"The Way of Truth"

 "The day following, when the people, which stood on the other side of the sea, saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but his disciples were gone away alone; (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:) when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus." (John 6:22-24 KJV)

  "Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously." (Isaiah 55:6-7 NLT)

 FYI: That message from Jesus about standing at the door, knocking, was given to the church! Oddly enough, I believe that this particular chapter in Isaiah was also meant to be for the believer; or should we say, the wayward believer! What makes a man or woman of God go wayward? Oddly enough, it is just a matter of degrees. 

 If you have ever tried to navigate a boat on the lake or in a bay, seeing the destination that you are aiming for, then setting your guidance towards that location; you are apt to miss your mark, if you do not pay attention to where you are going. The water below you is moving, the wind around you is moving, and you guidance system need only be just a couple of clicks off, and you could find yourself on a totally different shore than the one you were aiming for, or expecting to be at. 

 On the bright side, hopefully you will realize that you made the wrong choice somewhere, or maybe did not pay attention to the direction in which you were headed; so you can get back to where you belonged. Just like that, it can happen! You might not understand where or what; you only need to know Who! Yes! Jesus is the way! Call upon Him; fall down and cry out for mercy; whatever it takes to be in that right place, that place is never too far away! 

 This is not just about surrendering our lives: it is about, the power of God, that restores a life! I don't care if you went quickly or slowly, fell softly or with a powerful crash; non of that is even relevant, because you are just one prayer away from restoration in Christ Jesus; just ask, and you shall receive! 

 Don't try to make this about restitution or making yourself good enough to be accepted back; there is nothing you can do to fix yourself, only Jesus takes us there; only Jesus makes us right, again, and again, and again; oh my, this could go on and on! That's right: you still have breath, then you still have hope...

"After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin." (Hebrews 12:4 NLT)  

"Navigating the Truth"

"The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. They found him on the other side of the lake and asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" 

 "Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval."

 "They replied, "We want to perform God's works, too. What should we do?" 

 "Jesus told them, "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent." 

 "They answered, "Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, 'Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"" (John 6:27-31 NLT) 

  "Serve the LORD with reverent fear; and rejoice with trembling. Submit to God's royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities - for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!" (Psalm 2:11-12 NLT)

 By the way! Did you see the anything strange happening lately? Besides that new mandates and mask requirements, there is already Christmas stuff out on the shelves; which usually does not happen until after the first of November. I have noticed a ramping up of those who want to enjoy the Holiday Season, regardless of what 'the man behind the curtain' might say. 

 I find it rather interesting that John uses this opportunity to share something about the confusion with the way Jesus left, went, or departed from the crowds of people. It is almost as if there were forces at work to motivate them and keep them searching for something; something, they did not even know why, they just felt hungry for more! 

 If you were looking for truth, whatever that might be related to or about, what direction might you go to find it? That is really not a trick question. But, if you are concerned about anything important, the most reliable place to go for the truth, is the source! Seriously! If you have a relationship with God, then you need to stop pretending you cannot hear Him, and start asking questions! 

 I don't mean to be judgmental, but if what you hear does not violate the Scriptures, then you are pretty much on the right track; but if it does violate the Scriptures, stop trying to find someone to agree with what you might be hearing; because what you are hearing is not from God. Ask, Seek, Knock! All three of these are things which take place between you and God! You don't ask God a question and the go out into the world to seek the answer; and you surely don't go knocking on the doors, because almost everyone you ask will give you a different answer. 

 This is more about what God wants, then what we want! Our wants are typically all about us and those things we need to satisfy our earthly desires. Those things are given by God as blessings, not needs; the things that we need are those things which are eternal and involve the Kingdom of God... 

"He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as though the wilderness. And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left. Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul." (Psalms 106:9-15 KJV)  

"Just Like That!" - Too

 "Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went." (John 6:21 KJV) 

  "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20 KJV) 

 There are to ways to look at the word, "impossible," going forward, and looking back; either way, they should be a way to encourage and give us hope. If you look forward, it is impossible for us to fail, because God has promised us to get us through to the other side; looking back, it is impossible for God not to forgive us, because He says that He always would.

 This little bit of a skip, from here to there, "immediately," is what some might consider as something that is impossible; how can a ship travel from the middle of the sea, or lake, whatever you wish to call it, it was still impossible, for a ship, to immediately go from one spot to another! Maybe John just imagined that it happen that way; much like we might imagine sometimes that we have been forgiven of our sins! 

 If you look at the story through Matthew's and Mark's telling of the events, there's is a little different version; as they both say Jesus instructed the disciples to get into the ship and go to the other side, while it appears to John's version that they had been waiting for Jesus to join them. Then when it come to the journey across, Matthew and Mark say it like they all went over, as if it was a normal trip. 

 Not that the two do not have use of the word, "immediately," because they both did: Matthew used it to express how fast Jesus grabbed Peter's hand when he began to sink; Mark used it to express the speed Jesus talked to them, when they were struck with fear, after they saw Him walking on the water. Does anyone see that there is something that needs to be figured out here? 

 Just imagine what it might have been like: a little confused, a little bit excited, a little overwhelmed; maybe just a little bit at a lose for words. Whatever the case, everyone has there own special journey through this crazy life, but when we have Jesus, one way or another, we get to the other side: Guaranteed...

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 KJV) 

"Just Like That!"

 "Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went." (John 6:21 KJV) 

  "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." (Galatians 6:14-16 KJV)

 I don't know about you, but this concept of instant redemption and restoration, it might be one of the most powerful and anointed aspects of our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ! There really is not anything else that we need to do, but ask Him for forgiveness; He is always ready and willing to receive us back, we just need to want it, and the rest is history! 

 I know, it seems as though I have been too focused upon a particular aspect, which in all possibilities, is not even part of this story. Then again, it is practical and meaningful enough to make the connection; like taking David's challenge to Goliath, and making it about the taking down of strongholds in our life: just saying! There is something in every bit of God's word that can be used for drawing out and lifting up; He has given us His word as a roadmap for whatever road we are on, and for every journey we might encounter; it is all right there to be explored and revisited, time and time again. 

 Whether you are a new believer, or a well seasoned saint, there is never enough to learn or explore in God's word, no matter how many times you might have been down a certain road, there is always new things to find and treasures to be discovered...

"Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy upon me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat." Interlude.

"Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone." Interlude.             (Psalms 32:1-5 NLT)

 

"But He!" - Too

 "But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid." (John 6:20 KJV) 

  "Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance." (Hebrews 6:11-12 NLT)

 You know, there are some things which can cause of to be stronger, just by making us stretch a little further, then we previously thought we were able to stretch. If you need to use that term, "endurance," in a sentence, it should be easy to understand what it actually means, if you are able to express it in action. Much like faith, it goes on, not based upon what is already done, but based upon what is going to be done, by actually finishing the race!

 If you want something to be fearful of, how about the fear of quitting! You are almost there! You can't quit now! Basically, that is what endurance looks like; based upon faith, you are moving forward in the direction that God has told you to go, and you are not giving up, regardless of the distractions, the hard hills, the muddy waters, or the uncontrollable mistakes; you do not stop moving forward! 

 Yes, I might be crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way! God has not told me to quit, so much as I can tell; so this is what I do, until I hear otherwise, I will not stop. I mean, really; if you wanted something to compare this to, there you have it; and when I say this, I am talking about the average Christian life. Don't look in the mirror longer than you need to, or you will make a silly face to yourself, and crack a stupid joke! 

 On the lighter side of this, I do think it is rather funny; because Jesus is kind of showing off...

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." (James 1:2-4 NLT)

 

"But He!"

 "But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid." (John 6:20 KJV) 

  "The LORD says, "Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever. I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven. Israel will blossom like the lily; it will send roots deep into the soil like the cedars in Lebanon. It's branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees, as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon. My people will again live under my shade. They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevines. They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon."" (Hosea 14:4-7 NLT)

 Believe it or not, but there is always hope! Even when there seems like there is nothing left inside of us, there it is that you find your greatest hope, in your emptiness and humility; if you just surrender and put all your faith in Jesus Christ! Strange at it might seem, but those that abide in Christ will always find hope, even in their darkest days, the Light of Christ's love will become a beacon of Light in that darkness; but those that are pretenders and follow Jesus from a distance, they will always be discouraged by the Light, because the Light exposes who they are, and makes them weary; and they are not filled with hope, nor do they know what hope feels like. 

 I hope I have not offended anyone; but if I have, I hope that will be a self-awareness of something that might be wrong in your heart. Remember, it is never about us: it is always about Jesus! Besides that, if it doesn't kill you, you have the ability to be made stronger! That is, as they say, totally up to you; will you obey what the Lord is asking of you, or will you turn and walk the other way? Jesus is making it clear: "It is I; be not afraid!" 

 As much as I would like to think I have any sense of direction in any of this, I keep getting surprised by the shifting wind and the pounding waves. There is nothing we can do on our own; but Jesus, He is the anchor that holds my soul, no matter how hard the wind blows, or how powerful the waves might got, He is the Anchor for my soul! That is why we can choose to not be afraid: "If God be for us, who can be against us?" 

 Can you see yourself there yet? I hope not! We are not there until we are in His presence; but that is what we continue to hope for, by putting our faith in Christ Jesus, the One that gets in done! There is not any other way: we can't earn it, buy it, or make it out of something else; only Jesus can change our heart, making it brand new! I hope you see how that works; because we can't ask Him to do anything differently or make a new sacrifice intended for us: we are the one that must be made different; the sacrifice that must take place, is in us...

""O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from me."" Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the LORD are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall." (Hosea 14:8-9 NLT) 

"So When" - 2

 "And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid." (John 6:18-19 KJV)

  "Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them." (Jonah 1:11-13 KJV)

 So when, again, that it might happen, whatever it be; hold on and don't let go of Jesus! Basically, the way I see it, there is only thing that should make us afraid or give us concern: Are we being a good servant? If I were to make any type of wager on the percentage of those that worry about that, as simple of  task as it might be, I would most likely loose money. We really cannot know what is in anyone's heart; only God knows our hearts! We don't even know, until tested, what our heart might do and how we will react. 

 This is a very interesting picture of what it is like to try and do anything in our own strength! I really hope that we can see this, because we are constantly trying to be the one that moves that big rock! God has asked us to move it, so we pretty much consider it is our duty, as a good servant, to move something too big for us to move. It can almost be overwhelming, causing us to give up; making us wonder if we are even saved at all, having no power to control anything; we even to avoid doing nothing, even when there is nothing that we can do. 

 Speaking of giving up; sometimes that is what the Lord is waiting for us to do! Not to give up on Him, but to give up on doing anything without Him! Don't you know by now, He has the power to do it all! Suddenly we see Jesus walking on the water! Wow, here we are fighting this current, rowing with all our might; trying as hard as we can to get somewhere we think we need to be: and there is Jesus! Just like that, He is managing just fine, walking towards us on the water: doing that which we could never do on our own, ever! 

 By the way, I did notice that Peter's attempt to walk on the water is not mentioned; it is just a little curious to me, why? This is basically a lesson on Jesus' power, and His power alone! We must not ever assume that we have anything, although we almost always do! I am an empty suit, waiting to be worn and used by God; nothing good is in me that is of any use, except Jesus! Empty out your life, and let Jesus into every single part of who you are! 

 Anywho: this is something that has caught my attention; the point about the farmer burning up his field: if we are truly a believer, and if we have eternal salvation, and if we are causing thorns and thistles to grow in the farmers field, we can be taken out, but we are not lost! There still is a place for you in heaven! I'm just saying, in case you might have been concerned; as I might hope we are.

 This life is for you to shine the light of Jesus, in whatever way that God has chosen you to do. But this life is not the life we are living for; don't let it steal your peace and joy...

"Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with blessings. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. For the Scriptures say, "If you want to enjoy life and see many days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those that do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil."" (1 Peter 3:8-12 NLT 

"So When"

 "And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid." (John 6:18-19 KJV) 

  "Return, O Israel to the LORD your God, for your sins have brought you down. Bring your confessions, and return to the LORD. Say to him, "Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises. Assyria cannot save us, nor can our warhorses. Never again will we say to the idols we have made, 'You are our gods.' No, in you alone do the orphans find mercy."" (Hosea 14:1-3 NLT)

 I am also not so sure that Jesus did not bring the wind with Him; so we can't actually rule that out of this, somewhat suspicious, but oh so familiar, adventure! My mom would always say, "What does not kill you, will make you stronger." I believe that works in some situations, but not all; because if you don't have any hope in God, especially in something outside of this crazy life, then it is just punishment and hurt that is felt; nothing is left over but bad memories and bitterness over life. 

 Anywho: this is by far the one of the most interesting scenarios about real life stuff, be it, family matters, sinfulness, dealing with regret, feeling lost, unforgiveness; I don't care, you name the issue, it is all just stuff! Stuff reminds me of the stuffing in turkey at thanksgiving: If you don't prepare that bird right, it is all going to be contaminated and will make you sick! Life is going to be hard on you, whether you are saved or not: but if you are saved, no matter how hard life gets, none of it really matters! 

 Did you think I was going to talk about waiting on the Lord? We have moved past that, as it turns out: the Lord has been waiting on you! God has already done all that He needed to do, so if something is wrong in our lives, the fault is on us, not God's holy and righteous work. Besides that, if you are in the midst of the storm, even if it is the storm of your life, you are not being judged if you are His child: you are being strengthened! 

 So when, and I mean, and when, you feel that you are in the midst of whatever it is, you must know that God is waiting for you to change! You can row as hard as you want, but you are not going to change the outcome if you do not change you! Long story short: If it does not strengthen you, then it will kill you. (Note to self!)...

"When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God's blessing. But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it." (Hebrews 6:7-8 NLT)

"And When"

 "And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, and entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them." (John 6:16-17 KJV)

  "Some went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world. They, too, observed the LORD'S power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas. He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves. Their ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror. They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits' end. "LORD, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress." (Psalm 107:23-28 NLT)

 I just love John's expression of timing; how he will use terms like, After this, And then, And when; such a simple way to open up into a brand new adventure in following Jesus! We must understand that Jesus had set them up; which is, in his modest kind of way, how John expresses his insight into what Jesus did and why He did it. 

 In other words, Jesus had left them alone to venture off on their own; only to remind them how much they needed Him! I'm not saying that Jesus caused the sea to get tossed and the wind to blow; but there is no doubt that Jesus knew already what was going to happen. If the weatherman can predict the weather, don't you think the Creator of the weather, can determine what the weather will do? 

 Jesus did not show up, so that they might see what they needed to see! It is not something unusual for the life of a believer; it pretty much happens all the time; we just don't consider it being His doing, but our own; or worst yet, we blame it on the devil. If you don't yet know what I am saying, it involves the act of venturing off on our own, or stepping out on our own, because we are not hearing what to do.

 Sometimes, we might hear something, but think the Lord is speaking, and it might be our own desire. Sometimes, it might be the devil speaking, whispering in our ear, something that is seemingly right, but will usually have a wicked twist. The thing that is most important to understand, is that God's word, will never be used against His word. 

 So what are we meant to do? Wait! Yes, it is such a simple lesson, to just wait on the Lord! Even when we feel it is time to move, if the Lord is not there moving you, wait! If you are being told to move, yet what you are being told to do goes against the word of God, really wait, all the more! If you still don't know what to do, wait on the Lord!

 I know it might seem stupid, as if God won't bless us moving out on our own; because He does and will do things to correct our mistakes. But, those things we do on our own, will usually result in some sort of storm or misfortune; something we might regret, but nonetheless, something that will be a lesson to us, while giving God the glory. 

 Now, if you want to imagine how this played out: Jesus was up in mountain playing a waiting game with His disciples. Seeing that they were running out of daylight, the disciples would rather be at sea, in that they could see better at sea, when it is dark. So, Jesus waits; and as they venture off into the dark, He ventures down from the mountain to catch up with them, in their soon to be peril. 

 And when, whenever, we venture off on our own, we really are never alone! Just a little observation of my own, Not!!! I am pretty sure that John is trying to tell us that this is how it works: Jesus is always there, even when we think He is not, He never leaves us unattended...  

"The godly will see these things and be glad, while the wicked are struck silent. Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the LORD." (Psalm 107:42-43 NLT) 

"Jesus Walks on Water"

 "That evening Jesus' disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn't come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them, "Don't be afraid. I am here!" Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!" (John 6:16-21 KJV) 

  "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isaiah 43:1-2 KJV)

 The way I see it, Jesus used this moment as a way to show the disciples a very important part of who He was, based upon all that we see, all that we think we know, and the matter of time. Sometimes we just need a little peek into the other world that is around us, as a reminder that things aren't always the way they appear. 

 It might not mean all that much to some people, but there are forces in us and around us, so small and powerful, that if they could be increased in size, let's just say, our whole understanding of what matter is would change in an instant. There is just something about space and time that we really known hardly anything about. There are speculations and theories about all sorts of things; some of which, many of the most intelligent minds still know nothing about; they just make things up to satisfy their curiosity and to get grant money to keep making stuff up. 

 Be that as it may, if they would put more time comparing God's word into the things they were looking at, or looking into, they might actually grow some intelligent knowledge about how the whole universe works. Then again, it might actually give them a chance to learn something even more important than how the universe works: A chance to know God, the Creator of all heaven and earth...

"But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." (Romans 1:18-20 NLT) 

"The King!"

 "When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone." (John 6:15 KJV)

  "So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall." (Hebrews 4:9-11 NLT)

 Have you ever wondered why God didn't just give us obedient minds? Like, if He wanted to, He could have just made us to be like, shall we say, robots that obeyed His every word, without even thinking twice, or having a mind of our own. Isn't that the point? He wanted us to have a mind of our own! 

 In the case of these followers that wanted to take Jesus by force and make Him king; as much as it might have been a thoughtful thing to do, it was not that which was going to happen! Besides, Jesus was born a King! He was King already; He would be declared the King by Pilate, as He was placed upon the cross! To be totally true, meaning that there is nothing we can do to stop it, Jesus is King of all kings; not that they could have done anything to force Him to do anything, anyway! 

 I sometimes think the point is lost or buried somewhere in our distant memories; but when Christ Jesus came into our hearts, we were change in that very instant; some changed more than others, but none of us that truly believed in Him, were left unchanged. There was, and is, and always will be, something new in us that was not present before, because we have been transformed into His Kingdom! 

 That said, I have to admit, His Kingdom is vast and filled with all sorts of people that have minds of their own! We cannot find two minds which think totally and completely the same; as soon as you think that you are in total agreement with anyone, there is something that sparks a disagreement. This is what God has made in us, because it is exactly what He created us to be, creative beings! 

 Not that I have much to say about anything I have created, because most of what I think of making is still on my mental chalkboard; many of the words and figures have been erased or smudged over, so badly they can't even be read, But that is not because I have not wanted to do anything; it is just that something else became more important, and then those plans were faded away. 

 Anywho, I think that we need to stop thinking about what is happening around us, and start thinking about what is happening above us; because, The King is Coming...

"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two- edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable." (Hebrews 4:12-13 NLT) 

"The Wrong Conclusion"

 "Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, saith, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world." (John 6:14 KJV)

  "Moses said, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.' Then Moses said, 'Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from God's people.'" (Acts 3:22-23 NLT)

 As with most every movement, there is almost always a desire for life to be made better, either by way of our comfort, or by way of our happiness. Who wouldn't want a little easier life, one filled with more pleasure and less discomfort? Who wants to feel burdened by living and always looking for an easier way to make ends meet? 

 If, by chance you have come to Jesus thinking your life would be made easier, you have come to the wrong conclusion! Yes, Jesus did say, "Come to me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," but the rest we are expecting should not be that of an easier life in this world. If so, that we are expecting comfort and happiness, we will be very discouraged by the result. 

 I considered myself very fortunate to have been saved while I was in jail; there was no place to try and hide the testimony that needed to come out of me. It was uncomfortable, but at the same time, it was exciting to feel as though I had been sent free! Even though I was locked up, I was free to be used by God; and for the first time in my life, I could actually feel real joy; joy that was not based upon what I was doing, or based upon where I was; but based upon what Jesus had done, by giving me life: eternal life in Him! 

 Did I want to get out and be back at home with my family? You bet I did! But, at the same time, I was satisfied to be right where I was, used by the Lord! The longing to be home had not left me, but the hurt in my heart was no longer there. Instead, I was amazingly content, no matter where I was or what I was doing. I was blessed beyond measure! If you can imagine what that looks like from jail; which was actually not like a cell, but more like a dorm; so maybe that helped a little too.  

 Regardless, this is not what was happening in the hearts of those that had realized who Jesus was, because this was not what He came for, to give them free food to eat, or to make their lives more comfortable. The servant is never greater than his Master! Jesus said it would not be easy...

"Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad - for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world." (1 Peter 4:12-13 NLT) 

"The Gathering" - Too

"When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten." (John 6:12-13 KJV)

 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

 There are some serious things we need to understand about how all of this works; not just for a supply of resources and provisions, because those things are here today and gone tomorrow: but for strength to be a vessel that can be used for the glory of God! If you are aware that God does supply all of your needs, material needs, as well as all your spiritual needs, then you are more equip to stay strong and content in the times when you are tested. 

 If I had to make this something that was easy to see and be understood, the handling of money might be the easiest way to make the point more understandable. Money, to the child of God, is a lot like the manna was to the children of Israel in the wilderness; it is provide by God, it is to be used up, not wasted, and not horded or stored up. That might not work well for some, because they don't like the thought of being able to not worry about financial issues on the horizon; let alone, what will get them through the next decade or two. 

 The whole point of trusting God, is to be trusting God! That works in every single area of our lives; whether it is in our finances, our health, in our marriages, or in the ministry we serve in; we must trust God will provide for all that we need! Do you need love? Do you need patience? Do you need the gift of healing? Each and every thing we need, is given and taken away by God; He gives and takes away! 

 Please don't get me wrong, as I don't feel as though we should be unprepared; but this is more about being dependent upon God for all of your needs, be it anything at all! If you are happily married and you feel life is really good, thank God for what you have; but by all means, don't think you don't need His help in holding it all together!   

 The summary of all of this is the fact that all four faces never come apart, they move in unison, and they have one mission, all as one! In the life of the believer, we are to remain humble in strength, yet courageous in our purpose; even if that purpose is one that is demeaning or we feel despised; whether it requires suffering or persecution; especially if it makes use dependent upon God, more and more! 

 Yes, the eagle sores higher than anything else, but it doesn't get to do that without God! By the way: did you not know, without God's hand of protection and His ability to hold all of this universe together, nothing would remain of this existence! What is more important than that...

"Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and feel to the ground to worship. He said, "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!" In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God." (Job 1:20-22 NLT) 

"The Gathering"

 "When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that has eaten." (John 6:12-13 KJV)

  "For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you." (2 Corinthians 9:10 NLT)

 Yes, it is true, God does provide! We cannot even begin to imagine all that God does for us, most of which goes unnoticed and is not even things that we know are even happening. Something to think about, as we seem to be headed into a time of whatever! But whatever is never a problem for any of God's children, just incase you were looking for serious answers! 

 As I was scanning through some other information regarding these four faces, it would appear that there are serious variations of teachings on the order of which face has more priority in reference to the list of the Gospels. The one I noticed this morning has Jesus' using the Lion face for Matthew, the Ox face for Mark, the Man face for Luke, and the Eagle face for John. 

 "The Eagle Has Landed!" Mission Accomplished, is the meaning of that term; which pretty much means the completion of a mission objective or a great accomplishment. Seriously, I am not making this up! To be totally honest, I had a feeling in my gut that there was some connection, I just didn't know that the connection would be so complete and fulfilling. 

 The Ox is absolutely the Servant, there is no doubt about that. The Lion is, depending on your position as a servant is a symbol of strength; sometimes strength is in submission, as it requires more patience to be humble than it does to be aggressive or overbearing. The Man is Man, no matter how you slice it, the subject is subject to what it represents; but depending on your origin or position, the subject is life or death! 

 The Eagle, on the other hand, is able to look straight into the sun, without flinching! Don't back down from that which you are called to be or do, because you are anointed to be and do what God has chosen you for; it is written, so let it be done! In other words: The mission has already been accomplished...

"I do not mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me." (Philippians 3:12 NLT)  

"The Distribution"

"And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would." (John 6:10-11 KJV)

  "Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pay close attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh, and your brother, Aaron, will be your prophet. Tell Aaron everything I command you, and Aaron must commend Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country. But I will make Pharaoh's heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces - my people, the Israelites - from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD."" (Exodus 7:1-5 NLT)

 Okay, so it is perfectly clear, to be a servant of the Lord, is typically not the same as being a slave; at least not in the sense of the worlds view of what a slave is and is all about. Back in the day of Jesus, those who were slaves, if they loved their master, and having been set free from their master, would voluntarily set aside his or her rights in order to love, serve, and obey their master; thus, they were no longer a slave, but a servant. 

 The perfect picture of what it means to be a slave to Christ, is not one that is subject to being ordered around, as if there is nothing you do your own; but you know what your Master wants you to do, so you do it willingly and happily. The other portion of this, servitude, is that of yielding power, based upon the Master to whom you freely serve; this is not power that is in the servant, but is given from the Master; based upon who the Master is: Christ Jesus is Master of all!  

 I really don't know how else to explain it; because to be a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, one must first be empowered with courage! This courage is not from strength that is found in us, because it is not about us being strong; we are first the man, broken and weak; but in Christ we are made whole and strong. We are not that same person: we are dead in Christ, the old man is gone, and a new man has been raised in Christ. 

 This new man, empowered by Christ, is no longer subject to death, because it has already died and been given new life! This is where that courage to be a bold and faithful servant comes from; not from practice or from being good at doing anything; it comes from Christ living in and through your life. It is by faith in Christ Jesus, our risen King; He, as our loving Master has empowered us to be a living vessel, in the image of Him, to be used for His purposes, not our own.

 Is it easy? Not so much! But it sure feels good to be loved, despite being a failure at trying to be a perfect servant! We really can't be that perfect servant, but in Christ, we are made perfect; we just need the courage to keep moving forward, sometimes even if it feels as though there is nothing good in us! If we are in Christ, He dwells in us: He is God, and God is always good! 

 Paul gives us this example of being set free from the law; that which once had us in bondage to sin, because we could do nothing to keep the law; but having been freed from the law, we are now free to serve Christ, as a happy and willing servant. (Romans 7:4-6) 

 I am totally sorry for having messed this up! I am tired and it's been a long night. But, regardless of all of my mistakes and stupidity, He loves me and I know that my life is now in Christ! Even when I can no longer hold myself up above the water, He is always there waiting to lift me up. Sometimes we just need to learn how to drown...

"I have discovered this principle of life - that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin." (Romans 7:21-25 NLT) 

"The Notwithstanding"

 "One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but, what are they among so many?" (John 6:8-9 KJV)

  "Then the LORD became angry with Moses. "All right," he said. "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you. Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do. Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say. And take your shepherd's staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you."" (Exodus 4:14-17 NLT) 

 Keep on swimming! Don't ask me why, but that is something that just came into my head, thinking about that experiment with the rats in the barrel of water. Sometimes we just need something to encourage us to press forward, even though we might feel like giving up. Do you think that relates? or am I just too stuck in my own situation to focus upon anything else?

 Anywho; as it turns out, there actually is something here that needs to be connected to this little thing, which is actually a big thing, waiting to be go from little to big, at a moment's notice! Courage; is not something to take lightly; it is the ability to master your fear, and using fear to your advantage. How that actually works, I am still trying to figure it out. But the one thing I know, is that your perspective on a practical purpose, outside of yourself, is a very strong indicator as to where courage comes from. 

 Andrew has taken a step, although ever so slightly, into a world of the miraculous and unexpected. He might not have even known it at the time; but, just the thought of the possibilities is enough to open the door to something miraculous to happen. That is where it actually starts: by considering that it is, notwithstanding, possible! Because, with God, all things are possible! 

 I can not begin to tell you the amount of times that I have not spoken up. Call it fear of being laughed at, or just not wanting to be mistaken and look like a fool. Have you any idea of what I might be talking about? It goes way beyond the thought of solutions to situations; this is also the inclinations to pray for someone; to lay hands on someone; to actually heal someone, if that were even a possibility! 

 This is more real than we might know, but we will not know, unless we step-out in faith and get some courage! Not sure if you know this, but a little courage goes a long way; almost as if it has the ability to multiply within us; like cells of courage that multiply as they are used and put into action. If the lion face had a purpose to represent what we are in Christ, courage would be what might be represented in that face. 

 We see the face of the man, as being needy and without strength, yet the lion is courageous and will it step outside of itself...

"God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs." (Matthew 5:3 NLT) 

"The Intuition"

 "Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little." (John 6:7 KJV) 

  "But Moses pleaded with the LORD, "O Lord, I'm not very good with words. I never have been, and I'm not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled." Then the LORD asked Moses, "Who makes a person's mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what you say." But Moses again pleaded, "Lord, please! Send anyone else."" (Exodus 4:10-13 NLT)

 To be perfectly honest, I have little intuition in spiritual matters, such as knowing what others are feeling or thinking; that is something that I totally try to leave for the Holy Spirit's leading, not to my own emotions or feelings. That said, I get myself into lots of situations of being opposed, because I tend to expect that God will work things out, regardless of the way things might appear. It is really hard sometimes to be that guy, the one who says, 'Let's just see what God will do,' while others are thinking, 'Let's not take that chance, because there are options available, right before us.' 

 Not that I am always that way, because it pretty much depends on where I am with the Lord. If I am strong in the Lord, I have the ability to feel as though God can do anything; but if I am weak in the Lord, usually caused by unconfessed sin, then I have doubt, not even knowing which way is up or down. That said, again, if I am weak in the Lord, sometimes I throw away my own intuition, depending instead, fully and completely on the Word of God! 

 This is by far, the furthest from the situation we are presented with today. As a matter of fact, Philip has just been handed an opportunity to say something that Jesus was wanting to hear; but he took the worldly view, and seemed to forget who it was that he was speaking to! The question was, "Whence," which is not asking how much money was needed, but the place or origin; as in, from where; from what source! 

 Who gives! Who provides! Who keeps on giving!!! Stop doubting God based upon what you see is capable of happening, and start believing that God is still working in your midst... 

"Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." (Deuteronomy 8:3 NLT)

"The Examination"

 "When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do." (John 6:5-6 KJV)

  "Some time later, God tested Abraham's faith. "Abraham!" God called. "Yes," he replied. "Here I am." "Take your son, your only son - yes, Isaac, whom you love so much - and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you."" (Genesis 22:1-2 NLT) 

 If there were an easier way to explain this, I think it would be bottled and sold, much like an Elixir that might have been sold from those traveling Medicine-men, that travel around selling their goods. I think they traveled as they did, because there was really nothing of any lasting affect to what they sold; if they stuck around, people would demand their money back. 

 An easy way to show this, without getting too far into speculation, is with Abraham's testing by God's request for him to sacrifice Isaac. Much as it was during the creation of this earth, God always knows in advance what He is doing, why He is doing it, and what will be the result of what He started with. As it was with Abraham, God already knew, before He even called Abraham, that which Abraham would be doing with this request, and why he would not hesitate moving forward. 

 First things first: establish in your heart that God is Almighty, that He knows the beginning to the end, that He can create anything from nothing, and that He absolutely unconditionally loves you! Based upon those facts, it is easier to step out in faith, even if what you are doing seems to undo what has already been done; if God said to do it, then He will be glorified in it, no matter what! 

 That is by far the hardest part of this thing we call faith! We cannot see what God is doing, or why; but if we believe in those established facts, then we know that God's ways always are the best, even though we can't see how, even if it looks bad, or, shall we say, paganistic; even if it makes no sense, and is a completely impossible idea; God can and will be glorified in all that He does, or in this case, all that He will ask us to do! 

 I really don't have all day, so let's cut to the chase. The examination is not for God's benefit, it is for our examination of God and all that He is doing; not only around us, but in us, and through us. God does need to know anything; as Pastor Mike says, "God cannot learn!" There is nothing that can take place, where God might say, 'I did not know that,' because He knows everything there is to know!

 Do we understand that? and is it how we live out our life? But, you say: 'Why then does He allow things like this to happen?' 'Why is this or that not right?' 'Doesn't He care what I am going through?' 'Is He even listening to my prayers?' All these things and more, seem to be based upon one simple fact: We don't see what God sees! 

 Jesus looked and saw an opportunity to do something amazing! He didn't question how it would be done, but He questioned the one that questioned the possibilities; thus, going low, He will be lifted high! Okay, so I guess we will need to continue this again! In the meantime, think about where you were when you first came to Christ: Did you have your guard down, or was it up? Were you looking for a miracle, or were you pessimistic? 

 Having known what you now know, do you believe that God knows what He is doing? This is what God does, as He makes us examine ourselves; we get to see Him more, because we need Him more and more...

"Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means "the LORD will provide"). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."" (Genesis 22:13-14 NLT)  

"The Preparation"

"And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there sat with his disciples. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh." (John 6:3-4 KJV) 

  "Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night." (Deuteronomy 16:1 KJV)

 As I prepared for this, whatever it is that I consistently keep on doing, I was keeping my heart ready for God's voice to show me what it was He wanted to me say. This is not all that easy, because I feel that there is something important here; yet, it is hard to determine if it is just for me, or if it has a greater good, much greater than I can actually see, at the angle or direction that I am currently looking.

 Don't quite yet know how it applies, but the topic of discussion that I left off thinking of, was that of the confusion on man's free will; as to whether or not we are made a child of God based upon God's choosing alone, or if we actually have a choice. I know that my opinion really does not count, as if there is anything here that gives me credibility in such matters; but I do believe that we are all subject to the same exact love, none greater, none less, than anyone else; God loves everyone the same! 

 That said, I truly believe that God is All-knowing, meaning that He knows everything! He knows who will be His children, and who will fail to accept His offer, rejecting to be His child. It's unfortunate that it works out that way; but we are stuck not knowing who or what we are, let alone, knowing what it is that we shall become! 

 So, where that places us, on the scale of freedom of choice, is that we are 110% accountable to make a choice; the extra 10% is because we must to go over and beyond making a choice; we must also fortify that choice in our hearts. Fortunately for us, God is on our side! I know we don't get to see this, but I believe that He stands up cheering for us, knowing what we will do, but loving to watch, as we do what we do, that He wants us to do! 

 That is just my opinion, so you can take it or leave it, it's all up to you. I really like the fact that Jesus took His disciples up into a mountain; John seriously enjoys what he is doing, as he places these little nuggets of interest throughout the story he tells. There are certain things that I believe contribute to the sequence of events; places, times, reasons, circumstances; you have no idea what it is that you are going to do, where you are, when it will happen, whatever it is that is going to happen! But, crazy as this may seem; it really is, somehow, still your choice that gets you to the goal!

 We have no way of knowing who, what, where, when, or even why; but on the other side, (meaning Heaven,) it is all about Him and His amazing love...

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding . 

"God has revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ - everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan." (Ephesians 1:3-11 NLT) 

"The Powerless"

"And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased." (John 6:2 KJV)

  "A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn't speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all. The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn't been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel." (Matthew 15:30-31 NLT)

 Before I gave my life to Christ, I thought I was pretty tuff and could pretty much do whatever I wanted to do. Not that I had anything of greatness to my credit; but what I did, I usually did well enough to feel good about how I did it, even if it didn't work out. If I could place a name or reference to what that kind person was, the title above would most likely not be the one! 

 Then again, looking back at everything, the good, the bad, the hard times, the good times; the times of regret, the times to cherish; there was never a single moment in any of all those experiences of life, that I could hold or make my own. Nothing we have, can we hold onto! We might think it is ours, we might even claim it is so; but when it comes right down to it, we have nothing left when we go! 

 Having said that, I need to let everyone know: I have Jesus! Yes, I am well aware that He has me; so you really don't need to correct me. But, if there is one thing that I get to hold onto, Jesus is that which shall never leave me, nor forsake me, nor ever let go of me! What do you see when you think of that? A vast bright space of empty happiness? 

 No matter who you are in this world, or how much power you might think you have, you are weak and vulnerable! If the face of the man within the creature were to mean anything to us, it would be just that; we are just a man: a frail and lowly creature that is dependent upon God, for everything! Breath, life, love, peace; righteousness! I could go on and on about so many things, but it will all be about nothing, because only Jesus will remain! 

 Besides, think about how He came! For a portion of His life, He was a baby; can I relate...

"The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow."  (Ecclesiastes 1:18 NLT) 

"After These Things!" - 2

 "After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias." (John 6:1 KJV)

  "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:17-21 KJV)

 So, as it turns out, as I drove to church yesterday morning, I listened to a message about that which I wrote about early that very same morning. I thought to myself: 'Wow, this is really interesting, someone is sharing on the same passage from Ezekiel chapter One!' As I heard him speak, my mind began to whirl and my heart skipped a beat; the order I had given must have been wrong! How is that possible! 

 Yes, you heard me right! As this preacher was speaking, I heard him say, the face of the man was first, and the face of the ox was second. My first reaction was to go for my phone and look up the Scripture; but I had my wife in the van and didn't want to be distracted; so I waited until I parked, opened my Bible, and read it again. Did I miss something? Could this be happening? What is the reason for my mistake?

 I hope you don't get the wrong idea, but I am pretty sure that it has some political reasoning behind that choice in the order, not a Biblical matter! The order given was that of the face of a man facing forward, the lion face on the right, the ox on the left, and the eagle in the back; or if you want, the man's face at the top, the lion's at the lower right; the oxen's face at the lower left, and the eagle's face at the bottom.

 Did either one of those configurations specify any significant order? The order is specified in the list that is given; but that does not specify one over the other. If we want to get really picky; the order based upon the Gospels, in relation to Jesus Christ, John's Gospel account of who Jesus is, was, and always will be, wins out. 

 If you really want to get touchy-feely about the meanings and the order; right is always before left, when it comes to first verses second, as far as seating goes. And, if you really want to be twisted in a knot, turned inside out, and flipped upside-down: Jesus came of a Man, faced the cross as a Lion, became a sacrifice like an Ox, and was raised up from the dead like an Eagle! 

 You tell me, because from where I sit, Royalty beats being a servant; although, we are all chosen to be servants, we are also made children of the King! After these things, could mean a lot of things; but in the world of what it means to be a follower of Christ, after dealing with life, it means glory...

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10 KJV) 

"After These Things!"

"After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias." (John 6:1 KJV)

  "And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying, Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch." (Numbers 2:1-2 KJV)

 According to my calculations, this is the third event that is in all four of the Gospels; the first one being John the Baptist's testimony, the second being Jesus' first cleansing of the Temple, and this feeding of the 5,000 the third. Then again, I have been wrong before, so don't make that be my standard! 

 As for the verses that accompany this opening verse; the standards spoken of by the LORD, are based upon four flags that are given to represent four different groups of the tribes of Israel. This was the grouping that they not only camped in, but was also the grouping that they marched in, as they walked through the wilderness.

 If you could have witnessed the children of Israel moving through the wilderness, from the sky, you would have witnessed a shape that resembled a cross. Yes, that's right, a cross! Imagine what that might have looked like, and then imagine what it looked like in comparison to the Four Living Creatures that Ezekiel tried to explain, especially to how they moved. 

 It is also interesting what the standards had on them, as they had: first, and man; second, a lion; third, an ox; and fourth, an eagle. Now, to the Gospels, which are four in number, each one based upon four different aspects of Christ; in relation to His Ancestry, His Royalty, His Humanity, and His Deity. Just so happens; each of the writers of those Gospels are given a standard: Matthew, the man; Mark the lion; Luke, the ox; and John, the eagle. 

 Why do I bring up these things? Why does John indicate that the sea of Galilee is the sea of Tiberias? Why does this even start out talking about, After these things? Eagle eye's! That is what I get from this, not that it makes any sense, because at this point in time, it just seems to skim over the surface of all that I seem to be looking at; if I am even looking at anything important or of any interest. 

 Anywho; something that I believe needs to be clarified about John's gospel message, is that his was written far above any of the other three! And I will just leave it at that...

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:1-3 KJV)   

"Jesus Feeds Five Thousand"

  "After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw he miraculous signs as he healed the sick. Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, "Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?" He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. 

 "Philip replied, "Even if we worked for months, we wouldn't have enough money to feed them!" 

 "Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. "There's a young boy here with five barely loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" 

 ""Tell everyone to set down, Jesus said. So they all sat down of the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, "Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted." So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scrapes left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves. 

 "When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, "Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!" When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself." (John 6:1-15 NLT)

 Before I get too carried away, let me finish that thought from yesterday, as I was just a little bit wrecked by the end of yesterday's post. The whole point of my message was about those Jewish leaders having head knowledge of God's word, but not seeing The Word that was standing before them. The whole that they needed was right there, but they were stuck on their own thinking, so much, they could not even consider the nuggets of Truth that Jesus was telling them: their hearts were hardened to God's Word! 

 This is a sad state of affairs; not just for them, but in this current culture in which we are living, right now, in this country and around the world! Having seen for myself, the bitterness and discuss in the hearts of those, within the church, who are resistant to the teaching of God's word; I can only assume we are living in a time where God's word is offensive to the majority of those that call themselves a believer in Christ. Not that they don't like hearing a message, because there are plenty of people that are going back to church; but they don't want to feel uncomfortable or convicted! 

 Maybe the best thing that ever happen, was the thing we thought was the worst. The whole point of yesterday's post was that we cannot ever get to a place where we think we are not broken! We are in this fleshly body, that remains attached to this world, and we are still dealing with sin! If we don't think that we need help, then we are utterly helpless and alone. But if we know we need help, at least we have a chance to cry out to the Healer of our souls! 

 Anywho, I am really glad to be here; as this part of the story gets into the practical side of our faith! Regardless of where you stand, sitting down for a filling meal, is pretty much non-objective to almost every believer. Who doesn't like to eat? Besides, what basic principle could we talk about in this little miraculous sign? Oh, I know: Everything! Boomshakalaka...

"As I looked, I saw a great storm coming from the north, driving before it a huge cloud that flashed with lightning and shone with brilliant light. There was a fire inside the cloud, and in the middle of the fire glowed something like gleaming amber. From the center of the cloud came four living beings that looked human, except that each had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight, and their feet had hooves like those of a calf and shone like burnished bronze. Under each of their four wings I could see human hands. So each of the four beings had four faces and four wings. The wings of each living being touched the wings of the beings beside it. Each one moved straight forward in any direction without turning. 

 "Each had a human face in the front, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle at the back. Each had two pairs of outstretched wings - one pair stretched out to touch the wings of the living beings on either side of it, and the other pair covered its body. They went in whatever direction the spirit chose, and they moved straight forward in any direction without turning around." (Ezekiel 1:4-12 NLT) 

 

"Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?" -Too

 "But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" (John 5:47 KJV)

  "Of old hast thou laid the foundations of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee." (Psalms 102:25-28 KJV)

 So, it is established that we are completely broken, in need of critical repair, and absolutely without any hope of fixing ourselves; now, it is the moment of choice! We cannot see their hearts, but based upon the results of their actions, they certainly did not make the right choice! 

 The second thing that is required of us, is to believe in God's ability to fix us! Not just that He can, but that He will, because it is His will to do so, not our own. You know, I have watched so many people who give up, not because they have given up, but because they have felt as thou God has given up on them! If you don't understand what I just said, read it again, because it is very important! 

 When Jesus says, "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," many will use that to explain the way He chose His disciples; which is absolutely true, but not just based upon them, but everyone that is or will be a child of God! Why is that relevant? Based upon my knowledge of God's eternal nature and His ability to know all things, I know absolutely nothing! How, in all of God's creation, could I make any sort of realistic choice to pick God? Let alone, the God that fixes me because He loves me! 

 Be real! I had about as much chance of picking God to govern my life, as I did to fix myself from being broken! To be perfectly clear, I believe that God picks everyone; because with God, there are no favorites. But, not all will be the whosoever's, that we answer when He calls! Regardless, it is God that reaches out to us; and it is His will for us to be made whole! 

 The third thing, is much like the second, based upon the last, which is based upon the first: He will not stop: because He does not give up! He finishes what He started, even if I stop: He does not stop! This is why I cannot and do not give up: I keep on breaking, but He keeps on fixing me! Even when I think that I am done, He is the wind beneath my wings...

"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. 

 "In view of all of this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 

"The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.   

"So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:3-11 NLT) 

"Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?"

"But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" (John 5:47 KJV)

""Then the rich man said, 'Please Father Abraham, at least send him to my father's home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don't end up in this place of torment.' "But Abraham said, 'Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.' "The rich man replied, 'No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.' "But Abraham said, 'If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead.'"" (Luke 16:27-31 NLT)

 Basically, it all comes down to believing that God's word is true, every last bit of it! We cannot take the parts we like, make them true and relevant; but ignore that parts we don't like, and pretend that they do not mean anything to us. The Whole Word of God, will make us Whole! Maybe I did not make that perfectly clear enough: You like the good parts, right? The parts that you don't like, are most likely, then, what you need to listen to! 

 O well, we gave it a try; maybe there will be another opportunity to make it happen for real! Life is full of second chances, Right? Not according to the rich man; as he sees things in hell, you only get one chance to get this right, and then, judgment! I mean, you can pretend that it will all work out in the end, or you can believe that you must make it work out now, because the end is final; your choice! 

 Something to think about, if you can catch a break long enough to ponder. Besides, the chances to be used of God, usually don't happen in your quite moments, when you are at peace; they happen when you are being crushed and you are bleeding out Jesus! Wow, now that I think of it, I prefer to just share what Jesus has done to give me eternal life, rather than make my statement, being in the form of a frisbee, stuck along the side of the road!   

 We always have a choice! God has given us a will, that we can choose to do His will, or not; the choice to totally up to us! Besides, those that get a pass, don't ask for a pass! Weird as that might sound, it is somehow always true. If you are expecting to get away with something, you won't; but if you are looking to be punished for what you have done, you will usually get a pass. Check it out! 

 Anywho; there are three things which I believe we need to be made whole: The first of which is the right desire to be made whole! God, please help me...

"Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:21-24 KJV) 

"The Open Book" -2

 "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me." (John 5:46 KJV)

  "For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, "You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, 'Look, I have come to do your will, O God - as it is written about me in the Scriptures,'"" (Hebrews 10:4-7 NLT)

 As we begin to go into a period of great testing, most likely the greatest of this current generation, I truly believe that there needs to be a firm foundation established within our hearts and minds, as to prevent us from becoming overcome by unbelief. I am not talking about unbelief in God or in God's word, so much as we can truly understand it; but about God's power and might to overcome, thereby, making us also to be overcomer's in and through every trial or disaster, even unto death! 

 Not quite sure how we are able to sustain that kind of trust, without first believing that it is so; which is, real or unreal, based upon that which we have settled in our hearts. Do you understand what I am saying? Well, it is pretty deep! Actually, it is more than that: it is wide open and eternal! There was a reason Moses was okay with not going into the Promised Land, because it was not the real land he was looking forward to going into! 

 What I am trying to say, has to do with finality, where we have determined in our hearts, beyond all else, that even death cannot persuade us away; as a matter of fact, we will welcome it as if it is the beginning of something new and wonderful. This was the mind of Christ, in that it was His death on that cross, which was written about in the Scriptures, that was the goal; nothing else could have happened, because it was already planned to happen as it did.

 I hope you can see what it is that I am trying to say; because God's will sometimes might not look very pretty going in; but, man O' man, it is absolutely spectacular on the other side of whatever it is that makes it look ugly. We can witness this same principle in just about every major person in the Bible, and in just about every miserable story that is told: God is good, always, even through the bad, He makes all things good! 

 Listening to Dr. Chuck yesterday, I was reminded of something else, which had to do with our eternal security; and yes, I do believe that we cannot loose our salvation! You can throw it away: but if you did, it never was really worth anything to you to begin with! At least not worth what it was meant to be for; which is not anything that is of this world! 

 Dr. Chuck was speaking about a hypothesis of his, concerning the finality of those that are saved, but never do anything with what they have received. In other words, the whole idea about: Use it or loose it, kind of understanding; which is not based upon anything else but what we might do in this life, as if this life matters more than that which is to come. 

 Without getting into the details of something we know nothing about, I heard another such message given by Pastor Jon, as he shared about the inner court and outer court of the Temple; saying that there would most likely be an inner and outer court in heaven too. Just saying, we really have no clue what is to be expected; we have no idea who all will be there, and who will not; but what we do have and can have is a resolution within our hearts and in our minds, that that is where we want to be, no matter what! 

 Nothing else really matters! You can do whatever you want to me, because there is absolutely no way you can take heaven out of my future! The worst thing you can do, is the fastest way I get there: so there! Without getting too out-of-bounds, the open book is you and me; it is all of us, the church, the saints, the One that made it all happen! There is no end, there was no way to stop it, and God always wins...

"First Christ said, "You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them" (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, "Look, I have come to do your will." He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once a for all time." (Hebrews 10:8-10 NLT) 

"The Open Book"

 "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me." (John 5:46 KJV)

  "Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian." (Galatians 3:23-25 NLT)

 It might just have a little bit of a different look, but it shows us the same principle: teaching us that we need a Savior! Some people look at the Bible as if it requires someone to interpret it for them; as if they cannot understand what it says. This is true for those that are not God's children, because they do not see or understand those things which are of their Heavenly Father, and do not have the Holy Spirit to help them interpret the Word.

 Besides that, the Word is Christ Jesus; when we have fellowship with Jesus, we hear His voice plainly and clearly, and there is no need for interpretation. If you don't understand something, the Holy Spirit is the guide to help us. If we are still having difficulty with knowing what it should be speaking to us, we ask the Father to help, and He will fill us more with His Spirit, that we might see more clearly how the Word is to apply in or lives.   

 At least that is what I have come to understand, but that is just me; you can ask around and see if you will get the same answer, if you like. I have learned, by experience, there are plenty of other opinions out there, some of which do not quite line up with the Scriptures being the Word of God. Believe it or not, but there are some, even some in leadership positions within the church, that do not believe that the Bible is absolutely and unequivocally the Word of God! Go figure! 

 By the way: how can someone trust in the Word, yet, at the same time, not believe what it says is true? Is there really that much of a disconnect between the head and the heart? Some say, that 18" being the distance between the mind and the heart, is the same exact distance we have between heaven and hell. Just a little thing to think about, if you are looking definition. 

 Jesus spoke of something a little strange, as He used the notion of a camel going through the eye of a needle, comparing that to the chances of a rich man going to heaven; yet His disciples saw it as something that was completely impossible and said, "How then can anyone be saved?" Again: Go figure...

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1 KJV/NLT) 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1 KJV)

"Who Do You Know?" -Too

"Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust." (John 5:45 KJV)

  "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." (Galatians 3:10 KJV)

 To be, or not to be; that is the question! As I was pretending to know what it is I might be, be that as it may, I was under the curse; but when I realized that I was not, it was given to me the right to be what I am, because He is alive in me! 

 Okay, so maybe the real reason we don't push as hard as we should, is the reason really don't want to be made whole; because we know that it is true! If I really give Him my all, my all He will get. That is about as scary as it can get; to be changed through and through. Sometimes we just have to be, shall we say, pliable. You are what you are made for; that is not necessarily perfect, at least here on this earth; but you are to strive to be the very best you can be, perfect or not! 

 If we are not like clay, then we are not changeable and usable; it is best to just let God have His way in us, regardless of what we think or do. Not to change the subject, but I heard a message last week that keeps getting played back in my mind. It was about the Rich Young Ruler, and his answer to Jesus about having kept the whole law since his youth. When Jesus told him he lacked on thing, he was shown the one thing he lacked: "Thou shalt not covet." 

 Sometimes we just need to know who we truly are...

"But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus' disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with such scum?" Jesus answered them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor - sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent."" (Luke 5:30-32 NLT)  

"Who Do You Know?"

"Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust." (John 5:45 KJV) 

  "Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are." (Romans 3:19-20 NLT) 

 Having been certain about what I believe, it is abundantly clear that the most important thing for me to remember, beyond anything else, is the fact that my sins have been forgiven! We have settled that, so now we move forward in a relationship with our Heavenly Father; not because we have earned it, but because He has made it possible by His Son! Imagine what a sacrifice was given, that we should not cherish the thought, the purpose, and the finished work of the cross; all done for the Father's desire for fellowship with His children! 

 It is this concept that we must never cast aside, as if it were up to us, based upon the right we have to reject it, as if it were up to us to accept it! We have no idea the amount of planning that went into the day and hour of your salvation; we can only thank God for His mighty hand being upon our lives, regardless of the way we treated Him, He never gave up chasing us and holding us; and that was when we were sinners; imagine now, that we have been confirmed into the Family of God, the hold He has upon our lives! 

 Take a good look at this Scripture, because Jesus is peeling away another layer of their hearts, as He shows them, in whom they have placed there trust; it is not the one that is the Giver, but the messenger of the law. I know, it is really quite interesting to think about; but if you really stop and think about what actually means; it is really like us trying to save ourselves from dying, by building a fortress around our lives; only to find ourselves dying inside that same fortress.  

 You think about that, and let me know how it works; because the harder I try and figure it out, the more I get turned inside-out! Just remember this very important and undeniable fact: God loves you more than you know; He loves you more than you even love yourself...

"But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised by the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are." (Romans 3:21-22 NLT) 

"Take a Good Look Inside"

 "How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?" (John 5:44 KJV) 

  "Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." (Philippians 2:12-13 NLT)

 Maybe the most critical part of this journey, is the part where we fail to do or not do what pleases God. If there was anything that causes us to question who we are in Christ, it is the fact that we still sin and have not the strength within to get things right. This is the just of life here; but not the way things will be in heaven!

 If you wanted to be well, then it is more than possible for God to make you well; but if you still want to hold unto certain sins, then those sins will still cause you to be stuck on stupid! Not that you are stupid, because we already know what God wants and expects; but to be totally honest, we are not ignorant of what we should be doing, so there is only one other word to show our ailment, obtuse! 

 Here is the point to which Jesus is trying to get these Jewish leaders to see; if that were even possible! The reason that it is not, is because the point He is making, is the same reason that they will not see: they are annoyingly insensitive to the things of God, because they are more focused upon what man thinks. Another definition is that of being slow to understand; which in reality, in a complex spiritual world of doing the Lord's work, insensitivity is kept alive by just staying busy.

 Be still and know that He is God; is basically God saying, slow down and let the reality of Me catch up with your life...

"So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, or eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding." (Hebrews 6:1-3 NLT)  

"Witness of Authority"

 "I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." (John 5:43 KJV) 

  "And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was. That is why Christ did not honor himself be assuming he could become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him, "You are my Son. Today I have become your Father." And in another passage God said to him, "You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."" (Hebrews 5:4-6 NLT)

 "Before there was anything made, that was made." If you ask me what that means, the very first thing I would think of, is that there was nothing before something. I mean, really, what else could there be, if there be not anything? Not that I have any clue as to what was or was not; but it would make perfect sense to me, that if God is Spirit, to make something from nothing, He might speak it into existence. 

 There is something here that I believe will help in the understanding of what this might look like, the word, 'name.' Isn't it interesting that Adam was given the assignment by God to name all of the animals? If you stop and think about it, his duty to give them names, is pretty much him being given authority over them. If you can give something a name, then you have some sort of control over them, in some form or fashion. 

 Not to change the subject of the conversation, but when God renamed Jacob, the name He gave to him, was Israel; which just so happens to mean: Governed by God. If I am not mistaken, governed means to have authority over; much as any government can tell people that are living under it, what to do and when to do it. 

 Believe it or not, but the whole point made by the term, Generation, is the life lived within a span of time; but the Government spans many generations. Not to be out of place or stepping on any toes; but, if the Government has been established, the next generation must adhere to existing rules. Not quite sure how this has been taken to this level, but it would appear that there has been misunderstanding in the structure of the rules.

 To make sense of what it is that might be or not be happening, this is pretty much the point that Jesus is making to these Jewish leaders. The word, 'Name,' is the same word for both instances, the Father's name, and another who comes in his own name; both of which speak of rank, which is really based upon the subjects point of view. Even though that does not actually mean there is validity in what the subject believes; because anyone can be deceived into believing something that is not true.

 However, when it comes to believing in God's ability to govern, meaning that He has the power to do whatever He wants, nothing we might think about anything really matters a whole heck of a lot...

""After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshipped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of earth. No one can stop him or say to him, 'What do you mean by doing these things?'" (Daniel 4:34-35 NLT)