Fish and Sheep

Saturday, June 30, 2012, 7:55 a.m. – After I read my passage for today, the Lord put the song “He Gives Purpose” in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read John 21 (quoting vv. 15-25 NIV 1984):

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Summary Vv. 1-14

Jesus had just died (was crucified) on the cross for our sins, was buried in the tomb, and he then rose from the grave on the third day, conquering death, hell, Satan and sin so that we could go free from the ultimate penalty of sin (eternal damnation), and be free from the daily control of sin over our lives. After his resurrection, he appeared to his disciples on numerous occasions. The third time that he appeared to them was by the Sea of Tiberias.

Peter and some of the other disciples had gone out fishing at night, but they didn’t catch any fish. Then, early in the morning, Jesus appeared on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was him. “He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’” “No,” was their reply. So he said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” They did what he said, and they caught so many fish they were not able to haul their net in.

Then John said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So, Peter jumped into the water while the other disciples followed by boat. When they arrived on shore, they saw a fire burning with some fish on it, and some bread. Jesus then spoke to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” Peter hauled the net ashore. “It was full of large fish, 153.” Jesus asked them to join him for breakfast. Then Jesus gave them the bread and the fish to eat.

Throw Your Net

When Jesus first called Peter and Andrew to be his disciples, he saw them casting a net into the lake, because they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew, in Matthew 4:18-20, recorded that they “At once left their nets and followed him.” What Jesus meant by “making them fishers of men” is that they would now search and seek out men (and women) to be followers (the fish) of Christ. Jesus has since called all his disciples (his followers) to be “fishers of men.” He said that when the Holy Spirit comes upon us – now when we receive Christ as Savior - that we will be his witnesses throughout the world. And, he said that we are to go and make disciples (fish) of all men (and women), baptizing them and teaching them to obey all of Christ’s commands.

So, when I read this story of Peter and the other disciples not catching any fish, Jesus telling them to throw their net on the other side where they will find some, and of them catching so many fish that their net was too heavy to haul the fish in, I always see this in light of us being “fishers of men.” Sometimes we are not catching fish (souls for Christ) because we are throwing our nets (the gospel; the word of truth) the wrong place, i.e. where it is being rejected and/or despised. So, Jesus comes alongside us and says, “Throw your net on the other side,” and when we do, we are then able to plant the seed of the gospel that will bear fruit in people’s lives. We will not always see the immediate results like the disciples did, but as long as we are obeying Jesus in sharing the gospel where he says to share it – where he tells us to throw our nets – then we can trust him to provide the fish.

More Than These

Before Jesus Christ was arrested, tried and then given the sentence of death, Jesus told his disciples that one of them would betray him, and that they would all leave him, though they all denied that they would do so. Peter exclaimed that he would go to the death with Jesus, but Jesus told him, fundamentally, that when “push came to shove,” Peter would deny Jesus Christ three times before the rooster crowed. And, that is exactly what happened. After Peter had denied Jesus three times, he heard the rooster crow, and then he remembered the words Jesus had spoken to him. When he did, he went outside and wept bitterly. He was remorseful over his sin of denial of the One he claimed to love to the point of death.

Now, having just finished eating breakfast together, Jesus asked Peter a very pointed question. He said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” The “these” is not explained, but he could have been speaking of his love for fishing or of his friendships with the other disciples. We don’t know for sure. But, clearly Peter had to make a choice.

The “these” in our own lives could be anything that might keep us from truly following Jesus Christ wherever he leads us and doing whatever he requires of us. Our “these” could be our reputations, acceptance of man, friendships, jobs, careers, entertainment choices, our time, energies, our ability to decide our own futures, or even our church ministries. If we had a choice between offending Christ, via disobedience, or offending man, which would we choose? Are we more concerned about what man thinks of us, or of what Jesus Christ thinks of us? Peter denied Christ three times out of fear of man. Do we fear (show honor and respect to) God more than we fear man? Who are we trying to please most with our lives? Whenever we choose man or anything else over Christ, and our love, allegiance and devotion to him and to his word, we are acting in denial of him. He must be first!

Peter had denied Jesus Christ three times and now Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter truly loved Jesus. Peter answered Jesus three times in the affirmative, though Jesus asked, the first two times if Peter (agape) loved him, while Peter responded that he (phileo) loved him, so the third time Jesus asked if Peter (phileo) loved him. Agape love is a god-like love that is unconditional love (the way God loves us and demonstrated his love for us by dying for us while we were yet sinners). Phileo love is an affectionate and friendship kind of love. Jesus wanted Peter to love him unconditionally, i.e. in good times and in bad times.

This kind of love comes only from God within us living out his love through us. This is the kind of love that does not quit, and loves even when men revile us. It keeps on giving. Human love can fail, but God’s love never fails. Jesus knew that Peter would have to have agape love for Jesus if he was to be used of Christ, otherwise he had the potential of denying him again, because his human affection for Jesus, no matter how sincere, could fail when things got really bad, which they would. And, agape love is what we need to have for Jesus Christ, too, if we are to truly follow him in all things. Because, when we truly follow Christ, men will hate us, persecute us and say all manner of evil against us, and we have to not let what man thinks of us affect what we do for Christ. Agape love endures to the end.

Feed My Sheep

Peter declared three times that he (phileo) loved Jesus. Jesus responded by telling him to: 1) “Feed my lambs,” 2) “Take care of my sheep,” and 3) “Feed my sheep.” Jesus’ sheep were his followers (his disciples; the caught “fish”). Peter was to feed them spiritually with the word of God (the word of truth; the gospel). He was to disciple those who chose to follow Christ as Lord and as Savior. He was being called of Jesus to pastor-shepherd the people of God, though we are all called to make disciples, so, in a sense, we are all called to feed Christ’s sheep. And, Jesus let him know, too, the kind of death Peter would die. And, then he said, “Follow me!”

When Jesus commands us to follow him, which is his command of all his disciples (believers in Jesus Christ), and when he commands us to feed his sheep (disciple them), which, too, is his command of all his disciples, these commands are not optional. Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny himself (his own selfish ways) and take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and self) and follow (obey) Christ. We must die to our old lives of sin and selfishness (self-gratification) if we want to have eternal life with God, Jesus said. Paul said (in Eph. 4) that we come to know Christ by forsaking our former lives of sin, by being transformed in heart and mind (working of the Holy Spirit within us) and by putting on the new man created to like God in true righteousness and holiness.

So, when we come to Christ Jesus, our lives are no longer our own to do as we please, but we are now committed to pleasing our commanding officer and to doing what he says. We must go where he says, do what he tells us, and say whatever he commands us to say, and to whomever he instructs us to say it to (to throw our nets where he tells us). This may get us hated, rejected, despised, persecuted, ostracized, and booted out of many Christian circles, because loving with agape love means loving others like Jesus loves us, and he gave his life (reputation and literal lifeblood) for us so that we could be free from the control and penalty of sin.

Are We?

Are we willing to give our lives to see others truly go free from sin? In other words, are we willing to catch “fish” for Jesus by throwing our nets wherever Jesus says to throw them? - Even if we face much opposition and persecution in the process? Are we willing to feed Jesus’ sheep, even if it takes time away from other things we enjoy? Will we answer “Yes” when Jesus asks us, “Do you (agape) love me?” In other words, will we love and serve Jesus no matter what? Or is our love for Jesus just a friendship kind of love that might give way if we ever are called upon to do something that might affect our reputations or what people think of us? Jesus is calling all of us to follow him, to obey him, to feed his sheep and to throw our nets (the gospel) where he shows us. Will we answer, “Here am I, send me!”?

He Gives Purpose / An Original Work / June 9, 2012

“Listen to Me when I’m calling to you.

Obey freely My word.

Follow Me in all of My ways.

Do all that I say.

Hear Me gently whisper to you

My will for your life and future.

Give all of your life and heart to

Follow Me always.”

Repent of your sins and worship Jesus.

He’s your Lord and Master.

He died for your sins so you could

Live with Him today.

He has a plan for your life and

He gives purpose and direction.

He gives meaning to your life,

So follow Him today.

“I love you so much I gave My life for

You to walk in My ways,

Living for Me each day as you

Bow to Me and pray.

Witness for Me of your love for Me and

Of My grace and mercy,

How I died to save you of your

Sins now and always.”

http://youtu.be/GYk99c2ruC4

Set Apart for God

Friday, June 29, 2012, 6:00 a.m. – The Lord woke me this morning with the song “My Sheep” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read John 17:1-19 (NIV 1984):

Jesus Prays for Himself

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

The Time

The time was the time for Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. It had now come to that time. Jesus asked the Father to glorify him that he may glorify the Father. To glorify Jesus means to give him the honor and praise he so deserves; to reveal his divine character and attributes; to reveal the purposes for which he existed (and exists); to show him for who he was and is; and/or to accomplish in his life (in the case of the Father glorifying him) the will of the Father in taking Jesus to the cross to die for our sins so we might be saved. It was time that Jesus’ ultimate purpose in coming to earth be fulfilled and accomplished, thus giving honor and praise to Jesus and to the Father through the salvation of human lives.

Jesus was given authority over all people by God the Father that he might bring eternal life, through faith in Jesus Christ, to those whom God had given to him. Jesus said that no one can come to Jesus unless the Father first draws him. God the Father takes the initiative to bring people to Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ provided the perfect Lamb sacrifice for our sins, once for all, and the Holy Spirit is the one who transforms hearts and minds and takes us from spiritual death to spiritual life so that we might know the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. To know God in this sense is to know him intimately in personal relationship. We are joined together with God, through faith in Jesus Christ, as a woman is joined to a man in marriage. Through faith we promise to be faithful to Christ and to not follow other gods.

Jesus said that he brought the Father glory on the earth by completing the work the Father had given him to do. Jesus had not yet gone to the cross, but he had resigned himself that now was the time, and he was ready to go. So, he was, in essence, completing the work the Father had given him to do by willingly going to the cross. Yet the Father willed, too, that Jesus would be born as a baby, and live as a boy, and then as a man, and that he should suffer what we suffer, to be tempted in all the ways we are tempted, yet without sin, so that he could sympathize with us in our weaknesses, and so that he would be our compassionate and merciful high priest. He had him do miracle upon miracle in people’s hearts and lives, demonstrate much love to them, show compassion for the hurting, heal the afflicted, and teach God’s truths to the people. In all that Jesus did he brought glory to the Father.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

They Believed

Jesus always gave glory to the Father. In all that he did, he pointed us to the Father. He sets the prime example for us in how we are to approach God and how we are to respond to God in all that he has given to us. We are not to take honor upon ourselves or to take credit for what God has accomplished in and through us. The praise and honor should always go to God for what he has done in our lives. If someone comes to Christ because of our witness to them or because we walked them through a prayer of confession and faith in Jesus Christ, we should understand that we didn’t do that. The Father drew the person to Jesus, it was Jesus who provided the sacrifice so we could be saved, and it is the Holy Spirit who convicts hearts and who “seals the deal.” We are just servants of the Lord of Hosts through whom people have come to believe. Some of us plant the seed in people’s hearts. Others of us water (add nourishment) to the spiritual seed, but it is God who makes the seed grow.

Jesus’ true disciples, whom the Father had given to him, showed their love, commitment and trueness of their faith in Jesus Christ in these ways: 1. They obeyed God’s word; 2. They accepted the words of God as true into their lives by applying those truths to their lives; and 3. They believed Jesus Christ was from God and was sent from God. The scriptures have much to say about the marks of true disciples. In summary, true followers of Christ repent of (turn from) their old lives of sin, they are transformed in heart and mind by the power and working of the Holy Spirit within them, and they turn to walk in faithful obedience to Jesus Christ, following him wherever he leads them, bearing much spiritual fruit, showing themselves to be Christ’s true disciples.

So, Jesus prayed for their spiritual protection from enemy forces (from the evil one) and so that they might have unity with the Father and with the Son, as the Son has with the Father. Jesus also prayed that his disciples might have the full measure of his joy within them. He followed this by mentioning that his disciples, though they must live in the world, are not of the world, and because of that, the world hates them. Jesus also prayed that the Father would sanctify his disciples by his truth, for his word is truth, and then he mentioned that, for them, he sanctified himself, that they may truly be sanctified. I would like to look at just a few of these things he prayed for his disciples.

Unity

“Unity” is a common “buzz word” of today in big business, the government and in the church. In government, unity is something that is now being forced upon people and the nations of the world globally to bring all nations, governments and people under one rule of law worldwide. This is leading up to the rule of the beast of Revelation worldwide where we will be forced to bow to the image of the beast or lose our lives. Unity (man-made) is also being pushed and even threatened in the institutional church, but it is unity with man’s goals and objectives, not unity of the Spirit of God in most cases. In fact, those who are truly trying to follow the truths of scripture are often tagged (marked) as disunifiers and troublemakers, and so are ostracized or are even being asked to leave the church. It is a common practice of today’s church leaders who are following man-made religion to pressure their people into unity with men and to lead them to disassociate with those who are not one with man (not of this world), but who are truly one with the Father and with Jesus. The unity Jesus spoke of, nonetheless, was oneness of mind, purpose and heart with God.

Joy

“Joy” is another word with multiple meanings. Anyone can be joyful (happy) over things in his life that brings him pleasure, such as the birth of a newborn baby, graduation from college, a new job, financial gain, worldly possessions, the laughter of children, etc. Though there are certainly elements of this kind of joy included in what Jesus said here, the joy Jesus spoke of was not conditional upon our circumstances. He was speaking of his joy, and that we would have the full measure of it. Hebrews 12:2 says: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The joy set before Jesus was the salvation of human lives. He was willing to go to the cross and to die for our sins so that we might be saved, and this is what brought him joy (pleasure). This kind of joy has holiness and purity of heart at its root and has as its goal the character of God. This kind of joy rejoices over the sinner turning from his sin to God, God’s holy character and attributes, his word and his teachings, and his acts on our behalf, and presents itself in our lives even in times of great sorrow, pain, persecution and severe opposition of men. It expresses itself in an inner peace and satisfaction, acceptance and even appreciation for all God allows into our lives for his purposes and for his glory.

Sanctified

To “sanctify” means to “make holy” or to “consecrate” something or someone to God. It means that we set apart that thing or person for God, for his service and for his purposes. The object or person is, thus, taken from secular use and is used for God (divine purposes). We live in the world, but we are not of the world, i.e. we don’t do the same things as the world does in the sense of having worldly attitudes, behaviors, and patterns that we follow. Our lives should be so separate from worldly ways that we are hated by those who follow the ways of this world. We should stand out for Christ and be different.

Our goals, thoughts, objectives, desires, longings, pleasures (joy) should all revolve around God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – and his will and purposes for our lives. We should take pleasure (joy) in the things that please him, and they should be what motivate us to do his work. We should never make compromises with the world in order to reach people for Christ, because what are we then leading them to? Jesus gave up his life so that we would be free from conformity to the world and to sinful practices and desires. If we want to be his true followers, we must allow him to set us apart for his service, his purposes and his glory.

My Sheep / An Original Work / June 24, 2012

Based off John 10:1-18 NIV

My sheep hear me. They know me.

They listen to my voice and obey.

I call them and lead them.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

They will never follow strangers.

They will run away from them.

The voice of a stranger they know not;

They do not follow him.

My sheep hear me. They know me.

They listen to my voice and obey.

I call them and lead them.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

So, I tell you the truth that

I am the gate, so you enter in.

Whoever does enter

Will find forgiveness and will be saved.

Nonetheless whoever enters

Not by the gate; other way,

He is the thief and a robber.

Listen not, the sheep to him.

So, I tell you the truth that

I am the gate, so you enter in.

Whoever does enter

Will find forgiveness and will be saved.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,

Who laid his own life down for the sheep.

I know them. They know me.

They will live with me eternally.

The thief only comes to steal and

Kill and to destroy the church.

I have come to give you life that

You may have it to the full.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,

Who laid his own life down for the sheep.

I know them. They know me.

They will live with me eternally.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

http://youtu.be/HHbZhm8T8YM

To Live is Christ

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ~ Phil. 1:21 NIV

Wednesday, June 27, 2012, 7:28 a.m. – The Lord woke me this morning with the song “My Sheep” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read John 12-16:4 (NIV 1984).

To the Death

Jesus told his disciples that the time had come for him to die. He used the illustration of the need of a kernel of wheat to fall into the ground and die in order for it to produce many seeds. Jesus Christ had to die so that we could be saved. Yet, the illustration was not for Jesus alone, for he also applied it to his followers. The one who loves his life of sin and of self-gratification will lose it for eternity, but the one who hates his life of sin (his worldly life), and who forsakes it, will keep his life for eternal life with God. If we want to serve Christ, we must follow him, so that wherever Jesus is, his servants will also be. To follow Jesus means “to take the same course or go in the same direction as him; to act in accordance with his life and teachings, especially with instructions or directions given by him; to imitate or do the same things as him” (based loosely off definition in Encarta).

Jesus told his disciples that one of them would betray him. Jesus clearly said it was the one to whom he would give a piece of bread when he had dipped it in the dish. He gave it to Judas, and as soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out to betray Jesus. The other disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying about Judas. Then he told his disciples that they would all fall away on account of him, though they said they would not (see Matt. 26:31). Peter told Jesus he would lay down his life for him, but Jesus told Peter that before the rooster crows, Peter would disown Jesus three times, and, as we know, he did just that.

Comfort and Assurance

Jesus’ disciples were surely feeling dismayed and discouraged at this moment. Jesus was telling them that one of them would betray him while the rest of them would all fall away, and that Peter (the rock upon whom Christ would build his church) would deny him 3 times. Even more than that, he was telling them that he was going to have to die. They were going to lose their Lord and Master whom they had been following and serving for three years. I am sure they must have wondered, “What now?” They had left everything to follow him.

So, Jesus let them know the plan. He was leaving for sure, but he would not leave them alone. He asked them to trust him. And, then he told them that when he left this earth that he would go to his Father’s house where he would prepare a place for them. Not only that, but he promised to come back and get them so that they could be with him forever! In the meanwhile, he would send someone to be with them, who was already with them, but who would now be in them. The Counselor; the Holy Spirit would teach them all things and would remind them of everything Jesus had said to them, so they were not to be afraid.

When we invite Jesus Christ into our lives as Lord and Savior, his Holy Spirit comes within us, makes his home with us, and he empowers us to die to sin and to live for God.

Thomas wanted to know the way to where Jesus was going, so Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We learned in John 10 that Jesus is the gate into the sheep pen (the kingdom of heaven; the true church), and that he is the Good Shepherd of the sheep who leads them and who guides them. We learned that the only true way into the kingdom of heaven is through the gate (Jesus), so he is the only way to heaven, to eternal life, to salvation from sin, and to the Father.

Love and Obey

Jesus said: “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.”

Again, Jesus drew the line in the sand. If we say we love Jesus, we must obey him and his teachings. Then he will show himself to us and then he will love us and the Father will love us and they (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) will come into us, in the form of the Holy Spirit, and they will make their home with us. Obedience to Christ and to his commands is not optional. It is a requirement for salvation and for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and with the Father. Obviously none of us will do it perfectly, so it is all in the approach, attitude and objective. Do we think believing in Jesus Christ just gets us a free ticket to heaven but nothing is required of us at all? Or do we understand that coming to Jesus Christ means dying to our old lives of sin and putting on our new lives in Christ and following him and his ways? Choosing the latter comes with it an understanding that it is Christ in us and the Holy Spirit within us who does the work of transformation in our hearts as we cooperate with his work, and it is not something we do for God in our own flesh to try to gain merit with God.

Remain, Obey, Bear Fruit

Jesus said we must remain in him and he will remain in us. We can’t bear fruit for Christ’s eternal kingdom unless we remain in him. He said: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” James said something similar to this when he said: “…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that —and shudder.” “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” If we have true faith in Jesus Christ, it will be evidenced by how we live our lives in word, thought, attitude and action. And, it won’t be us doing it, i.e. it will be Christ in us living out his love and life through us as we cooperate with him and with his work. And, the only way this can happen is if we remain in him.

So, what does it mean to remain in Christ? And, why is this essential to bearing fruit? To remain means to ‘stay the course;’ “to continue in a particular state without changing; to endure” (Encarta); to last, persist, persevere, keep on, etc. To “stay the course” means to continue on a particular course in spite of all obstacles or opposition; to maintain constant, consistent and unaltered persistence in your course. And, what is the course? To “go in the same direction as Jesus Christ; to act in accordance with his life and teachings, especially with instructions or directions given by him; and to imitate or do the same things as him.” And, the reason this is essential to bearing fruit is that the fruit is not works of the flesh, but works of the Spirit of God and can only be done through him and only in our lives when we remain consistent in our walks of obedience with Christ Jesus.

Love and Hate

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit —fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.” ~ John 15:9-17 NIV 1984

If we obey his commands, we remain in his love. His command here is that we love each other as he has loved us. So, how did he love us? He laid his life down for us. Yet, this did not happen merely on the cross. He did this when he did not consider his equality with God something to hold on to, but he willingly left his throne in heaven, took on the nature of a servant, was made in human likeness (became flesh) and became a man (man-God). As a man, he suffered just like we suffer, was tempted in all the ways in which we are tempted, yet without sin, and he was hunted down like a criminal, was despised and rejected of men, mocked, criticized severely, hated, had false accusations made against him, and was called “crazy” and “of the devil.” And, then he became obedient to death on a cross.

So, why did they hate him so much? They hated him because he told them the truth about their sins, i.e. he testified that what the world does is evil (see John 7:7). That, too, is how he loved us!! Not only that, but he told them the hard truth about what it means to be a true follower of Christ. We must die to our old lives of sin, we must be transformed in heart and mind by the working of the Holy Spirit, and we must follow Jesus Christ (see definition of “follow” above) in obedience. That, too, is love!

The world, including the worldly church, does not want to hear that message, though. They want to believe that we can just “believe” in Jesus without it costing us anything – no repentance, no obedience required. Hogwash! Jesus said it ain’t so! We have to turn from our lives of sin and we have to walk in obedience to him if we are to remain in him, if he is to remain in us, if he is to make his home within us, and if we are to bear much fruit, showing ourselves to be his true disciples.

And, we will be hated, too, when we teach the same truths and we love others in the same way Jesus loved us. Jesus said that if the world hates us that we are to keep in mind that it hated him first. And, then he said something very telling: “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.”

Ok, so that begs us to ask ourselves the question, “Does the world hate us?” The world is in the church, too, mind you. This is not speaking just of those outside the church. Are you hated? Or, does everyone seem to love you? If you are hated, then why are you hated? I mean, we can be hated because we are nasty people, though I often find the opposite to be true. I find that many who treat people rotten are sometimes the most loved. Weird! Or, are you hated because you do not love the sinful cravings of this world? You don’t do what everyone else does. In fact, you stand out for Christ, you share the gospel, you teach what Jesus taught, and that is why the world hates you because you are a true follower of Christ, and they hated Christ. They hated Jesus without reason, and they will hate us, too. And, in fact, some of them will put some of us out of the church, or even kill us, and they will think they are offering a service to God by getting rid of those “troublemakers.”

Yet, Jesus’ true sheep don’t follow strangers (thieves and robbers) who teach a false gospel that is friendly to the world, but they have come out of the world, which is why the world hates them. Yet, we are to be comforted, because we are being included with Christ in his sufferings, persecutions and will, perhaps, one day even be called to die for our faith.

My Sheep / An Original Work / June 24, 2012

Based off John 10:1-18 NIV

My sheep hear me. They know me.

They listen to my voice and obey.

I call them and lead them.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

They will never follow strangers.

They will run away from them.

The voice of a stranger they know not;

They do not follow him.

My sheep hear me. They know me.

They listen to my voice and obey.

I call them and lead them.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

So, I tell you the truth that

I am the gate, so you enter in.

Whoever does enter

Will find forgiveness and will be saved.

Nonetheless whoever enters

Not by the gate; other way,

He is the thief and a robber.

Listen not, the sheep to him.

So, I tell you the truth that

I am the gate, so you enter in.

Whoever does enter

Will find forgiveness and will be saved.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,

Who laid his own life down for the sheep.

I know them. They know me.

They will live with me eternally.

The thief only comes to steal and

Kill and to destroy the church.

I have come to give you life that

You may have it to the full.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,

Who laid his own life down for the sheep.

I know them. They know me.

They will live with me eternally.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

http://youtu.be/HHbZhm8T8YM

Are you a Sheep?

Monday, June 25, 2012, 6:09 a.m. – The Lord woke me this morning with the song “My Sheep” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read John 10:22-30 (NIV 1984):

Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

My Understanding: Jesus was addressing the Pharisees (see John 9:40-41) concerning their spiritual blindness, i.e. concerning their hypocrisy because they thought they could see, but they could not, and they didn’t even realize that they could not see, which was at the heart of the issue. Then, he went right into a discourse about the Good Shepherd and his sheep in contrast to the stranger (thief and robber) who entered the sheep pen by a way other than through the gate (Jesus Christ).

Jesus was both the Good Shepherd and the gate, and as the shepherd, he entered the sheep pen by the gate (himself; the only true way into the sheep pen). The true shepherd of the sheep laid down his life for the sheep, he calls his own sheep by name, they know his voice, they listen to him, he leads them out, and they follow him. Whoever enters the sheep pen (the kingdom of heaven; the true church) through Jesus Christ will be saved. They will have eternal life with God.

In contrast to the Good Shepherd is the stranger, i.e. the thief and the robber, i.e. the devil, the spirit of the antichrist, false teachers (or teaching) and/or false christs. Jesus’ true sheep will not listen to nor follow the stranger, in fact, they will run from him, because they do not recognize the voice of the stranger, and they are able to discern the error of his ways (Biblical error).

The thief (Satan; a false messiah; a false teacher) comes to steal, kill and destroy God’s work of grace in people’s hearts and lives. He may lead some back under bondage to the law, while others he will lead to a false grace that gives a free license to sin to its adherers, i.e. he will preach that repentance and obedience to Christ are not necessary for salvation, which is contrary to the teaching of scripture. He will twist and turn the scriptures with such agility and deception that the listeners will think they are hearing the truth when it is really lies disguised as truth, probably because it is a clever mixture of lies and truth packaged together in a way that is attractive and palatable to its listeners.

When the Jews heard these words of Jesus, they were divided. Some thought he was demon-possessed and raving mad (crazy), so why should they listen to him. Others questioned in their own minds and hearts how someone demon-possessed could say the things Jesus said, or how he could do the miracles of healing in people’s lives he performed.

I Did Tell You

Have you ever been guilty of not listening to someone speaking to you? I mean, you may hear his or her words, and you may even remember what he or she said to you, though you may not, but you didn’t listen with your heart. You may have even listened part way and decided what he or she was saying and so you stopped listening, and/or you interrupted the speaker, thinking you knew what he was going to say. There is a big difference between hearing with our physical ears and truly listening with our minds and hearts. And, I am certain we have all been guilty of not listening to others at one time or another.

It was winter. It was time for the Feast of Dedication (the Hanukkah of today). Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade (or porch). Jesus often spoke there, using it as an informal platform of sorts for his teaching and preaching. It was outside the institution of religion, yet it still reached that audience. I think of a parallel, of sorts, today, which is the Internet, i.e. in particular the use of blogs, Christian discussion sites or social network sites such as Facebook where people gather together more informally and where we can talk to people about what our Lord is teaching us daily.

The Jews saw him there, so they gathered around him, not to listen to what he had to say, but to question him, and perhaps to try to trick him in some way so they would have cause to accuse him more forcefully. They asked him if he was the Christ. Now, Jesus had already stated that he was, in one form or another. So Jesus said, “I did tell you, but you do not believe.” Basically he was saying, “I told you, but you didn’t listen.” Has anyone ever said that to you? Has God? It isn’t that they didn’t hear him say it before, but they refused to believe it. So, Jesus told them that the miracles he did in his Father’s name spoke for him, and they gave evidence that he was indeed the promised Messiah, Christ and Son of God.

Who are the Sheep?

Jesus said the reason they did not believe is because they were not his sheep. Then, he went on to describe the characteristic traits of his true sheep. And, this is critical that we get this, because so many false teaching today does not teach this. Jesus’ sheep:

·         Listen (not just with their ears, but with their hearts and minds) to his voice

·         They know him and he knows them

·         They follow him

Listen

To listen means to make a conscious (with the mind) effort to hear someone or something; to pay attention to something, and to take it into account (to think about it; consider it); and/or to heed (follow) [Source: Encarta]. If our minds are already made up, we can’t truly listen. If we don’t want to hear what the person has to say due to prejudice, hatred, jealously and the like, we can’t really listen. If we know the cost involved in truly listening and what we might be responsible then to do, we may block it out thinking if we don’t understand it we are not held responsible for it.

To truly listen means to open our hearts and minds to hear what another is saying and to be willing to make necessary changes in our lives, i.e. to be willing to look within our own hearts to see what is there and what needs to be changed. Obviously we are not to consider other religions or false teaching that is clearly against God and his word, though we should always be kind and respectful when refuting false teaching. Yet, it means that we must be willing to forgo prejudice, tradition, the teachings of men, and what we have always been taught, etc., and to be willing to have our hearts and minds opened to truth.

Know

To know something or someone means to believe firmly in the truth or certainty of something or someone; to understand through experience or study; to be associated or familiar with someone or something; to be intimate with someone (Encarta).

So, to know Jesus means we have a relationship with him, not just a religion. We know him through experience, study, invitation into our lives, obedience, surrender to his will, time spent with him at his feet, and belief in him and all his teaching and promises; through walking with him daily in communion and fellowship, having forsaken our lives of sin, and having made a conscious choice of the will to walk in faithful obedience in following Jesus wherever he leads us. We can’t know Jesus if we are not intimate with him on a daily basis in talking with him, in listening attentively to his words speak to our hearts, and then in obeying the truths of his word which he teaches us in all practical application to our lives.

John, in the book of 1 John, said that if we claim to have fellowship (be in relationship) with Jesus Christ but we continue to walk in darkness (in sin), we lie and we do not live by the truth. He said we know we have come to know God (Christ) if we obey his commands. “The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar.” “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.” If we love (have passion; desire for) the things of this world (sinful world), the love of the Father is not in us. “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

If what we have heard from the beginning of our salvation remains in us (continues in us), John said, we will remain in the Son and in the Father. No one who lives in Christ keeps on (continues; persists in) sinning. This does not mean we must live sinless and perfect lives, but that we should be conscious of sin in our lives, we should confess sin and repent of it daily, and we must ask for the assistance and power of the Holy Spirit daily in our lives in resisting Satan and in fleeing from sin, rather than having an attitude that it is ok to keep sinning just because we are now under grace.

Follow

Jesus said that if anyone would want to come after him, he must deny (die to) self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and the flesh nature) and follow him (obey; go where he leads). He said that if we want to hold on to our old lives of sin and selfishness that we will lose them for eternity, but if we lose our lives (leave our old lives of sin behind) we will find them. Ephesians 4 says that when we come to faith in Christ, we should no longer live as unbelievers do. We did not come to know Christ that way! Grace is not a free license to continue in sin while you have your free ticket to heaven! The way we come to know Christ is that we must put off our old self (our former way of life of sin), “which is being corrupted by deceitful desires,” and we should be made new (via the Holy Spirit) in the attitude of our minds, and we should put on the new self, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” This is not just a state of being, but it is a lifestyle change, and it is radical!

True sheep listen attentively to Christ and his words daily with a willing heart and mind to obey and to apply the truths we learn to our daily lives; to go wherever Jesus sends us and to do whatever he requires of us to do, being willing to be hated, rejected, persecuted, mistreated, falsely accused, slandered against and even killed for our obedience to Christ. Yet, we must be certain that we are truly listening to Christ and that the words we are hearing are truly from him. That is why it is of upmost importance that we are daily in the word and that we check out everything we hear against the word of God, and that we don’t buy into man’s teaching without knowing if what they are teaching is truly of God.

My Sheep / An Original Work / June 24, 2012

Based off John 10:1-18 NIV

My sheep hear me. They know me.

They listen to my voice and obey.

I call them and lead them.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

They will never follow strangers.

They will run away from them.

The voice of a stranger they know not;

They do not follow him.

My sheep hear me. They know me.

They listen to my voice and obey.

I call them and lead them.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

So, I tell you the truth that

I am the gate, so you enter in.

Whoever does enter

Will find forgiveness and will be saved.

Nonetheless whoever enters

Not by the gate; other way,

He is the thief and a robber.

Listen not, the sheep to him.

So, I tell you the truth that

I am the gate, so you enter in.

Whoever does enter

Will find forgiveness and will be saved.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,

Who laid his own life down for the sheep.

I know them. They know me.

They will live with me eternally.

The thief only comes to steal and

Kill and to destroy the church.

I have come to give you life that

You may have it to the full.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,

Who laid his own life down for the sheep.

I know them. They know me.

They will live with me eternally.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

http://youtu.be/HHbZhm8T8YM

My Sheep

When Jesus spoke of his sheep, he was speaking of his true followers. They hear the voice of the Lord, they listen attentively to his words, they obey what he says, and they follow him wherever he leads them. They find forgiveness and salvation. This is the mark of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. A stranger, whom he called a thief and a robber, is a false christ or a false teacher whose mission is to lead the sheep astray into another gospel – a gospel of men. Jesus’ true sheep will not recognize the voice of a false teacher, in fact, they will discern the error, and thus will not follow the stranger, and, in fact, will run away from him.

My Sheep / An Original Work / June 24, 2012

Based off John 10:1-18 NIV

My sheep hear me. They know me.

They listen to my voice and obey.

I call them and lead them.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

They will never follow strangers.

They will run away from them.

The voice of a stranger they know not;

They do not follow him.

My sheep hear me. They know me.

They listen to my voice and obey.

I call them and lead them.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

So, I tell you the truth that

I am the gate, so you enter in.

Whoever does enter

Will find forgiveness and will be saved.

Nonetheless whoever enters

Not by the gate; other way,

He is the thief and a robber.

Listen not, the sheep to him.

So, I tell you the truth that

I am the gate, so you enter in.

Whoever does enter

Will find forgiveness and will be saved.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,

Who laid his own life down for the sheep.

I know them. They know me.

They will live with me eternally.

The thief only comes to steal and

Kill and to destroy the church.

I have come to give you life that

You may have it to the full.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,

Who laid his own life down for the sheep.

I know them. They know me.

They will live with me eternally.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

Song lyrics @ Public Domain

Song lyrics and sheet music (free):

https://sites.google.com/site/psalmshymnssongs2/home/songs/my-sheep

Song on Video:

http://youtu.be/HHbZhm8T8YM

Simple Faith

Saturday, June 23, 2012, 7:41 a.m. – The Lord woke me this morning with this song:

Now Abiding / An Original Work / January 31, 2012

Walking with Him; have Him near me,

Brings me comfort, joy and healing.

Now abiding in His presence;

His words speaking, oh, how gently:

Speak conviction, inspiration,

And instruction in right living.

Hope and comfort Jesus brings you,

When you’re walking with Him daily.

Be His servant; share the gospel;

Be His witness of salvation.

Love your brothers and your sisters.

Share with them that Jesus loves them.

Talking daily with my Savior;

List’ning to Him while He teaches,

Draws me closer; get to know Him,

So that I can now obey Him.

Follow Him where’er He leads me.

Worship only Jesus, Savior.

http://youtu.be/27fKCFSK-oc

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read John 9 (NIV 1984):

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

“How then were your eyes opened?” they demanded.

He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

“Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said… (For the rest of the passage, see link):

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%209&version=NIV1984

My Understanding: We do know that when sin entered the world, death, pain, suffering, illness, disease, birth disorders, etc. also were part of the sin curse. Yet, some people, including Jesus’ disciples, were under the mistaken notion that all such ailments such as being born blind were the direct result of sin in a person’s life or in the lives of his or her parents. Jesus dispelled that notion when he told his disciples that the man was born blind, not because of his sin or the sin of his parents, but so God could do a miracle of his grace in the man’s life by healing him physically and spiritually.

Yet, the work of God that was to be displayed in the man’s life was much more than just for him alone. He was to give testimony, even against great opposition, to God’s healing work in his heart, mind, and in his body. As well, the miracle of healing of the man born blind receiving his sight had a parallel message in how we, by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, can be turned from darkness (sin) to light (Jesus Christ; the truth of the gospel) and from the power of Satan to God, so that we might receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are being sanctified by faith in Christ (see Acts 26:16-18).

Then, Jesus spoke more of this work of God that was to be displayed in this man’s life. He said that as long as it is day, we (all of us) must do the work of him who sent Jesus to die for our sins. I believe Jesus was speaking, not of physical night and day, but of spiritual day and night, coupled with day meaning time allotted to us, and night symbolizing a time when we no longer have that opportunity to do the work of the Father on this earth. As long as the light of Christ has the freedom on this earth to shine to all men, we must be about the master’s business in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to all who will listen.

A time is coming and has come, to some extent for many throughout history already, when spiritual darkness will rule this earth, when true followers of Christ will be severely persecuted and put to death for their testimony for Christ, and the gospel of Jesus Christ and the word of God will be under fire. So, while we are able, and we have the time allotted to us, and/or while we still have the freedom to do so, we need to be about the work of God in spreading the gospel - the light of our salvation - with a world walking in darkness.

Awesome Testimony!

Jesus healed the man who was born blind. This healing astounded and puzzled those who knew him or who had previously seen him begging. They wanted to know how his eyes were opened. I love his reply! Jesus made mud, put it on his eyes, told him to go wash, he went, he washed, and he came home seeing. Great testimony! And, great faith, too! He didn’t question Jesus. He just did what he told him to do. He didn’t have to do what Jesus said. Jesus had no authority over him that I am aware of. Yet, at the word of Jesus Christ, the man did what he said, he was cured of his blindness, and he came home seeing! Wow! That is awesome! And, it gets better!!

The people who were questioning the man took him to see the Pharisees. Jesus had healed the man on the Sabbath. The Pharisees were already up-in-arms against Jesus because he healed a lame man on the Sabbath. The healing of the man born blind was just another “stick in the craw” of the Pharisees. They questioned the man. He told them the same thing he had told the other people. They asked the man what he thought about Jesus. He thought he was a prophet. The Jews did not believe the man’s testimony. So, they called for his parents. His parents were afraid of the Jews, so they deferred back to their son.

So, the man was summoned again. The Jews said, “Give glory to God. We know this man is a sinner.” Again, I love the man’s reply. He said: “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” I love it! I think this is an awesome testimony! If you are a new believer in Christ Jesus, and you feel intimidated because you don’t know a lot of scripture, or you lack the maturity of other believers, follow this man’s example. He didn’t know much about Jesus Christ, but what he did know he shared. What he knew was that once he was blind but now he could see. So simple, and yet so profound!

We don’t need a degree in theology to share the gospel, because, although this man was speaking about his physical blindness and his physical sight, this is the simplicity of the gospel, too. By God’s grace via Jesus’ shed blood for us on the cross for our sins, we, by faith in Jesus Christ, can have our lives transformed from spiritual darkness (a life of sin) to spiritual light (Jesus Christ and his gospel).

The man did not merely believe that Jesus was capable of healing him. He acted upon his faith, he obeyed what Jesus told him to do, and he came home seeing. The same principle applies spiritually. Jesus said that if anyone would come after him he must deny himself (his selfish way of living), he must take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and the flesh nature), and he must follow (obey) Jesus. We must turn from our sins and turn to walk in faithful obedience to Christ, and then we can come home seeing, i.e. then we can have the hope and promise of eternal life with God forever.

Spiritual Blindness

Some amount of dialogue occurred between the man and the Jews. They still didn’t believe him, or, let’s say they didn’t want to believe him so they tried intimidating him, but it didn’t work. When the man told them that God doesn’t listen to sinners, that he listens to the godly man who does his will, and that if Jesus was not from God he could do nothing, they responded in pride, “How dare you lecture us!” and they threw him out of their presence.  

Jesus was treated the same way, and much worse, and he said that we, as his followers, would be treated just like he was, so it should come as no surprise to us if our testimony for Jesus Christ is rejected, even by church leadership, and if we are “thrown out,” too.

When Jesus heard that the man had been thrown out, he went and found the man. He asked him if he believed in the “Son of Man,” i.e. in Jesus Christ, God the Son. The man asked who he was so that he could believe in him. Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” At that the man believed, he professed his belief to Jesus, and he worshiped him, too. Awesome! This man had such simple faith like that of a child. Jesus said that unless we change and become like little children, in their innocent trust and unquestioning faith (like this of the man born blind), we will not see the kingdom of heaven (see Matt 18).

Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

Jesus was basically telling the Pharisees that the man who was born blind realized his blindness, he listened to Jesus’ voice, he obeyed, and because he believed he was healed of his blindness. Yet, on a spiritual level, the Pharisees were not like the blind man, for they did not recognize their own spiritual blindness but thought they had spiritual insight. Because they were self-deceived and self-righteous and could not see their own sinfulness, they lacked the simple faith of a child and that of the blind man, and therefore would not believe in Jesus Christ and thus be healed.

We need to come to Jesus Christ in simple faith, believing in him and in all that he said, turning from our lives of sin, obeying what he tells us to do, and then we will experience his healing power in our souls in saving us from sin and in turning us to the light of Christ. Then, we should answer the call of God to tell others what Jesus Christ did for us in cleansing us from sin, and in giving us new lives in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Our testimony does not have to be elaborate but can be as simple as the man’s: “Once I was blind, but now I see!” Awesome!

He Touched My Mouth / An Original Work / June 13, 2012

Based off Isaiah 6:1-8; Jeremiah 1:4-9

Oh, I saw the Lord

Seated on His throne,

High and lifted up;

Holy is the Lord!

The earth is full

of His glory.

“Woe to me,” I cried,

“I’m of unclean lips.”

My Lord touched my mouth

With His cleansing pow’r;

Removed all my guilt,

Paid for by His blood.

He asked, “Whom shall I send;

Who will go for us?”

I said, “Here am I.

Send me!”

Before I was born,

God set me apart;

He appointed me

To His servant be.

I said, “I don’t know

How to speak.

I am but a child.”

Then, the Lord replied:

“Do not say to me,

‘I am but a child.’

You must go to all,

And do what I say.

Do not fear them,

For I’m with you.”

My Lord touched my mouth;

Gave me words to say.

http://youtu.be/nyUvDGwpfAA

Line in the Sand

Friday, June 21, 2012, 8:00 a.m. – The Lord woke me this morning with the song, “Praise the ‘I AM.’” Then, for my quiet time with the Lord I read John 8:12-59 (NIV 1984):

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”

Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”

Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.

Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”

This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.”

“Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied. “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

“Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do the things Abraham did. As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the things your own father does.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”

“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

At this the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

“You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

The Light of the World

“Light” is the absence of darkness, and darkness represents that which is evil and sinful. Light is truth, knowledge, and understanding. Light illuminates our minds and hearts to see life through spiritual eyes, i.e. it is inspiration and revelation. The light of God’s word and his gospel leads us to salvation and guides us into all truth, i.e. in the way we should go.

God is light. Jesus Christ is the light. He leads us into all truth and all righteousness. If we follow him, we will never walk (lifestyle; way we live) in darkness (sin). Instead, we will have (will possess) the light (the truth) of life (eternity) in Christ Jesus, revealed to us through Christ and through his word. If we say we have fellowship (relationship; communion) with Jesus Christ and yet we continue (persist) to walk in darkness (sin), we are liars and we do not live by the truth (light of Christ), says John (see 1 John 1).

Jesus said: “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.”

We, in our human nature, are of this world. We are fleshly, sinful and worldly. We don’t have the mind of Christ. We live to please ourselves. Our focus is on the things of this world and on our earthly lives. We don’t have eternity’s values in view. We are not in line with the truth of God’s word, nor do we make it our goal to please God in all that we do. We are outside of Christ, we will die in our sins, and we will spend eternity without God in eternal punishment (eternal fire). This is the reality. Only through faith (via repentance and obedience to Christ) in Jesus Christ can we come into relationship with Christ, be freed from the penalty of and bondage to sin, and can have the promise of eternal life with God. Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny himself (his flesh), take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. He said if we hold on to our lives of sin, we will lose them for eternity, but if we lose in our lives (die to sin), we will find them.

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

So many people today are teaching a false gospel of “easy believism” and of a false grace that gives the adherer a free license to sin. This is not of God, and this is not what God’s word teaches us, nor is it true to what Christ Jesus taught us. They say we don’t have to turn from our sins and we don’t have to obey Christ’s commands for salvation, and that God is pleased with us no matter what we do, which means he is pleased with us sinning. Yet, that is not what Jesus taught. He taught that whoever follows (obeys) him will never walk (way we live) in darkness (sin), i.e. we won’t continue (persist) in sinning on a daily basis. He said that if we live worldly and sinful lives we will die in our sins. Then he said that if we hold to his teaching, we are really his disciples. To hold to something means to continue, to obey, to keep your promise. So, to hold to Christ’s teachings means to continue (persist) in them, to obey them (do what they say), and to fulfill our vows to our Lord. Being a follower of Christ means to love, honor and obey him and to turn away from our lives of sin.

Jesus said if we continue in sin we are slaves to sin, yet if we, by faith, are freed from our sin via Jesus’ blood sacrifice on the cross for our sins, then we are free. Jesus did not free us from the ultimate penalty of sin (hell) just so we could have a “get out of jail free card.” He didn’t save us just so we could go to heaven one day. He freed us so we would be free from the control of sin in this life, while we are still on the earth, so we could walk in fellowship with him and live holy lives pleasing to him.

If we continue (persist) in sin, we are not living to please God (our Father), but we are living to please our worldly father, the devil. We can’t serve both God and Satan. Jesus drew the line in the sand. And, we have to choose which side we want to be on. We can’t straddle the line. If we don’t listen to Jesus, and we don’t obey what he says, we don’t belong to God. But, if we obey him and we do what he says, and we keep his word, then we do belong to God, and we receive all the blessings and richness of his glory in our lives from now through eternity in heaven.

This does not mean we live in sinless perfection, but that we make a conscious choice each day of our lives to walk in obedience and surrender to our Lord, that we choose his way over our own, that we desire to please him in all that we do, and that our focus in life is on him and his word and his will for our lives, rather than our focus in life being on continuing to do as we please, and walking in the ways of this world. We must choose! May we choose Jesus!

Praise the “I AM!” / An Original Work / February 24, 2012

Jesus, my Savior, full of compassion,

Glorious in power, mighty in strength;

Gracious Redeemer, mighty deliv’rer,

My heart adores Him. Praise to His name!

Perfect salvation my Lord provided

When He died for my sins on a tree;

Crucified my sins; conquered in vict’ry,

When He arose, so I could be free!

I am so thankful for His forgiveness;

Grateful that He chose to pardon me,

Giving me new life full in His Spirit,

So I can serve Him; His servant be!

Walking in daily fellowship with Him,

Obeying Him whate’er He commands;

Forsaking my sins, living in freedom,

I will endure with Him to the end!

He gives me peace and calm reassurance

In times of sorrow, or in distress.

His grace is sure, and oh, how sufficient

To meet me in my need for sweet rest.

Oh, how I love You, Jesus, my Savior.

My heart longs for You where’er I am.

Your word is precious; speaks to my spirit;

Brings comfort, healing. Praise the “I AM!”

http://youtu.be/lJpj-TVfQek