV
If pride led to Peter’s fall and denial of Christ, then God was likely resisting him instead of imparting grace to him. Therefore prayer is a good way to be clothed with a humility that resists or repels the devil. James says “resist the devil steadfast in the faith.” We all suffer temptation in this world but only through faith will we endure testing and overcome. God will establish, strengthen and perfect us through our suffering. He will build us on the firm foundation of Christ and He will get all the glory forever and ever Amen.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. NKJV
We could say it as follows: “Lead us away and help us avoid tempting circumstances and deliver us from the evil one.” God does not tempt us with sin but He will allow our faith to be tested.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. NKJV
When Jesus was praying in the garden just prior to His arrest, He returned twice to where His disciples were.
Matt 26:40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." NKJV
Watching can help keep us aware of the snares of the enemy.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. NKJV
Our enemy knows our weaknesses and waits for opportunity to tempt us in the area of that weakness. Trusting in our own will power and human strength makes us prey to the roaring lion. Faith is trusting in the strength and will of God even if it seems contrary to human reasoning.
God does not tempt us with sin but He will allow our faith to be tested.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. NKJV
We endure temptation through faith believing that, even though our flesh might fail and fall into sin, faith will cause us to endure knowing that God’s grace is greater than our sin. The process of enduring temptation may include some failures but, as long as we do not forsake our faith and trust in God, He will cause us to be triumphant. This process is to test or prove our faith. Faith is not defined by sinless perfection but by trusting in God to complete the work He has begun in us. As long as we confess and forsake our sin, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus surely knew the weakness of Peter’s flesh and thus warned him to watch and pray lest he would fall into temptation. Our prayer time is much more than words or requests. It is a time when we are sober and vigilant, watching out for the enemy’s traps. Peter may have been a bit too confident in his own ability to stand beside Jesus even unto death. Jesus maintained mastery over His flesh, surrendering to the will of His father in the garden, but Peter and the others were sleeping.
It appears that Satan, having observed Peter’s extreme self confidence, then asked for the right to test him, or sift him as wheat, in order to prove if he would actually stand by Jesus unto death. Any time we make such a bold statement in self confidence we may be inviting a challenge of the enemy to try to prove us wrong.
Luke 22:31And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." 33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death." 34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
By the time Peter wrote his first epistle he had gone through a lot of enduring and humbling and is well able to give us advice that will strengthen us.
1 Peter 5:5-11 Submit to God, Resist the Devil
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble."
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. NKJV
If pride led to Peter’s fall and denial of Christ, then God was likely resisting him instead of imparting grace to him. Therefore prayer is a good way to be clothed with a humility that resists or repels the devil. James says “resist the devil steadfast in the faith.” We all suffer temptation in this world but only through faith will we endure testing and overcome. God will establish, strengthen and perfect us through our suffering. He will build us on the firm foundation of Christ and He will get all the glory forever and ever Amen.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Forgive us as we Forgive
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.
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.
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)