John 4: 43-53
After two days (in Samaria) He went forth from there into Galilee.
This is because the people of Sychar asked Him to stay, so He spent two days teaching them.
For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.
Jesus grew up in Galilee, in the town of Nazareth. We'll see how things go when he reaches that town.
So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the Feast; for they themselves also went to the Feast (of Passover).
These people had gone to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, in obedience to the Law, and personally saw the miracles Jesus performed there. So they welcomed Him.
Therefore He came again unto Cana of Galilee where He had made water into wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum.
When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.
News got around of where Jesus was, word of mouth travelled far and wide. And the stories of His miracles were growing His popularity. Everyone with a need thought Jesus could fix it.
This royal official knew Jesus could heal, but he thought Jesus would have to come all the way to Capernaum to do the miracle.
So Jesus said to him, Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.
The royal official said to Him, Come down before my child dies.
Jesus said to him, Go, your son lives.
The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.
As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living.
So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, Yesterday at the seventh hour (1:00 pm) the fever left him.
So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, Your son lives; and he himself believed and his whole household.
So because Jesus did this miracle, they believed, just as Jesus had said.
This is the second time Jesus healed at a distance, from Cana to Capernaum. The other time was when He healed the Centurian's servant (Matthew 8:5-13). This is a most amazing thing. Not only can He touch the person, or the person touches His clothes; but when He simply says a word, and the sickness obeys and leaves the person at a distance. This is proof that Jesus has authority over all Creation, He's not just doing slight-of-hand tricks.
Jesus understood Quantum Entanglement, because He made everything, from the atoms and molecules up into planets and people. He knows how everything works, and He is Lord (Boss) over it all. So it all obeys Him.
O my Father, You have put all things into Jesus' hand. You, God: Father and Son and Spirit; thought up, designed, planned out, created, and made everything that exists. And Your Son agreed to be Lord over the Earth, to have the responsibility for Mankind. So He has been the Lord of the First Covenant, as well as the New Covenant.
He appeared to Moses to give him the Law, so that Mankind would recognize Him as doing all the Law and the Prophets, fulfilling what they wrote so long ago. Now, because He has fulfilled the requirements for our complete cleansing, He has made us fit to live with You where You are, in Heaven.
And because He was willing to pour Himself out as the Sacrifice, You have put all Creation into His possession, to be Lord over all (Philippians 2:6-11).
So now every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord over all, and has authority over all. He is our Lord God Almighty, our Brother in the New Birth, our Bridegroom as His church the bride, as our King over all other kings and Lord over every other lord.
All praise and honor and glory and riches and blessing are to You Alone, forever and ever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, March 24, 2019
Saturday, March 23, 2019
The Woman At The Well
John 4: 5-42
The Woman at the Well
When Jesus knew that the Pharasees had heard that He was making and baptizing more disciples than John, He knew it was getting dangerous to stay in Judea, so He went to Galilee, where He was from. To get there, he took the short route, through Samaria. Most Judeans who wanted to go between Judea and Galilee took the long way, around Samaria on the other side of the Jordan River, to avoid those people they considered to be half-breeds, mongrels.
But Jesus wanted to go through that territory.
So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph;
And Jacob's Well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about the sixth hour (noon).
Jesus had been walking all morning, and it was noon now, and He was tired and thirsty, so He was sitting by the well.
There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, Give Me a drink.
For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, How is it that you, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan and a woman? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
Jesus was asking her for a drink, not making a demand. He always showed respect for people, and He was not predjudiced against her like the Jewish leaders were. He wanted to give this woman the opportunity to know the Truth.
Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.
Jesus is referring to Himself in the third person, a common way to speak, explaining a vital part of what He wants to do for her.
She said to Him, Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do you get that living water?
She is thinking in Earthly terms, just like Nicodemus did. It's natural for us to do that, since we live here, under the Sun, so we tend to think this is all there is in life.
You are not greater than our father Jacob, are you, who gave us this well, and he drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?
Now she's suspecting that this Man may be more than He appears to be ...
Jesus answered and said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.
She's getting an idea, but still doesn't get the full scope of what He's saying. Jesus is talking about water, because they're by a well. And this woman came out to get water at the hottest part of the day, when no one else would be there.
The woman said, Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.
This sounds good to her, to not have to come out to the well every day and haul water back to town. How convenient!
He said to her, Go, call your husband and come here.
This would be expected, as women were not leaders, they were under their husbands' authority, and the husband would need to know what the wife was learning so He could lead her in it. But Jesus also had another reason.
The woman answered and said, I have no husband.
He knew she would say this.
Jesus said to her, You have correctly said, I have no husband; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.
He was complimenting her on her honesty, and letting her know that He really did know her, and accepted her anyway.
The woman said to Him, Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.
She's getting closer. Since He knew what an ordinary stranger wouldn't, then He must at least be a prophet. So she'll pursue this, and ask Him something she's been thinking about.
Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
So who's right?
Jesus said to her, Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshippers.
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth.
He's laid it all out for her here, about carnal and spiritual Truth.
The woman said to Him, I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.
Now her understanding is expanding, and she's starting to get the picture. So she is asking if He really is the One. So He tells her right out.
Jesus said to her, I Who speak to you am He.
Here's where the disciples return with the food, right at the climax of their conversation.
So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, Come, see a Man who told me all the things I have done; this is not the Christ, is it? (Could this actually be the Christ?)
Jesus had summed up her whole life with what He said to her, and she probably knew all the men of the town, so she's going to let them see for themselves.
They went out of the city and were coming to Him.
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Him, saying, Rabbi, eat.
But He said to them, I have food to eat that you do not know about.
So the disciples were saying to one another, No one brought Him anything to eat, did they?
Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish His work.
He was "eating" so much spiritually that He wasn't even aware of His physical hunger any more!
Do you not say, There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. [The mission fields.]
Already he who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.
For in this case the saying is true, One sows and another reaps.
I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.
We are all, as children of our Father, to be "laboring" in scattering the seed of His Word. All of us are given the assignment to plant all over the World, to spread God's Truth among all the Nations; and others of us are sent to harvest, to reap the ripened crop, and lead individuals to faith in Christ.
It has been said that each person must hear the Gospel multiple times (7? 12?) before it will sink in and produce Salvation in that individual. So don't expect every person to come to faith as soon as you share with them. They may need to hear from several sources, to validate the Truth in their minds. Many are planting, others are reaping.
Now we return to today's story.
From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, He told me all the things that I have done.
So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.
Many more believed because of His word;
And they were saying to the woman, It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the World.
Now, because the woman shared her testimony, there are many of the people of this town believing in Jesus as Messiah; not just from her account, but because they were listening to Jesus Himself, and were certain of His identity, and put their faith in Him.
O my Father, help Your children to realize their responsibility to share their witness of what You have done for them, just like this unnamed woman that came to the well where Jesus rested. She didn't stay there with Him alone, she ran into the city and gathered them all with her words, to come see for themselves. This is what we all should be doing.
Help me, Father, to get out of my little comfortable cocoon into the wide world and cast the seed of Your Word broadly to reach many fields; that some may land on that fertile soil that will produce much fruit.
And permit me, my Lord of the Harvest, to help You reap some of that fruit, with others of Your missionaries, to gather into Your barns to overflowing. To find all the lost sheep and corral them into the safety of Your fold.
Then I look for my King to return to His Kingdom on the Earth, to rule in righteousness and justice.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Woman at the Well
When Jesus knew that the Pharasees had heard that He was making and baptizing more disciples than John, He knew it was getting dangerous to stay in Judea, so He went to Galilee, where He was from. To get there, he took the short route, through Samaria. Most Judeans who wanted to go between Judea and Galilee took the long way, around Samaria on the other side of the Jordan River, to avoid those people they considered to be half-breeds, mongrels.
But Jesus wanted to go through that territory.
So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph;
And Jacob's Well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about the sixth hour (noon).
Jesus had been walking all morning, and it was noon now, and He was tired and thirsty, so He was sitting by the well.
There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, Give Me a drink.
For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, How is it that you, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan and a woman? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
Jesus was asking her for a drink, not making a demand. He always showed respect for people, and He was not predjudiced against her like the Jewish leaders were. He wanted to give this woman the opportunity to know the Truth.
Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.
Jesus is referring to Himself in the third person, a common way to speak, explaining a vital part of what He wants to do for her.
She said to Him, Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do you get that living water?
She is thinking in Earthly terms, just like Nicodemus did. It's natural for us to do that, since we live here, under the Sun, so we tend to think this is all there is in life.
You are not greater than our father Jacob, are you, who gave us this well, and he drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?
Now she's suspecting that this Man may be more than He appears to be ...
Jesus answered and said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.
She's getting an idea, but still doesn't get the full scope of what He's saying. Jesus is talking about water, because they're by a well. And this woman came out to get water at the hottest part of the day, when no one else would be there.
The woman said, Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.
This sounds good to her, to not have to come out to the well every day and haul water back to town. How convenient!
He said to her, Go, call your husband and come here.
This would be expected, as women were not leaders, they were under their husbands' authority, and the husband would need to know what the wife was learning so He could lead her in it. But Jesus also had another reason.
The woman answered and said, I have no husband.
He knew she would say this.
Jesus said to her, You have correctly said, I have no husband; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.
He was complimenting her on her honesty, and letting her know that He really did know her, and accepted her anyway.
The woman said to Him, Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.
She's getting closer. Since He knew what an ordinary stranger wouldn't, then He must at least be a prophet. So she'll pursue this, and ask Him something she's been thinking about.
Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
So who's right?
Jesus said to her, Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshippers.
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth.
He's laid it all out for her here, about carnal and spiritual Truth.
The woman said to Him, I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.
Now her understanding is expanding, and she's starting to get the picture. So she is asking if He really is the One. So He tells her right out.
Jesus said to her, I Who speak to you am He.
Here's where the disciples return with the food, right at the climax of their conversation.
So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, Come, see a Man who told me all the things I have done; this is not the Christ, is it? (Could this actually be the Christ?)
Jesus had summed up her whole life with what He said to her, and she probably knew all the men of the town, so she's going to let them see for themselves.
They went out of the city and were coming to Him.
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Him, saying, Rabbi, eat.
But He said to them, I have food to eat that you do not know about.
So the disciples were saying to one another, No one brought Him anything to eat, did they?
Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish His work.
He was "eating" so much spiritually that He wasn't even aware of His physical hunger any more!
Do you not say, There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. [The mission fields.]
Already he who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.
For in this case the saying is true, One sows and another reaps.
I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.
We are all, as children of our Father, to be "laboring" in scattering the seed of His Word. All of us are given the assignment to plant all over the World, to spread God's Truth among all the Nations; and others of us are sent to harvest, to reap the ripened crop, and lead individuals to faith in Christ.
It has been said that each person must hear the Gospel multiple times (7? 12?) before it will sink in and produce Salvation in that individual. So don't expect every person to come to faith as soon as you share with them. They may need to hear from several sources, to validate the Truth in their minds. Many are planting, others are reaping.
Now we return to today's story.
From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, He told me all the things that I have done.
So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.
Many more believed because of His word;
And they were saying to the woman, It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the World.
Now, because the woman shared her testimony, there are many of the people of this town believing in Jesus as Messiah; not just from her account, but because they were listening to Jesus Himself, and were certain of His identity, and put their faith in Him.
O my Father, help Your children to realize their responsibility to share their witness of what You have done for them, just like this unnamed woman that came to the well where Jesus rested. She didn't stay there with Him alone, she ran into the city and gathered them all with her words, to come see for themselves. This is what we all should be doing.
Help me, Father, to get out of my little comfortable cocoon into the wide world and cast the seed of Your Word broadly to reach many fields; that some may land on that fertile soil that will produce much fruit.
And permit me, my Lord of the Harvest, to help You reap some of that fruit, with others of Your missionaries, to gather into Your barns to overflowing. To find all the lost sheep and corral them into the safety of Your fold.
Then I look for my King to return to His Kingdom on the Earth, to rule in righteousness and justice.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, March 22, 2019
John The Baptist And Jesus
John 3: 22-36
After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing.
John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and being baptized--
for John had not yet been thrown into prison.
Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification.
And they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from Heaven.
You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, I am not the Christ; but, I have been sent ahead of Him.
He who has the bride is the Bridegroom; but the friend of the Bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly because of the Bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.
He must increase, but I must decrease.
He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the Earth is from the Earth and speaks of the Earth. He who comes from Heaven is above all.
What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.
He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is True.
For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.
He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see Life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover when Nicodemus came to Him by night, and we were able to listen in on what He was teaching him.
Now after these things, He left the city and was out in the countryside of Judea, baptizing. And John the Baptist was still baptizing, too. But an argument arose, because John was baptizing first, but more people were coming to Jesus to be baptized by His disciples than were coming to John.
When they asked John about it, we get his comment, that "He must increase but I must decrease." John displays a very complete and coherent understanding of just who Jesus is, the Son of God Himself. This must be the Holy Spirit speaking through him, because later, when he was in prison, he sent a messenger to ask Jesus if He really was "the One."
And Jesus said that John was among the greatest of God's prophets of all time.
John clearly told them that he was not the Messiah, but God had sent him to go before the Messiah to prepare for Him. He is only the friend of the Bridegroom, like the best man, who stands up with the Bridegroom, but bows out at the proper time, and is happy for Him, enjoying the party.
But it is the Bridegroom Himself who is from Heaven, and talks about Heavenly things. John can only talk about Earthly stuff, to get ready for Messiah's coming.
John pointed to Jesus as the One to follow. Jesus is the Son, loved by the Father, and come to Earth specifically to rescue us.
Jesus is the only One Who could save us: He was God, the eternal Person Who could pay our eternal debt to God in Time, when it would take us eternity to pay it; and He had a genuine human nature, He was a real Man, which qualified Him to die a human death for each of us. He is the only Savior, the only Mediator between God and man.
So we need to trust Jesus, Who is our Christ. There is no other. Without Christ, the wrath of God is upon us all.
O my Father, You are so good to us to reveal to us Who You are, to let us get to know You. Unless You had chosen to do so, there is no way we could ever know anything about You. You are totally Other than everything You created. We are all Your imagination--if You would not be thinking about us, we would not exist!
And Your Love and care for us extends all the way to sending Your own Son to come and be one of us! It's like if my son loved his Lego people so much that he decided to be a Lego guy with them to help them! Yes, impossible; but that's exactly what You did. You are outside our whole Universe, yet You came into History as one of us! Nothing is impossible with You, God! You're incredible!
I can hardly wait to see my King Jesus return to this vale of tears to wipe all tears from our eyes, to rule in perfect righteousness and purity, and this World will experience its only true Golden Age!
Then we will reign with Him forever, in the New Heaven and the New Earth; and every other World that will come after that, forever and ever!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing.
John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and being baptized--
for John had not yet been thrown into prison.
Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification.
And they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from Heaven.
You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, I am not the Christ; but, I have been sent ahead of Him.
He who has the bride is the Bridegroom; but the friend of the Bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly because of the Bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.
He must increase, but I must decrease.
He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the Earth is from the Earth and speaks of the Earth. He who comes from Heaven is above all.
What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.
He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is True.
For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.
He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see Life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover when Nicodemus came to Him by night, and we were able to listen in on what He was teaching him.
Now after these things, He left the city and was out in the countryside of Judea, baptizing. And John the Baptist was still baptizing, too. But an argument arose, because John was baptizing first, but more people were coming to Jesus to be baptized by His disciples than were coming to John.
When they asked John about it, we get his comment, that "He must increase but I must decrease." John displays a very complete and coherent understanding of just who Jesus is, the Son of God Himself. This must be the Holy Spirit speaking through him, because later, when he was in prison, he sent a messenger to ask Jesus if He really was "the One."
And Jesus said that John was among the greatest of God's prophets of all time.
John clearly told them that he was not the Messiah, but God had sent him to go before the Messiah to prepare for Him. He is only the friend of the Bridegroom, like the best man, who stands up with the Bridegroom, but bows out at the proper time, and is happy for Him, enjoying the party.
But it is the Bridegroom Himself who is from Heaven, and talks about Heavenly things. John can only talk about Earthly stuff, to get ready for Messiah's coming.
John pointed to Jesus as the One to follow. Jesus is the Son, loved by the Father, and come to Earth specifically to rescue us.
Jesus is the only One Who could save us: He was God, the eternal Person Who could pay our eternal debt to God in Time, when it would take us eternity to pay it; and He had a genuine human nature, He was a real Man, which qualified Him to die a human death for each of us. He is the only Savior, the only Mediator between God and man.
So we need to trust Jesus, Who is our Christ. There is no other. Without Christ, the wrath of God is upon us all.
O my Father, You are so good to us to reveal to us Who You are, to let us get to know You. Unless You had chosen to do so, there is no way we could ever know anything about You. You are totally Other than everything You created. We are all Your imagination--if You would not be thinking about us, we would not exist!
And Your Love and care for us extends all the way to sending Your own Son to come and be one of us! It's like if my son loved his Lego people so much that he decided to be a Lego guy with them to help them! Yes, impossible; but that's exactly what You did. You are outside our whole Universe, yet You came into History as one of us! Nothing is impossible with You, God! You're incredible!
I can hardly wait to see my King Jesus return to this vale of tears to wipe all tears from our eyes, to rule in perfect righteousness and purity, and this World will experience its only true Golden Age!
Then we will reign with Him forever, in the New Heaven and the New Earth; and every other World that will come after that, forever and ever!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Nicodemus
John 3: 1-21
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
This man was one of the high-ranking VIPs in the Jewish system of religious government.
The same came to Jesus by night,
He would not come in the daylight, because he didn't want it known that he had sought Him out, to take Him seriously. Nicodemus was sneaking out to see Him.
and said to Him, Rabbi,
This is a title of respect, given to teachers of the Scriptures.
We know that You are a Teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles that You do except God be with him.
Now Nicodemus is professing faith in Jesus, and seeking Truth.
Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you [He's teaching here], Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
Here Jesus is teaching him a basic Truth.
Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born?
Nicodemus took Jesus literally, in an earthy way.
Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you [He's teaching again], Except a man be born of water [material] and of the Spirit [spiritual], he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God [also spiritual and material].
God is Spirit, and Life is spirit, so God's Kingdom is spiritual; and when it comes here to be actualized on the Earth, it will also be material.
So Jesus explains this to Nicodemus:
That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the water breaks and the child is born], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit [the Holy Spirit comes into our human spirit and makes it alive].
Marvel not that I said to you that you must be born again [Don't be surprised at this].
The wind blows where it lists, and you hear the sound of it but you cannot discern where it comes from or where it goes; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
Jesus is telling Nicodemus that just as you can't see the wind, but you can feel it and see what it does; that's how the Spirit works in our spirit, you don't see the spiritual with your carnal eyes, but you do see its affects, what He does through us.
Nicodemus answered and said to Him, How can these things be?
He's asking Him how all this works out, similar to when Mary asked Gabriel how she was going to conceive without a man. Not doubting the Truth of it, but asking about the mechanics of it, how it works out.
Jesus answered and said to him, Are you a master in Israel, and you don't know these things?
Jesus is chiding him, as Nicodemus has studied the Scriptures all his life and is considered an expert, but he hasn't grasped this basic Truth that undergirds all the rest. You have to have spiritual life to communicate with God Who is Spirit.
Truly, truly, I say to you [Teaching again], We speak what we know, and we testify to what we have eyewitnessed; and you have not received our witness.
The Jewish leadership was not open to hearing His Truth; they were expecting something else, and afraid of the Romans who had conquered them.
If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how can you believe if I tell you about Heavenly things?
We must choose to believe the foundational things, then we will be able to build on them and trust the higher concepts. The material comes first, then the spiritual (I Corinthians 15:45-46).
And no man has ascended up to Heaven but He who has come down from Heaven, even the Son of Man who is in Heaven.
Jesus is talking about Himself here, He is the Son who was given, by being born as a human child (Isaiah 9:6, the [new] child is born, but the Son [from Eternity past] is given).
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up:
That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus is referring to when poisonous serpents were biting the people, and God had Moses make a serpent of brass and set it up high on a pole, and whoever had been bitten by a snake, if he looked up at that brass serpent & believed that God would work through it for healing, then he lived (Numbers 21:8-9).
Jesus will also be lifted up on a pole, the Cross, as the Lamb of God, dying in our place to rescue us from death.
For God so loved the World, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Here's the verse that is memorized by every Christian child. This is Jesus' purpose for coming to Earth. His whole reason. He doesn't want us to perish, but to live with Him where He lives, forever. That's why He came.
For God did not send His Son into the World to condemn the World: but that the World through Him might be saved.
Jesus' Blood has unlimited value, its worth is more than enough to pay for the sinfulness of every person who ever lived. His invitation is open to every living creature, in every Nation, every language; to every sinner who faces the truth of his own sinfulness and turns to Him for cleansing.
He didn't say that the World will be saved, but that it might be saved. He won't force Himself on anyone. We each must choose to accept His authority over us, and admit our culpability. Then His Blood will wash us white as snow (Isaiah 1:18), fit to live with Him in His perfect Heaven.
He that believes in Him is not condemned: but he that does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only-begotten Son of God.
He says they are condemned already, we are all born in sin, the sin-nature that we inherit as humans from Adam. So we're all born deserving death.
And this is the condemnation, that Light has come into the World, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For everyone who does evil hates the Light, neither comes to the Light, lest his deeds should be discovered.
They want to hide what they're doing because they know it's not right, and they want to avoid punishment or any consequences.
But he that does Truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The one who lives with integrity is not hiding, and is willing for others to know what he is doing, because it's all right and beneficial. It's what God planned for us to accomplish to promote His Kingdom by doing what is right.
Nicodemus did believe Jesus, and he spoke up for Him to the other Pharisees in John 7:50-51, when they wanted to arrest Him. And when Joseph of Arimathea claimed Jesus' body when He was dead, Nicodemus was with him with spices to wrap His body with in the linen sheets for burial (John 19:38-42).
O my Father, You had John write about this Pharisee, Nicodemus, so that we could also hear what Jesus was teaching him.
Thank You, Father, for loving us so much, to send Your very best for us.
Father, I pray for all those who are seeking You, that they would find You. And I pray for Your children, that they all might acquire the skill in testifying of what You are doing in and for each one of us. That we would use the right words to convey Your Truth with understanding, and be able to discern the times we are living in.
Father, I know it won't be long before all the End-Time events will be upon us, with all the chaos and confusion that it will bring, and then the Glorious Appearing of our majestic King!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
This man was one of the high-ranking VIPs in the Jewish system of religious government.
The same came to Jesus by night,
He would not come in the daylight, because he didn't want it known that he had sought Him out, to take Him seriously. Nicodemus was sneaking out to see Him.
and said to Him, Rabbi,
This is a title of respect, given to teachers of the Scriptures.
We know that You are a Teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles that You do except God be with him.
Now Nicodemus is professing faith in Jesus, and seeking Truth.
Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you [He's teaching here], Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
Here Jesus is teaching him a basic Truth.
Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born?
Nicodemus took Jesus literally, in an earthy way.
Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you [He's teaching again], Except a man be born of water [material] and of the Spirit [spiritual], he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God [also spiritual and material].
God is Spirit, and Life is spirit, so God's Kingdom is spiritual; and when it comes here to be actualized on the Earth, it will also be material.
So Jesus explains this to Nicodemus:
That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the water breaks and the child is born], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit [the Holy Spirit comes into our human spirit and makes it alive].
Marvel not that I said to you that you must be born again [Don't be surprised at this].
The wind blows where it lists, and you hear the sound of it but you cannot discern where it comes from or where it goes; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
Jesus is telling Nicodemus that just as you can't see the wind, but you can feel it and see what it does; that's how the Spirit works in our spirit, you don't see the spiritual with your carnal eyes, but you do see its affects, what He does through us.
Nicodemus answered and said to Him, How can these things be?
He's asking Him how all this works out, similar to when Mary asked Gabriel how she was going to conceive without a man. Not doubting the Truth of it, but asking about the mechanics of it, how it works out.
Jesus answered and said to him, Are you a master in Israel, and you don't know these things?
Jesus is chiding him, as Nicodemus has studied the Scriptures all his life and is considered an expert, but he hasn't grasped this basic Truth that undergirds all the rest. You have to have spiritual life to communicate with God Who is Spirit.
Truly, truly, I say to you [Teaching again], We speak what we know, and we testify to what we have eyewitnessed; and you have not received our witness.
The Jewish leadership was not open to hearing His Truth; they were expecting something else, and afraid of the Romans who had conquered them.
If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how can you believe if I tell you about Heavenly things?
We must choose to believe the foundational things, then we will be able to build on them and trust the higher concepts. The material comes first, then the spiritual (I Corinthians 15:45-46).
And no man has ascended up to Heaven but He who has come down from Heaven, even the Son of Man who is in Heaven.
Jesus is talking about Himself here, He is the Son who was given, by being born as a human child (Isaiah 9:6, the [new] child is born, but the Son [from Eternity past] is given).
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up:
That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus is referring to when poisonous serpents were biting the people, and God had Moses make a serpent of brass and set it up high on a pole, and whoever had been bitten by a snake, if he looked up at that brass serpent & believed that God would work through it for healing, then he lived (Numbers 21:8-9).
Jesus will also be lifted up on a pole, the Cross, as the Lamb of God, dying in our place to rescue us from death.
For God so loved the World, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Here's the verse that is memorized by every Christian child. This is Jesus' purpose for coming to Earth. His whole reason. He doesn't want us to perish, but to live with Him where He lives, forever. That's why He came.
For God did not send His Son into the World to condemn the World: but that the World through Him might be saved.
Jesus' Blood has unlimited value, its worth is more than enough to pay for the sinfulness of every person who ever lived. His invitation is open to every living creature, in every Nation, every language; to every sinner who faces the truth of his own sinfulness and turns to Him for cleansing.
He didn't say that the World will be saved, but that it might be saved. He won't force Himself on anyone. We each must choose to accept His authority over us, and admit our culpability. Then His Blood will wash us white as snow (Isaiah 1:18), fit to live with Him in His perfect Heaven.
He that believes in Him is not condemned: but he that does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only-begotten Son of God.
He says they are condemned already, we are all born in sin, the sin-nature that we inherit as humans from Adam. So we're all born deserving death.
And this is the condemnation, that Light has come into the World, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For everyone who does evil hates the Light, neither comes to the Light, lest his deeds should be discovered.
They want to hide what they're doing because they know it's not right, and they want to avoid punishment or any consequences.
But he that does Truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The one who lives with integrity is not hiding, and is willing for others to know what he is doing, because it's all right and beneficial. It's what God planned for us to accomplish to promote His Kingdom by doing what is right.
Nicodemus did believe Jesus, and he spoke up for Him to the other Pharisees in John 7:50-51, when they wanted to arrest Him. And when Joseph of Arimathea claimed Jesus' body when He was dead, Nicodemus was with him with spices to wrap His body with in the linen sheets for burial (John 19:38-42).
O my Father, You had John write about this Pharisee, Nicodemus, so that we could also hear what Jesus was teaching him.
Thank You, Father, for loving us so much, to send Your very best for us.
Father, I pray for all those who are seeking You, that they would find You. And I pray for Your children, that they all might acquire the skill in testifying of what You are doing in and for each one of us. That we would use the right words to convey Your Truth with understanding, and be able to discern the times we are living in.
Father, I know it won't be long before all the End-Time events will be upon us, with all the chaos and confusion that it will bring, and then the Glorious Appearing of our majestic King!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
When Do We Expect?
Luke 12: 39-40
But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
You, too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.
This means that anyone who sets a date for the Lord's return is wrong; we cannot know the day or the hour.
Vs. 54-56
And He was also saying to the crowds, When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, A shower is coming, and so it turns out.
And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, It will be a hot day, and it turns out that way.
You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the Earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?
Maybe not the day and hour, but should we be able to discern the year? Maybe the very season?
We need to be aware of the times we live in, to discern right from wrong. Especially now that the World is calling darkness, light; and confusing God-given gender; and insisting that twisted evil is good and right.
We are like the steward who convinces himself that he has plenty of time, and neglects his duties, when his master is nearly at the door.
Is our Master nearly at our door? Can you analyze the times to determine if it's almost time for Him to return?
V. 48
From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
We are responsible for all that the Lord has entrusted to us.
I need to pay attention to all that is going on around me, and take account of all that God has given to me.
I need to be able to "judge what is right," to give and do and be one who is faithful to my Lord in all the things and all the ways all the time I can.
O my Father, You have known us, and You have loved us, and You have done everything possible and impossible to tell us Who You are and what You are doing and how we can cooperate with You in Your great Plan.
Please open our eyes to see, open our minds to understand, and open our hearts to receive and agree with Your good for us; that we will have the confidence to speak out for the silent and to do for the unable.
Help us as Your children, to curl up in our Daddy (Abba)'s lap to love You and let You love on us, and learn from You.
Help us all to be ready to welcome our Master and Lord; having asked, sought, and knocked in faith, expecting all the abundance You have placed here for us, and having received all the spiritual and material blessings You have desired to shower upon us, to use in the furtherance of Your Kingdom.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
You, too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.
This means that anyone who sets a date for the Lord's return is wrong; we cannot know the day or the hour.
Vs. 54-56
And He was also saying to the crowds, When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, A shower is coming, and so it turns out.
And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, It will be a hot day, and it turns out that way.
You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the Earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?
Maybe not the day and hour, but should we be able to discern the year? Maybe the very season?
We need to be aware of the times we live in, to discern right from wrong. Especially now that the World is calling darkness, light; and confusing God-given gender; and insisting that twisted evil is good and right.
We are like the steward who convinces himself that he has plenty of time, and neglects his duties, when his master is nearly at the door.
Is our Master nearly at our door? Can you analyze the times to determine if it's almost time for Him to return?
V. 48
From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
We are responsible for all that the Lord has entrusted to us.
I need to pay attention to all that is going on around me, and take account of all that God has given to me.
I need to be able to "judge what is right," to give and do and be one who is faithful to my Lord in all the things and all the ways all the time I can.
O my Father, You have known us, and You have loved us, and You have done everything possible and impossible to tell us Who You are and what You are doing and how we can cooperate with You in Your great Plan.
Please open our eyes to see, open our minds to understand, and open our hearts to receive and agree with Your good for us; that we will have the confidence to speak out for the silent and to do for the unable.
Help us as Your children, to curl up in our Daddy (Abba)'s lap to love You and let You love on us, and learn from You.
Help us all to be ready to welcome our Master and Lord; having asked, sought, and knocked in faith, expecting all the abundance You have placed here for us, and having received all the spiritual and material blessings You have desired to shower upon us, to use in the furtherance of Your Kingdom.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Lead By Serving
Matthew 20: 25-28
Jesus called them to Himself and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.
It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Mark 10: 42-45
... For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
Luke 22: 25-27
And He said to them, The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called "Benefactors."
But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.
For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the One who serves.
We are not to lord over others our authority over them, but to humble ourselves in serving those we are responsible for.
Jesus' life is our example that we are to model our attitudes and character after. We are to grow spiritually into the very image of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we must act like He acted. The WWJD craze that was all the rage a few years ago was on the right track. We really do need to think about what Jesus would do, how He would respond, to the stimulus that is affecting us right now.
Our response to others is to be one of humility, of recognizing that the other's worth is as valuable as mine, and is due the respect that can elevate them and lift them up in the Lord. We are to build one another up in the Lord, to edify (Romans 14:19; I Thessalonians 5:11). That is how we are to lead--by serving.
O my Father, please help us to get this. Help us to understand how Your ways can be the complete opposite of what the World says. Father, it seems that we as Your church, are still steeped in the ways of the World, instead of Your ways.
Teach me, Father, how to serve and honor those I would like to lead to You. I don't want followers of me, but only followers of my Lord. If their following me is leading them to You, Lord, then lead me steadily and consistently in Your path. Don't let me turn to the right or to the left, don't let me run ahead or lag behind You, don't let me pull away or wander off. Lead me to lead them into Your righteousness and holiness.
And You will receive all the accolaides, all the praise, all the applause. You will receive all the honor, all the glory, all the blessings and riches and wisdom of the ages. Because only You deserve it all.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Jesus called them to Himself and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.
It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Mark 10: 42-45
... For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
Luke 22: 25-27
And He said to them, The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called "Benefactors."
But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.
For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the One who serves.
We are not to lord over others our authority over them, but to humble ourselves in serving those we are responsible for.
Jesus' life is our example that we are to model our attitudes and character after. We are to grow spiritually into the very image of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we must act like He acted. The WWJD craze that was all the rage a few years ago was on the right track. We really do need to think about what Jesus would do, how He would respond, to the stimulus that is affecting us right now.
Our response to others is to be one of humility, of recognizing that the other's worth is as valuable as mine, and is due the respect that can elevate them and lift them up in the Lord. We are to build one another up in the Lord, to edify (Romans 14:19; I Thessalonians 5:11). That is how we are to lead--by serving.
O my Father, please help us to get this. Help us to understand how Your ways can be the complete opposite of what the World says. Father, it seems that we as Your church, are still steeped in the ways of the World, instead of Your ways.
Teach me, Father, how to serve and honor those I would like to lead to You. I don't want followers of me, but only followers of my Lord. If their following me is leading them to You, Lord, then lead me steadily and consistently in Your path. Don't let me turn to the right or to the left, don't let me run ahead or lag behind You, don't let me pull away or wander off. Lead me to lead them into Your righteousness and holiness.
And You will receive all the accolaides, all the praise, all the applause. You will receive all the honor, all the glory, all the blessings and riches and wisdom of the ages. Because only You deserve it all.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, March 18, 2019
Our Attitude: Faith
Mark 9: 23 ... All things are possible for him who believes.
10: 52 ... Your faith has made you well ...
10: 27 ... With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.
God designed this World to work on faith. To believe allows the good into our lives. Our attitudes must be trusting God with no doubts as to His ability or desire to do it for us. All things are possible for Him because He is God over all. Fully relying on Him will open the way for Him to respond, in the way that is right for us, in His time.
That's why it's based on faith. If we don't believe, then we aren't allowing it into our reality. It's our choice. Whatever we choose to believe, we will be expecting and looking for. And whatever we are looking for, we will find; whether it be good or not.
That's why Proverbs says:
O my Father, You are so good. You want to give us so much good, so many good things to prosper us so we can enjoy Your goodness. Help us, Father, to believe You, to believe in Your goodness and Your desire to bless us. Teach us how to rely on You instead of our own inventiveness to make our lives pleasant and enjoyable and fun.
As our Father, You enjoy watching our enjoyment, just as I as a parent enjoy seeing my children enjoying life. And You have given us so much abundance in this Earth for us to enjoy.
But You have also given us Yourself! And I want to enjoy You above my enjoyment of Your gifts. You are my prize. You Yourself are far more than anything and everything You give to me.
I find it incredible that You would love me so much, even knowing how I am but dust. Why You would send Your own most precious, Your Son, to be my personal Sacrifice, to wash me white as snow, perfect, as though I'd never sinned, so I could live with You where You live--this is beyond my capacity to understand. That You would want to be with me, and me with You. Totally amazing!
When I think about all this, I just want to worship You with everything that is in me. I want to shout, and dance, and sing, and do all the overt, in-your-face stuff that is too much for anyone else but You!
And I will spend eternity giving You all the praise, all the worship, all the honor, all the blessing and worthiness and riches that all belong to You, and You alone.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
10: 52 ... Your faith has made you well ...
10: 27 ... With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.
God designed this World to work on faith. To believe allows the good into our lives. Our attitudes must be trusting God with no doubts as to His ability or desire to do it for us. All things are possible for Him because He is God over all. Fully relying on Him will open the way for Him to respond, in the way that is right for us, in His time.
That's why it's based on faith. If we don't believe, then we aren't allowing it into our reality. It's our choice. Whatever we choose to believe, we will be expecting and looking for. And whatever we are looking for, we will find; whether it be good or not.
That's why Proverbs says:
All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast (Proverbs 15:15).This is our attitude. A positive attitude opens us up to receiving good things, a constant party; but a negative attitude that only looks for what's wrong to criticize will have a miserable time every day.
O my Father, You are so good. You want to give us so much good, so many good things to prosper us so we can enjoy Your goodness. Help us, Father, to believe You, to believe in Your goodness and Your desire to bless us. Teach us how to rely on You instead of our own inventiveness to make our lives pleasant and enjoyable and fun.
As our Father, You enjoy watching our enjoyment, just as I as a parent enjoy seeing my children enjoying life. And You have given us so much abundance in this Earth for us to enjoy.
But You have also given us Yourself! And I want to enjoy You above my enjoyment of Your gifts. You are my prize. You Yourself are far more than anything and everything You give to me.
I find it incredible that You would love me so much, even knowing how I am but dust. Why You would send Your own most precious, Your Son, to be my personal Sacrifice, to wash me white as snow, perfect, as though I'd never sinned, so I could live with You where You live--this is beyond my capacity to understand. That You would want to be with me, and me with You. Totally amazing!
When I think about all this, I just want to worship You with everything that is in me. I want to shout, and dance, and sing, and do all the overt, in-your-face stuff that is too much for anyone else but You!
And I will spend eternity giving You all the praise, all the worship, all the honor, all the blessing and worthiness and riches that all belong to You, and You alone.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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