The Word

 

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. 

 
I set up with a local Assisted Care Living facility in my community to start a weekly 30-45-minute Bible Study for the residents of that community, as they have a need for this ministry. We shall begin our study with the Gospel According to the Apostle John and work our way through the book chapter-by-chapter and verse by verse The Book of John begins with a prologue in the first eighteen verses, and in the very first verse of that first chapter, the word “Word” is used three times. The Greek word used here is “Logos”, denoting the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world's life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man's salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds.”

 

John 1:18 declares, “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”

 

Commentator Matthew Henry states that the Apostle, in the close of his discourse, plainly tells us why he calls Christ the Word—because he is the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, and has declared him. Word is two-fold: logos endiathetos—word conceived; and logos prophorikos—word uttered. The logos ho esoµ and ho exoµ, ratio and oratio—intelligence and utterance. There is the word conceived, that is, thought, which is the first and only immediate product and conception of the soul (all the operations of which are performed by thought), and it is one with the soul. And thus the second person in the Trinity is fitly called the Word; for he is the first-begotten of the Father. Christ is the Word speaking from God to us, and to God for us. John Baptist was the voice, but Christ the Word: being the Word, he is the Truth, the

Amen, the faithful Witness of the mind of God.

 

The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines “Word” as: 12. The Scripture; divine revelation, or any part of it. This is called the word of God. 13. Christ. (John 1). The eternal Word is Jesus Christ. Henry points out that His existence was in the beginning: In the beginning was the Word. This bespeaks his existence, not only before his incarnation, but before all time. The beginning of time, in which all creatures were produced and brought into being, found this eternal Word in being. The world was from the beginning, but the Word was in the beginning. 

 

John 1:14 “ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

 

The Word [Jesus Christ] was with God, and the Word was God communicates His co-existence with the Father; He was so from eternity. God’s over-arching “Plan of Salvation”, this grand affair of man's reconciliation to God was concerted between the Father and Son from eternity. Mankind fell in sin, but God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life [John 3:16]. Rejoice in the Word!

 

In Christ, Brian

Foundation on the Rock

  

Luke 6:45-49 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

 

It is well known that a structure needs a solid foundation in order to have both a firm footage and a sturdy, strong and secure platform to build upon. That goes for both houses and lives. You cannot get any better than bedrock because the outside forces cannot shake the foundation; the structure can stand up against just about anything thrown at it, and if we build our life upon Jesus Christ as true Lord, nothing can come against us and bring us down. Sure the storms of life in a fallen world will come and the intense flood waters will beat vehemently against us, but the structure of our life is based on the right foundation; the Lord of all. 

Romans 8:28-32a “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all.”

 

Jesus Christ is Lord of all and Lord of lords. The term “Lord” is rarely used in today’s culture and the concept of “lordship” is vague in many minds, especially in a Republic government of the people, by the people and for the people. The Greek word for “Lord” is “Kyrios”, meaning he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord; the possessor and disposer of a thing; the owner; one who has control of the person, the master. A title of honor expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants greet their master. This title is given to: God, the Messiah. In this respect Jesus Christ is the beloved King and the whole earth [all of creation] is His kingdom; the King’s domain, for He created everything, sustains it all, reigns and rules over it. His people are His subjects and subject to edicts, statutes and commandments. He is our refuge and strength that is our foundation on the rock.

 

Isaiah 26:4 “Trust [confidently] in the Lord forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].”

 

In Christ, Brian

Doer of the Word

  

James 1:19-25 “ Know this, my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

 

Communication is the act of imparting, conferring, or delivering, from one to another; as the communication of knowledge, opinions or facts. Intercourse by words, letters or messages; interchange of thoughts or opinions, by conference or other means. We have an intercourse with neighbors and friends in mutual visits and in social concerns. An interchange of knowledge; correspondence; good understanding between people. 1 Corinthians 15:33 states that “Evil communications corrupt good manners”, the word intercourse may signify conversation, colloquial discourses, or customary association and familiarity. The Greek word for “communications” here is “homilia” meaning companionship, intercourse, or communion. It takes being a good listener [quick to hear], one who thinks before they speak [slow to speak] and keeping cool; having a long fuse [slow to anger]. 

 

Anger is a reactionary emotion; a violent passion of the mind excited by a real or supposed injury; usually accompanied with a propensity to take vengeance, or to obtain satisfaction from the offending party. The anger of man that in grounded in hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, and division is a part of the sin nature and does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore, the Apostle James instructs us to put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted Word of God, which is able to save your souls. Be readers of the Word, hearers of the Word, receivers of the Word and Doers of the Word. 

 

2 Timothy 3:15-17 states that “from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” We are to live in a posture of listening to God and others, but the Word of God drives us to action. Ephesians 2:8-10 declares that “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Born-again Believers, the children of God, citizens of the kingdom of Heaven, who looks into the perfect Word of God, the perfect Law of God, the law of liberty, and perseveres; being no hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts and does good, godly kingdom works on earth. That is a doer of the Word.

 

In Christ, Brian

U-Turn

 

God promises to King Solomon of Israel in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

 

I know many who claim this passage of Holy Scripture as their “Life Verse”, and rightfully so. It is like a mini-gospel message, packed with love, hope, forgiveness, assurance, security, and a guarantee from our heavenly Father in this “if/then” pledge. The repentant born-again Believer, who made a U-turn from sin to accept, follow and obey Jesus became the child of God, the citizen of the kingdom of Heaven and the body of the Lord Jesus Christ; they are God’s people who are called by His name. Acts 4:10a, 11-12 proclaims “let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth [the promised Messiah], whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead … This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone (Psalm 118:22).’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 

 

Jesus Christ, the gift of God, the Savior of the world sent by the Father as atoning sacrifice for sin, to redeem His believing people unto salvation from eternal damnation and transformed their hearts into eternal lives with reconciliation with God in Heaven. 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains, “God made Him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus declared in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The Apostle John confirms in 1 John 5:11-13 “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son [Jesus Christ]. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

 

Egocentric, self-centered pride is defined as: Inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others. It is a pride that dines on vanity, sups on contempt. All godless pride is abject and mean. The opposite of this pride is humility, which is defined as: freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth. In theology, humility consists in lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one's own unworthiness in the sight of God, self-abasement, penitence for sin, and submission to the divine will. This is the U-turn that our heavenly God speaks of when he says, My people will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways. 

 

We saw last post that sin is defined as: The voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act of iniquity. So, we make a U-turn from our wicked ways of the sin nature, seek God's face, obey the Lord and walk in the Spirit. And in doing so we become the righteousness of God, with the fruit of the Spirit flowing from us like “living water”, completely forgiven, totally healed and truly blessed. You turn.

 

In Christ, Brian

Saved

 

Acts 4:10-12 “Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

 

Most people understand what it means to be saved. The dictionary defines the word as being preserved from evil; injury or destruction; kept frugally [prudently or carefully]; prevented; spared; taken in time. But in the case of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, many wonder what they need saved from? In Luke 19:10 Jesus said, “the Son of Man [speaking of himself] has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Many wonder how they are lost and on what basis this claim of being lost is based? They see a world entrenched in moral depravity, hate and violence but do not see themselves in the equation and therefore believe that they are basically good and not needing to be saved.

 

The issue is sin; what sin is exactly and what the judgment for sin actually is. Sin is not what you or I believe is “right” or “wrong” or just a mere poor moral decision by people. The word “sin” is defined as “The voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity. Sin is either a positive act in which a known divine law is violated, or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such command. Sin comprehends not action only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts, purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to God's commands or law. People do not understand just how sinful sin really is. Sin is ultimately against God and His authority over His creation. Sin is truly evil and sin is deadly serious because Romans 6:23 explains, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

 

Ephesians 2:1-3 explains the severity of the sin situation stating “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” We must understand that God is “Just” [upright; honest; having principles of rectitude; or conforming exactly to the laws, and to principles of rectitude in social conduct; equitable in the distribution of justice; as a just judge] and justice demands that sin be punished by God.

 

John 3:16-19, 36 proclaims, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. He dwho believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” What sins? The Bible lists sins of adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, drug abuse, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,  envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, lust, pride, liars, cheats, homosexuals, thieves, covetous,  drunkards, revilers, extortioners and more. We all fit on that list somewhere. Romans 3:23-24 confirms “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”  

 

God is just, but God is love and merciful. Our Creator could invoke judgment immediately, but 2 Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. God’s desire is to restore the sinner back to an upright position before Him. Salvation is being saved from sin and of the wrath of God [just punishment] against our sin. God’s plan of salvation was to send his sinless Son Jesus Christ to pay the price for the hellbound sinners of the world, saving all who believe by faith in the Savior of the world, repent and surrender the throne of their life in obedience to the Lord and become a discipled follower. Jesus is the blessed redeemer of mankind, the way to salvation.  

 

That is why Ephesians 2:4-8 can say, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” In Romans 1:16-18 the Apostle Paul declares, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” But the good news is that God saves.

 

Saved in Christ, Brian

Ever-Present Spirit

Psalm 139:7 “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?”

 

Our Lord Jesus explained to the Pharisee Nicodemus in John 3:5-8, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” The Bible commentator Matthew Henry points out that our Savior spoke of the necessity and nature of regeneration or the new birth, and at once directed Nicodemus to the source of holiness of the heart. Birth is the beginning of life; to be born again, is to begin to live anew. We must have a new nature, new principles, new affections, new aims. By our first birth we were corrupt, shaped in sin; therefore we must be made new creatures via metamorphosis – a change of substance by supernatural means]. This new birth is from heaven. It is a complete change [a transforming conversion] made in the heart of a sinner, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It means that something is done in us, and for us, which we cannot do for ourselves. Jesus shows the Author of this blessed change. It is not wrought by any wisdom or power of our own, but by the power of the blessed Spirit unto salvation.

 

But wait, that not all! In John 14:15-17, 26 Jesus declared that “If you love Me, keep My commandments. I will pray [to God] the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Our physical bodies and their biological functions exist together with our soul [mind, will and emotions] throughout this life, the indwelling Holy Spirit exists, ever-presently dwelling within our born-again heart throughout this born-again life, walking together and talking together in the power of the Spirit. There is spiritual truth, spiritual fruit, spiritual growth, and spiritual life found here. God with us is not little deal.  

 

We live a physical life in a material world on this side of eternality, but we all have a spiritual life connection also, and Pastor Frances Chan explicates that though we do not always realize it, intimacy with God is truly the deepest desire of the human heart. Not only that, but God also strongly desires a deep personal relationship with us – so much so that He sent His Spirit into our hearts so that we could have a constant fellowship with Him. Think about it, every second of every day, wherever you go and whatever you do, the Spirit of the living God is within you! The ever-present Holy Spirit actually lives inside of you! Spend some time speaking and listening to God directly. Jesus Christ reconciled our relationship to our heavenly Father through His atoning redemption on the cross for our sins, and the Holy Spirit transformed our born-again believing heart, sanctified our soul and regenerated our spirit to build a bridge to the throne of God in Heaven. Jesus gave His life so that you could pursue that intimate relationship and thrive.

 

Galatians 3:13-14 “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law [condemnation for sin], having become a curse for us …, that we might receive the promise of the [ever-present] Spirit through faith.”

 

In Christ, Brian

Heavenly Father

  

The Lord Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:9, “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed [Holy] be Your name." We easily understand the physical concept of procreation of a child through their biological mother and father. It is an amazing and complex process from egg to birth and a natural intimate bond is developed between child and parent within the context of family. Taken to the creation level, everything was created by our all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful and ever-present God, physically and biologically. Psalm 139:13-14 tells us, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Therefore, God is our heavenly Father. 

 

In John 3:5 Jesus declared, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. The “Fall of Man” by sin in the Garden of Eden caused a hellbound separation as our spiritual connection was broken. But, in God’s restoration Plan of Salvation called “born-again”, He made a way for redemption in the gift of His Son Jesus Christ to pay the redemption price through His atoning death on the cross in our place, if we repented of our sin, believed God and accept Him as Savior and Lord. 

 

John 1:10-14 proclaims, “He [Jesus] was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Therefore, Christians are brothers and sisters in the family of God. 

Galatians 4:4-7 explain that “when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son [Jesus] into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. The term “Abba” was the most enduring Hebrew way to address a father. The modern equivalent would be the word “Daddy”. Pastor Frances Chan asks us to let the significance of this hit you and sink in. It is incredible enough that we can call almighty God our Father. But, then He sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts to dwell and prompts us to cry out to Him, “Daddy”!

 

Romans 8:10-16 confirms that “if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. God is our heavenly Father.

 

In Christ, Brian

According to the Spirit

 

Romans 8:1-13 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."

 

In John 3:16-18 Jesus declares, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. The Lord explains that all of fallen mankind, who naturally live in sin and continuously walk according to their sinful flesh desires are already condemned to eternal damnation in Hell (the second death) by their trespasses, inequity and sin. Many do not know this fact – the default is Hell. Jesus Christ (sent by God the Father as the One Way and only Savior of the world), is the Redeemer of mankind to those who by faith believe God and His plan of Salvation from Hell, whole-heartedly repent of their sins, accept the gift of God in the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross to pay for their sins, and surrender their life totally to follow Him as Lord, thereby receiving the indwelling the very Holy Spirit that converted and sanctified their soul, regenerated their spirit for spiritual discernment, reconciled their spiritual connection to their almighty Creator, transformed their heart for restoration to love their heavenly Father, adopts them into the family of God and declares them citizen of the kingdom of Heaven. It’s amazing because God grace is amazing. 

 

But those who reject God, His plan of Salvation, and His free gift offer to all of a Savior, they remain in their sin, being subject to God’s Law, condemned to eternal damnation in Hell after their physical death, and will never have spiritual discernment or know real love, joy, peace or true life. It is said that to those who believe, repent and accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, life on this side of eternity is the closest to Hell that they will ever get, but to those who do not believe, continue to willfully live in their sin and reject Jesus as Savior and Lord, life on this side of eternity is the closest to Heaven that they will ever get. Choose Jesus and live, then walk constantly according to the Spirit.   

 

In Galatians 5:16, 24-25 the Apostle Paul  proclaims: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

 

In Christ, Brian

Spirit

 

Galatians 5:13-18 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

At the transformational conformation of the born-again Believer, they are given the indwelling Holy Spirit, not just to be a Helper to, counsel and guide the child of God, but to empower, defend and pray for the disciple also. Since the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden, the sinful desires of the flesh control the mind and body of the natural man. We have all been born with the lustful and alluring temptations, which lead us to the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery [drug abuse], hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). 

 

Everyone knows the they cannot escape the sinful desires of the flesh, which is with each of us always. But, the justified and sanctified Christian is given spiritual discernment in the heart of the regenerated spirit of man and restoration of relationship with our Creator Father God through the Holy Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit doesn’t join our life to co-exist together as sinner and saint. The Holy Spirit (with the power that raised Jesus Christ from the grave] is in us and with us every second. Do you realize that fact? And, if you walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh, which means that you cannot sin when we live by the Spirit in a Spirit-led and Spirit-filled life. He will never lead us into sin. The alluring distractions and temptations are always there, but they are walking through life in tune with the Spirit in righteousness, following God’s pure word, will and way.  

 

So, the Spirit empowers the children of God with divine courage, strength, confidence, assurance and Heaven’s mission-mindedness. Therefore, we fear not of the flesh, the world of the devil. Put on the full armor of God and stand firm. Walk in the Spirit and abide there!

In Christ, Brian

Trust

 

Psalm 40:3-5 “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him. Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you.

 

Word studies are important because we live in a day and time when words that have always been defined one way for centuries are now being redefined by atheistic secular humanists to indoctrinate this generation and advance a godless agenda. This is why I many times refer back to the first America Dictionary of the English Language in America by Christian patriot Noah Webster in 1828. His purpose in publishing it was so that Americans could look up words in the Bible that they didn’t fully comprehend and could read the full and proper definition in order to better understand the Word of God.

 

Like the word “honor”, the word “trust” has a verb form and a noun form. Webster’s dictionary defines the verb form of “trust” as: (1) To regard; to have regard to in design or purpose. (2) To have regard to, in relation or connection; to relate to. (3) To view or consider with some degree of reverence; to esteem as possessed of real worth. (4) To look towards. To respect the person, to suffer the opinion or judgment to be influenced or biased by a regard to the outward circumstances of a person, to the prejudice of right and equity.

 

Webster’s dictionary defines the noun form of “trust” as: (1) Regard; attention. (2) That estimation or honor in which men and women hold the distinguished worth or substantial good qualities of others. It expresses less than reverence and veneration, which regard elders and superiors; whereas respect may regard juniors and inferiors. Respect regards the qualities of the mind, or the actions which characterize those qualities. (3) That deportment or course of action which proceeds from esteem; regard; due attention; as, to treat a person with respect. (4) Good will; favor. (5) Respect of persons. (6) Respected character. (7) Consideration; motive in reference to something. (8) Relation; regard; reference; followed by of, but more properly by to. As in: They believed but one Supreme Deity [Creator God], which, with respect to the benefits men received from Him, had several titles.

 

In the above Bible passage, “Put their trust” in God is the Hebrew verb “bāṭaḥ”, meaning to boldly trust in their almighty Lord God; to hie [go quickly] for refuge, safely and securely with sure confidence. And, “who trusts” in the Lord (or the one who makes the Lord his trust) is the Hebrew noun “miḇṭāḥ”, meaning their full trust, confidence, refuge, confidence, security, assurance and confidence.

 

In Mark 12:29-30 Jesus proclaimed, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. Is “In God We Trust” more than just words in our National Motto and printed or engraved on our currency and coinage? Do you truly trust God, believe God, adoringly love God, revere, follow and obey God? Child of God, are you “all in” with your heavenly Father?

 

In Christ, Brian

Honor

Psalm 8:4-5 “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.

 

The Greek word for “honor” here is “hāḏār”, meaning splendor, majesty, dignity, honor, glory. The noun form of the word “honor” is defined here defined in Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary of the English language as: The esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation. A testimony of esteem; any expression of respect or of high estimation by words or actions. Dignity; exalted rank or place; distinction. Reverence; veneration; or any act by which reverence and submission are expressed, as worship paid to the Supreme Being [Creator God]. Reputation; good name; as, his honor is unsullied. True nobleness of mind; magnanimity; dignified respect for character, springing from probity, principle or moral rectitude; a distinguishing trait in the character of good men and women. Psalm 96:5-7 says, “For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples, give to the Lord glory and strength.”

 

Exodus 20:12 commands us, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”

 

The Greek word for “honor” here is “kāḇaḏ”, meaning to be weighty, be honorable, be glorious, be honored. The verb form of the word “honor” used here is defined in Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary of the English language as: To revere; to respect; to treat with deference and submission, and perform relative duties to. As in “Honor thy father and thy mother” in Exodus 20:12. To reverence; to manifest the highest veneration for, in words and actions; to entertain the most exalted thoughts of; to worship; to adore. As in John 5, “That all men should honor the Son [Jesus], even as they honor the Father [God]”. To dignify; to raise to distinction or notice; to elevate in rank or station; to exalt. Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor” from Esther 6. To glorify; to render illustrious.

 

In Matthew 15:4-8 the Lord Jesus clarified, “For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”—then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.’” Don't live there.

 

When we fail to give honor where our heavenly Father commands us to give honor and where honor is due, then we only fool ourselves. We are exposed by the Holy Spirit and condemned for the base self-centered pride and disgraceful disobedience. Let us honor God in loving gratitude and honor others as we work daily to advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world, point the way to the foot of the Cross for redemption and salvation. 

 

In Christ, Brian

Purpose

 

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

 

I read a couple articles on purpose this week. They ask: What is the existential-humanistic perspective from God's perspective? The bottom line is that we exist—we are alive. The challenge of our lives is how do we choose to live our existence and how do we make meaning of our unique, individual journeys. Why am I here on earth? Where did I come from? What am I worth? Do I have any intrinsic value? Do I serve a purpose? These are all fundamental questions. 

 

If God doesn't exist, that means that life must have come about through some natural impersonal, unintelligent, and ultimately purposeless process. Without a Creator in the beginning, there was nobody around to put you here on purpose which means you aren't here for a reason. It's that simple. But, If God created you, then He created you for a reason, and that's ultimately why your here. If Creator God loves you and you're valuable to your Heavenly Father, then that's ultimately what you're worth. 

 

What God says is right is absolutely right and what He says is wrong is absolutely wrong. We may be free moral agents with the freedom to make moral decisions, but that doesn't mean we can choose what actually is right or wrong; that just means we're capable of choosing to be right or wrong. God makes the rules. 

 

We believe in God-given possibility and potential. Simultaneously, we acknowledge there are limitations to being a finite human. We believe there is something greater than ourselves in God’s purposes. There is something greater than our personality or ego that it is important to stay open to what the Word of God says and the leading of the Holy Spirit. A born-again Believer aspires to be Christ-hearted and clear-minded. We aspire to love every human being for all of who they are, and if unsaved to lead them to the foot of the Cross to find salvation in Christ. We love our neighbors as ourselves.

 

We intend to live in the present moment that the Lord has placed us, for He put us here right now for a reason. In this present moment, the past (which we learn from) and future (which ultimately is glory in Heaven) are embodied. We want to be conscious God’s plan for our lives in how we feel, what we think, and how we act in the present moment to advance the kingdom of God. This makes life vital.

 

We intend to act from our authentic godly core in our transformed heart. We believe that as followers of Jesus Christ, we will ultimately act in the best interests of self, each other, our community, nation and the world as a whole will a biblical worldview. We intend to have relationships of honesty, openness, and mutuality each being created by God. 

 

We believe that human beings are innately sinners. However, they need to explore and heal their wounds in repentance by the blood of Jesus in order to actualize their godly goodness. We believe life is an ongoing learning process called sanctification. There are always further discoveries we can make about ourselves and the world as we are discipled and grow into the likeness of Christ. We are always growing, learning and maturing as children of God, knowing that Jesus Christ is the author of our own life.

 

In Christ, Brian

Beauty

 

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We once had a small group Bible study watch a video on God’s creation through different elements like soil, and trees of creation . I am not only amused that the Earth is codependent on these elements for live, survival and growth, but also the beauty that they give to the creatures that live upon God’s green Earth.

71% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, meaning that only 29% of the earth’s surface is land mass inhabited by human beings (us) and all other land creatures. The foliage and forest provide so much from the planet through the production of these plants and trees (food, medicines, wood, shelter, oxygen) and their deteriorating waste fertilizers the soil for future growth. Yet looking at their beauty brings peace and joy. But, how often do we become blind to this beauty all around us, because we have busy lives. The old saying goes: “stop and smell the roses” for a reason. We don’t always think about the beauty and the blessings of God all around us because of the busyness, worries and distractions of this world that are in front of us daily. So we do not always find pleasure in God’s work around us on a planet designed for life that he told our first ancestor Adam to cultivate and take care of. 

Beauty is there. It’s all around us. We tend to think of beauty in terms of people, places and art, but we need to remember that foundation of our existence, and see the beauty of what God has provided for us each day and carry that pleasant feeling of joy throughout each moment. We need to stop and smell the roses, take in the beauty that God surrounds us and count our many blessings every day.

In Christ, Brian

Who We are

1 Corinthians 2:14 “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”

 

Sin broke the spiritual connection between mankind and God, but in the transforming conversion within the born-again Believer, that spiritual connection is regenerated and the Holy Spirit given. Repentance of our sin, belief in God and his plan of forgiveness and salvation, combines with saving faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and the Savior of the world sent by our loving and merciful Creator Father God in Heaven. In this Divine transaction of Christ taking on our sins, while we take on Christ’s perfect righteous before God, we become children of God and citizens of Heaven for eternity, even while still being citizen of earth. Being a Christian is not about what a person does, but about who they are.

The “fall of man” in the Garden of Eden caused the death of the human spirit which God created, and with it came the death of spiritual discernment within this “natural man”, now bent on the desires of the flesh. The Lord Jesus explained to the Pharisee Nicodemus in John 3:3, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” I heard of a school board in America who implemented secular social policies that were in direct violation of biblical church doctrine and the moral Law of God. At a school board meeting, parents stood up to protest the policies based upon their deep moral and religious conviction as Christians, and the school board replied “Change your religion and accept the policies”.   

 

Jesus continued to explain in John 3:16-20 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed”. The unregenerate man not only cannot see God perfect Word, Will and Way and neither wants to or will, so they reject, attack, silence and demand compliance. 

It is a sad state of affairs but the Lord told us in His holy Word that darkness cannot coexist with light, physically or spiritually. Children of God are to put on the full armor of God and stand firm because this is a spiritual battle for the hearts, minds and souls of every person on earth. Jesus, himself gave us the mission and marching order in His Great Commission to His disciples [students/followers] in Matthew 28:18-20 saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

It’s what the Christian does because of who we are. Change the world for Heaven’s sake and reduce the population of Hell. In Christ, Brian

Live - Part 2

 

Michael continues: This old wine skin of not associating with gentiles kept Peter from wanting to minister to a “heathen.” However, Peter said, “when I was called, I came without objection.” Verse 31 tells about how God revealed to him that he should go see Cornelius. Actually, Cornelius the unbeliever was more willing to act on God’s revelation than many Christians. Christians often think they should pray about God’s instructions rather than simply acting by believing faith on God’s revelation. Cornelius invited Peter into his home. When you’re around people who think that you’re special because you have done things on behalf of God, Peter had to correct their theology and said, “I’m just a man like you.”

Cornelius said, “we (our whole household) have gathered together in the presence of God to hear everything that the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” They wanted to know the truth of the word of God. They weren’t afraid to understand God’s righteousness, judgement, and holiness. They wanted to be set free from everything that was imprisoning them. They did not want a watered-down message of “easy believism.”  

Jesus had said to his disciples, “Go into all the world ... teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you.” According to Corinthians, we are not as those who water down the word of God. In Acts 10: 34-43, Peter preached to Cornelius and his household the gospel message of deliverance from sin’s bondage of this world and salvation through Jesus Christ. According to Romans 12, the Bible says, recompense to no man evil for evil, provide all things honest in the sight of all men. Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good.  

While Peter was preaching, the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his household and the Jews who were with Peter were all amazed. The gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on Cornelius and his Gentile household just as it had fallen on Peter and the Jews who were with him. The emphasis is to meet with people. We’re living connected together despite the storms of life so that there is a healthy connection of believers within our own households. The church ministry in the home was one of the hallmarks of the first century church in the book of Acts. The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. One of the harvest fields is in the homes of people who need to have an encounter with the risen Lord.

New means new. The new is completely different from the old normal. This is a time of renewal to change what was wrong with our lives. The devil works through distraction. Now is the time to set our affections on things above and not on the things of this world. The time is ripe for the harvest. As Christian believers, God is opening the minds of those he’s calling to receive the seed of the Word of truth. We’ve been called to plant, to water, and to bring in the harvest in the mission field of the hearts he’s prepared for us. That He alone may be glorified and that we may be to the praise of the glory of His grace. Live.

Your brother in Christ, Michael