Sunday, December 29, 2013

The separation of God from Man

Most Christians are unable to "contemplate" the timelessness of eternity. Our lives are started and ended in the cycle of the ticking clock. Every experience we have is within the allotment of time, our everyday lives are dictated within it's parameters.
Then into this structured outline God reveals Himself to us as a timeless, limitless, Being whose Word shows Him to be: all knowing, all powerful, and all present. On top of that He asks us to believe in Him and these impossible traits "to understand as Truth". So here we are Man in a timed creation trying to comprehend a timeless Being with abilities that are beyond our understanding or capabilities.
This simple "fact" with all it's complexity is not complicated at all. God has given us a tool to use that levels the playing field........Faith! Simply put "just believe". Just believe everything that contradicts everything we "experience" in life and "know that He is God."
Wow! Isn't that a lot to expect? Dismiss the carnal and embrace faith "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen."
Why would He do that?
To set Himself apart!
In the heavens, on the earth, under the seas, in all of creation.
Faith starts with God separating Himself from all of His creation. He is the creator and there is none beside Him. He is above, below, beyond, and fills "His" creation. We, (because of this), "live and move and have our being in Him." He built creation on the fact that none of it could obtain to His level, even in heaven He is on the highest mount, He not only rules over it but He fills it also. All the angels and beings there are in His presence and have awe for His glory. He reigns without question or need of explanation. It is His proof and testimony to us that He is different. So different that we needed a bridge to understand the immensity of His being so He gave us "faith" to understand and Jesus Christ (His sacrifice) through whom we have "fellowship" with Him, as He once did "in the beginning" with man in the Garden of Eden.
This is a confounding mystery for us "of limited time" but none the less True. It is like the "gap that has been set" between the bosom of Abraham and the living. That one was as impossible to cross as the "knowledge of God" is for us to comprehend. Knowing that God our Father has made a bridge between God and Man: Christ, and from carnal understanding to divine revelation which is faith. Without faith it is not only impossible to "know" God, but it is impossible to please Him also. That is because God wants us to first "believe that He is" before He "reveals Himself to us." Did you ever wonder why some "believers" actually "have" a revelation of the "Almighty" and some don't seem to have a clue? That's because "those that believe", regardless of human intellectual level, trust God's Words by "faith" and need no explanation of : who, what, when, or how. "God said it that is enough." These believers seem to have not only "confidence" in His Word but "the confirming "power" from His Word.
I know that you have "met up" with one or two in your walk with Christ. You may have noticed that they may not have all the answers for the "deep things of Christ" when you ask but they exude the confidence that in His time the answers will come and "knowing how to explain everything" isn't part of "Maturity in Christ" nor a measure of that relationship.
God is a mystery! Period.
He reveals Himself to those that seek Him and the whole revelation of Jesus Christ belongs to His Church not just one person. Some have more and some have less but all have "what they need" for where they are at based on the "asking, seeking and knocking" they have done.
Being honest here some "called by His name" just don't care to "grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ" but hold the "Finished Work" to end at salvation, and do not include "all the promises and commands" that Christ passed on by the working of the Holy Spirit to "comfort, guide, instruct, and empower" us.
God's whole plan in creation was to "show His Love (Christ) toward mankind so we could experience the "substance of things hoped for" and the "evidence of things unseen" by faith and thereby show our Love for Him by obeying His commands: "If you love me you will obey my commands". This has nothing to do with "knowing or understanding" it has to do with "obedience" and faith. Read and believe then understanding will come when God "reveals Himself" in accordance with "His will."
God knows you better than yourself. He knows what you need to know for each day, thereby "give us now our daily bread" ( His word is real meat), daily! Daily revelation, daily grace, daily knowledge just for "that day."
Here is an exercise in faith:
Find a private room where you will be undisturbed. Prepare yourself for the quest because it could take longer than you think. Then "enter in" to the closet and "seek His face". Not "seek what you want to know", not "seek what you want to hear". But "seek His face, His wisdom, His knowledge, His revelation," convenient for this day! Not tomorrow, for it never comes; not yesterday, for it is past; but for "this day" because that is the only day you are given to "preform His works".
Then "expect" God to meat you there through His Courier the Holy Spirit and deliver unto you all His instructions for "today."
Go in "expecting!"
Come out having received.
And your faith will increase.
Lets face it most have not faith because they don't seek it. They don't want it. "He who is given much, much will be expected." Most don't want that responsibility. I would personally be given "more" and have the expectation of "more expected" than to be "powerless" in my preaching, witness and testimony. Either God exist and is an active proof in those that believe on Him, or He is just a practice in religion and exists only to be abused and taken advantage of because we just don't "believe" the Truth that sets us free.
Let me say this with impunity:
God is who He is regardless of what you believe.
Let God be True and every man a liar! Period.
The "revelation of God/Jesus Christ" doesn't depend on you, your practices, your "brand" of faith, your religion, or your beliefs. It stands on God's unchangeable Word "Who became flesh and dwelt among us", because that's all that's needed for salvation, revelation and life in this world and in the one to come.
The Bible never says to "understand" God: that is an oppression of man!
The Bible says to "know God" implying "a revelation given by God", not for carnal bragging rights, but for the realization that God is eternal in the heavens, Holy, unapproachable, without sin, and unexplained by mortal man. Just the fact that He is shown to be omnipotent (all powerful), omnipresent (existing everywhere at once through all time), and omniscient (all knowing, which means: all things, thoughts, prayer, requests, all a fore thoughts of everyone, every where, before all time existed, of everybody at the time of or before the creation ever existed. Plus He backs up this Truth in His Word (that became flesh, Jesus Christ) so we could never diminish it by time or philosophy or opinion, in writing to preserve it "forever" through out the span of "our creation" into eternity. "He cannot change!"
So who's right here? God's way or ours?
Will you know Him by your own devices or by His design for intimacy with Him?
Will you have head knowledge? Or revelation "heart knowledge? By His Word!
Will you submit to His ways or continue to practice our way of the flesh.
I will confess here against popular opinion and practice:
I will not know Him on my terms.
I will not know His revelation to me on my timeline of interest and "want."
I will practice "waiting on the Lord", for wisdom "convenient for this day."
If my life is His then so is my mind, spirit and soul, that He should "provide" for daily according to my (and others in my life) needs for "this" day.
I have learned "not" to run ahead, and I have not tried to "fall" behind in the daily ministration of grace and faith due me.
I have not the complete revelation of Jesus Christ but have the continuing benefit of it as I "wait upon the Lord" for a regular "feeding" that I "might know Him."
My life is "secured by Him and complete in Him" convenient for each day.
At days end I know that I could not have done less but realize I could have done more.
His grace and Love is sufficient.
Now that you have read this:
What will change in your "asking, seeking, and knocking?"  
Will your expectation of "your revelation of who God is" increase.
Will you give Him "His place" as Lord of Lords and King of Kings?
Will you continue to think that you have total knowledge of the revelation of Jesus Christ?
Or will you "live your life each day" receiving a greater, more abundant "continuing revelation" of Our Father which art in Heaven?
If the later:
You shall receive according to your faith and His will daily until you stand face to face in His presence.
God bless and keep as you grow in the grace and knowledge of Him, who is and was and shall come again!

With all Love in the Spirit
J&E inTn
  




Thursday, December 26, 2013

Christmas..............

Christmas,
The day has come and gone,
But the miracle lives on in my heart for all eternity.
Daily there is a sense of worship with weeping
because of what Christ has done for this sinner.
The reality that "God gave His only Son" for me (for you)
His Precious Son for us,
Is greater than I can comprehend.
Someone of such Majesty
For one so full of carnality,
Oh how can it be, that Christ died and rose for me.

This is the "seed" God sown on that day to become "redemption" for all
"in the appointed time."

This is the "sacrifice" that God seen fit for all of sinful man,
His Son, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
for us, you and me. We were worthy of death and hell,
but He used an old rugged cross, the sign of a curse
To purchase us back into His kingdom
Loving us all the time before and since the "Sacrifice" was offered,
With promises of power and eternal life,
Acting with Divine intervention before and after our pardons were
Written in blood, signed by the Lamb of God's death and resurrection.

The revelation of this causes my heart to weep
offering up thanksgiving and praise.
Thrice I have seen a vision of His death on the cross,
and to this day I am overcome with passion for what He did for me/you.

Ask, seek and knock for the revelation of Christ that breaks your heart and caused you to "lift up holy hands" in praise.
Thereby making life an "intimate" relationship with the "Lord of Heaven and Earth."

God bless you as you grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Love
J&E

Monday, December 23, 2013

Till he appeared .........

An acclimation in "Oh Holy Night" says:
"Till he appeared and the soul found it's worth."

It begs the question "What do you find your worth in?"
Money?
Success?
Public stature?
Children?
Family?
Spouse?
Ownership?

Next question to answer is:
"Hows that working out for you?"

Has the above "satisfied the soul?" Or has it brought continuing happiness? Does it meet all your needs? Are you "made whole" by it? Does it give hope through the "dark times"? Can it "inspire" you to true greatness and then keep you there when you arrive? Are you "humbled" by it's presence or acquisition, or does its demands at time oppress you?

Do any of the above "free you" to be all that you can be?"
The expectation on anything to "give worth" is futile and at best an exercise in pride.

Only one thing can "give the soul worth" and that is God's Son Jesus Christ!
If we truly believe:
He will save us,
He will heal us,
He will provide for us,
He will protect us,
He will comfort us in our "dark times",
He will give us "good times",
He will be with us "all the time" even to the ends of the earth,
He is our only valid "hope",

He alone can give our "soul worth" because:
He designed us in His image and likeness,
He redeemed us from our sins,
He makes us complete body, soul and spirit,
He empowers us with His word,
And He will "manifest His glory" through us with signs and wonders that will make humanity bow on their knees and say "Jesus is Lord"!

He is eternal "worth" that the soul needs to find for wholeness.

Take a moment and think about what has been your "completing object of effort"?
No don't think maybe "pray" about that thought.
Consider it "before God." In your "closet."

If your soul has not found "its worth" at His appearing than confess it and repent, giving God and His Christ "place" so He can "heal" your troubled and wearied soul.

May you take time this "season" to embrace all His blessings and promises for in Him, to Him and through Him are all things.

God bless and keep as you grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen

Love

J&E

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

If you love me...........

John 14:15
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Lets establish "the facts" about the Love the Father has given unto us and then the "facts" of what Jesus says about our Love for Him/God.

The above verses begin in context with great promise of power and end with the Holy Spirit dwelling with us and in us. But there is a hinge on this "door of blessing and power" that needs be applied before we "receive" "what we ask.

Look for it..............

Yes it is found in verse 15. "IF YOU".........Love Me! 
Then it goes on to say "keep my commands."
If you love me..........if you love me..........if you love me.

Lets look at another example in Scripture:
John 21:15-17
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

In this example Jesus again asking the question to a believer (in fact the one who is considered chiefest), do you love Me? 

Lets make this completely clear here: In the Scripture from John 14 Jesus is saying that we prove our Love for Him by obeying His commands............In context, the followers of Jesus had to answer the question by reflecting on their obedience. Imperfect, sinful men who follow Jesus would have to prove their Love for their Lord by obedience to His commands. If this was done all the above promises and below indwelling would be theirs. The way the prefaced statement was made it shows that being obedient with Love would cause the latter and former to continue in an active sense throughout their walk.

Now lets look at poor Peter the master of emotion and passion in John 21. Back up to the thought that Peter was one of the first chosen of the disciples and he was a simple, brash fisherman. He also walked with Jesus for 3 yrs and even left his wife and family to do so. He was dedicated to put into practice what he believed even to the slicing off an ear of Malcus who was in the garden during Jesus capture. But passion reveals itself both ways when Peter is concerned. Peter is familiar with John 14 about obeying the Lords commands to show Him he Loves Him, but he is out in a boat with other men naked until he hears that Jesus is on the beach. Then he girds up his garment and in full show of passion has to jump off the boat to beat everyone else in. What fervor, that's when Jesus asked him "loveth thou me?" Keeping it in context here is Jesus who knows all things brings up to Peter the question of Love when moments before he was naked before men on the ship. In other words "Peter what are you doing?" "Do you love me? Will you obey my commands? Is this how you are "leading my chosen?" 
This is reminiscent of Luke 22:32
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
Another "passionate" outburst by Peter followed by a warning rebuke from Jesus. Are we starting to get the picture? Even godly men full of passion mess up and sin. If it happened to Peter who's shadow fell upon the sick and healed them how will we fare? "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. That was written in a letter to "the church" not the unbelievers. Let me ask these questions: 
Are you walking with Jesus?
Are you passionate about following His commands?
Are you full of the Holy Spirit?
Then welcome to the Peter Club.
You have all the same possibilities that Peter had along with all the gentle rebuke he had.
If Peter, Paul, Silas, John, ect walked with Christ and were used of God with their imperfections so can you be. The determining factor is to "obey His commands" and your Love will be shown in this way. If you mess up don't throw yourself out of the running to "glorify your Father in heaven" just confess it to Jesus, ask for grace to overcome and resist evil. 

So the solution it that simple.
Obeying is Loving!
Confessing is Humility.
Be led by the Spirit and you will accomplish the "things of the Spirit."
They will know we are Christians by our Love. 

Passion is necessary.
Zeal is required.
Submission is proof of His Lordship.
Power is in the answer to prayer.
His Love is eternal, unending.
He promises to forgive and restore.
He promises to glorify Himself through you.
He will never leave or forsake you.
He cannot lie.
He will never change.
He knew your life as a story already told and still chose to save and use you.
"Lift up your hands oh ye people, lift them up to the Lord from whence your help cometh."

He will never stop Loving us so we should never stop obeying Him.

Humbly in His service 
With love for all the saints
J&E


Sunday, December 15, 2013

Draw neigh...................

James 4:8-17
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Lets make this crystal clear:
Even though the NT can be read of all and has purpose for redemption and instruction both saved and unsaved it is foremost written for believers!
If that wasn't clear I will say it again:
The NT is foremost written for believers!
The unbelievers are bound by sin and not under the blood of Christ. The believers read the Scriptures for instruction, rebuke, guidance, warning, encouragement, and hope. Why hope? Because we are in a battle for our new man to take over and to put the old man to death. 
There are many faucets to this battle with defensive armor and offensive armor but the best place to be as we fight is next to our Master and King. That is why we "draw neigh" to Him who is able to deliver to the uttermost.  

"Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

Who is this verse talking about here? 
Christians!
"He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law."

Has James written this for the unsaved or the saved? That is the convicting question. We cannot query that he was talking about the unbelievers because of how he started his letter:
James 1:1-8
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
He is clearly speaking to brothers and sisters in the Lord, that is why he commands us to draw neigh to God for a "re-cleansing" through confession.
"If you confess your sins He is faithful to forgive your sins" is the promise every believer has when he has "transgressed God's commands for "sin is the transgressing of God's laws." We are not under the Mosaic law for judgement but we are under grace through Christ and the law of Love which is a matter of heart. The law was of the letter but grace is of the heart. The law only addressed the carnal but grace (the heart) addresses both the carnal along with the attitudes and motives which compound the sin. 
Those believers who are furthest from God are the most apt to compound sin. It comes naturally. Remember that God cannot move away from you, only you can move away from Him (in heart only though). He fills all His creation, you live in that creation. No matter where you go you cannot leave His presence therefor your sin is great because you are doing it in His presence and against His unconditional Love for you. Not only do you agree with sin in His presence but you also give "the accuser of our souls" the freedom to mock God because of our failure, and open the door to "him who goes to and fro looking for whom he may devour." There are a lot of Christians who stand in God's presence with bite marks on their souls. God can heal them through confession in Jesus name "lest who could survive?"
Being that our "lives are but a vapor" which disappears in a little while shouldn't we live as those who "draw neigh" into the safe haven of our souls to receive strength and grace for the day?
Today's challenge is to start reading the Bible as though it was written/speaking just to you. Forget others and let it's Words cleanse, without excuse, you and me as if it was a personal Love letter from our Loving Father. Don't be so proud to think that "this doesn't pertain to me." 
It all pertains to you because you are Christ's and He is the Word. As Christ is the Word and you are His than His Word is your Love letter that conforms you into His image and likeness with the heart to "Glorify your Father in heaven.
Be as little children.
Walk in faith.
Love one another.
Love 
J&E in Tn


More from the Author. The Reality of Christianity

My only hope in posting here is to encourage other believers to "have faith in God through the Lord Jesus Christ", and to see Him as He really is. Loving, Compassionate, Holy, Pure, Mighty, with whom nothing is impossible, dispelling Hopelessness, meeting Needs, Healing all manor of malfunction, always Listening, forever there for us.
I also hope that through these postings believers will take up the commands given us in Gods Word so that He can use us freely to do His will and manifest His Glory.
Do we exist for any other reason? Once saved are we just to rest on our laurels? Has the sweetness of his promise of heaven caused us to be complacent or are we saved to "walk as Jesus walked and do those things He did and greater things because He has gone to the Father in heaven?"
If somehow the ever refreshing Revelation of Jesus Christ could be our goal in this life God's Love would prevail in humanity and a difference could be made. Shouldn't being "in Christ" make us be "like Christ?" Is there any excuse that can be used to stop us that would be valid in God's eyes? Do we really understand in our spirits what God has done for us through the living, dying and Resurrection of Jesus Christ? Or has it fallen into the "fabled tales" category of application and mundane acceptance? Have we so become passive to the Glory and captured by the carnal that we don't want anymore Truth than "feel good" sermons and stories about the "Great Men of God?" Do you not realize that the other Great Men of God performed during "their" times and now we carry the torch (our God is a consuming fire) for the day we now live in! DO NOT solace yourselves with the excuse that "things have changed" or "things are different now", to believe such a lie is to say that God's plan has changed. This is impossible; for it is "impossible for God to change", "He is the same forever." If He has changed than His salvation has changed, and we are as foolish as our "self indulgent" teachings that allow for this making the "Blood of Christ" of none effect and all the promises we so weakly pray for void.
I would challenge with this: If we are "in Christ than we are commanded to be as Christ!" We are "commanded" to be cooperating with Scripture in performing all of His will. When we confess Christ we automatically agree to all His Word says for He is the Living Word, He (the Word) became flesh and dwelt among us. If you claim Him you claim all of Him, commands and promises, warnings and disciplines.
Religion has taken the place of obedience and faith. Yes "true religion and undefiled is this" James 1:27 but it is not described as faith but as an action of faith. Religion is "practicing" what you say you believe. "Being a doer of the Word not just a hearer." Replicating your Father, the one Who "Created you in His image and likeness."
Is this the "reality" of your faith? Faith in Christ not just some "higher power." Faith in an immovable and unchangeable God "beside whom is no other!" For whom nothing is impossible, and if we are walking and preaching that faith by mouth or actions He says we can ask anything of Him in the name of Jesus Christ and He will do it according to His will. Oh now I see there is the catch..........if we are walking and preaching that faith by mouth or actions. Maybe that is why the faith we as Christians claim to have seems to be a little short armed to preform. But as God has said "let God be True and every man a liar", for His Word says "is my arm shortened that it cannot heal, deliver, provide?"
So who are the ones with short arms? Those who claim, whisper, and hide their testimony of Christ, then make it the "practiced and preached" average. What ever happened to the proclamation of "ask great things of God, expect great things of God?" We ask according to our faith which for many is "not asking at all." Do we not realize that our faith inspires our prayers and to pray not believing that God will answer according to His will is sin because anything outside of faith is sin?
So now those with no faith or little faith (Jesus said "how long will I put up with you") bring sin before God as prayer. Better you just looked to heaven, wept, and confessed "help thou mine unbelief" than to say a single word outside of faith and sin against your Father in Heaven.
Sorry to report that this stands as the general offering of prayer in the lives of too many Christians. We are to grow from grace to grace and we understand that faith is the conduit of grace, more faith more flow of "grace convenient for the day." Ever wonder why the day seems to overcome us instead of us overcoming it? Little faith = little grace.
Writing this a revelation has opened up to me: "we ask not" because of "lack of faith" and it has happened for so many centuries that we have adapted to "expecting nothing" instead of "expecting great things" so our prayers have reflected our defeated hearts.
Jesus wept.
Why? Because we have exchanged the Glory of the only King and Lord for the carnal bread and knowledge of man. We cry "give us the wisdom of man" instead of the simple explainable power of God. We would rather pray that God direct the doctor than heal the sick as is in His promise. It is so much more comfortable to pray God use someone else than to "fast and pray with weeping" for God to intervene divinely. We suffer the flesh instead of disciplining the spirit to do "spiritual battle" and stop the devil from devouring our loved ones. Radical we say. Extreme. Lunatic. God did say he would use the simple to confound the wise! Would you rather be "simple with God" or wise in the eyes of this world? Would you rather be a son of God and a brother to Christ or wrest Scripture to fit weak faith and inspire the same? Again I say "whether or not I see one promise or miracle of Scripture, that doesn't dismiss the actual ability of God to preform them." "Let God be True" remember the rest of that verse? I am not the judge of God's Word but a worker of His will. His word is always True, it has to be because they "became flesh" and Christ is perfect which proves God's promises and commands. The blame remains with us. Us alone. We have become weak, but Christ is the same and still strong to deliver us even from our own "unbelief."
Why do such a small few (a remnant) still have His manifestation? Because they have great faith. They don't doubt the Truth that sets them free. They don't "question" what the Word says they both say and do the Word, God bearing witness with power and wonders impossible for man to replicate. Did you ever notice that when God/Jesus healed there were no "side effects" that were life threatening? When God provided there were no costs passed on to the public to pay? When he delivered from oppression were there any follow up check ups? Drugs for continuance? He commanded a "finished" work. Nothing needed more, nothing falling short. The cost: humble thanksgiving. Not a life savings.
So what about us?
What is the reality of your Christianity?
Think for a moment before you read on. How do you compare to Scripture? What is your true love?
Are you practicing Faith or Religion?
The answer should be: both!
Great Faith and compassionate Religion!
Don't be fooled by what others set up as an outline to accomplish. We have one outline/Book that we must answer to, God's book: Jesus Christ the Word incarnate. Gods Word that became flesh. That's our "Standard!" That's our model. The one "whom we were made in His image and likeness" is the one to replicate. No other. No saints, pictures, angels, artifacts, nothing but Him who died to set us free, because He who the Son sets free is free in deed (but only in Him).
"Choose you this day who you will serve".
I hope this will be a help meet to your faith.
God bless and keep in Christ.
Love
J&E in Tn

Friday, December 13, 2013

A little bit about this author.

Mathew 19:14
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

1 Cor 1:27
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

After reading the above verses you have the key in your hands to "unlock" all the deep mysteries of God.

This was my humble start with "being saved" and God has honored all his precious promises "and greater things" because of it.

According to my Dad I am the 7th generation bricklayer/stonemason in our family. I was born to 1st generation American Italian immigrants who's family legacy is well documented in Northern Italy.

I war raised Catholic and sent to Catholic Schools for 12 years. I didn't suppose that I paid much attention to all the training but did have a heart toward God early on and with all that I knew "I sought God's face". I can't say it was a completely misled effort but it was passionate for the age. As I grew older my heart turned away from "the teachings" for the more carnal endeavor's of the teenage years.

Even though I wasn't saved (I never heard of such a statement in the church) I loosely tried to culture a relationship with God relying on my own thoughts and ways. This was not without signification for God looks at the heart not the "religious training" one has. My heart was seeking but my wisdom was lacking truth.

My first significant manifestation of God came around June of 1981. I had left the trade to seek fortune working a dairy farm in Michigan with purchase options so that at the age of 45 I could retire and live happy ever after.

But God had other plans:

The stress of long hours and a partner that was a Christian (term used lightly) and was a big mistake soon took it's toll during the trial period subjecting me to a near nervous breakdown. 

My Son's Birthday had arrived and I told the heard manager (my partner) that no matter what happened I would be home for my son's birthday at 6 pm no matter what knowing the only thing that could stop me was a dead cow in the stall which meant gutting it and getting it to the processor so the meat wouldn't go to waste. Sure enough during the evening milking as I was cleaning the stalls I found a dead cow. At first I thought it was sleeping so I poked it with a pitch fork to get it into the crowd gates for milking. I soon discovered that it was dead and my hopes of getting home for the birthday party was dead also. Being a very physical, large and powerful man I then tried to convince said cow to "get up and walk" with the pitch fork. To whit nothing happened. I soon experienced the saddest moment up till then in my life: the realization that I would let my son down. As I walked away broken in my heart I prayed, "If there is a God in heaven you can do something about this." I was weeping and broke. Helpless to change the incident. Right after I cried out to God (remember I was not born again at this time) I noticed a cow run by me to the crowd gate. I couldn't believe it was true but I went back and check the stall where the cow lay and it was gone. God had worked a miracle and raised that cow up to manifest His power and Love to me.

I can just here the murmuring going on by some of you about how God doesn't work miracles for those who don't believe when they pray. Well argue all you want but your wrong. He did here and He does whenever He is drawing you unto Himself. 

Another miracle God worked was when I entered the Marine Corps boot camp (1970) and we were being "indoctrinated" before starting. I looked at the adversity of my decision and prayed "if there is a God in heaven hear this prayer: I don't want to finish this training with honors I just want to survive and get through it without getting hurt."
I passed boot camp as the "Company Series Honor Man" which is the highest honor you can earn in your company in Boot Camp. Another miracle worked for the "unsaved."

During boot camp our platoon came down with spinal meningitis. One man died, one man became a veggie, and another (in my upper bunk) jumped out of the bunk and crumpled up on the floor in a heap. We were in quarantine and again I prayed "If there is a God in heaven please let this stop and I will not fail to thank you every night from here on out." He did but I didn't after a while (several years).

Later that year I came to know Christ by the preaching of a co-worker while I was working at 10:15 pm. The experience was incredible as it was in so many ways my "Damascus Road" because I didn't really have any serviceable understanding of the Scriptures. My "religious training" was not without error as was my desire to understand it.

I started to read the Scriptures with hunger and thirst as though I was insatiable. The first thing the Holy Spirit shown me was I was to be as a child not doubting but receiving and believing all that the Scriptures said. I took this as a literal practice and absorbed the Word like a sponge not doubting.

In fact this incredible experience fell upon me on day at lunch time during this first reading of the New Testament. As I set outside by myself going to eat I cried out to God to understand the "Love of God that was shed abroad by the Holy Spirit".
I fell into a trance (like Peter waiting for lunch) and I saw a great gilded book coming down from heaven in the hand of an angel, he said read. I took the book and knew that when I was done reading it the angel would take it back. So I read all but the last few verses 3 times and on the forth I read it all. At that 4 th reading it was taken from me. I couldn't believe what I had read and how it so perfectly expressed the way I felt in my heart about God.
A little time later, as I was reading the Psalms I came across it and recognized it from the vision. It was Psalm 64. I wept. There is more but that will suffice for now. 

If I remember correctly I read the whole Bible several times the first year adding the New Testament another 12 times. In the first 3 years of being a Christian I read 7 different complete translations and reread the NT 15+ times each year. This was real food and real drink for the hungry and thirsty soul.

During this "training" time I never went to a Bible Study but just stayed in the Word, in Christ and in the Spirit. 
After this training time I experienced every promise and miracle that I had read (and believed) in Scripture except the "changing of water into wine" which would not of aided me in the development of my faith. 

Why did I have these incredible experiences?
You can read an assortment of them in the earlier posts.
Because I believed what Scripture said regardless of whether they were manifest or not. My seeing a miracle or not does not make them any more real or any less available for today.
I believed as a "little child", without question or doubt. Ever!
I also made myself one of the "foolish things" so God could use me to confound the wise. Was that my "beginners" plan? Did I know what I was doing? No I was just given a humble heart/spirit and was thankful for God doing anything He wanted to do with this "sinner saved by grace." I followed the Scriptures in asking, seeking and knocking in Jesus name, according to Gods revealed will in His Word and when His will was in line with my asking, seeking and knocking He worked miracles.

To this day, whether I see a miracle that I am praying for manifest itself or not doesn't mean anything to me because I know that God is working His will for the time that the prayer was offered. 

I am childish enough to "NOT" have to see God do anything to know that every Word in His Scriptures are true. I am not a Thomas. I am one of those who fit "blessed are those who see not and believe". God's Word is true and every man a liar. Period. Whether we see, experience or receive anything of God. But I add this " if you believe and do not doubt, only wanting for God to glorify Himself He will do all things to that end and you will be blessed to be there." 

This is just a "scratch and sniff" rendition of how God has manifest Himself in my/our (family's) life, starting with before I was saved till now, having grown old in Christ.

I hope this has "stretched" your faith and encourage you. It was not written in the spirit of comparison but just what God will do for someone who believes and "doubts not."

Love in Christ
J&E

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Christianity? What do you make of it?

This single word covers so much territory when it comes to "application" of faith. Some think it to be a doorway to religion, others have the prospective of faith in Christ (the right one), some just link it to a "way which seems right" defining it with secular humanism and diverse choices.

We have "Christians" that cover the whole field of opinions from moral to immoral, and from righteous to debased. Some believe that once "saved and sanctified" you can sin no more, and if you do sin it isn't sin at all because the Blood of Jesus auto erases it as it happens. That is reminiscent of the Hebrews having the law to be accountable to with the sacrifices to "cover" their sins so they went out to buy the sacrifice needed to satisfy the law then went out to commit the sin. After the sin was committed they stopped by the temple and gave the sacrifice to the priest and confessed the sin. Instant forgiveness.

Then we have some Christians that "believe on the name of the Lord Jesus" but live like the devil because "once saved always saved." No accountability for "Love thy neighbor", or "be conformed into the image and likeness of Christ", or having any moral convictions what so ever.

Then there are groups who have Christ as a base and the Bible as their guide but need other books to be complete. Like the Jewish Christians in Paul's time who wanted others to be circumcised and to follow the law on top of believing the Gospel.

When Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead He opened the door to eternal life which is not just a "mansion" in heaven but also, by the cleansing us of our sins, a deeper intimacy with "Our Father in Heaven" wherein we have inherited all the precious promises. We are born again into a "new life" the old man being dead and the new man being alive, vivacious, passionate, and willing to serve our new Master instead of sin. Not only does He give us a new life but He also empowers us with His Holy Spirit (the mind of Christ) so we can know and do His will, replicating the life of Christ when He was on earth. And the amazing part of this "grace" is that all we have to do is "ask and believe". Doesn't sound too complicated to me. BUT the heart of men sure like to add to "the Gospel" because " someone has to take authority over the masses and guide them." To man, since the presentation of the Law of Moses, God can't be seen so someone has to interpret what He is saying, and while we do so lets get some advantage out of this. This moral decay of the intimate relationship God wanted to have with His people was short circuited by the people asking for Moses to represent them because "He will kill us" for our disobedience so stand in our stead Moses. Then they sinned again with asking for a king to rule them, so God again gave them the "desires of their heart" and made Saul the king.

From the beginning God has never been enough in the eyes of His people, not matter what miracles, provisions, deliverance, or blessings His people always needed more. Even to Christ's face the disciples asked "show us the Father" to which Christ replied "you have seen me you have then seen the Father." Even today a great number of "disciples" rely upon the Pastor to fill in the gag between their personal relationship with God and them. Sad to say many pastors enjoy that place so many talents go unused in the church because believers fail to mature in their calling and elections or gifts. "There is nothing new under the sun."

In case you are wondering when God started to be "not enough", or when the first thought that man didn't need to be obedient to Him was in the Garden of Eden. Man and Woman walked with God. God walked with man. Period. They stood in the presence of God daily. They walked and talked with Him daily. They seen His glory and experienced His wisdom. He gave man all things to be in submission (except for Himself), just like all things were in submission to Him. Do you see that in the Garden of Eden Man (in 'Gods image and likeness) was so in all ways including (except for God) dominion over animals, plants, herbs, trees, creatures in the seas, and sky. Man was truly in the image and likeness of God. Ruler over all things created. As it is said in Scripture "there are gods" (small g). We were the small gods. We were given dominion under the One True God as His creations proprietors. Not equal in the divine rule but partaking  in the carnal dominion. Being "in the image and likeness of God" has more implications than we can begin to understand in the carnal mind. That is why it is no small thing with God to give us the ability "through Christ" to "do those things He did and greater" because God is our Father, Christ our brother, the Holy Spirit our teacher/empower-er and the promises pertinent for those who ask, seek and knock. Prayer and fasting brings a higher level of participation in the preforming of these things. One might also add here that we were later, though Christ, given authority over all the demonic presence in the world too.

When we look at Scripture in context as a whole plan complete and without a contrary mind it would be clear to us that the plan that God had for us in the beginning is the same as it is today. The only difference in the OT was that so few men actually followed/obeyed God that He worked His promises and manifestations through the few that did. Mostly the prophets, even the priests lost out on allowing God to be real to the people. Now in the New Testament we who believe ALL have the same promises and gifts if we are desirous to go after them. So with us now begs the question "do you believe (have faith) in the Word of God to where God can wield his manifestations through you? Or is the comfort of going to heaven enough and the world that we are in more satisfying than the effort of "glorifying our Father in Heaven. This is what we were created to do. This is our testimony as Christians to do. This is not of ourselves but of Our Father in Heaven so that all may believe and have eternal life.

So that brings us to this explanation of True Christianity:

A true Christian "is born again" into God's Kingdom by the Blood of Christ and His resurrection through confessing and believing.
He no longer considers himself his own but Christ's and continually decreases so that Christ can increase in him.
A true Christian realizes that the "will of God" cannot be accomplished with out the "Baptism in the Holy Spirit" to "give the gifts severally according to the will of God."
He grows daily in grace and faith so as to move forward in saying "the Kingdom of God is at hand", God bearing witness with signs and wonders.
There is never any need for more than the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures, fasting and prayer, seeking, asking, and knocking, to know the full counsel of God.
Christ will take over our lives as we are conformed into His image and likeness, to lead and guide us as was so at creation now complete in "oneness" with Him.
All our thoughts, words and deeds will glorify our Father in Heaven.
This will be His power worked in us over time (but it really doesn't take all that long), as we dedicate our Love, and faith in Him and to Him.
A life of faith will be a life of both blessing and difficulty. One doesn't judge the other as to accomplishment of God's will. Both are God's will.
A true Christian is of a humble spirit and contrite heart knowing what Christ had done on Calvary.
A true Christian never fails Love because the nature of Love (God is Love) and nothing is impossible with God so God cannot fail.
Christians of faith and grace know their place in heaven and would not give up faith for anything here on earth. They are convinced that they are sojourners in a temporary land and seek the land who's builder and maker is God.
A true Christian has faith by God, and continuing revelation by the Holy Spirit, to Glorify his Father in Heaven.
Anything else is just a "looking through the glass darkly".
A true Christian will live and profess as one who sees "face to face" with His Maker-God!

Where are you in the claiming?
Though there be many "offerings" but there is only one True Faith and that is in the Scriptural revelation of God through Christ.

Be blessed as you believe and serve.

Love
J&E


Sunday, December 1, 2013

Milk or Strong Meat?

Consider this:
What does Scripture say vs. mans teachings about the steps to being a Christian beginning to end?
1. Man teaches that: We must reproduce our kind by witnessing right away.
    God's Word teaches otherwise: The Word says that we are babes that are in need of milk not meat.
Context:
    A newborn babe in Christ can only handle milk as so the babe in this world. God uses carnal applications so that we can understand spiritual Truths. As a new born we cannot talk, walk, care for ourselves, or in any wise "reproduce" our kind. In fact we are relying on "our kind" to "teach us", help us to continue, and fill in all that is lacking in us to "manifest" our Creator. In fact we are almost useless to function with power or influence. Aside from belonging to Christ and having His revelation in us (some more and some less depending on the revelation received at conversion, (Paul vs the brothers at Ephesus Acts 19:2-7). As a baby shows forth his or her parents so we do Christ but aside from "relationship" we are quite powerless. That is why we must be fed milk not meat to start. In the flesh we gain weight with body function including development and mobility. As a babe in the spirit we gain confidence in our salvation, depth of heart, wisdom, knowledge, and faith. As a babe in the spirit we learn that we are "unprotected" without the armor of God, and what that armor consists of that needs be fitted to us and adorned. 
It is unheard of to expect a baby to be anything more than a developing baby. So it is in Christ. If a babe in Christ is expected to go out and witness that which he knows nothing about then he will be a lamb before wolves and devoured, causing frustration in that he cannot satisfy his heart representation of his Father in Heaven. This of course, (as mentioned before), depends on the witness he received and whether or not (at that time) he received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. If saved and Baptized in the Holy Spirit then (even though there is still a maturing period) he possesses all that is needed to mature quickly enough to be effective among men but only by the Holy Spirit. Otherwise there is a "learning period" that needs to take place before he can be expected to "manifest the gospel" with the ease of faith and the Scriptures both in word and deed. By a learning period I do not mean just a carnal exposure to the Scriptures but I mean that "God takes the heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh wherein God's word is written upon it". This happens by seeking, asking, knocking, by prayer, faith, and passion. God is able to "reveal" His Word (and the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us" Jesus Christ) by revelation as much as by written Scripture, spoken Scripture, or taught Scripture. If all we have is the carnal, (unless revealed by the Holy Spirit), exposure to the written, spoken, and taught Word with no revelation by the Holy Spirit, than we will never have the passion or heart that it takes to seek, ask or knock with the passion that rewards with results that are divine, (here we can only rely on the promise that "God's word will not return void"). 

A babe in Christ is destined for milk (of the spirit) as a babe in the flesh is destined for the (carnal)  milk feeding. This is a mystery of the Creator that is somewhat overlooked in today's "mentoring" of babes in Christ. Instead (my opinion) of encouraging babe's to get into the Word, prayerfully, passionately, and believing all things that are written (otherwise "in faith"), we cram them into a "study" that we feel is just what they need to get started and forget that they may not have the capacity (let alone God's timing for where they are at) to understand. I believe that if we took the new babe in Christ and encouraged an exposure to the Scriptures, prayer and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (if that didn't already take place) under the training, revelation and "watch care" of the Holy Spirit we would be hand in hand with God's design and maturity would be greatly aided and sped along. Who knows better? God or man? Might I also ask: Are we trying to "reproduce" God's heritage or mans "religion"? Are we trying to reproduce our own practices or God's power? Are we so afraid of our own "immaturity" that we don't have the faith or oversight to trust the One who Created all thing for "Whom nothing is impossible" with His own offspring? Do we really believe that we have the "right way" to raise His babes and fear that His arm is shortened to preform that which He promised. I tell you the answer is in this "let God be True and every man a lair". 

Bible study is profoundly important but only when "the study is by the Holy Spirit, by those who are led by the Holy Spirit, and they must have the witness of men "filled with the Holy Spirit" present when instruction is given. With all the for mentioned those who are "taught" in the study should take the time to diligently seek out in the Scriptures those things that were said to see if that which was instructed in was in agreement with the written Word. God's word will never violate itself, ever! It is better for a teacher to say "I don't know or understand the context" then to conjure up an answer that "sounds good" or "seems right."

Milk for babes.

2. Now meat for developing Christians:
Hebrews 5:11-14
11Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Notice that those who use milk are unskillful in the word of righteousness for he is a babe. 
Then "strong meat belongeth to them that are full of age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Strong meat belongs to the "full of age" practiced (experienced) in discerning good and evil. 
Babes look at strong meat as impossible or unobtainable whereas those who are full of age find the impossibilities an encouragement and challenge to increase faith. 
My own personal belief and practice is "to see the impossible as a great blessing of God brought to me so that I can see by faith Him glorifying Himself in the deliverance of the matter. And I do this with great excitement and expectation for "with God all things are possible". 
Hebrews 6:1-3
1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3And this will we do, if God permit.
This is where the rubber meets the road. The mention of leaving the founding principles of the doctrine of Christ is not an abandoning of them but a resting in the surety of them to the point of being unshakable so one can move forward with the deeper things of God. By setting to rest the first we can free ourselves to receive and practice the increasing revelation of Christ with power by faith. A Christian who has never had a revelation of Christ or an experience of His promises is like a sailing ship with all sails set and no wind. Yes it is a ship. Yes it carries a cargo. But no it has no "delivering power" to allow the cargo to be carried to it's destination. If the condition exists long enough even those who are a part of the fleet will wonder, "what is their purpose.? Christians are the same with one exception: After not experiencing "the promises and fulfilling  commands" long enough, they will wrest the Word of God by teaching that the promises and commands don't exist any more, there by derailing others who are weak in the faith and polluting the pure Word of God.

Those who practice the use of strong meat prove God's provisions for power, and by doing that: His immutable existence. They also set the bar for those who watch to be higher so that the excitement of "growing in faith" catches them up and spurs a desire to do the same. Not out of pride or comparison but out of the humility that comes with doing the "will of the Father." 
Strong meat is "being conformed to the image and likeness of Christ". It is "decreasing so He may increase in us." Strong meat is the teaching of death to the old man and life in the new, but not just in the teaching but also in the accomplishment thereof as proof to others that this is just the "norm" for all those who are "called by His name".

Strong meat is "doing the things that Jesus did and greater". 
What did Jesus do?
Lets see what His strong meat was:
He saw the Father doing His work and did it also.
He spoke the Words that His Father in heaven told Him to speak.
He made sure that if you seen Him you seen the Father.
He "glorified" His Father in Heaven.
He served man although all heaven worshiped Him as God.
His strong meat allowed Him to "raise the dead and heal the sick."
His strong meat gave Him the power to "give sight to the blind and make the lame to walk."
He opened the ears of the deaf and loosed the tongue of the mute.
To sum it up "His strong meat was represented by the intimacy He had with His Father in Heaven and thereby He received power from on high to do His will and Glorify His name even unto death.

Now lets take a moment to look what kind of food we have on our plates!
Can you only suck yours through a straw still arguing about faith, baptism, who is more righteous?
Or is your plate full of "dedication to Christ to manifest your Father in Heaven?" Full of faith to work the impossible (God working through you), giving hope in the spirit when hope doesn't exist in the flesh, spreading the Gospel with power in both word and deed, dying to self so Christ can increase and do His work in you, then finally serving others with Love, Joy and Peace in the Holy Spirit with power from on high.

Are you ready for strong meat? Ask, seek and knock until your answer comes. Then eat with passion and act with Love having the anointing of the Holy Spirit to guide and bless.

God's speed as you grow in grace and faith.
Love in Christ
J&E 

Entering into His rest!

Sunday!
Here we are once again at the "Day of Rest"
A time to "enter in" to His rest.
While "resting in Him" praise and worship is embraced.
With this embrace culminated "seeking His face" comes natural.
When we seek His face we receive our "promised blessings."
Having received the blessings of promise we are "then empowered."
Once empowered "God is lifted up" and glorified.
Thus glorified "He will call ALL men unto Himself."

You may ask "How necessary is this?"
Take a look around you today in all aspects of society, gov't, religion, social interaction, minority demands, who on this earth has the "everlasting answer?"
Christ through His followers! There is no other one (or god) in history who has so influenced the world in which we live in than "He who bled and died for the sins of ALL mankind and was raised from the dead." It is Christ who gave us the precious promises to "do these things I do and greater things for I go to My Father in Heaven."
As we seen in history we also see today that the world suffers harsh losses because of the absence of "the Love and knowledge of Christ."

I choose to enter in to "His rest" and gain all the precious promises that His blood purchased for me at Calvary.

Love
J&E in Tn