"Faint Not; Man Up"

"Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it." (Job 40:1 & 2) We have covered this section of scripture before, but now I wanted to look at it from a little different angle. Please believe me when I say 'I am not picking on Job', I really just want to use what he went through to illustrate a point; it just so happens that Job is the best illustration, because he did nothing wrong to deserve what he suffered through, and yet there was wrong brought out of him. Again, if you remember the word for 'Instruct' used here in this opening verse is 'Yissor', and this word only occurs once, right here. It means a reprover, a blamer, one who rebukes; in this text, God is asking Job to take a moment and consider the big picture; to basically step back from not only his suffering, but also from his questions; and to consider the magnitude of God. This is not a rebuke by God of Job, but rather He is trying to get Job in the right perspective; to get him to a place where he can actually see how Big and Powerful the Almighty really is. What a place to be! Nothing can compare to the vastness of God; and when we are focused on this, everything else fades away. In knowing this, and the fact that we are a part of His overall plan, we can then see ourselves in a different light also; Why? Because this bigger picture is eternal and is bigger than anything of this world; and there we are also, within His eternity. Now remember Job's response to God's instruction: "Then Job answered the Lord, and said, Behold I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further." This word 'Vile' which Job uses, is 'to be small', which means that compared to the vastness of God, how can we compare; or better yet, how can our small suffering compare to His great glory. And yet, when we are going through something, even something that may compare to what Job went through, we must remember that this is just a piece of dust in the universe of God; really, how can it compare? And yet, there we are also, within that universe of God, as saints; chosen vessels that have a place with Him for all eternity. To what should we put our glory in; this or that? "Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Gird up thy loins now like a man: I demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Wilt thou also disannul my judgement? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? Hast thou an arm like God? Or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty." (Job 40:6-10)

"Faint Not; Be Profitable" 2

Here is a quote that you may have heard, "Never Let a Good Crisis go to Waste". Now where have you heard that? Well not that I agree with those that said it, or why they said it; but I think it really points to what I said yesterday about Job, and his missed opportunity. I was not there, so I can not testify about what happen; but I kind of wonder why his three friends showed up, and exactly how long he was sitting there on the ground. Listen, this was a moment to give God everything that he had left in him; why is that? Really, what did he have left to do that would make things seem better, than to give God glory. It's kind of like what Pastor Gene says, "It's easier to give God the Glory, than to take the blame". Here we have a man who served God, and believed enough to offer sacrifice for his children's secret sins of their hearts, and trusted God to take care of them; but yet when all is striped away, he forgets that God takes care of him also. Again, I am not judging Job, his three friends did enough of that; but on the other hand, this was a time which would have been best served to give God glory, than if he had just won the lottery. Why would I say that? There are people who watch our lives! This is more important than you may know; but there are people around us, who want to believe that there is more to this life; and they look to you to prove it! "Show me the money"; that is what they are saying! Let me see the proof in your life that there is a God that you believe in, then I will believe what you say is true. What does it mean to be 'Salt' and 'Light'? To be testimonies of God's kingdom; even though we may not feel things are going great in our lives right here, right now, we must not faint; because when we do, we give the enemy what he wants. I don't think that Satan went before God anymore about Job after he sat on the ground; he did not need to, because Job had stopped praising God, and had started his pity party. Sure, there were things that he said while seated on the ground that gave praise to God, but really, how can you give God praise with your lips, while with your actions you show forth a heart of despair? I think people watching our lives want to see a little more proof than that. They want to see God matters more; they really want to believe that there is a God, and that what He offers means more than this life; but from where will they see it? Not from our rejoicing in our wealth! But from our rejoicing in how Great our God is, even after all has been striped away! That shows them that there is more, and that we believe it!!! "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and the length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:14-19)

"Faint Not; Be Profitable"

"His Lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed: Thou oughest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received my own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:26-30) This scripture is not being given to compare what Job went through to the 'Slothful Servant'; well, maybe just a little. And it is not that I am picking on Job, or anything like that; I am only trying to put forth a point: That what we do by our actions matter 'for' or 'against' the Kingdom of God, and where we want to be is on the 'for' side; in other words, we want to be profitable for the Kingdom. However, when we are slothful in our service to God, we are not profitable, but actually hinder the work of God; How is that? Okay, let's take a little look at Job (not to pick on him), to demonstrate a point that there was an opportunity to give God great glory in his sufferings, which was passed up, and may have even been counter productive. Because the suffering that Job went through with the lose of his livestock, children, and his health, all could have given God glory by Job staying strong and making those things lost count for the Kingdom of God. Listen, I am not trying to say that Job did terrible before the Lord by sitting on the ground and having a pity party; I would have most likely done the same thing; however, what I am saying, is that the damage done to the testimony of what matters most can be collateral damage; because those people who are watching your life, really start paying attention to what you do when you are going through something. Why is that important? Because it is at those times when our testimony of what we believe matters most, that's why!!! Really, I mean that! You can say you trust God and believe in Him for your eternal life and happiness all day long when things are good, and people will say, 'That's nice'; but you keep saying it, and acting like you mean it when things are bad, and people take notice. You can only keep what you give away!!! Three really is no better way to put it; there is nothing of this world that is profitable for His Kingdom; but what we do have is what we have been given, and sometimes that includes opportunities to give Him glory. Again; here is a portion of the verse I closed with yesterday; see if it makes a little more sense: "Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory." (Ephesians 3:13)

"Faint Not; Be Very Bold"

"The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets." (Proverbs 26:13) There is something the happens to the heart of a man when he becomes fainthearted, he loses something which is natural to a man. When I look at Job, I have to wonder at what point in his trial did he lose heart; was it at the point when he sat on the ground and covered himself in ashes; or was at the point when his wife said, 'Curse God and die'? He replied to his wife that which was good, but one can only wonder whether or not he had taken it to heart; because even though he rebuked his wife, "Thou speaketh as a foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" Yet in a very short while, this is almost his attitude: To curse the day he was born and anything else that had anything to do with that day. He actually did not curse God, but he cursed everything about God and His creation; Is there a difference? Basically what I am saying, is that at what point did Job come to a point where the things which are of the present mattered more than the eternal. Actually I believe it was at the point when he sat on the ground in ashes, and started scraping his boils; what his wife said to him was only confirmation of the obvious: Job had given up. There was something which drove Job before, which had been removed: Boldness, 'parresia': Freedom or frankness in speaking; confidence, particularly in speaking: Holding fast our Hope, which entails a special exercise of Faith. Job had devoted his life to praying and offering sacrifice for his children, continually he did this; Why? Because he believed that he could intercede on behalf of them; he believed that he could offer sacrifice for their wrong they committed in their hearts, "for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts'. So again, let me ask, What motivated Job to offer sacrifices for his children? Wasn't it his belief in the God he served to be merciful and to honor his sacrifices; and also his belief in something which is far greater than what is seen? This which had motivated him to go before God on behalf of his children, was not just a small thing; it was passion; it was motivated by love; and it was boldness towards God. Yet, that was what left him when he sat on the ground; his eternal perspective had changed to looking upon the now. Am I putting Job down? No, not in anyway; I am just stating that he was putting forth the obvious, so much so, that his wife stated what she saw; a broken man. Now, contrast this with the brokenness of Christ on the cross; there was only one outburst of remorse, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken ME". Yet, His outburst was not given in response to His situation out of faintheartedness, but was rather given to proclaim what was done, because after that He proclaimed, "It is Finished". Boldness: to proclaim openly what you know to be true!!! "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all man see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith in Him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory." (Ephesians 3:8-13)

"Faint Not"

When you look up the word 'Faint' in the Greek, there are two basic meanings or words which describe it; both are very similar, but they speak to different levels of fainting. One speaks of loosing heart, or soul, or courage (ekkakeo); the other speaks of loosing strength, or to grow weary (ekluo). Both of these are things which we do not want to let happen in our walk, and in our service to the Lord; but I think that the first is the worst. Let me tell you why: The second sign of fainting has to do with being discouraged, or exhausted by a trail or tribulation; like to have fatigue due to labor; to be weary. This is the 'Faint' that is used in Hebrews 12:3 & 12:5; "For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him." We know that the Word says not to faint in these type of situations, but yet, many of us do, if only for a short while; and when we do, there is really not to much harm done. We might show a sign of discouragement, or maybe hide under the covers for a day or two; but we really have not caused in any collateral damage. However, this other sign of fainting, now that is a horse of a different color. This is the 'Faint' that is used in 2 Corinthians 4:1, 4:16, and Ephesians 3:13; "Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;" "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." "Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory." All of these uses of the word faint, refer to faintheartedness; it is also to grow weary, just as the other faint was; but that one referred to the body growing weary, as by fatigue; this is speaking about our heart growing weary, and our lose of courage. This one can cause collateral damage, because when we grow weary in this way, we can begin to become slothful in our duty to the Lord, and we can begin to lose our courage to share when prompted to share. Both of these faints can be cured through prayer; but 'ekluo' requires us also letting go and letting God; while 'ekkakeo' requires commitment and faith. In 2 Corinthians 4:1, Paul is speaking about how people read our lives, and the great hope we have that is set before us. Just as when Moses came down from the mountain and the children of Israel could not behold his face; there is something which should be glorious about us, and the hope that we before us. This type of glory causes us to never give up, and yet when we do faint in this area, it is because we have lose sight of the glory! "Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many rebound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: For the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:14-18)

"Ordained = Design"

The word for 'Ordain' in the Greek is 'Tithemi'; which has a basic meaning: To set, put, place, or lay. Particularly, to set, put, place, or lay a person or thing; as to set food on a table. It also means to purpose, propose, or design: To lay upon, or attribute something to someone. Without getting into some major discussion on how we were chosen, or whether or not we have a choice in the matter, I believe that we are chosen by God before we were even born. How that all works out, is really something which will be revealed in the end, but for now, we must just know that He has chosen us. And because He has chosen us, He has ordained us for His specific purpose; which really means, that He causes the things which we go through to work towards the purpose that He has ordained. Now, I know that some things which I go through, or get into, are not specifically good for my walk in Him, but somehow, He will cause that too to be turned towards the good. How that works, I really don't think we can figure out, especially while we are going through it. But we must know, and believe that we are His children; and as His children, just like our own children, sometimes we do the wrong things, or make the wrong choices. When we do, it is as if God is saying, "Okay, so you want to see where this will lead you; let Me instruct you". On the other hand, His purpose for our lives are worked out in us, even through the things which He may not have wanted us to go through; but rather what He will allow us to go through. When I look back upon my life as a whole, there are a lot of things which I wish I had never done; and I am sure that He also wishes that too; but whatever, I am still His child, and He is mindful of the things which I go through, and ultimately He is in control. Because of this fact, we can bring forth fruit; fruit which brings Him glory; which is not based upon the things which we do, but is based upon the grace we have been given. It really comes down to a life that is surrendered to Him, and for His purpose for our lives. When we make the wrong choices, He reminds us through those things that we must be surrendered to His will; so, although it may not specifically be for the good, it will work towards the good in the long run. Our God is a really Big God!!! "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth Fruit, and that your Fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give to you." (John 15:16)

"What A Trip"

I am back home, and you may not have even known I was gone; but I took a 7,000 mile trip in the RV. It was to have lasted 21 days, but the RV broke down in Florida for 4 days; which was really quite interesting. We had a chance to meet some very wonderful people along the way, but I think the period of time when we were broke down was the most interesting. The problem with the RV was a fluke, and something the Ford service people called 'a known problem'; but apparently it was known only by them, because no one else could figure it out. After driving through a heavy rain storm east of Tallahassee, the RV acted as if it was out of gas, but more like it was not getting the proper gas supply. My very first thought was that it was the fuel filter; others thought that it was the fuel pump; but that did not make sense because the pressure to the fuel injectors was adequate. And during the first pressure test at the injectors, water was discovered in the line; which made us think that there might be water in the gas tank. But after pulling the new filter that I installed, the contents were found to be only gas. When we first broke down I called my GMAC insurance company, which arranged for a tow; however, Florida law is the no one can be in the RV as it is being towed, so they tried to find transport for my wife. I guess they could not find a Medi-Van, because after about a half hour a ambulance showed up, and instructed me that they had to transport her to the hospital; because that was protocol. I was not having that, and told them that I would walk her to the place where the RV was being taken. At which time they got on the horn with their captain, and it was decided that they would follow the RV to where it was going; Defuniak Springs, Florida, to Triangle Chevrolet. The EMTs stayed with us there on the side of the road for over an hour, until the tow truck showed up, and the RV was being transported. Then Marianne, Laura, myself and one of the EMTs road in the back of the ambulance behind the RV. My generator had quit working the week prior, so we needed to find a place to plug into for power. Just so happened that there was a Spanish Evangelical Church (Iglesia Canaan) right across the street from the dealer. One of the EMTs asked them if we could plug into their church, and they said we could; then he also asked the person who owned a antique store next to their building, if we could park in their lot, they also said it was alright. So, I had to drive the RV around the block to get into the lot; which went pretty good at about 2 miles an hour, until I started to go uphill. Then about 6 brothers from the church got behind the RV and pushed us the rest of the way. After getting hooked into power and situated, it was time for church, which started at 7:30 pm. I was able to get Marianne ready, and the three of us went to church. We could not really understand the words to the songs, or the messages that were being given, but we were all praising the same God, and the Spirit was moving. Service lasted over 2 and a half hours, and was not going to be over until all three of us were forward at the alter being anointed and prayed over. It was a very special time of worship, and even though I could not understand the words, I understood the message; Holiness. Which gave me inspiration for the next days Blog, "Peace By A Holy God". Then we went to church again on Sunday at 2:30, and again, we could not understand the words, but I definitely understood the message; "Abiding In Christ", taken from John chapter 15. This morning I was looking back on the adventure, and I could not help but wonder; is it "For" or "Towards", or maybe both? After all, "All" does mean ALL!

"Live Jesus"

I have heard it said, That it is not what you know, but who you know that will get you furthest in life. Well truth be told, that is true for eternal life also. Because it is how much you know that matters, but what really matters is that you know Jesus. The more we learn and know, the more confused we get by knowledge, and what little we truly know. But if we know Jesus, or anything about Jesus; then we would know how He ministered, and how, and where He performed His greatest work. And when we come together in the sanctuary on Sunday, or Saturday, or whatever day it is for you, we come together to celebrate what Jesus has done; but if we want to see Jesus, then we need to live Jesus; because where Jesus did most of His work, was outside the Camp... "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines: for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name. But to do good and communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." (Hebrews 13:9-16)

"The Joy In Living Right" - 2

Really it is all about Love! Jesus is still asking, "Do you Love Me? He asked Peter this three times, and many agree that it was because Peter denied Jesus three times the night He was arrested. However, I believe it was for another reason also that He asked him three times: For Peter's three part role in the church; as a Shepard, Pastor, and Teacher; for Jesus had instructed Peter when He first meet him that he would be a 'rock, upon which He would build His church'. Where Jesus was the Rock, and Peter, He referred to as the little rock, or stone. Today, Jesus is still asking us the same question: "Do you Love Me?"; only this question is based upon our ability to love Him more than those things which cause us to be moved away from Him. Have you ever denied Jesus? I know I have. I have denied Him in my public appearances; doing the wrong things, in the wrong places. These are things which cause others to stumble, and make the power of God of less importance in the eyes of those that witness my conduct. We must always remember that we are called to be Light and Salt; which means that we must live our lives to shine and enhance the power of God in our lives, for other to see and to taste. "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:7 & 8)

"The Joy In Living Right"

The reason that we will have Joy in living right, is because we will not be ashamed; it really is hard to experience joy within your heart, when you are all covered in shame. But this is the reason that Jesus wants us to live rightly, so that we are free from the shame we might otherwise feel, and that causes us to not be honest with ourselves and with Him. It really is all about relationship; our relationship with our Lord, and our relationship with our brothers and sisters. We must live our lives in such a way that we care for those relationships; that we care for them so much, we are willing to forsake the things which we may want, in order to further our relationships with one another. It is doing this that will bring us Joy within our selves; which is added to the Joy the Lord has given unto us. It's like this: His Joy is given by our knowledge of who He is, and what He has done for us; our Joy is produced by our response to Him, and our desire to live rightly. We might not think that giving up what we want will bring us joy, but it will; anytime we give of ourselves, we will experience more joy; Why is that? Because we are actually experiencing His Love as we do it, which in turn brings more joy. Again, it all goes back to the Living Waters; for the water to be living, it must flow: so for us to experience the Joy, Peace, Love and Grace of the Lord, they must flow through us: From Him, into us, and unto others. It's not rocket science, but it is out of this world! "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Hebrews 13:1-6)

"The Joy In The Lord"

There is something though that requires us to stay faithful to the Lord, and to not lust after the things of this world: He calls us Friend! Do you remember how you would sneak around and keep things from your parents as a child? It kind of is only natural that we do these things; even when we become adults, we can keep things from our spouses, our children, and even our employers; as though we are hiding something about ourselves, which makes us feel in some way that we have a little advantage over those people: "I know something you don't know". Well guess what: With Jesus, that does not work. And better yet, He does not do that with us either. In John 15:15, Jesus says, "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friend; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you." Because He calls us Friend, we have a closer relationship with Him than if He were just Lord; because as just Lord, He becomes standoffish; which means that we will feel intimindated by His presents. Herein is His Joy bestowed upon us: Because He has Joy for us, and for our friendship, we can share in that Joy through the friendship that He offers to us. Okay, maybe a little clearer, please? It's like when you have a certain friend, that no matter what you might feel like, or how sad you might be; as soon as you get around that person, they cheer you up; it's just something about them that causes their joy to rub off on you, and you walk away from your visit feeling happy. This is how He wants us to feel with Him; as we meet with Him and talk with Him, and experience our friendship together, and our friendship with one another in Him; we are to be partaking in His Joy. What happens to us when we partake of His Joy? WE EXPERIENCE HIS LOVE! And when we experience His Love, we produce fruit abundantly. And when we produce fruit abundantly, the Father is glorified!!! "This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My Friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." (John 15:12-14)

"The Joy Of The Lord"

There is something which must be present in our lives which demonstrates that we are abiding in Him, and He in us: His Joy! This is what He places within us as soon as we come to Him, and it will remain within us as long as we are abiding in Him. So then, What can cause us to not be abiding in Him? Lust for one; pride can do it also; but I think lust is twice as enticing, because there are two types: the lust of the flesh, and lust of the eyes. In John 15:6, Jesus says, "If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." Not to much to have joy about if you are the one cast off; right? But, what Jesus is saying is that this is the result of not abiding in Him. Because when we do not abide in Him, one of the first things to depart from us is our joy; and I did say our joy; there is a difference. His joy is complete and unchanging; our joy is only complete when it is based upon His joy remaining in us, and we remaining in it. The reason that Joy is one of the first fruits to depart from us when we begin to lust, is that we are replacing the eternal things with temporary things, in our heart; and when this happens, one of the greatest sources of our joy is everlasting life in Jesus. This is changed within our hearts when we begin to lust after other things; things that are temporary, and of this world, instead of having our hearts set upon the things which are eternal. When that happens, our joy becomes as fleeing as those things which we have our heart set upon. However, the Joy of the Lord will remain in us, and will only be experienced when we put down those things and return to Him; if we do not put down those things, we will become withered; which is just a dried up branch that is laying on the ground; not a good place to be... "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My Love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My Love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His Love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My Joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." (John 15:7-11)

"Abiding In Christ"

"I am the True Vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." (John 15:1 & 2) Jesus is the True Vine; to be acquainted with all that He is we must be attached; just as a branch is attached to the vine. It is really not that had to figure out; Really! The branch can not survive when it is detached from it's source of life. To experience the Peace, Joy, Faith and Love of the Lord, we must be attached to Him. Here in John 15, Jesus speaks about how this is so very vital to our relationship with Him and with the Father. He refers to the Father as the husbandman, which means the gardener or farmer; the keeper of the garden. And as such, He performs the tasks of the Husbandman of His Garden; one of which is getting rid of the dead branches that do not produce fruit. Another is purging the good branches; which means pruning; which again, is the chastising of God upon His children. This pruning is done to obtain the growth to the branches which produce the most fruit, and yet will not cause the branch to break, or the hinder the growth of the tree. Much like a tree that is pruned, this requires cutting away parts which may appear healthy, but that could take growth away from other areas that need it more. Sometimes these areas may even seem important to those that do not understand husbandry (gardening), because they can not see what is going to be achieved by what seems like such drastic pruning. But the husbandman knows best what is best for the whole tree, and for the fruit which will be produced. This is why it is so very vital that we continue to Abide in Christ; for He is the True Vine, and if we are not abiding and producing fruit in Him, we will be removed and counted as a dead branch. As long as we are Abiding in Christ we will produce the Fruit that is pleasing to the Father. If we are attached to the Vine and not bearing Fruit, it is because we have been Abiding in Him; for He says, "Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the Vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing." (John 15:3-5)

"Peace By A Holy God"

"Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20:3-6) Holiness: There is a certain kind of Peace that can only come from serving a Holy God; this is a Peace which can not be moved by even the threat of a horrible death: Because we know how Holy God is, and because He requires all of our reverence and all of our worship. However, when we are serving other gods (which is to have another god before Him), we can not begin to really experience this peace that is not moved by anything (including a horrific death). Why is that you might ask? Because, to be sure of God's power to deliver us, or sustain us, we must be sure of His Holiness; and we can not be sure of His Holiness if we are not living as though we believe it to be so. Now, maybe you think you can pass the test; Do You? If we think we can, maybe we should really check ourselves, because from where I see things, if we can get so bent out of shape and distorted from godliness over such little things, which are not life threatening, then what will we do when our lives are threatened? Really: What do you think that you would do? Would you have the Peace within you to say, "Bring it!"? Would you have the Peace enough to not bow down to any other? In Daniel 3:10-18, we see a story of three of God's servants; who for no fault of their own, were actually serving King Nebuchadnezzer, and had been placed over the affairs of the province of Babylon. The king had made a decree, that everyone must bow down and worship the image the he had set up whenever the music was played. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego refused to bow down and worship his image; even though the king had made a decree, and whosoever did not bow down would be thrown alive into the fiery furnace. When the king heard of this, he was upset with their actions, and summonsed them, asking: "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego? Do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?" (Daniel 3:14 & 15) Now for some, this would be a time for a testing of their faith, which it was for these three, in a way; however, it was their Peace in knowing the God that they served that was the real issue here; because for these three, it did not matter whether or not God would deliver them; what mattered most to them, was that He was Holy, and that they would worship non other. "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." (Daniel 3:16-18) This is where the rubber meets the road for what we believe about God; because these three were not concerned about whether or not God was going to deliver, but more importantly, they were concerned about offending a jealous God; and because they were, they had a Peace which had been supplied to them by a God who does not change, and who is Holy!!! "See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh: for if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now He hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For Our God Is A Consuming Fire." (Hebrews 12:25-29)

"Peace With A Holy God"

As I was reading the remaining verses in Hebrews 12, I could not get the story of when David was bringing the Ark into Zion (Jerusalem, The City of David) out of my head. I have shared on this before, but there is something which needs to be expressed in that illustration: Our approach to A Holy God. If you know the story, you might recall that David's first attempt was failed by the death of Uzzah, whom God smote for touching the Ark as he tried to stabilize it when it crossed Nachon's threshingfloor. When David first attempted to move the Ark, he placed it on a new cart and played music with all sorts of instruments as they traveled down the road; he felt peace in being able to move the Ark of God in whatever manor possible. But yet, as soon as Uzzah was slain, he no longer wanted anything to do with the Ark, and was displeased with God. What David had forgotten was how Holy God is, and how vital it is to adhere to God's Word. But later after hearing of how the Ark caused whoever had it to prosper, David had a change of heart, and then he realized that this task of moving the Ark of God must be performed as God has specified in His Word, and that it must be done with reverence. In doing so, David not only experienced Peace with a Holy God, but he experience Joy beyond containment; he danced before the Lord with all his might. This is how we must remember to approach God, for we are called to be Holy before our God; and what makes us Holy before Him is to adhere to His Word; which means to hold fast to His Word; which also includes The Word, which is Jesus Christ. It is because of Jesus that we have access to the Father, and we must never forget that. His sacrifice has made it possible for us to enter the Hollies of Holy, which is where the Ark dwells; and it is only Jesus that gives us the right to approach where we otherwise would not be allowed to go. This is the access we have been given to our Father; not like an unapproachable God, where we must beg, or seek His permission to enter in; but as long as we approach Him through His Word (Jesus), then we have free access to His throne; and we can enter in with Peace, not being ashamed or fearful. "(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the Living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of the sprinkling, that speeketh better than the things of Abel." (Hebrews 12:20-24)

"Peace With God"

However; we can not forget about the chastening of God upon His children; which does not mean that we have necessarily done anything wrong, but just that we are not perfect; yet! And it is not as though He expects us to be perfect, but to know how perfect He is and how imperfect we really are. In knowing this we are made aware of how much He loves and cares for us; because in spite of who we are He still died for us! This is what we must come to realize: That we have peace with God, not because of who we are, but because we are His children through who Christ is; and we are not His children because of what we do, but because of what Christ did. In so knowing this, we are naturally drawn to be as Christ was and to act as a child of God. But of course we can not be as He was, because He was perfect and sinless; which is why He was counted worthy to pay the price for our sins: He that knew no sin, took on sin, that we could be made perfect. Now; it is because of this perfect condition that we have been given that we are chastised; not for the lack of the perfectness that is in us, but for the perfectness of His Son, and His desire for us; not to necessarily live perfect, of which He does not expect, but to know what perfect is, and to try to attain it as we strive to draw closer to Him. But yet through all of our attempts to attain, we still have peace with Him, and yet not because we have attained, but because Christ has attained for us. And in knowing this we strive all the more to hold onto our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is the Author and the Finisher of our Faith. "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yeildeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the Way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright." (Hebrews 12:11-16)

"Peace In God"

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) This Jesus told his disciples the night He was arrested, knowing full well all that was going to happen; but they still did not have a clue. Even though He had been instructing them about those events which were going to take place, they just could not understand what it all meant. When Jesus said, "I have overcome the world", what a shock it must have been to them in the hours to follow, that He would be arrested, and then go through all that He did; all the way to and on the cross. And yet He instructed them to "Be of Good Cheer". This is a prime example of what "All Things" mean; for when God says "All" He means "All"; what better picture can we have of how this present suffering can lead to good, then the illustration that Jesus provided to them on this night. If we ever think that we are suffering through something, and that we can not see how it is working for the good, we must remember what He suffered through for us, and how lost and alone His disciples felt after His death on the cross. Sure, we might have some trials here and there, but what they would suffer through later in their lives was death and punishment; and yet, they would all have peace through it all. Why? The Holy Ghost is why! The Comforter, which is given unto us all, is the One that gives us that Peace which will bring us through any and all of what the world can bring against us. We so often forget that He is in us as we face whatever trial it is that we are going through; and more than that, we forget that He is there to comfort us in our sufferings. Really, I think it is not that we forget, but that we are so focused on our situation, that we do not give Him a chance to really comfort us. Because to feel His comfort, we must take our minds off of our situation and put it upon Him, which is sometimes not easy to do while we are suffering through something. Maybe it is because we might feel that we are being punished by God for something, or that, what we are going through is the result of sin. But Jesus said, "In this world you will have tribulation", and He said that for a reason, so that we would know that we are suffering because He suffered; and yet we are to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world. Because we are in God, we will share in His suffering; but because He is in us, we will also overcome; therefore we must be of good cheer and believe that "All" means "All": period! "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)

"Peace Like A River From God"

There is finally The River it's self, which flows directly from God. This Peace is nothing like anything that the world can give us, because it is given to us from our justification with God through Jesus Christ. Where we are in a right standing with God because of forgiveness of sin that we have received from our Lord and Saviour. This Peace can not be moved by the world, or anything else that would come against us. It is the Living Water that flows from the throne of God into and through our lives which supplies this Peace, which is the same River that is what John saw flowing from the throne in Heaven; and it is for those that are His children to experience now, as we live in this life. Why is that? Because God is eternal, and so is His Love for us, and with that Love comes His Peace; wherein that, because we know we are loved by Him we can experience the Peace of God now, and not just in our final destination. This is what God would want us to partake in: His Rest; which is available now for those that choose to receive it. When the Bible speaks about 'Today being the Day of Salvation' it includes all the benefits that come with that Salvation; for we are given a place in Heaven as soon as we come to the Lord, and because that place has been established we can experience the Peace that comes with it. 'Blessed Assurance' means the we are assured of the blessing of His Peace and His Love. Nothing can take that away from us, absolutely nothing. Yet so many times we accept the lie that His grace is somehow dependent upon our own merits; when in Truth, it is only upon the merits of Jesus Christ by which we are saved; and our only choice is to believe in Him for our Salvation. So many false religions and doctrines have been established because many just can not accept His Gift of Salvation without putting upon it the works of their own. And many will not be able to experience this Peace which He provides, because they have placed upon themselves additional merits to His acceptance as His children. But when we walk in His assurance, we can believe the 'All things work for the good' without wavering from that fact, because we know that it is not because of what we do, but because of what He did, that we are Saved!!! "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulation also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:1-5)

"Peace Like A River" - 3

Great News my Brothers and Sisters; There is yet another thing that the Peace our Lord gives that is like a Mighty River: Still Waters Run Deep! That's right: How Deep is His Love for us? How Great is His Protection over our Souls? There is simply no way to measure how much He cares for us! If you have ever been River Rafting you would understand this simulation. When the river is shallow the current is very fierce and dangerous; it is apparent from far off that you are heading into a really rough ride. When we are seated in Christ Jesus, although the ride may seem very rough and tosses us to and fro, He has us in His Mighty Hands; those hands that bear the scars of what He did on Calvary. He will not let us go, nor forsake us; and it is that assurance we have in Him that gives us peace through the fiercest of rapids. Then like a mighty calm, we are through the rapids, which are like the trials we face in our lives; and when we come through them, our relationship with our Lord is deeper than ever before, with a soothing peace that is almost tranquil. It is in these times of tranquil peace that we feel the His Breath; hear His Voice; and can even see His Face as we just Rest in Him. In Psalms 34: 11-14 David declares a Psalm of Deliverance, and within these few little verses, God packs a powerful punch to something that many times holds us back from experiencing His Peace: "Come, ye children, hearken unto Me: I will teach you to fear the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace , and pursue it." I am sorry, but it is really true that sometimes when we are going through something which we can not handle, we have a tendency to want to pull others along with us. It may not even seem to us that this is happening; and many times it will not even be apparent to others, even those that we are pulling. But it is our tendency to speak ill of others as we are being persecuted; as if to bring others down will somehow make us feel a little better in our suffering. This is not good, and really causes our conquest for peace to be that much further from us. God's desire for us, is that we would seek peace and pursue it, especially through the times where we may feel attacked and persecuted. Those are the times of our testing, and during them we are to be vigilant to obey what God has instructed us in, no matter how much we think that others are to blame for our suffering. "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel (your name) say; If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalms 124)

"Peace Like A River" - 2

There is another thing that the Peace the Lord gives to us that is in common with a River, and that is the undercurrent. For there is an underlying Peace which we have in Him that is not seen from the surface; but it is felt from deep within. It is such a Peace that sometimes we know we should be feeling unrest in our current situation, yet there really isn't any, instead we feel the calm that only the Lord can bring, because all the while we know that He is working everything to our good; even though we can not see what is going on. This undercurrent also possesses another property which is vital to our Faith also: Even though it is not detectable from the surface, it is very strong and forceful, and when we plunge into it, we are swept away in it. Very similar to the effect that being submerged in Christ will have upon our lives; we become powerless in Him; which means that we can not even fight what He is doing, because He is the one in control. All that we can do is to just rest in Him and be taken through whatever it is we are going through. We dare not even try to fight the current, but must learn to simply trust Him and relax as He moves us down stream. This again is where Faith comes into play; because once we go deeper into our relationship with the Lord, we have less control of what we are doing, and He has more control over our lives; which then produces more Peace in Him and in what He is doing in and through us: What A Ride!!! There is just really no better way to explain it; but you must live it and know that He is God. He knows what is best for our lives, and even though we may not like it sometimes, we have no control really; we must just surrender what little control we think we might have, and give Him all of our life; and He will see us to the end... "For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, As I have sworn in My wrath, if they shall enter into My rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest on the seventh day from all His works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into My rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David, Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4:3-11)

"Peace Like A River"

There is a place that you can get to where you know that 'All Is Well'. It is here, that Peace has it's dwelling place, and there is no doubt in my mind when I am there. This is a place which is like none other, because when I am here I feel the real comfort of all that Jesus has done for me; I get that feeling which is worthy of the expression: "No worries Mate". One of the titles given onto our Lord and Saviour is 'The Prince of Peace'. Specifically, the main reason for the Jewish Nation to look for their coming Messiah was for peace; because that is what they believed, that when the Messiah came and set up His Kingdom, then there would be peace. However, Jesus has made it abundantly clear that Now is the time for peace; peace which passes all understanding; which really means that you have so much peace that it goes beyond the definition of what you need the peace for. Why is this peace so unending? Because He is; and all that He has established is; and all that there is in store for us, for all eternity. Why is peace like a river? I spent several hours last night just pondering this thought; and no matter how much I thought about it, I still kept seeing the same thing over and over in my mind: The River just kept on moving! I think I know where the term "This too will pass" came from, it was from this illustration of the River; because whether you are on the river floating down it, or on it's bank watching it go by, anything and everything is always moving past you. Trials come and trials go, seasons come and seasons go; but no matter what may happen in this life we know that He is waiting with open arms at the end of that River. I can say with all that is within me, that I know His Peace; that I have tasted His Peace and have been able to experience what it feels like to be there; and because I have, I can go there anytime I may feel that I am not there. What that means is that because I know what His Peace feels like, I just need to seek it when ever it is not there. We all know when we do not have the Peace of God, because when we don't there is uncertainty and doubt. But when we do have His Peace, then there is rest, tranquility, and a way of happiness; which really can not be explained, but must be experienced in order to know it. All that I know is this: When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are placed in a place that is eternal, and because it is eternal, anything and everything that could, should or would affect us and make us worry has been reduced to a piece of floating debris. "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

"The Justified" - Just Believe

'Romans 2:13: "For not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law shall be Justified." Here there is a contrast between the hearers and the doers; but what it really declares is a timeless truth: The mere hearers of the Law have never been and never will be considered by God as Just. If, however, they change from mere hearers to doers of the Law by believing in Him who became the fulfillment of the Law, only then will God pronounce them as Just. No one can become a doer of the Law without believing in Christ. This verse declares a standard, a norm, that not he who knows the Law, but he who is a doer of the Law in Christ can be declared Just before the Judge. Compare this verse with Romans 3:20: "Therefore by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be Justified in His sight: for by the Law is the knowledge of sin." There seems to be a contradiction between these two statements; however, Romans 2:13 affirms the norm that the doer will be declared Just; while 3:20 makes a matter-of-fact declaration that by the deeds of the Law no man can be Justified, inasmuch as the deeds of the Law are only possible in and through Christ. Even if a man is able to do the works of the Law, he still cannot be Justified since a person can be legally correct but morally wrong. He may conform to a certain Law in spite of the fact that he may hate it, but if he did not fear the consequences of transgression, he might never obey it. No Law can make a person morally right, although he can be proven legally conforming to the Law if he does the works that are detailed by it.' What I have written so far was pretty much quoted from a portion of those 5 pages of definitions on the word for Justified; and I wrote them this way to stress how it is not my thoughts only that are being expressed here, but also those that are far more knowledgeable in the Scriptures. The bottom line is that it is only by Faith in Jesus Christ that we can be Just before God; and not only that, but any of the Law which is kept, must be kept in Him; for otherwise it is our own righteousness which is being put forth, which of course is filthy rages unto God; but only that which is done in Christ will be considered as Just. Now then; with regards to this faith in which we possess: We will only experience the Faith that He will give when we come to the end of our own faith. When there is nothing left that we can contribute; no more power of our own; it is then that God will release upon us His Faith, which will then carry us to the other side. Our faith is so inadequate when it comes to doing anything required for Salvation; but our faith, as small as it may be, when it is placed in Him, then becomes mighty and can do all things. This is the position in which God wants us to be: Totally dependent upon Him! We must come to a point where we Just Believe!!! "But now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God: Being justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: That He might be Just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:21-26)

"The Justified" - Bond By Love

Oh what a Faith we have! That's Right; This faith which we possess, actually possesses us. Okay, maybe you need me to explain that? First off: We have been purchased with a great price, by none other than the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords; the Precious Lamb of God has purchased us with His blood; and because He has, we have now become a bond slave to Him. And what a glorious bondage that it is, because He will never leave us, nor forsake us; but greater than that: He has delivered us from the curse of the law, which had previously held us in bondage unto death. But now, we have been set free from the curse of the law, because the Maker of the law has purchased us with His own blood. Which means that the law no longer has any jurisdiction over us, because we have now been made One in Him who had established the law to begin with; which then means we are now His bond slave unto Eternal Life. Now then: Because we are His bond slave, He can do with us whatever He pleases, because we are now His property, which He has purchased: And what He chooses to do with us, is to make us One with Him; which means, that we are joint heirs with Him; which means, that we are also sons of God. This is what you would commonly call an adoption! However, this adoption is into the most Royal of Families, and comes with all the privileges of a natural born heir to the Kingdom. Talk about abundant Grace! So then, the Faith which we have been given in Christ Jesus, is actually a Faith that holds us to Him; but it is Him that is holding us (???). I know, this just does not make much sense, and maybe I should quit while I still have some dignity, (if I do at all). Let me try another way: When we put our Faith in Jesus Christ, Who's we are; then He holds us unto Himself, and will never let us go; so the faith which we have, as little as it may be, is now part of Him also; which then makes that little faith a greater Faith, which bonds us to Him. Was that a little bit better? We really need to realize just how powerless we are when it comes to the salvation of our souls; because Jesus has purchased us, redeemed us, and glorified us; which means that all we really need to do is have Faith, of which He supplies! This is how much God loves us: To supply all that we need, and more than we could ever wish or hope for! "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." (Galatians 4:1-7)

"The Justified" - part 3

Okay then what happens to God's laws? Absolutely nothing: God's laws do not change, or in anyway diminish. As a matter of fact; if anything, they get more profound, and the contrast between God's and man's righteousness is drawn in a clearer Light. Say, How do you mean? Well; once Jesus died on the cross for the sins of mankind, those sins were not removed from all of mankind, but were placed upon Jesus; and those that choose to accept God's gift of forgiveness, can now be removed from the curse of their sin; and thus be viewed by God as if they had never sinned. But all the while, God's perfect law and the violation of His laws are still in place; because God does not change, but man's condition before God has changed. In other words; it is not God who has lowered His standard or regard for His righteousness and laws, but rather it is man who has been changed and transformed into the righteousness of His Son. This is the Wonderful Good News of the Gospel: Jesus has set us free from the bondage of sin!!! It is this bondage that has everyone not covered by the Blood of the Lamb more condemned by the law. Because once Jesus had established a way to be released from the bondage of sin, those that refuse to accept God's Gift, are now faced with a new judgement; not receiving His Gift of forgiveness. So, now God's righteousness and His right to judge man's sin, has just become more defined, because His mercy can not be denied. After all, how much more mercy could He have supplied, then to give His Son! Now, when it comes to our standing in regards to God's law, we are no longer under the law, but rather have been set free from the law and the bondage that it brings to try and fulfill it; however, we have now been established under a new law of Grace, wherein we are subject to the Love that we have been given. Now what judges us is not the law that condemns sin and unrighteousness; but it is the Love of God that will be our judge, and what we have done with His Love that we so freely have been given. Basically what that means is that we are now in bondage to His Love, and have been set free from the bondage of His law! "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:4-6)

"The Justified" - part 2

So then, Why did Paul use so eloquently the famous verse from Habakkuk 2:4, "The Just shall live by his faith", to lay down the principle of Justification by faith, not by the works of the Law, in Romans 1:17 & Galatians 3:11 ? Because in Habakkuk 2:4, God is instructing Habakkuk about how man should not try and question His judgements, but should rather trust Him to be Just in all His Ways. And that it is in this trusting in the Lord for doing what is best, that faith is then demonstrated in a man's life towards God. But rather, what Paul was putting forth, was a New Way to Live by faith; a Way in which we put our faith in the finished Work of Christ. In other words: The manor in which this verse was received in Habakkuk, was for the Just to live by faith in God and all His ways, including His judgements; but what Paul was demonstrating was that The Just shall Live eternally by his faith in Jesus, and what Jesus did on the cross to remove judgement. Are these two different meanings, or the same? Yes and No! On the one hand, we must Trust God in all His Ways; which makes these two statements the same. But on the other hand, for the Believer in Christ, there is no longer a need for judgement, because Christ has taken the judgement in our place. So, for the one which declares: Man shall live by believing God is Just; the other declares: The New Man shall Live by believing that he is justified by what Christ has done for him. Thus is the reason for Jesus to declare: "I Am The Way"; because it is only through Him which we will have Eternal Life, and will be set free from the Curse of the Law. What a sharp contrast in the levels of Justification: Where one is based on faith in what God will do; While the other is based upon faith in what God has done; But both are based upon Faith! "So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the Curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The Just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:9-14)

"The Justified"

I wish I could say that there was an easy way to explain the difference between being 'Just' and being 'Justified', but I can not really find it. I thought I could explain it, like in one sentence or less, but much of the Bible is illustrating this point, and yet still many do not get it. One thing which I thought I had figured out, was that the one, 'Just', was for our standing with God before man. In other words; that because we are 'Just', we have an obligation to live a certain way, and to demonstrate what it means to walk by faith, because we are 'Just'. While the other, 'Justified', is for our standing with God, because of God, and in no way because of anything which we can do. This seemed to make a lot of sense, and really fit the illustration that I was working towards; but then, or should I say: 'But God' decided that I needed to learn a few things about how He is 'Just' in all His ways; and we are so clueless when it comes to understanding Him. The first thing I was instructed in was how the word 'Justified' in the Old Testament is the same word; while it is also the same word in the New Testament; and when I say the same word, I do not mean that the two words are the same, but rather, the word 'Justified' in each Book have the same definition for each and every occurrence. However, the two different Books have two different words for the word 'Justified'; besides the fact that one is Hebrew, and the other is Greek; they also put forth a different meaning. This really kind of threw off my assumption of what God was showing me; because there is a very important difference between these two words; just like there is a very important difference between the Old and the New Testaments. I guess I just got so carried away with my illustrations, that I forgot this one very important fact: Jesus!!! That's right; the Old Testament is a representation of the Old Covenant; while the New Testament is a representation of the New Covenant. While the Old Testament points towards Jesus Christ, and the redemption of man; the New Testament testifies of Jesus Christ, and how man has been redeemed already. The word for Justified in the Hebrew is 'Tsadheg'; which is a verb, and it means to be right (in a moral or forensic sense); to clear oneself; to cleanse; to be straight, just, true, upright, righteous; to be in the right; to justify, be justified; to obtain one's cause; to be restored; to be exonerated, be vindicated from wrongs; to declare righteous, make righteous; to absolve, acquit; to approve of; to speak the truth among disputants, to rationalize. Essentially, it is a legal term; and God is righteous and so are His laws; so, when injustice prevails, God is the One who sets things right; because man is not righteous at all in comparison with God, but God remains constantly righteous. In contrast; the word for Justified in the Greek is 'Dikaioo'; and this is no easy word to define, because the Hebrew word has with it about two paragraphs of definitions; yet the Greek word has over five pages of definitions; however, it must be clearly understood that in the New Testament, the verb 'Dikaioo', to justify, never means to make anyone righteous or to do away with his violation of the law, by himself bearing the condemnation and the imposed sentence. In the New Testament, man in his fallen condition can never do anything in order to pay for his sinfulness; because this price was paid for completely and in full, by Jesus Christ. There really is a very extreme contrast with these two different words, yet they both mean the same thing, just on different levels; one points towards man's ability to be cleansed as if he was standing before a judge and being justified; while the other removes the judgement of man, by placing it upon Jesus, which then provides man's cleansing through no work of his own. I am sorry if I have made this seem complicated, when it is really meant to be quite simple; however, there is really nothing simple about what Jesus has done for us, because when you get right down to it, we could never do it for ourselves!!! "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:19-21)

"The Just Are Committed"

There is one thing that is really amiss in our Christian lives today, and that is commitment. For the life of a Christian, this is the one thing which really should be most prevalent in our lives; but yet, it is seemingly the first thing which is so easily abandoned. Sometimes it is not even noticed when it has fled away; but like Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" And so it is; we do not even realize that we have become lacking in our commitment, until it is too late. Whether it is our commitment to our spouse, to raising our children in the Lord, to our employer, to our church leadership, or even to the Lord; it can really come so subtly and unnoticed; and before we know it, our heart is hardened to the fact that it has even happened. But it all begins with one unchallenged question: What if? What if this is not the right one for me?; What if these would be better off?; What if I were the one in charge?; What if they are doing wrong?; What if God...; I think you get my meaning. True commitment would respond to any of those questions with a sharp rebuke, but it is so much easier to ponder the question, and think, 'No harm done in thinking'. But that is not the case; because a lack of commitment starts in our mind, and then settles in our heart. And before you know it, you are saying and doing those things which show an uncommitted heart. Usually, the first real sign of an uncommitted heart, is the desire to find agreement; which is our need to feel justified in our reasoning. For example: If we are pondering the thought of leaving our spouse, we will begin to look at their flaws, and start comparing what we have, to what we think we should have; or comparing what they are, to what we think that they should be. And then we begin looking to others for the picture of perfection which we have established in our minds. It is not hard to see how this can lead to a heart that is not only uncommitted, but it can also create in us, a heart that desires change. In reality, there is only one thing which needs to be changed, and that is our heart! One of the definitions for 'The Just who live by Faith' is to be steadfast, which means to have a heart that does not waver. So at the first sign of wavering, we must rebuke those thoughts and become that much more committed. Love is a commitment, not a feeling or an emotion; yet we will let our feelings become a barometer for our love when we have abandoned our commitment; Why is that? It is because after our commitment has been dissolved, feelings and emotions are all that is left; which really means that all that is left is an unstable relationship; which is what feelings and emotions are: unstable! "For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." (1 Peter 4:17-19)

"The Just Rejoice"

If there is one thing I believe is lacking in our youth today, it is Praising the Lord. What I mean is: For them to experience Worship, and to be able to praise God openly and freely, without the concern of being judged. It is rather unfortunate that so many today are concerned with what others think, instead of what God requires; but I think this has a lot to do with what their parents did. This generation of children now, have parents that were so caught up in the TV role models of the 80's & 90's; people like 'The Fonzie', and other such 'Cool' characters, that made many set a standard for coolness. The Christian version of this 'Cool' character is almost schizophrenic in nature, because on the one hand they want to be holy and praise God, and on the other hand, they want to act cool and unaffected. What does this do for the children? Really, it causes them to not understand worship, and the real fellowship we have with God by expressing our worship to Him. I get so sad seeing the current teenagers in church services today, that don't even attempt to worship, but just look down at their feet, or anything else but participate. This has everything in the world to do with how they are influenced by their parents, and how their parents worship God. Maybe what really needs to happen is for there to be Joy in the Lord; and when I say Joy, I mean rejoicing in what He has done for us. When was the last time you as a parent shared what Jesus has done in your life to your children? They need to know what He has done, and they need to see your joy being expressed in what He has done. Really, it comes down to what matters most, in not only our hearts, but also our homes. Do we want to influence our piers, or do we want to influence our children? We really can not have it both ways, because for one, there is a desire to be cool; and for the other, there is the desire to rejoice. The word for Praise in the Hebrew is 'Halal', and it means to be bright, to shine; to be splendid; to boast; to praise, to celebrate, glorify. Our children need to see this rejoicing in our lives, not just as we come together for fellowship; but they need to see our sincere desire to celebrate what the Lord has done; and it needs to be part of our daily lives!!! "Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the load cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord." (Psalms 150)

"The Just Instruct"

No; I really think that there is much, much more to it! It is good to keep silent, if what you are going to say does not put forth instruction in what you want to teach; but it is far, far better to teach, by putting forth what is really in your heart. This is how we can demonstrate God's faithfulness and our imperfection; because in reality that is what our children really need to know. What do I mean? It is kind of like Paul, when he declared in Romans 7:15, "For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I." This instruction is good, and lets us know that there are no Superhero Saints; but just like the meaning for 'Just': an ordinary man can be honest before men and obedient to the laws of God; which really means: a man with faults can live justly. So, when we really want to teach our children about what it means to live just before God; then we need to instruct them in dealing with doubt. Because the reality is, that the doubt does exist; and because it does, they need to be instructed in how to deal with it, and not grow up thinking that you never had a problem with it. Then what happens, is that when they will experience doubt within their own hearts, they could be discouraged in their own personal walk with God, by thinking that there is something wrong with them, that you never had. But in a perfect Christian home, instruction is given about all that God is working in us, as He is working it in us; however, there are rarely these types of settings, because we are all just so caught up in what's going on with ourselves, to take the time and consider what God would have us share, while we are going through something. This is really what it means: to not just be a doer of the Word, but to be a doer of the Work; which means to be doing the Work of the Father, and in the capacity of a father; as a priest of your home; instructing with care and honesty what is the character of not only God, but also of ourselves. Giving instruction of what must be done to come against the doubt which will be present, instead of putting forth a persona that we have everything right with God; because in reality, we will only be deceiving ourselves; the real you will be revealed in one way or another; so why not just put it out there through instruction? We have been given instruction for our own lives, and we must 'Pass the Torch'... "If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:21-24)

"The Just"

"But the just shall live by his faith": Just do it; or is there a little more to it? This word 'just' which is used here in Habakkuk 2:4, is the Hebrew word 'Tsaddiq': It means just, lawful, righteous, honest, right. Psalms 145:17 says, "The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works." God Himself is the standard of ethics and morality; it is part of His very nature and will. Only God is completely just in all His ways; man will always fall short, no matter how hard he may try. However, this word also describes an ordinary man who is honest with other men, and obedient to the laws of God. In verse 2:20, Habakkuk had come to realize that we are not to question the ways of God: "But the Lord is in His holy temple: Let all the earth keep silence before Him." This is a principle that is really hard to live out in our daily lives, because when you really think about it, and are honest with yourself; you will realize just how much you question what God is doing, or allowing to be done in your life. It is when we question God's work openly, that we really need to be attentive to our hearts; because it is in those moments that the people who are watching our lives will take notice. And guess what: In those moments are when the real you is revealed; that would be the you that doubts, and questions the ways of God. So, if you are trying to instruct your children, or anyone else, in the need to put all of their faith in God, then you you must be very mindful of what is in your own heart before you speak. Did you notice what I said? Okay: Sometimes we need to hold back from speaking what is upon our hearts, because sometimes our hearts are weary and full of doubt. So; when we say things like: 'I am worried about what is going to happen'; then those watching our lives will take notice of that little statement; and if those watching are your children, then they will doubt with you, but to a greater degree. Why is that? Because, they are looking to you for your spiritual leadership in how to trust God in all things; and when you doubt God, then they will doubt God alongside of you, but they will also doubt you, and your spiritual leadership. It is best to keep silent for the moment, if those things which you are feeling in your heart are against God; and I did say, "Against God"; because anytime that we doubt Him, then we are not trusting Him; and when we do not trust God, we sin against Him: Period! "But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and staightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.' (James 1:22-25)

"The Just Shall Live By Faith"

In Habakkuk 2:4, we see the other place in the Old Testament where the word 'faith' is found. In this portion of the Scriptures, Habakkuk is torn by his desire to know why God would allow an unrighteous people like the Chaldeans to punish men who were more righteous than them. In verse 2:1, Habakkuk says, "I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved." This he says after God has responded to him in 1:5-11, and basically tells him that He has given those evil men the power that they have to conquest. So, in verses 1:12-2:4, Habakkuk is confused by God's response, and believes his complaint against God's choice to use such a people was justified as he states what he does in verse 2:1. Then in verse 2:2, God answers , "And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: But the just shall live by his faith." This word for 'faith' is very similar to the other word for faith in the Old Testament; it is the word 'Emuwnah or Emunah', and it means firmness, steadiness, steadfastness, faithfulness, trust, honesty. It is used in the Psalms 22 of it's 49 times in the Old Testament, and has as its key idea faithfulness or certainty. It is especially important in expressing God's faithfulness. The Apostle Paul used this verse to express the importance of Faith being the justification for our salvation and not works. However, this particular word, has a deeper meaning than most would associate 'Faith' to mean; because it involves two levels of trust, honesty and steadfastness. It involves the level of God's position of being God, and that because He is God: We must trust Him, believe those things which He says, and we must know that He will complete those things which He has set out to do. It also involves a level of man's position to obey God; by being willing to trust Him, Believe Him, and to walk in a manor that would be considered steadfast. There is a special need to be steadfast in our lives as we follow God, and to express our trust in Him, for His plans for our lives, and to believe strong enough in His Word, that whoever is watching our lives, will not doubt that we believe it. This is particularly important with our children; because they are our church in a way. In other words; they will be watching your expression of faith in God through your trust in God to solve the family problems; through how you believe in the promises of His word, as you rest upon them in times of difficulty or distress; and most of all, they will be looking for steadfast leadership in pointing the way to the Truth. "When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when He cometh up onto the people, He will invade them with His troops. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds feet, and He will make me walk upon high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments." (Habakkuk 3:16-19)