Before It Happens

Saturday, December 17, 2011, 3:34 a.m. – The Lord Jesus woke me with the song, “Your Heart,” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read John 13 (NIV 1984):

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’
19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.”

22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

“What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him, 28 but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

My Understanding: Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and to go back to the Father in heaven, and he knew the manner in which he would depart this world, too. One of his own would betray him to death, he would be falsely accused of crimes he did not commit, and his accusers would not even have the courage to face him directly with their accusations. They would beat him, mock him, make fun of him, spit on him, and then they would hang him on a cross to die, as though he was a common criminal. Yet, Jesus, 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 (see Heb. 12:2 NIV ’84). The joy set before him was the salvation of our souls.

So, even though he knew he was going to die, and he knew that one of his own would betray him to death, and another would deny him 3 times, and that all would desert him initially, still he loved them, and he chose to demonstrate that love to them by a very symbolic act. He took off his outer garments and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then, he poured water into a basin and he began to wash his disciples’ feet. Jesus was giving them an example of servanthood for them to follow, but his act symbolized so much more than just servanthood and showing love to those who would betray and/or desert him.

The Symbolic Act

Peter challenged Jesus’ desire to wash his feet. It didn’t make sense to Peter that Jesus would stoop down and would humble himself in such a manner. So, Jesus told Peter, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” That is our first clue that this symbolic act was to mean so much more than just Jesus demonstrating how we should serve one another in love, and it was to mean so much more than just the washing of feet, too. I know from personal experience, as well as from Bible history, that God uses symbolic acts sometimes to get out his messages, and that we don’t always understand what is behind the symbolism at the time the symbolic act occurs, but later we will understand when we see the reality of why the symbolic act occurred, when God opens our eyes and minds and he gives us that understanding. And, this was the case here, as well.

Peter then objected strongly to Jesus’ washing of his feet. Jesus told him that unless Jesus washed him, he would have no part with him. So Peter, who was passionate and impulsive in nature, told Jesus to wash his hands and his head, as well. Jesus responded to Peter’s request by telling him, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” He knew Judas was going to betray him, so that is why he said “not every one of you.” Jesus’ response to Peter’s request thus serves as yet another clue that Jesus is speaking more metaphorically here than he is literally.

If we are true believers in Jesus Christ, i.e. if we are his true disciples and followers, as was Peter and the other disciples, with the exception of Judas, we are cleansed from our sins. Yet, while we are still in these flesh bodies, we will still sin. God’s grace is not a free license to continue in willful sin, for the Bible says that if we continue to live in willful sin after we have received the knowledge of the truth, and/or after we have made a profession of Christ as Savior and Lord, that we are not truly in Christ, so if we think we know God, we are believing a lie. Yet, this does not mean we will be sinless. So, although we have had a bath (washed in the blood of Calvary’s Lamb), we daily need foot washing, i.e. we daily need to be cleansed of those sins we commit while on the way; while we walk about our daily lives, so that we can remain in Christ and him remain in us, and so we can obey Him fully.

Then, Jesus asked them if they understood what he had done for them. He had set an example for them that they should wash one another’s feet, and that they should do for one another what he had done for them. So, what had he done for them? And, how were they to follow his example? Since this was a symbolic act, we can ascertain that Jesus was not saying that we necessarily must engage in the actual physical act of foot washing, though he may have some of us do that. I did that once at a mission trip, and I am very thankful to God for that experience, because through it the Lord taught me humility, and he taught me, too, how this symbolic act related to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our feet represent our daily walks with Christ. Sometimes our feet get dirty because we sin against God in some way. So, we have to come to the Lord Jesus in repentance (turning from the sin), i.e. we have to willingly allow Jesus to wash our feet and to not resist his promptings in our hearts for us to turn from sin. Then, we are cleansed so that we can continue in that walk with Christ. In the case of the foot washing I was involved in, the people took off their old socks and shoes and handed us their feet to be washed, and then we put new socks and shoes on their feet. The Lord gave me that scripture about how, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come (see 2 Co. 5:17 NIV ’84). So, the taking off of the old socks and shoes, the cleansing of the feet, and the replacing the old with new socks and shoes thus represented this scripture passage where it says the old has gone (our old way of walking in sin) and the new has come (a new way of walking by faith and in obedience).

So, when Jesus asked them to do what he did, he was asking them not just to merely serve one another and not just to merely be involved in the physical act of foot washing, but he was asking them to serve one another by sharing the truth of the gospel with one another, even to other believers in Jesus, because we need to have our feet washed daily. We need to love each other enough to tell each other the truth about our sins and to follow the Biblical mandates for how to do that. If a brother is overtaken in a sin, those of us who are in a right relationship with Jesus Christ should gently and humbly restore that person, if the person is willing, to a right relationship with Jesus Christ (see Gal. 6:1-10).

If the person is not willing to repent of his or her sin, and he or she continues in willful sin, even after you have spoken to the person privately, then the scriptures teach that we are to “take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector” (See Matt. 18:15-20 NIV ’84). This is how we truly love one another, how we wash one another’s feet, and how we show true humility and servanthood to each other by sacrificing our own reputations and lives for the sake of our brothers who are caught in sin’s deceitfulness, and who need to be set free.

The Betrayal

Then, Jesus again made reference to his betrayer. He had earlier mentioned that not every one of them was clean. Now he told them more plainly that the one who shared his bread had lifted up his heel against Christ. He said that he told them this “before it happens, so that when it does happen you will know that I am He.” He was letting them know ahead of time that he was being betrayed by one in their immediate “family,” so that when that time came, they would understand, though they clearly did not understand at this point, even though Jesus said it even more plainly to them when he said, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, he dipped the bread in the dish and immediately handed the bread to Judas, so you would think the disciples would have understood that Judas was the betrayer, but their eyes were blinded and they could not see the truth of the situation. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered his heart. Jesus said to him, thus, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night, the scriptures say.

Yet, let me back up a minute here. There is something I left out. After Jesus told his disciples about his betrayer, and after he told them that he was telling them this before it happens, so that they would believe him for who he was/is, he said that “Whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” God the Father sent Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ sends out his followers and his disciples to carry on his work that he began when he was on the face of this earth, and that he continues through those who are truly his, who are following him, and who are obeying him. We are Christ’s ambassadors, as though Christ was making his appeal through us. We are his servants, his witnesses, and his messengers for the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we are carrying with us the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we are teaching the truths of scripture concerning faith, repentance and obedience, as Jesus taught, and if people do not accept the truth of the gospel as brought through Christ’s servants and witnesses, then they are rejecting Christ. And, we, too, will be hated, betrayed, and abandoned, even by loved ones, and perhaps even put to death for our faith in Christ Jesus (see Matthew 10).

Your Heart / An Original Work / October 24, 2011

Tenderly He speaks, softly so.
Gently He calls - His will to know.
Won’t you invite Him in your heart?
Humbly accept Him now.
Bow before Him with contrite heart.
May you obey His will.
Seek Him with all your heart and soul,
And your heart, His Spirit fill.

Jesus died to free you from sin,
Giving you new life to begin,
Walking with Him ev’ry hour,
Obeying His commands.
Won’t you trust Him to be your Lord?
His grace you can’t afford.
Freely He gives you peace within,
When you turn from all your sin.

Live for Him ev’ry passing day.
Meet with Him; read His word and pray.
Serve Him in the way He leads you,
Doing all that He says.
Do unto others as you would
Have them do unto you.
Love them with Jesus love within you.
Your hearts to God be true.

Song lyrics @ Public Domain

Audio, song lyrics and sheet music:
https://sites.google.com/site/psalmshymnssongs2/home/songs/your-heart

Song on video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc7tEOtSOLM

The Lord's Anointed

This song is based off Isaiah 61. Luke’s gospel recorded that Jesus was in the synagogue on the Sabbath day in the town of Nazareth. He stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him, and he read the first part of this passage from Isaiah concerning himself, the anointing he had received from God the Father, his ministry on the earth, and concerning the plan of salvation which he preached, and which ultimately he brought to the world via his shed blood on the cross for our sins. So, this passage he read was fulfilled in Christ himself and in his ministry.

Yet, when Jesus Christ left the earth and he sent his Holy Spirit to indwell the lives of his followers, we, as well, received an anointing: “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” Jesus told his disciples that they would continue on his ministry after he left the earth. As followers of Christ, and as those who have Christ within us, we are also anointed of God to do all these things mentioned in this passage of scripture. We, as his followers, are to be Jesus to the world around us in doing what he did.

As a result of what Jesus Christ did for us in dying on the cross for our sins and being resurrected back to life in conquering death, hell, Satan and sin, we can now come to Jesus Christ in faith and receive his eternal salvation. He will renew us and restore us to a right relationship with God the Father, and God can use us in the lives of others to help them, as well, to be renewed, restored and to rebuild their broken lives. Thus, we serve as priests of the Lord in ministering to the lives of others in the same manner in which Jesus Christ did and now does through us, and in the same manner spoken of in this passage of scripture. And, all the glory, praise and honor belong to Christ Jesus – great things He has done!

The Lord’s Anointed / An Original Work / December 16, 2011

Based off Isaiah 61

The Spirit of the Sov’reign Lord on me;
Anointed to preach the Good News;
Sent me to bind up the brokenhearted;
Proclaim freedom for the captives.
He sent me to preach release for pris’ners
Who are walking in sin’s darkness;
Proclaim God’s grace to all men who’ll listen;
And tell them about God’s judgments;
Comfort all who mourn;
Give crowns of beauty;
Oil of gladness and thanksgiving.

They will be called oaks of God’s righteousness,
A planting of our Savior, God,
For the display of our Lord’s splendor, and
They will rebuild God’s holy church.
God will renew them, and will restore them,
And you’ll be called priests of the Lord.
You will be ministers of our God, and
You will rejoice in salvation.
The Lord loves justice;
He is faithful to
Reward those who are seeking Him.

I delight greatly in the Lord;
My soul rejoices in my Savior, God.
He has clothed me with His salvation,
And in a robe of His righteousness.
He has given me priestly garments to
Wear, as the bride of Jesus Christ.
As the garden of our Lord and Savior,
He causes us to grow in Him.
He makes righteousness,
Praise, and thanksgiving
Spring up before all the nations.

Song lyrics @ Public Domain

Audio, song lyrics and sheet music (free)

Song on video

Wake Up!

I believe the Lord Jesus is leading me this morning to repost this song:

Wake Up! / An Original Work / November 25, 2011

Based off Ephesians 5:1-21; Revelation 3:1-6

Wake up, sleeper,
Rise from the dead.
Your God awaits
You to do what
He says to you.
Be not conformed
To your selfish will.
Trust in the Lord.
Do what He says.
He will give you victory.
Do not walk in
Darkness; come into
The light of love.

Listen to your
Savior calling
You to obey
All His teachings.
Repent of your
Sin, and Christ will
Shine His love on you.
He waits patiently
For you to
Heed His whispers to your heart.
Will you hasten
To obey Him;
Not from Him depart?

Live your life from
This day forward,
Walking in His
Love and mercy.
Let Him cleanse you
Of all your sins.
Dwell with Him today.
Do not insult
God’s grace to you.
Do not make light of your sin.
Let the light of
His truth come and
Free you from within.

Song Lyrics @ Public Domain

Audio, Song Lyrics and Sheet Music (free) at

Song on Video

The Plot to Kill

Friday, December 16, 2011, 4:50 a.m. – The song, “May Christ Be Seen in Me,” was playing in my mind when I awoke this morning. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read John 12 (quoting vv. 9, 10, 19-50 NIV 1984):

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him…

Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

Jesus Predicts His Death

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

“Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

The Jews Continue in Their Unbelief

Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

“He has blinded their eyes
and deadened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.”

Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

I also woke in the morning out of A DREAM: Someone (no name or face) was going around killing people. I don’t remember much of the dream other than these individuals being killed were specifically targeted for extinction, like there was a contract out on their lives. There were markers of some kind that signified who was to be killed. One person (no name or face) managed to avoid being killed the first attempt, but death followed the person, and it was coming after him or her (no name or face) again. END

My Understanding: In the previous chapter we learn there was a plot afoot to kill Jesus. Many Jews were turning to faith in Jesus Christ. Others reported to the Pharisees what Jesus was doing and the things he was saying. So, the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin (a religious and political council). They realized that if they let Jesus keep going on as he was that many more Jews would believe and would put their faith in him. They were also concerned that they would lose their own political positions of power and authority, and at the hand of the Romans. Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” “So from that day on they” (the religious leaders) “plotted to take his” (Jesus’) “life.”

Then, in the next chapter (chapter 12) we learn of another plot, and that of a plot to take the life of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. The reason they wanted to kill Lazarus was because of his testimony for Jesus Christ. Because of him, many Jews were going over to Jesus (leaving the Jewish faith) and were putting their faith in Christ. So, this served as a threat to the Jewish leaders, because they feared the people under them leaving from the Jewish faith and becoming followers of the Way, which in turn threatened their own positions of power and rule and authority. They did not want to lose the human kingdoms they had built for themselves.

The Pharisees and leaders of the people were getting more and more frustrated with Jesus and with his miracles and teachings that were leading the Jewish people to follow after him. The religious leaders could see that their previous plans were not working, so they had to devise a better and more sure-proof plan to get rid of him. Yet, Jesus had to die. This is why he had come into the world. So, even though evil people with evil thoughts and desires were plotting Jesus’ demise, this was in God’s plan for his life.

The Kernel

Then, Jesus gave us an illustration that had both literal and figurative meaning. He said, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

Jesus recognized that his physical death meant the salvation of the world. Unless he (the kernel of wheat) died, he would remain only a single seed. But if he died, he would produce many seeds. In other words, Jesus Christ had to die on the cross for our sins, taking upon himself the sins of the entire world, because his death to our sins means life everlasting for those who put their hope and faith in him. Following that same literal meaning, we, as his followers, may also be called upon to die a literal death for our faith in Jesus Christ, thus becoming martyrs for the faith. Throughout the New Testament we have recorded for us several examples of such deaths, which thus resulted in the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ, i.e. the death of the martyred saints resulting in the Lord Jesus producing many more seeds for his harvest of righteousness in people’s lives, i.e. the salvation of souls.

On a more figurative level, this is speaking of our need to die to our old way of living in selfishness, pride, and sinful lifestyles and of our need to come to the cross of Jesus Christ so that from our lives is produced the salvation of other lives. If we are living to please ourselves, we will reap what we sow, and all our lives will have to show is a collection of worldly things, attitudes and behaviors that do not bring glory to God. That is because we are holding on to the lives we have so that we can live them for our own pleasures. If we want to reap a spiritual harvest in both our own lives and in the lives of others, we must be willing to die to our sins and selfish desires and we must be willing to give up our own lives (maybe literally) and reputations and our own selfish desires in order to please our master, Jesus Christ, and in order to make a difference for Jesus Christ in other people’s lives.

Then, Jesus told them the kind of death he would die. They would lift him up to die on a cross as though he were a common criminal. Jesus was falsely accused of crimes he did not commit, because of the hatred of people toward him, and because of who he was/is, and because of what he stood for, what he did, and what he taught. Jesus is the light. He told them that the light would be with them only a while longer, and that they should walk in the light while they have it before darkness overtakes them. If they walk in darkness, they have no light to guide them into all truth and thus do not know where they are going. But, if they put their trust in the light (Jesus Christ), they would become sons of light (sons of God). We, as Christ’s followers, are to also be that light (the light of Christ) to the world, and they will hate us, too. Jesus said they would. And his words are true!

Jesus also said that it was now time for judgment on the world and that the prince of this world would be driven out. He was speaking of his death, I believe, and how he would conquer death, hell, Satan and sin via his death and resurrection. Because of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross, via faith in him, we can be set free, not only from the ultimate penalty of sin at the judgment of God, but we can be free from the control of sin over our lives on a day-to-day basis. We don’t have to give into Satan and his temptations to sin, and we don’t have to sin of our own accord, because Jesus came to set us free.

Yet, although Satan was conquered at Calvary and he has no authority or power over the life of the believer in Jesus Christ, he was allowed to continue his evil work for a time. As well, a time is fast approaching when he will rule and reign over the entire earth for a time, times and half a time. He will be allowed to conquer the saints of God and to put them to death (martyred for their faith). We have not seen much of this in the USA so far, but a time is soon coming when we, even in the USA, will be put to death for our faith in Jesus. Some of this may be literal death (the taking of human life), while there is also the possibility of other means of silencing the saints of God and destroying their testimony for Jesus Christ, one of which is to bring false charges against them and to put them in prison, and another is to stage false protests and to accuse Christians of being the instigators (false flag operations), and still another may be to put them in mental hospitals and to silence them through the use of drugs (a modern way of beheading the saints of God).

Unbelief

Even after Jesus performed miraculous sign after miraculous sign in the presence of the people, and even after he spent all the time he did caring and loving, giving, showing compassion and mercy, kindness, and even after he had preached to them the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ over and over again and had offered to them the way of salvation, still many, many refused to listen, refused to repent, and refused to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. So, God blinded their eyes for a time, and he deadened their hearts, and made dull their understanding, so that they did not turn to Christ, and he could not heal them. God merely just gave them over to their own selfish wills and desires until the time when the Lord was ready for them to have their eyes opened and their ears unstopped.

We are living in a time in the USA and in the world where this is the case now. Many are blinded to spiritual truths because they have stopped up their ears and they have refused to listen and/or to repent of their evil ways. They don’t understand what God has for them, because they don’t want to understand. They want to keep living their lives the way they want to live them and they don’t want anyone telling them they have to change. So, they hate the messengers of God who try to tell them the truth, just like they hated Jesus. Yet, a time is coming when judgment of God will come upon the earth, and there is much evidence that we are on the threshold of that time. All hell will literally break loose when Satan rules the earth and truth will be hard to find. Yet, I believe it is at this time when the eyes of the blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf unstopped, and many of the people will see and hear the truths of God’s word and will put their faith and hope in Jesus Christ, even knowing that they may be killed for their faith. Yet, we must willingly lay our lives down for the sake of the name of Jesus and for the sake of his gospel.

May Christ Be Seen in Me / Percy Crawford

O Lord, I give myself to Thee, and all that I possess;
I lay aside my sinful pride and claim Thy righteousness,
My will lies shattered at Thy feet, I pray Thy will be done,
My only plea to live for Thee and magnify Thy Son.

O may I count all gain but loss, save as to Thee 'tis gain;
Let me not shun the promised cross, nor shirk to suffer pain,
Then lead me, Lord, up Calv'ry's hill, forth to the cross with Thee,
And there pour out my life with God, As Thou didst Lord for me.
O humbly may I serve Thee, Lord, as in Thy will I tread;
And may I live anew in Christ, as risen from the dead.
Then closely walking by Thy side, may love flow out thro' me,
That those whom Thou shalt lead my way may, too, find life in Thee.

Chorus
May Christ be seen in me, O Lord,
Hear Thou my earnest plea;
O take me, fill me, use me, Lord,
Till Christ be seen in me.

Keep On!

Keep On! / An Original Work / December 15, 2011

Praise the Lord! Praise Him now!
Before Him humbly bow.
Repent of your sins now.
Turn to Him; obey now.
Walk in fellowship with Him daily,
And abide in His truth.
He will forgive you,
And He’ll cleanse you,
And He’ll give you new life.

Trust in Him. He is truth.
He will not forsake you.
Rest in Him. Let Him lead.
He will meet all your needs.
Obey His ev’ry word to you,
And listen to all He says.
He will be faithful
In all His promises,
So rest in Him.

Do not bow – gods of men.
Let Christ rule in your hearts.
Do not stop – share your faith.
Keep on: speak Jesus’ name.
Share His truth with all He leads you to
Be a witness for Him.
Never yield to sin
Against your God.
Obey Him in ev’ry way.

Song Lyrics @ Public Domain

Audio, song lyrics and sheet music for free

Song on video

It's YOU I Serve Only!

Thursday, December 15, 2011, 2:26 a.m. – The Lord woke me in the night with the song, “Gracious Father,” playing in my mind. The phrase, “It’s You I serve only,” is in that song, and the Lord impressed upon my heart that this was to be my title today. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read John 10:1-21:

The Shepherd and His Flock

“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

At these words the Jews were again divided. Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”

But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

My Understanding: As I read this passage of scripture, the first thing that really struck me this time was how it says here that the Lord’s sheep follow him because they know his voice, that they will not follow a stranger, and in fact they will run away from a stranger, because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. I immediately connected that part of the scripture passage, in particular, with this phrase from the song, “It’s You I serve only.” If Christ Jesus is truly our only Lord and master, we will hear his voice speaking to us, we will follow him only, we will be discerning about what voices are not his, and we will not follow them to serve them, nor will we try to serve two masters.

Jesus is the one speaking here in this passage of scripture. He is both the good shepherd and the gate. The sheep are the true followers of Jesus Christ and the sheep pen would thus represent the body of Christ, his church (not the institutional church but the people of God); God’s eternal kingdom. The way we enter into relationship with Jesus Christ is by God’s grace, through faith. Believing faith is described in two parts all throughout the New Testament: 1) Repentance (turning away from sin) and 2) Obedience (turning toward God and making a heart decision to follow the Lord Jesus in obedience).

This gate (way) to salvation, to faith in Christ, and to eternal life with God, was provided for us by God. God the Father sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to be born in human flesh, to suffer as we suffer, to be tempted as we are tempted, yet without sin, and then to die on a cross for our sins so that we could, by faith in him, be set free from the ultimate penalty of sin (eternal separation from God in hell), and so we could be set free from the control of sin over our lives on a day-to-day basis. So, true faith = repentance and obedience.

So, when this is speaking of a man entering the sheep pen (the collection of all God’s people via faith in Jesus Christ), but not by way of the gate, this is speaking of those who claim to know God but do not know him. They are the hypocrites and false shepherds among the sheep who claim to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but they have neither repented of their sins nor are they listening to the shepherd’s voice and following him in obedience. So, they are not one of the sheep but are thieves and robbers because they pretend to be sheep when they are not, and in fact many are wolves in sheep’s clothing out to destroy the sheep and to try to lead the sheep away from pure devotion to Jesus Christ.

Thus, those who enter by another way other than through the gate are strangers to Christ. And, sadly enough, many of our church leaders today are strangers to Christ, they are thieves and robbers who have not entered through the gate, and many of them are out to lead God’s sheep away from pure devotion to Jesus Christ, so this calls for much discernment so that we make sure we are following the good shepherd and not strangers.

In contrast to these strangers, thieves, robbers, wolves in sheep’s clothing, etc. is the good shepherd. His sheep know his voice and they follow him. He has not come to destroy us but to save us and to give us eternal life with God, beginning at the moment we enter through his gate into salvation and into relationship with Jesus Christ. He lay down his life for his sheep when he died on the cross for our sins. He knows his true sheep and they know him. I love that picture of intimacy between Jesus and his followers. Yet, just as Jesus was accused of being demon-possessed and raving mad (crazy; cuckoo), if we tell people we are hearing the Lord’s voice speaking to us and we are following him, we, as well, may be considered crazy in the head for hearing voices and doing what the voice tells us to do.

Those strangers who do not know Christ will not understand how we can hear the voice of God speaking to us nor will they understand our following that voice speaking to us. They won’t understand because they are strangers to God, because they didn’t enter into the pen through the gate but climbed in over the side. They are not Christ’s true followers, so they can’t understand what we are talking about when we talk about hearing Christ’s voice (the voice of the Holy Spirit within us), and they won’t understand obeying Christ in doing what he has called us to do, which may often contrast with human understanding and reasoning or even with human logic. God’s ways are not like man’s ways nor does he think like men. God’s ways are so much greater and they are spiritually discerned. So don’t be surprised if men regard you as loony if you hear Christ’s voice and obey that voice within you, yet not in opposition to the teachings of scripture. God will never ask us to do something that contradicts his divine character, his will and/or his word.

Gracious Father / An Original Work / April 6, 2011

How great are You Father; how great are You, Lord.
My heart so adores You; Your mercy outpour.
Your love and your kindness; Your gracious reward
Are treasures from heaven that we can’t afford.
So, freely they’re given and humbly received
When we bow before You on penitent knee.

O gracious Redeemer; my Master and King,
To You I owe everything - my offerings I bring
With whole heart devotion, to honor and praise
My loving companion and friend for always.
It’s You I serve only, to walk in Your ways,
So I have your promise for all of my days.

Song Lyrics @ Public Domain

Audio, song lyrics and sheet music:
https://sites.google.com/site/psalmshymnssongs/home/songs/gracious-father

Song on video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-XBEMyg7zc

Tailbone

Wednesday, December 14, 2011, 3:15 p.m. – I lay down for a nap and had either a dream or vision (don’t know if I was still awake or if I had fallen asleep).

THE VISION/DREAM: A woman with black skin, who represents a mental health professional, had me in a shower as though she was giving me a shower. She took a razor and began to shave me in an upward motion right at my tailbone. The hair was tough there and she was having great difficulty getting the razor to move forward (up my spine). I told her that I do not normally shave myself there. END

Symbols

Tailbone - The coccyx (pronounced kok-siks) (Latin: os coccygis), commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the human vertebral column. Comprised of three to five separate or fused vertebrae (the coccygeal vertebrae), below the sacrum, it is attached to the sacrum by a fibrocartilaginous joint, which permits limited movement between the sacrum and the coccyx. The term coccyx comes originally from the Greek language and means "cuckoo," referring to the shape of a cuckoo's beak. http://tailbone.askdefine.com/

Tailbone means coccyx which means “cuckoo”, which means “crazy/not sane,” which is why the Lord was showing me a mental health professional trying to shave me at my tailbone.

Shave – to remove hair from the body using a razor (Encarta).

Hair – on my head symbolizes the authority over my head which is first of all God and second of all my husband. Since being “crazy” by human standards involves the mind/head, then this would have to do with the authority (God) over my “cuckoo” or “crazy” mind, based upon human thinking and reasoning.

The mental health professional was trying to remove that authority of God from my mind, but the hair (authority) was tough and strong and would not budge.

Shower - a method of washing in which somebody stands upright under a spray of water from a nozzle. To stand upright symbolizes taking a stand for what is right. One who is upright is honest, just, conscientious, honorable, sound, complete and/or blameless.

In reality

Last week (for a period of a week) I was placed in a mental ward of a hospital due to my witnessing for Jesus Christ and the gospel, had medications forced into my body that I did not want to take into my body, had my Bible and hymnbook and songs removed from my possession for the majority of my stay, was told that I needed to not read the Bible but I was to attend their groups and listen to what they said and I was to learn from them. They tried to convince me over and over again that I needed medication and that I needed to be less religious and instead of following God I needed to get involved in “activities” and do fun stuff and that life was to be just fun. I was surrounded with TV, filthy language, violence, hatred, i.e. the world of evil and had little time to myself and with God. I had to depend upon the Word dwelling within me since the Word (the Bible) was removed from me.

Yet, there were many kind and caring people there, but still they were trying to get me to not follow God and not to believe he speaks to me, but to use human thinking, reasoning and logic, instead of hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit within me.

The picture here is of a mental health professional trying to wash away and cut away the authority of God over the head of one who is upright and blameless before God in what she did in the name of God and for the sake of the spreading of the gospel. They tried to make me believe I was crazy and that I was hearing voices in my head and that was not normal behavior, yet the Lord confirmed in me over and over again that I was hearing him clearly and that I was blameless with regard to their accusations against me and against my character.

A tailbone is the final segment. I don’t know if the Lord is saying there is more to come (the final segment) in this saga, or if what took place already was the final segment in this saga. But, I do know that I would not give way to their accusations (the hair was tough and would not shave), and I would not bow to making men and men’s thinking and reasoning as my god above my one and only true God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the number one authority over my head.

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I inquired of the Lord where I should read in the Bible and he directed me to Isaiah 61, which I believe is next.

The Year of the LORD’s Favor

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
Aliens will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
And you will be called priests of the LORD,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs.

“For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward them
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed.”

I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise
spring up before all nations.

I inquired of the Lord if there was a song, and he led me to this one:

Fully Surrendered / Alfred C. Snead / George C. Stebbins

Fully surrendered—Lord, I would be,
Fully surrendered, dear Lord, to Thee.
All on the altar laid,
Surrender fully made,
Thou hast my ransom paid;
I yield to Thee.

Fully surrendered—life, time, and all,
All Thou hast given me held at Thy call.
Speak but the word to me,
Gladly I'll follow Thee,
Now and eternally
Obey my Lord.

Fully surrendered—silver and gold,
His, who hath given me riches untold.
All, all belong to Thee,
For Thou didst purchase me,
Thine evermore to be,
Jesus, my Lord.

Fully surrendered—Lord, I am Thine;
Fully surrendered, Savior divine!
Live Thou Thy life in me;
All fullness dwells in Thee;
Not I, but Christ in me,
Christ all in all.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/442#ixzz1FB6YmZcT