"And Let There Be Life!"

"And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they fill them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And the bare it." (John 2:6-8 KJV)

  "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV)

  In light of what we think we might know, we most likely don't know enough! Really, this is not just any miracle, this is like the Nile River being turned into blood; or, if you really want to get technical, if the blood of the Nile River represented death, the wine within these water-pots represents life! Seriously! 

  To put this into perspective: Moses is that which represents the law, the blood being made from the Nile, which is water, represents the word of God and judgment of sin, which brings death, under the law. Jesus did not come to judge the world, but that the world, through Him, might have life; therefore, the water, which again represents the Word of God, but in this case, it brings freedom from the law, represented by the wine, and gives life. (You can take it or leave; but I am holding to it as fact.) 

  Regardless, this is still a pretty amazing miracle and demonstration of power! As you probably know, wine is something that requires time for it to become any good at all; let alone to become really good! No sooner than the servants filled the water-pots with the water, Jesus was having them draw from those same pots, and the give what was drawn to the governor of the feast. 

  If you have followed this blog, then you have probably heard me share about what this proves when it comes to an actual six days of creation; not six-thousand years, as some might try to use their own understanding to compensate for impossibility; as if it really matters! 

  If Jesus can turn water into wine in a matter of seconds, would a 24 hour day allow Him to do just about anything that He wants? I know, the skeptics will try and use substance, as if the water was changed into wine, so that it could show that Jesus needed something to make something else. So be it, if you like to hold to that, because He can also change a wicked person into a saint; or a nonbeliever into a believer! 

  Besides, there is life in almost everything that we can see; there is even life in the things that we cannot see. He not only made life, He controls the life, and He holds the life together...

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist: and he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have preeminence." (Colossians 1:16-18 KJV)  

"A Mother's Intuition" -Too

 "And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." (John 2:3-5 KJV)

  "Mary asked the angel, "But how can this happen? I am a virgin." The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her." (Luke 1:34-38 NLT)

  A couple thoughts come to mine, as I ponder this question: Was it His time, or not? Some speculate that Mary was simply wanting Jesus so sooth the people over, as if His words could have caused them to take their minds off wanting more wine, and just be satisfied with water. Whatever you might think was her reason, I am pretty sure she wasn't expecting words to be part of the celebration; nothing the servants could do, had much to do about words! 

  If there is one thing that I know, having watched my wife with raising our son, mothers mark down things that their children do! Seriously, this is vitally important to this story! Especially in this modern day we are living in, everything is documented in seconds, with the click of a phone picture, with that flick of a post; hardly nothing goes undocumented, and everything is processed in the time it happens. 

  Okay, maybe that is not such a good thing, now that I think of it. If it can be stored in the cloud, why cloud your mind up trying to remember it? But seriously, my wife never forgot to write things down in her virtual Baby Book! She actually had a real book, but not everything went into it; most of the basic things did, like walking and talking; but the things that were unique and specially his, she made a place in her heart for them to be written down, forever! 

  I am convinced without a doubt, that Mary expected Jesus to do something; not something anyone else could do, but something that only He could do: A miracle! Even if it involved changing the water being poured out into their cups, or refilling the empty bottles! Nothing was impossible, as far as she was concerned; anything He told those servants to do, it was going to perform what needed to be done...

"When they couldn't find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. Three days later they found him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. His parents didn't know what to think. "Son," his mother said to him, "why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere." "But why did you need to search?" he asked. "Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they didn't understand what he meant. Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart." (Luke 2:45-51 NLT) 

"A Mother's Intuition"

 "And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." (John 2:3-5 KJV) 

  ""Where did you gather all this grain today?" Naomi asked. "Where did you work? may the LORD bless the one who helped you!" So Ruth told her mother-in-law about the man in whose field she had worked. She said, "The man I worked with today is named Boaz." "May the LORD bless him!" Naomi told her daughter-in-law. "He is showing his kindness to us as well as to your dead husband. That man is one of our closest relative, one of our family redeemers." Then Ruth said, "What's more, Boaz even told me to come back and stay with his harvesters until the entire harvest is complete." "Good!" Naomi exclaimed. "Do as he said, my daughter. Stay with his young women right through the whole harvest. You might be harassed in other fields, but you'll be safe with him."" (Ruth 19-22 NLT) 

  As Matthew Henry so eloquently says, "There was want at the marriage feast." Something to think about, on so many levels! Let's see, there was want of the guest, as they wanted more wine; there was want of the master of ceremonies, to satisfy the guests; there was want of the servants, that they might have something to serve to the guests; and there was want of Mary, the mother of Jesus! 

  What, pray tell, was she wanting Jesus to do? Maybe she thought he could go the the local liquor store, with His five buddies, and pick up a few cases of wine? Maybe she imagined Him knowing there was someone close by that a wagon filled with wine? Maybe, as I suspect, she wanted to see a miracle, and she knew He could pull it off! 

  When you look at the word, "intuition," there are some interesting stories behind what that word means and especially when it comes to mothers. A real good and simple meaning, one that fits the story here today, is this: "A thing that one knows or considers likely from instinctive feeling rather than conscious reasoning." 

  As reported within the Scriptures, this is the first miracle that Jesus would perform; so how did Mary know that Jesus was able to do something for the people's want? She obviously felt pretty sure of her instinctive feeling; otherwise she would not have told the servant to do whatever Jesus said, saying, "Do whatever he tells you." 

  It does not tell us what His brothers might have thought, if they were even aware she had said anything to Jesus or the servants; but from the end of this story, it is quite obvious that His brothers were there. I really like the NLT version of His reply, "Dear woman, that's not our problem. My time has not yet come." 

  It reminds me of how eagles teach their young how to fly, by knocking them out of the nest...

"But Rebekah overheard what Isaac had said to his son Esau. So when Esau left to hunt for wild game, she said to he son Jacob, "Listen, I overheard your father say to Esau, 'Bring me some wild game and prepare me a delicious meal. Then I will bless you in the LORD'S presence before I die.' Now, my son, listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you. Go out to the flocks, and bring me two fine goats. I'll use them to prepare your father's favorite dish. Then take the food to your father so he can eat it and bless you before he dies." "But look," Jacob replied to Rebekah, "my brother, Esau, is a hairy man, and my skin is smooth. What if my father touches me? He'll see that I'm trying to trick him, and then he'll curse me instead of bless me." But his mother replied, "Then let the curse fall on me, my son! Just do what I tell you. Go out and get the goats for me!"" (Genesis 27:5-13 NLT)  

"The Invitation" -To

"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there: and both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage." (John 2:1-2 KJV)

  ""Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent. 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 I will sup with him, and he with me."" (Revelation 3:17-20 KJV)

  Having been given so many chances to get right, I am pretty sure I have learned by now that God is full of patience, beyond what we deserve or could ever imagine. That said, I do believe that there comes a time in anyone's life, when God will, what's the word, "counsel," a man or woman to stop playing around and get serious about the new life that they have been given. 

  First and foremost, this is more that just a suggestion or a promise; this is God talking to a child, a spoiled one at that, and setting the record straight on who they really are, and letting them know what it is that they really need. You can take a pick of the condition, which ever is in the list; but each one that is listed is real, and, believe it or not, as long as we are here, they seldom go away! 

  Yes, it takes a miracle to change any one of these ailments; but the ailment will not be gone until we are at the marriage! Pay attention to what is said, because theses things that are bought do what is needed to supply our needs; but the need will still remain, as long as we are here in this fallen world. This is basic salvation 101: you will always need His help! 

  There, I can feel a little better, now that He has reminded me of what is wrong with my life! Anywho, this is more that just a special day in the life of Christ: this is a day when He gets to show so many things that will prove who He is and what He is about! I hope you can stick around, because I feel there might be a some emotional trauma; at least I know that there will for me.

  Which reminds me of something I heard yesterday, as someone called, TEMA, asking if there was a discrepancy in the Bible, with relations to the money given by David for a threshingfloor. In 2 Samuel 24:24 it says that David gave fifty shekels of silver for the threshingfloor and oxen; which was given to offer burnt offerings so that the LORD would stop the slaughter. Yet, in 1 Chronicles 21:25 it says that David paid six hundred skekels of gold by weight. 

  Not that it changes to subject, but what is your salvation worth...

"The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need." (Psalm 23:1 NLT) 

""Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David."" (Isaiah 55:1-3 KJV)  

"The Invitation"

 "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage." (John 2:1-2 KJV) 

  "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Colossians 3:16-17 KJV)

  To say that we are followers of Jesus, is something that involves humility and love; two things that are sometimes hard to pull apart, because where there is love, it must give, not take! This is by far the most simple illustration of what it means to expect something to happen, based upon your motivation and caring for others, above yourself. 

  Think about any of those times by which you were motivated to pray for someone, or maybe give a hand up to anyone in the name of Jesus. For it to be something of worth, you are less of the picture and more of a go-between. Mary was there for some reason, but Jesus was called to the wedding; as it is, whenever we do anything important or that involves other people, we need to invite Jesus to show up too! 

  Don't think that this is something I have all figured out, because it is just something I know is one of many things that I am still trying, dare I say, maybe thinking about, sometimes to remember to be that kind of person that has humility and grace. Usually, it is more like: My house, my rules! Even though I might go into it with some humility, but if it gets carried away or too messy, somehow humility has left the building.  

  Maybe a better topic for a little further on in this chapter; but in all honesty, we are obligated as the host to be our best; and our best is only achieved by inviting Jesus! 'Oh, but this is a party! Why or for what reason would we think about inviting Jesus to something that is outside of church?' Oh ye of little faith! We are the church!  

  Some mornings I just love doing this! Don't ask me why, but I anticipate that there is a reason for everything that happens, whether it is good, bad, or just another day at the office, if you start off asking Jesus to come along, something is bound to happen! By all means, invite Him and ask Him to do something...

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your heart, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15 KJV)  

"The Wedding at Cana"

 "The next there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus' mother told him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, that's not our problem," Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." But his mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, "Fill the jars with water." When the jars had been filled, he said, "Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies." So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. "A host always serves the best wine first," he said. "Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!" This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples." (John 2:1-12 NLT) 

  "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV) 

  As some of you might already know, this portion of Scripture is pretty near and dear to my heart; as it was the Scripture used by Pastor Mike at our wedding, while my wife and I were knelt at the alter, getting ready to partake of Communion, and Mike was going to give an alter call. His message was about the transformation made in our lives, after we accepted Christ, being represented by the water being turned into wine. 

  Not sure if we ever really knew exactly how many hands went up that day, but we knew of two that had, because it was shared with us later. But one thing for sure, I was so glad that we asked for an alter call to be performed at the wedding! This is something I had learned from a book that I had read, "God's Smuggler," by Brother Andrew. In his book, he tells about certain places where it was forbidden to gather for church, so they had many weddings and funerals, as a cover to gather for fellowship. 

  My basic thought was, since we are having a wedding, and we will be in a church (a place where many of those present would usually not go into), why not give a message and have an alter call?  It just seemed like the right thing to do! Besides that, this mighty miraculous sign Jesus did, happened during a wedding celebration, so it all made perfect sense. 

  If you are keeping tack, this third day, is what appears to be the third day after Jesus was baptized by John. Which, if I am not mistaken, is or can be, an illustration of Jesus dying on the cross, and then three days later, being risen from the dead. It is without a doubt, the most significant part of the transformation that takes place in our lives. Yes, the forgiveness of sins by His death on the cross is vitally important, but the fact that He rose from the dead, that is what brings us new life! 

  We can debate whatever we want to, and can disagree on whatever we want; but if Jesus had not risen from the grave, it would all be for not...

"And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone else in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died." (1 Corinthians 15:17-20 NLT)

"Jacob's Ladder"

 "And he saith unto him, Verily, Verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." (John 1:51 KJV) 

  "And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth; and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south; and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 28:12-14 KJV)

  If you have been walking with the Lord for any length of time, you probably have discovered by now that there are some things that are not all that different from the trials of those saved and the unsaved. The people that are not saved will be sick, as well as those that are saved; the unsaved will die suddenly, as well as those that are saved. But, there is a very distinct difference between these two sets of people: the salvation of one brings hope to cope, while the other has no hope to cope! 

  I know that might appear rather sever and dogmatic, as if you can cast people into certain categories based upon their belief or faith. Well, if you really want to be on the side of truth, then it is pretty much the way that it is: those who are saved have hope that goes beyond the trials of this life; those that are not saved, have no hope beyond anything, but this life. End of story! 

  So what is the deal with this Ladder? Something of a mystery, but one that is somewhat easy to make heads or tails over, if you are willing to figure it out. Because I have another life, I really don't have all day to interpret every little detail of what this means; but if you have any imagination of your own, you can certainly figure out that one illustration has God at the top of the Ladder, while the other has Him at the base of the Ladder. You can work at the rest and see what you come up with! 

  I have always been interested in Jacob's name, as one of the meanings is, Heel-Catcher. If you can be willing to look past the deceiver part of the meaning, as if that were even an issue, Supplanter is a term that can be one that is good, depending upon your point of view...

"To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:19-21 KJV) 

"Stronger Proofs"

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these."" (John 1:50 KJV) 

  ""For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath."" (Matthew 25:29 KJV)

  Maybe I might not have much to share, but if I can share the little that I have been given, the little bit I have can become much! This is the basic principle of Living Waters! If you believe in something, with even a little bit of passion, then that which you believe in will come out of you, in some form or fashion. This is what those in the science world might refer to as, Cause and Effect, or the principle of Causation! 

  When the Church was first formed, the movement was called, "The Way," which was the concept of this belief in Christ Jesus being the only way to be saved and have eternal life. As the Church grew and started to mature, the new name, which first started in Antioch, Christians; a name that might have been given as a derogatory statement to their character, but became a symbol of honor, to be considered as one of those who was seen as Christ-like.

  This is how causation works; as you move by what you believe, then your movement will always move you closer to what you believe in. It is really not rocket science; but it is how it works! When this is birthed in us, in gives us hope, which is the substance of faith: we hope for that which we cannot yet see, but we are always moving towards it with great expectations! 

  That is the basic meaning of Stronger Proofs! We believe in the basic truth, as to who Jesus is and all that He represents, and based upon the simple basic truth, greater things will happen, right before our very eyes! Which reminds me of what I have written right below Matthew 25:29; principle number one: "You can only keep what you give away!" This is the principle of current and flow, as it produces movement, which produces life, life that keeps on living...

""Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full - pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back."" (Luke 6:37-38 NLT)  

"The KING of Israel"

 "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and said unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God: thou art the King of Israel." (John 1:47-49 KJV)

  "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee." (Psalms 2:1-7 KJV)

  Real and powerful, two words that come to mind as I read this encounter and hear the words spoken between two men, one that is the seeker, the other, Him whom he sought! I know, here I go again, reading into the word, and speculating what is being said, even though the word is silent. But is it really? I know it is telling a story, one that is a little odd, but must have happened: but looking at this from the point of what is being said, it is indicating that there was something they knew of one another.

  Let me tell what I think, and then you can make yourself have some sort of opinion. First of all, this word, "Guile," is pretty interesting, as you might know, Jacob was named that because of deceit, as he caught hold of heal of his brother in childbirth. Yet, as you should also know, his name was later changed by the Lord, technically and physically, the Lord changed his name to Israel. 

  Oddly enough, there is more to this story, which is soon to come; but for now, I will keep this focus upon Jesus and Nathanael. For Jesus to say, "an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile," then he would have had nothing to hide and have been seeking the truth; much would be the case of anyone that is governed by God, that they would there is nothing hidden from His sight.

  Totally speculation, but I would imagine that Nathanael was sitting under that fig tree and was reading from and studying the Scriptures; if that were even possible, which I believe that it was, especially if it had been a Psalm, which was written for singing from. Based upon his answer to what Jesus said of him, in my opinion, it was probably Psalms 2 that he was reading from, which was what he based his realization upon, "thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel." 

  Anywho, that is my observation, and I think that I will stick to it. Besides that, I think it is rather interesting that Nathanael had made that comment to Philip, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Another way we might look at this, is that this proves he was a truth seeker. Matthew Henry says, "His caution was commendable, that he did not lightly assent to every thing that was said, but took it into examination; our rule is, Prove all things." 

  Whether you might know it or not, that is our rule, whether is be known or unknown, it is all able to be proven by the Word of God...

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesying. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-23 KJV)  

"Come and See"

 "And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Phillip saith unto him, Come and see." (John 1:46 KJV)

  "Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" (Psalm 34:8 NLT)

  Believe it or not, but this too is a choice! I can't help but think of all those times when I felt as though I didn't want to go to church, either because I felt lazy or just out of sorts; but when I made that choice and said, I am going no matter what! It was only then that I discovered I was meant to go and was glad that I slammed evil in the process! 

  This is pretty much a typical double negative, which is when you think of something that is wrong or bad, and then blame it on something else, something like the weather, or a particular place, or even a person. I know people that have the strangest way to make a negative out of every single thing that is positive; no matter what, if you say, I'm going to take a walk in the woods, they respond, There are bears in the woods, you will probably get eaten. 

  Truth be told, it is real in my heart as well! When I feel prompted to do something, like pray for someone, or share Jesus to someone, or even lay hands on someone to pray for them to be healed, there is that voice inside my head, that says, Don't make a fool of yourself, or this is not the time or place; or worse yet, You are not that guy! 

  I can remember back in the day, my wife and I would go to the After-Glows at Calvary Chapel Downey; they were held on Sunday nights, and Pastor Jack was usually the one that would head them up. When we did the prayer times, when there would be someone that would say something in tongues, Pastor Jack would ask for an interpretation. There were a couple of times I could feel as though I had heard and understood what was said, but I never was brave enough to stand up and speak. 

  Without getting all mystical or weird, let me tell you something that I have learned over these last several decades: God shows up when we want Him to! You want to see something really happen? It is not as if He is away or not around, because He never leaves! It is always us that change and don't want to be disturbed! It is us that hesitate or turn away from seeing Him do this or that, mostly because we know it will make a difference! 

  Maybe it is just me; but the thought of disrupting or changing the way things are, is sometimes more fearful than not knowing what comes next. When God says, "Come," our heart needs to Go!" When God says, "See," our heart needs to pay attention! Again, it all comes down to choices...

""Listen, you who are deaf! Look and see, you blind! Who is as blind as my own people, my servant? Who is as deaf as my messenger? Who is as blind as my chosen people, the servant of the LORD? You see and recognize what is right but refuse to act on it. You hear with your ears, but you don't really listen."" (Isaiah 42:18-20 NLT) 

"Two by Two" -Two

 "The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow Me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (John 1:43-45 KJV) 

  "This is real love - not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." (1 John 4:10 NLT)

  Not that it hasn't already been established, because it has been this way all along; but the whole reason for that, Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, was that we love God by choice. Everything love is about is based upon choice: you must choose to do what is required to love! God provided that tree in the midst of the garden, that Adam and Eve might choose to love Him; they would choose to love Him by obedience to the one thing that He asked them not to do.  

  Basically, this is a two-way street: God proves His love for us in everything He does! Nothing is held back, as He proved by sending His Son to die for our sins; He chose to do this, because it was the only way that He could save us from our sin, which, for the sake argument, is the lack of love that we have for Him! God says, 'Do this and don't do that,' not to make our lives difficult or make us to follow His commands; His commands are given so that we know what to do so that we might please Him! 

  I know it might be hard to sometimes understand, because we just don't usually communicate this way; as if to instruct those we love, what they must do or not do, if they wish to show love back. For us, it is pretty much understood how we should treat one another; yet, we fall short in that regard also, without even trying! 

  As much as I would like to, I cannot be perfect throughout the day! I set out each morning to start my day with one goal in mind, to love God, and love everyone as myself. It really does not take very long at all, and that goal is soon forgotten, because it has failed. Simply put, love requires a choice; you either do or you don't do, whatever it is, it is done or not done for love to be, or else, love is not! 

  God does everything He does because He loves us! I know, there are things we feel He could or should do, as if it is what we expect to see to know He loves us. But this little time here is nothing compared to what He has planned for our eternity with Him. What is a 100 years of this, compared to eternity in heaven? Not that I plan on being here that long, but that is totally up to Him!  

  Okay, so what does this stupid title, Two by Two, have to do with anything I have just said? Oh, goodness, for goodness sake! There are only two choices we have to make! Jesus demonstrated that when He decided to go to Galilee! Philip demonstrated it when he chose to follow Jesus; the he showed it again, when he went to find Nathanael. Should I stay or should I go...

""Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you will obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken!"" (Isaiah 1:18-20 NLT) 

"Two by Two"

"The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (John 1:43-45 KJV)

  "Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, invincible in battle." (Psalm 24:7-8 NLT)

  How often I wish there were more chances for me to have a do-over, a chance to just make something wrong into a right; or at least take something back that I said or did, as if it had never happened. No, it just does not work that way, so we must just live with our mistakes and try not doing them again. Yes, try is a three letter word for maybe! 

  This is the part of the story that makes me take a second look. Where was Jesus going from, as He would go forth into Galilee? It is maybe just me, but I have always been amazed by way God changes the direction of way things come about. Just when you think there is gong to be something that will turn out one way, God flips it around, and makes it all about something else. 

  Taking a serious chance to understand what might be going on, we need to first understand what it is that God is looking for, and way it matters for us to be available to step out when He calls us to follow Him. I am still wondering what, but I have given up on trying to figure out why. That said, nothing is out of the ordinary with the way God chooses to work; whether it is by comfort or pain, poverty or riches, man or beast, land or sea; nothing is too impossible with God, when it comes to making His will come about! 

  If you have not been paying attention, this went from those two who followed Jesus, to Jesus finding Philip, and saying, "Follow me." I know, it is just part of the story, we shouldn't read that much into what isn't being said; like Pastor Mike always says, 'If the Bible is silent about something, then it is probably shouldn't be said,' or something in that form or fashion. 

  Anywho; here is a little taste of something to chew on, Matthew Henry adds to this mix, speaking of Philip: "What mistakes and weaknesses he laboured under: he called Christ Jesus of Nazareth, whereas he was of Bethlehem; the Son of Joseph, whereas he as but his supposed Son. Young beginners in religion are subject to mistakes, which time and grace of God will rectify. It was his weakness to say, We have found him, for Christ found them before they found Christ." 

  As it is, there is really nothing that gets by God without His knowledge of it; there is nothing we can do to change what God is going to do, despite what some might try to say: If God said it will happen, then it will happen, regardless of what we say or do! He is the one that is pulling the strings...

"I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! I don't 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 3:10-12 NLT)  

"Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael"

 "The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Come, follow me." Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter's hometown. Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, "We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth." "Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" "Come and see for yourself," Philip replied. As they approached, Jesus said, "Now here is a genuine son of Israel - a man of complete integrity." "How do you know about me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, "I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you." Then Nathanael exclaimed. "Rabbi, you are the Son of God - the King of Israel!" Jesus asked him, "Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." Then he said. "I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth."" (John 1:43-51 NLT) 

  "The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the LORD, ye his angels. that excel in strength, that do his commandments, harkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul." (Psalms 103:19-22 KJV)

  Here is, what many might contend, is a perfect picture of divine appointments; as we are to expect and should expect for God to lead us to, and prepare us for, opportunities to lead people to Jesus. Maybe it might just be that we point the way, or add to the direction someone might be searching; either way, it is what I believe is the primary reason for us to be hanging around. Lord knows, it is not just to so that we can become better Christians! 

  Other than being the hands and feet, we are the vessels that God will use to accomplish His will. You don't even need to know what you are doing, just you showing up is sometimes enough, you just doing what you do, whatever that might consist of, or how ever God is going to use you. Strange as it might sound, God is able to use whatever He wants or needs to use; even objects that do not move or have life of their own, such as driftwood or rock formations on the side of a cliff. 

  Besides that, the purpose of God's calling upon our lives, is for His will, not our own! Everything that is done, whether it is intentional or by mistake; even something that might seem to be against His will or that is done in rebellion to His commands; nothing really gets done on this little blue ball that He is not aware of or is not ready for to happen. 

  I guess you could pretend it isn't so, but in the end, God's will will perfectly be accomplished...

"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do my pleasure: calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it." (Isaiah 46:9-11 KJV) 

"A Stone" -2

 "And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon, son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone." (John 1:42 KJV)

  "The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those that fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die." (Psalm 103:13-15 NLT)

  I just could not leave this unattended and undone; because we have a hope that goes beyond the grave, which must be lived out in our lives, regardless of what the circumstance is we are currently living in. Whether or not you can realize it, your life has purpose and God is faithful to finish what He has begun in you; even if you might not feel as though you want to finish, He doesn't give up! 

  If you think about this Psalm, and what David is saying; this is making the case for God's determination to make our lives count! It is His heart for us, as a loving Father, that knows our condition, never gives us more than we can stand, and takes to the place we need to be, that place of counting on and needing Him more and more. 

  We might not get the picture that God is painting, but it is not just about us! This is about a wonderful end, one that will never end! I can't help but think about that lesson about baking cakes; how that tasting the ingredients by themselves gives to indication whatsoever how good the cake will be when it is done! 

  Besides that, Jesus is my Rock, and I am happy to be a stone! Welcome to the family of God...

"For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your soul." (1 Peter 2:21-25 NLT)

"A Stone"

 "And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone." (John 1:42 KJV)

  "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming , as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:1-5 KJV)

  Before I go any further, let me say that my life has recently been, what I would consider, a wreck. Not that it matters much either way, it has been wrecked for quite some time; but lately it has been more obvious that there are some things I seriously have no control over, even if I try! Be that as it may, I feel as though it is something that is good to realize; if you don't know there is something wrong, then you are apt to just live as though you are perfectly fine. 

  Not to change the subject, but I suspect that Peter was a little surprised by Jesus calling him by name; not only by his name, but Jesus also knew his father's name as well. I think this is something we sometimes can loose sight of, that Jesus knows who we are, what we are going through, and what it is that we need! I am lost without Him, because this is no longer where I long to be! 

  Calvary Chapel doctrine applied, a wherefore is therefor a reason to ask what it is there for? What is the reason we must lay aside all those bitter things and desire that which taste good? Because: "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but by incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." (1 Peter 1:23 KJV) 

  Self-evaluation can be applied, if anyone is interested. A small little stone might have crept into my heart, called passing time! I have noticed my attention lately to how long and why. Two things that I believe we should not be focused upon, as it is not something we need to know, nor can we do what God requires to make anything happen. We must do what stones do...

"I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven. We keep looking to the LORD our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal. Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy, for we have had our fill of contempt. We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud and the contempt of the arrogant." (Psalm 123 NLT) 

"The Fruit" -Too

"One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ." (John 1:4-41 KJV)

  "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalms 119:105 KJV)

  I light of all that is going on, it is good to know that you have answers for those that might be seeking for some sort of truth; that is if you are committed to and believe all that God has put into your heart! Silly as this might sound, but we think too hard about things we don't quite understand, and when we do that, we begin to doubt. (Answer: READ YOUR BIBLE!)

  That was more for me, than it was for anyone else; in case you were wondering. But seriously; when God puts something upon our hearts, it is intended for us to do it, not to think how or why, but to step out and be a vessel for Him to work through. He will do the work, we don't need to worry about how or what to say, we just show up and open up our mouth. 

  I know that might seem rather mysterious and awkward, because in your flesh it is and always will be; but when you are walking in the Spirit, it makes perfect sense! Think about this for a moment, and ask yourself, Who is it that counts to be speaking, in whatever kind of sitting, between two people or a huge crowd of people, you or God? 

  Regardless of what you might think of, Jesus clearly says: ""But when you are arrested and stand trial, don't worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit."" (Mark 13:11 NLT) Now, imagine if this is good advise under such harsh conditions, shouldn't it also apply for everyday encounters? 

  Besides, apple trees don't need to work to make apples: apples grow on apple trees naturally! Which reminds me: Sir Isaac Newton discovered the law of gravity when a apple fell upon his head; maybe it takes a little knock upon the head to get us to listen...

"For Christ didn't send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News - and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power. The message of the cross is foolishness to those that are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent."" (1 Corinthians 1:17-19 NLT) 

"The Fruit"

"One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is being interpreted, the Christ." (John 1:40-41 KJV) 

  "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this, it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things ewe have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)

  When it says, "first," I believe that it means when I came to the knowledge of who Jesus was. How soon that was, it didn't say, but many believe it was the next day, implying that they stayed with Jesus until the next day because that first day, in the evening, it became the Sabbath. 

  To be fair, I can only imagine it was the first thing that he did, as in, the things he did before going home, or back to work, or before doing anything else. Obviously, Andrew knew that his brother, Simon, was interested in and looking forward to the coming of the Messiah; so it was more pressing upon his heart to share with his brother that he had found Him. 

  We really don't need to get wrapped up in the technical reasons or motivations in Andrew's desire to share Jesus, because it is what should be part of what happens in each and every one of us. It happen in me, and it happens in almost everyone else; it is what you might call, the fruit of being Born Again! It is this new way of seeing the ability to be reconciled to God, and knowing the fellowship is real. This is really not something you can make people understand, but it is something you can share and let them know how it comes about. 

  That is not hard, as some might think there is schooling involved to make one wise enough to lead someone to Jesus; it is simply you sharing how you came to know Jesus, and then letting God do what God does best: He saves them! We can all do our part, whatever part that is that He gives us, we just do whatever it is that He has called us to do! 

  If ever there was a time to be about our Father's business, this time we are in right now is pretty ripe! Matthew Henry puts a nice little taste to what I am trying to say, by saying: "True grace hates monopolies, and loves not to eat its morsels alone." Sharing makes your fruit grow...

""They will be my people," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "On that day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."" (Malachi 3:17-18 NLT)  

"The Call Answered"

 "He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour." (John 1:39 KJV) 

  ""Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God's mercy."" (1 Peter 2:10 NLT)

  Maybe the greatest feeling that we can ever experience, is the weight that is lifted when we experience God's mercy! Such a simple and yet complex thing it is, to simply surrender your life over to the Lord Jesus Christ. Simple, because it is something you simply do; complex, because it is so hard to figure out and explain how it works! 

  Believe me, I have tried several times to find a simple solution to show how it works, yet it never can be explained well enough to justify the reality of being set free from sin. How do you paint a picture of what takes place in the spirit of a man or woman, except you live through it yourself? It just can't be explained because it only is know by experience. 

  Anywho; this is the point in which there might be a tiny bit of misunderstanding. There are some that paint the picture that Andrew and Peter were the first to become disciples of Jesus Christ; first of three, maybe, but not the first two! If you have not been paying attention, there were two of John's disciples that left to follow Jesus, one was Andrew, the other is the writer of the message, John! 

  If you get right down to it, John goes through great lengths to avoid mentioning himself; using third person characters to show himself, or not even saying anything at all, except, the two, or two of them. The only example that I can think of where it was not the case, and I could be wrong, was the end of his message, where he says, "I." 

  As I have mentioned before, I might not remember the actual date when I was born again, but I can surely remember the time! What time is it, anyway? Some say it is noon; some say evening. I say it is high time we pay attention to the Season, because the day is nigh! By the way, the impossibility of the earth being billions of years old, is based upon the degree of the sun's rate of burning up: at the rate the sun is being consumed, the earth would have been a ball of fire a billion years ago...

"Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last day scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, "What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created."" (2 Peter 3:3-4 NLT)

"The Move" -2

 "And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is the say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?" (John 1:37-38 KJV)

  "My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body." (Proverbs 4:20-22 NLT)

  A very interesting point must be made of the question asked of Jesus, "What seek ye?" or as the NLT says, "What do you want?" Some might interpret it in the negative, as to put forth the notion that Jesus just going for a walk and didn't really want to be bothered. If that is what you might think, don't even begin to assume that is the case; this is not a question Jesus is asking for Himself, as if to say, Why are you following me; but rather, a question He is asking of them, that they might see why within their own heart. 

  If you want to relate this question to another example in the Bible, you could look at it in the case of God asking Adam, as He called out to him, "Where art thou?" (Genesis 3:9) It is impossible to believe that God did not know where Adam was, because God knows all things! A simple little fact that is easy for us to forget, as we might pretend to sin without Him knowing what we might do! 

  Jesus has said very clearly, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," as it is Him that makes the way for us to hear, to turn, and to listen! We must not ever forget that He is the one that chose us, because in times of trials and disappointments we can never blame it on ourselves, but instead, we can look to God for strength; after all, it is His fault we are in whatever situation, because He chose us! 

  Don't look at me, I'm just using Adam's excuse for messing up! But seriously, if God places you in any sort of ministry or calling, and you somehow get thrown into fire or even the lion's den, you must never blame yourself for what is happening. If you have done nothing wrong in God's eye, then you are in that fire or lion's den for His glory to be worked out through your life, whatever might happen! 

  Anyways, this minor example of God's choosing still involves us making a choice! If you are looking for this proof within their answer, the best one I have to show you is found in the Book of Ruth...

"But Ruth replied, "Don't ask me to leave you or turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God, Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!" (Ruth 1:16-17 NLT)  

"The Move"

 "And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?" (John 1:37-38 KJV)

  "Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call him now while he is near." (Isaiah 55:6 NLT)

  So, if you do believe the Bible is the Word of God, how important is it that we follow it? I know, you are wondering why I ask such a stupid question; everyone that believes in the what it says, knows that we must adhere to all of the instructions! Well, it turns out, those instructions we must follow, many of them are based upon an individuals interpretation, their will to listen, and the desire to please God. 

  In this simple illustration I believe that we see something important to what motivates a person to God; not just to seek Him, as if you are looking for God to show up in whatever is going on in your life: but to seek Him to actually do something, which requires that you actually call out to Him for help. This is not something I believe we have within us naturally, as if there is some part of us that draws us to God. If you take the word of God literally, then it is God who makes the connection to us, not the other way around. 

  Without getting into a discussion over predestination and all that stuff about choice or no choice; let me be absolutely clear, that each and every believer must come to God on their own fruition! In other words, you must know what you are doing, believe why you are doing it, and make the move on your own! It is basically the same for every single person: there most be more than just some sort of misguided action, as if you are unaware of what you are doing. This is something that requires surrender, which it turn, requires that you know Who you are surrendering to! 

  Does that mean we know what exactly it is that we are doing? Not so much what, but why! Why do I need this is far more important than what am I doing! Abraham is a very good example of what I mean; as he hardly ever understood what it was that he was meant to be doing; he only understood why it was important to listen to God. "God said. I believe, that settles it," is not just something made up from a song; it is what must take place in our hearts when we understand a promise made from God! 

  There are many things that God tells us to do, that, to the world's standard, would seem totally foolish and sometimes even the opposite of what is normally done. Giving up all that you have, and following Jesus; that might be really really foolish in the eyes of many who know you; but you might ask the Rich Young Ruler about that, when you see him in heaven. (Just my opinion!)

  This is more about Who we see and why it is so important to follow Him, wherever He might lead you...

"We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy." (1 John 1:1-4 NLT)