Part 1 The Difficult Teachings of Jesus Christ

Sometimes the Lord calms the storm;
Sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child
as He leads them to victory.
fkj

The Difficult Teachings of Jesus Christ: Part 1


For many Christians the red letter’s of the New Testament alone represent the words of the Lord. The Word proclaims:
1In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2He was in the beginning with God.
3All things came into being through Him,
and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not [a]comprehend it.
John 1:1-5 NASB

The entire Word of God represents the Word of God… it says that all Scripture is given
“All Scripture is inspired by God
and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction,
for training in righteousness;
17so that the man of God may be adequate,
equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB

Thus when we open the Scriptures, we must do so with balance and inclusiveness if we are to get a full understanding of how we are to walk before our God. This includes understanding what is required of us, and how we are to walk so that God’s will for our lives will overcome the desires and works of the enemy.

“For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh;
for these are in opposition to one another,
so that you may not do the things that you please.”
Galatians 5:17 NASB

There is a war raging within each of us between what is birthed of the Holy Spirit within us and the desires of our flesh. No one is exempt from the struggle, not you, nor I. The Scripture above was written to the Galatian church, to believers like us. The issue here is one of leading and surrender. Who will we choose to allow to be in the lead, our own earthly desires or the Spirit of God. We will only see victory and experience the fullness of our inheritance in Christ if we choose the way of the Spirit of God.
If we will choose to yield ourselves wholly to the wooing of the Spirit, in the grace of our Lord… we will not come under condemnation but walk in freedom.

1Therefore there is now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
3For what the Law could not do,
weak as it was through the flesh,
God did: sending His own Son
in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin,
He condemned sin in the flesh,
4so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us,
who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5For those who are according to the flesh set their minds
on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit,
the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-5 NASB

Walking in the freedom of the Lord is a choice we must make each day. When we are diligent to do so we will not experience any condemnation because the very nature of Jesus Christ in us will set us free from the old law of sin and death. Jesus proclaims that yes, we will have tribulation in this world; but we should rejoice in that he has come to assure us victory over every area of sin, bondage and sickness.

“These things I have spoken to you,
so that in Me you may have peace
In the world you have tribulation,
but take courage; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33 NASB

What follows in Galatians is a sobering admonition
about the signs of back-sliding believers.

19Now the deeds of the flesh are evident,
which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy,
outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these,
of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you,
that those who practice such things
will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 NASB

[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (KJV)
Now the works of the flesh — By which that inward principle is discovered.
are manifest — Plain and undeniable.
The works are mentioned in the plural because they are distinct from,
and often inconsistent with, each other.
But "the fruit of the Spirit" is mentioned in the singular, Galatians 5:22, as being all consistent and connected together.
— He enumerates those "works of the flesh" to which the Galatians were most inclined; and those parts of "the fruit of the Spirit" of which they stood in the greatest need. We also are so inclined, and equally in need of the work and fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Some of the terms used here are self evident while others could use a little expanding on if we are to understand what these Scriptures are requiring of us.
Lasciviousness — The Greek word means anything inward or outward that is contrary to chastity.
It also means: bender. binge, blowout, bust, carousal, depravity, dissipation, drunkenness, excess, fornication, incontinence, indulgence, intemperance, lustful intimacy, lechery, lewdness, lust, orgy, overindulgence, revelry, seduction, fast living, gluttony, sensuality, or living life in the “fast lane.”
To the contrary, walking in the Spirit is characterized by benevolence (love), giving, unselfishness and mercifulness.
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (KJV)
Idolatry, witchcraft — That this means witchcraft, strictly speaking, it appears from its being joined with the worship of devil-gods, and not necessarily with murder. This is frequently and solemnly forbidden in the Old Testament. To deny therefore that there is, or ever was, any such thing, is, by plain consequence, to deny the authority both of the Old and New Testament.
Heresies are divisions in religious communities.
Emulations are: unnatural appitite, ardor, jealous aspirations, cravings, lustful drives, hunger, longing, sensual love or lust.
Life in the Spirit to the contrary leads to: contentment, humility, satisfaction and peace.
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Revellings — means to indulge in luxurious entertainments, to bask, carouse, carry-on, cut loose, fool around, frolick, gloat, indulge, relish, to blow off steam, savor, wallow in , kick up ones heel. The type of behavior engaged in by the first prodical son who took and squandered his father’s inheritance.
Some of the works here mentioned are wrought principally, if not entirely, in the mind; and yet they are called "works of the flesh." This makes it is clear, the apostle does not by "the flesh" mean just the body, or sensual appetites and inclinations only, but the corruption of human nature, as it spreads through all the powers of the soul, (the mind, will and emotions) as well as all the physical members of the body.
Of which I tell you before — Before the event, I forewarn you.
When we examine such Scriptures closely we begin to feel the weight of the requirements for walking in the kingdom of God.
First John 2:6 states clearly that “Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.”
Jesus walked in object purity! And he did so as a man in the flesh, to demonstrate to us that it is possible for us to do the same. To walk such a life we must walk in the Spirit as Jesus did. He overcame every obsticle and performed every miracle as a man being lead by the Spirit to complete His Father’s will. We are called to walk in the fullness of His stature.
“ …until we all attain to the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to a mature man,
to the measure of the stature
which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:13 NASB

Jesus calls us still saying:
“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:48 NASB
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children”
Ephesians 5:1 NASB
because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
1 Peter 1:16 NASB (Quoting Leviticus: 11:44; 19:2; 20:7)
Jesus overcame temptation, and became the spotless Lamb of God, so that we could do the same. He proclaimed that it was better for us that He returned to the Father so that the Holy Spirit would come and lead us to all truth and victory.
The pattern of the carnal flesh is struggle – defeat – struggle – defeat… an endless cycle of bitter failure and depression. The pattern of a life in Jesus Christ, being lead of the Holy Spirit is grace to grace, holiness to holiness, victory to victory in the face of any and all opposition.

30
fkj

Harnessed for Battle

"The richness of God's Word ought to determine our prayer,
not the poverty of our heart."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer


Harnessed for Battle
In the thirteenth chapter of Exodus, there is a curious juxtaposition in verses seventeen and eighteen. In verse seventeen, the children of Israel have just been delivered from captivity in Egypt and the Lord leads them, not to the promised land through the land of the Philistines (a war like and sinful people), but he takes them into the wilderness saying:

"Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, "The people might (repent) change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt."
Exodus 13:7 NASB

In the very next verse there seems to be a contradiction in the account:

"Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up (harnessed) in martial array from the land of Egypt.
Exodus 13:18 NASB [my emphasis bold]

I have emphasized these two words (in these two verses) to look at a little closer, in order to focus on this seemingly inconsistent account.

The word repent (Strongs 5162) is from the
Hebrew word nacham [naw cham]
this word means: to sigh or breath strongly (as from fear)
to be sorry or pity ones previous action or choice
to rue, pity or repent

So here we have the picture of a people who have:

1- been held in captivity for four hundred years
2- been dramatically and miraculously rescued
and lead out of bondage
3- now being sorry, and quite frankly “being scared to death”
and wanting to go back to captivity rather than face the unknown, or possibility of retaliation from Pharaoh

In today’s language we would probably say they were
“shaking in their boots”.

In the very next verse the Spirit of God tells us they were “harnessed.”

The word harnessed (Strongs 2571) is from the
Hebrew word chamush [khaw moosh]

this word means: to be staunch,
able bodied soldiers
well armed, stout, or harnessed

Here we have quite a different picture
of a people who are marching as an army
totally equipped and ready for battle,
having been trained and armed for the fight,
and willingly ready to enter with purpose and fortitude.

What a curious juxtaposition the Holy Spirit gives us here.

The Old Testament accounts are filled with “types” and “shadows” of eternal truths, that are brought to fruition in the new testament church. Indeed scripture makes it clear that the very physical battles that the nation of Israel faced are mirrors of the spiritual battles that each of us face today individually and corporately.

"Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come."
I Corinthians 10:11 NASB

It is so easy for us to look back at the accounts given in God’s Word and say: “How could they have been so foolish...couldn’t they see what God was doing right before their eyes...how could Peter have denied Jesus?”

Yet these verses, I believe, have a very real and very timely word for us as Christians today. In this Old Testament situation there is a spiritual parallel to our personal walk with the Lord today, as well as to the churches.
Have we not been as the children of Israel?

1- They were held captive in Egypt.

1- We were held captive in Sin.

2- They were delivered miraculously by the mighty hand of God
from the bondage of Egypt and the rule of Pharaoh

2- We have been delivered miraculously by
the mighty hand of God
by faith in His dear Son,
from the bondage of sin (Egypt)
and the rule of Satan (Pharaoh)


3- They were equipped for battle...
given the example that God would fight their battles for them
if they would only trust and obey Him....

"and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and He will give you into our hands."

[spoken by David as he prepared to fight Goliath]
I Samuel 17:47

but....they could not consistently see this
and time after time they fell back into bondage and lost battles because of their low view of God.

3- We as Christians today, stand victorious in Christ Jesus
Hallelujah!
We are equipped and ready for battle... in Him
because “the Battle is” still “the Lord’s” but He has said:
“It is finished!” (John 19:30)

So many times I see brothers, sisters (and myself) struggling with this issue of being equipped for battle, but not being harnessed to the understanding and faith which enables us to move out in the authority and power that Christ has given us. How many times I have fallen short of the mark because I allowed “the prince of this world” to block my vision of the Ancient of Days. Without vision the people perish says Proverbs 29:18.

How often do we struggle with returning to the comfort zone of our sin (our Egypt) and submit to the task-master-pharaoh (satan) rather than to step out in faith and confront the enemy and smite him in the awesome power of the Lord.

"Like a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who repeats his folly."
Proverbs 26:11

The Christian today who is effective for the gospel of Jesus Christ is one who is harnessed to the yolk of the Master, one who knows and heeds the voice of The Good Shepherd, one who has an intimate relationship in prayer, praise and meditation - times of intimacy with the Author and Finisher of their faith. One who walks in the light, and is lead by the Spirit, is equipped and able to do battle.

“For though we walk in the flesh,
we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalts itself
against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ;
And having in a readiness to revenge
all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

II Corinthians 10:3-6

May the Lord God Almighty give us vision to see Him face to face, as our buckler and strong tower, that we might be harnessed to see His kingdom established, and His Gospel fulfilled, and His return shortened.

30

fkj

Come into My Presence

Two characteristics of a Christian are giving and forgiving.
fkj

Come into My Presence

This Morning an image of the Lord was shared
during praise and worship at our church.
‘The King of Righteousness stood with His scepter extended (granting permission to come into His presence and speak our request). In His right arm was His royal robe. The robe was a deep dark purple with golden threads embroidered in the velvet-like material. The robe was hooded with pristine white fur around the hood and neck of the robe. The Lord stood with the royal robe extended awaiting us to put it on.’
As this picture was being shared
I believe I heard the voice of the Lord saying the following:
“Come close to Me…
Come to Daddy…
Come into My presence…
In My presence is fullness of joy
In My presence is peace
In My presence is My fragrance
In My presence is compassion
In My presence is safety
In My presence is the truth
In My presence is your inheritance
In My presence is solid ground
In My presence is purpose
In My presence is authority
In My presence is your destiny
In My presence is strength
In My presence is new life
In My presence is wisdom
In My presence is grace
In My presence is righteousness
In My presence is promise
In My presence is a new song
In My presence is power
In My presence is victory
In My presence is hope
In My presence is abundant life
In My presence is light
In My presence is a table of provision
In My presence is encouragement
In My presence is security
In My presence is mercy
In My presence is comfort
In My presence is knowledge
In My presence is holiness
In My presence is a new song
In My presence is your soul’s delight…
Come close to Me…
Come to Daddy…
Come into My presence."

30
fkj

The Purifier for Holy Living:

“Unless the soul is fed and exercised daily, it becomes weak and shriveled. It remains discontented, confused, restless.”
Billy Graham

Life Wisdom from Billy Graham (p19)


The Purifier for Holy Living:

23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer,
he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24for once he has looked at himself and gone away,
he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty,
and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer,
this man will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:23-25 NASB

Purity of life is not the pursuit of perfection, but rather the quest to be liberated from those things that inhibit our effectiveness for the kingdom of God. We desire to see the power of God demonstrated through our lives, so that those around us can see Christ in us.
The James text shows that the Word of God is like a mirror – a means of reflecting our true nature. The implication here is not that we simply see in the mirror, but that we allow the corrective influence of God’s Word to act upon and conform our lives to the image of Christ Jesus.
There is another implication within this divine phrase – that we should avoid the temptation to utilize the Word of God to judge the walks of others… i.e. that we remove the beam from our own eye and not be consumed with removing a speck from our brother or sisters eye.

2"For in the way you judge, you will be judged;
and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye,
but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4"Or how can you say to your brother,
'Let me take the speck out of your eye,'
and behold, the log is in your own eye?”
Matthew 7:2-4 NASB

2 Corinthians 3:18 also likens the Word of God to a mirror…

18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror
the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image
from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB

…but it likens the image to the fullness of Christ Jesus Himself.

The Word of God reveals the character of Christ to us that we may measure our own progress in becoming more and more like Him – from glory to glory through His marvelous grace.
God continually is asking us to die to self, so that we may be more like His beloved Son.

29For those whom He foreknew,
He also predestined to become
conformed to the image of His Son,
so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
Romans 8:29

11And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets,
and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12for the equipping of the saints for the work of service,
to the building up of the body of Christ;
13until we all attain to the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to a mature man, to the measure of the stature
which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
14As a result, we are no longer to be children,
tossed here and there by waves
and carried about by every wind of doctrine,
by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15but speaking the truth in love,
we are to grow up in all aspects into Him
who is the head, even Christ,
16from whom the whole body,
being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies,
according to the proper working of each individual part,
causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NASB

Jeremiah 29:9 speaks of the Word of God as a fire. The fire of God has two distinct purposes in our lives. First it purges us from the things that inhibit our intimacy with Him. Secondly it ignites us for service!

12For the word of God is living and active
and sharper than any two-edged sword,
and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit,
of both joints and marrow,
and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 NASB

God’s Holy Word is a powerful cleansing and delivering agent.
The Word of God says that we are to work our salvation with fear and trembling…
(Philippians 2:12) … salvation should always lead to service. It is the height of self-deception to believe that the goal of the Christian walk is simply to attend church and hear the word each week. James implores us not simply to be hearers of the Word but doers of the Word!

“But prove yourselves doers of the word,
and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
James 1:22 NASB

The Word must bring transformation to our lives that we may be vessels fit for the Masters use.

21 “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things,
he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master,
prepared for every good work.”
2 Timothy 2:21 NASB

There are those who hear the Word, and agree with what it says… but they quickly forget about it failing to apply it to their lives. (See Matthew 13 - The Parable of the Sower)

" For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
Luke 9:26 NASB

It is the one who hears the Word and continues in it who is blessed.
He who does the will of my Father

" He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him."
John 14:21 NASB

God’s Word is the perfect law of liberty. The Scriptures never enslave or place in the bondage of legalism, but rather it frees us to keep the commands and precepts of God out of love and devotion to the One who redeemed us from sin and death!

30

fkj

The Little Big Word

“Supernatural strength is the work of the Holy Spirit, not weight training.”
Robert Whitlow – “Zion vs. Zeus”


The Little Big Word

I am often amazed what one little word can do in the context of Scripture.
There is one particular word that may just be the most powerful word in the Word. That word is the word “if”. This little conjunction can have significant impact to the promises given in the Word. If means: “in the event that”, “granting that”, or “on the condition that.” Let’s apply it to a verse.

"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain,
or command locusts to devour the land
or send a plague among my people,
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 will I hear from heaven
and will forgive their sin
and will heal their land.
Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive
to the prayers offered in this place.”
2 Chronicles 7:13-15 NASB (my emphasis red)

If you would allow me the liberty this is how I read this verse.
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain,
or command locusts to devour the land
or send a plague among my people,
if my people, who are called by my name,
will humble themselves and pray
if they will seek my face
if they will turn from their wicked ways,
then will I hear from heaven
and will forgive their sin
and will heal their land.
Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive
to the prayers offered in this place.
If they do not
Then I will not forgive their sin
Nor will I heal their land
and my eyes will not be open nor my ears attentive
to the prayers they offer in this place.
2 Chronicles 7:13-15 FCUAV (Fred’s Completely Unauthorized Amplified Version)

Throughout the Scripture there are promises of God
that are made conditional by this little big word “if.”

When Solomon had completed building the Temple and had dedicated it, God appeared to him at Gibeon (which means “thing lifted up.”) This is what God said to Solomon:

3 The LORD said to him:
"I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me;
I have consecrated this temple, which you have built,
by putting my Name there forever.
My eyes and my heart will always be there.
4 "As for you, if you walk before me
in integrity of heart and uprightness,
as David your father did,
and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws,
5 I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever,
as I promised David your father when I said,
'You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.'
6 "But if you or your sons turn away from me
and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you
and go off to serve other gods and worship them,
7 then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them
and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name.
Israel will then become a byword
and an object of ridicule among all peoples.
8 And though this temple is now imposing,
all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say,
'Why has the LORD done such a thing
to this land and to this temple?'
9 People will answer,
'Because they have forsaken the LORD their God,
who brought their fathers out of Egypt,
and have embraced other gods,
worshiping and serving them—
that is why the LORD brought all this disaster on them.' "
1 Kings 9:3-9 NASB

Did you catch the little big word in these verses?

4 "As for you, if you walk before me
in integrity of heart and uprightness,
as David your father did,
and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws,

In other words if you walk obediently… then I will…

5 …establish your royal throne over Israel forever,
as I promised David your father when I said,
'You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.'
i.e. I will keep you and your descendants on Israel’s throne forever!

On the other hand…

6 "But if you or your sons turn away from me
and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you
and go off to serve other gods and worship them,

If you walk in disobedience or if your sons walk in disobedience,
or if you follow after false gods and worship them…

7 then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them
and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name.
Israel will then become a byword
and an object of ridicule among all peoples.

Acts of disobedience always have a consequence just as acts of obedience always yield a blessing. This is the principle of sowing and reaping in action.

Blessing or consequences are not only conditional but they are generational as well. The blessings of David were passed on to his son Solomon. The sin of David – his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, are seen in the very sin that pulled down Solomon’s heritage. David’s lust for the flesh was passed down to Solomon and resulted in Solomon’s infatuation with foreign women. He married many, all in direct violation of God’s command that the sons of Israel were not to marry men or women from foreign nations.

1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women
besides Pharaoh's daughter—Moabites, Ammonites,
Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites.
2 They were from nations about which
the LORD had told the Israelites,
"You must not intermarry with them,
because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods."
Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.
3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth
and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.
1 Kings 11:1-3 NASB

When the children of Israel entered the Promised Land they paused at the Jordan River and memorialized their passage from captivity to freedom. They were instructed by the Lord to take twelve stones from the bed of the Jordan and set up a memorial in the place they camped for the first night in the Promised Land.
1Now when all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,
2"Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe,
3and command them, saying, 'Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet are standing firm, and carry them over with you and lay them down in the lodging place where you will lodge tonight.'"
4So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe;
5and Joshua said to them, "Cross again to the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel.
6"Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?'
7then you shall say to them, 'Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off ' So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever."
8Thus the sons of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, just as the LORD spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the lodging place and put them down there.
9Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day.
10For the priests who carried the ark were standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything was completed that the LORD had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. And the people hurried and crossed;
11and when all the people had finished crossing, the ark of the LORD and the priests crossed before the people…

19Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth of the first month and camped at Gilgal on the eastern edge of Jericho.
20Those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal.
21He said to the sons of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?'
22then you shall inform your children, saying, 'Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.'
23"For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the LORD your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed;
24that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever."
Joshua 4: 1-11; 19-24 NASB

The children of Israel were instructed to bring their children back to these memorial stones each year and recount the faithfulness of the Lord in delivering them from bondage and bringing them into the Promised Land. This practice was a practical way that they were to remind generation after generation of the faithfulness of God and the importance of living obediently before Him.
For all of King David’s life he walked reverently before God, (with the notable exception of Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite). Another notable failure of David, however, was his failure as a father to pass on the principles of walking uprightly before the Lord. Had these values been established in his son Solomon, perhaps his life might have ended in a victory shout rather than a whimper.

In the same manner, we as Christians need to leave an Apostolic Legacy for our own children (both biological and spiritual) and for the Generations to Come
A spiritual generation includes every person alive on earth at a given moment.
The Word proclaims that the Holy Spirit is being poured out on all flesh.

28"It will come about after this
That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will dream dreams,
Your young men will see visions.
29"Even on the male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
Joel 2:28-29 NASB

1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Acts 2:1-4 NASB

We are called to be fathers and mothers which means we need to have a relational experience with the children of our generation. It is not enough to simply be teachers of information, but we must mentor those who are being trained up in the things of the Lord.

5Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
1 Corinthians 14:5 NASB (my emphasis bold)
We must live to pass the baton desiring to leave those who follow is a double portion, making our ceiling their floor.
We are to give ourselves to the making of disciples who themselves can reproduce future disciples.

2The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 2:2 NASB

Our passion must be to live in the light of the big eternal picture of history
seeking to occupy, not simply existing until the Lord returns.
We are called to invade our culture not evade it.
We must demonstrate and instruct the ways of God’s kingdom to our children again…(both biological and spiritual).

1Listen, O my people, to my instruction;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old,
3Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
4We will not conceal them from their children,
But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
7That they should put their confidence in God
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments,
Psalm 78:1-4,7 NASB

1"Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it,
2so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.
3"O Israel, you should listen and be careful to do it, that it may be well with you and that you may multiply greatly, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
Deuteronomy 6:1-3 NASB

By the grace of God we will finish the race well,
devoted to Jesus for the long haul.
We will honor all, fervently seeking the blessing of the Lord
for all who follow us.

30
fkj

Walking in the Light:

“One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God,
read it, and believe it.
Then the rest of us will be embarrassed.”
Leonard Ravenhill

“For the word of God is living and active
and sharper than any two-edged sword,
and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit,
of both joints and marrow,
and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 NASB

Walking in the Light:

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
1 John 1:7 NASB

We are called to be reflections of “the light of the world,” Jesus Christ.
To be a light for the Lord is a continual responsibility
and often an ongoing battle against the forces of darkness of this world.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the powers,
against the world forces of this darkness,
against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12 NASB

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh,
but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing
raised up against the knowledge of God,
and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NASB

I don’t know about you
but there are times when I can feel a bit weary in this battle.
Darkness has a way of invading into our thinking
and assaulting the light of Christ in us.

Here are ten Scripture principles
That can help to fortify us in the battle,
Allowing us to bring the Light of Christ into a darkened world:

1. Turn away from darkness.
Turning from darkness is a choice we must make every day:

If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and righteous
to forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 NASB

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
Psalm 27:1 NASB

“to open their eyes so that they may turn
from darkness to light
and from the dominion of Satan to God,
that they may receive forgiveness of sins
and an inheritance among those
who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”
Acts 26:18 NASB

2. Expose all things to the light

“Light arises in the darkness for the upright;
He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.”
Psalm 112:4 NASB

“Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time,
but wait until the Lord comes
who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness
and disclose the motives of men's hearts;
and then each man's praise will come to him from God.”
I Corinthians 4:5 NASB

3. Look unto Jesus

“Many are saying, Who will show us any good?’
Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD!”
Psalm 4:6 NASB

“How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!
O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance.”
Psalm 89:15 NASB

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2 NASB

4. Forgiving all offenders

“The one who says he is in the Light
and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now.
But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness
and walks in the darkness,
and does not know where he is going
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
I John 2:9, 11 NASB

“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass,
you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness;
each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:1,2 NASB

“If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death,
he shall ask and God will for him give life
to those who commit sin not leading to death…”
1 John 5:16 NASB

“My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth
and one turns him back,
let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way
will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."
James 5:19-20 NASB

5. Engrafting the Word of God

“Ýour word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
The unfolding of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
Psalm 119:105, 130 NASB

6. Put on the armor of light

“The night is almost gone, and the day is near
Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness
and put on the armor of light.
Let us behave properly as in the day,
not in carousing and drunkenness,
not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality,
not in strife and jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Romans 13:12-14 NASB (my emphasis bold)

7. Have set times of fasting

What is fasting?
Isaiah 58 (esp. 6-12)
"Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke?
7"Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8"Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9"Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am '
If you remove the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
10And if you give yourself to the hungry
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.
11"And the LORD will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
12"Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.

8. Have a generous eye

22"The eye is the lamp of the body;
so then if your eye is clear, your
whole body will be full of light.
23"But if (B)your eye is bad, your whole body
will be full of darkness.
If then the light that is in you is darkness,
how great is the darkness!
Matthew 6:22-23

22A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth
And does not know that want will come upon him.
Proverbs 28:22

9"Beware that there is no base thought in your heart,
saying, 'the seventh year, the year of remission, is near,'
and your eye is hostile toward your poor brother,
and you give him nothing;
then he may cry to the LORD against you,
and it will be a sin in you.
Deuteronomy 15:9

9. Show your love with good works

10The one who loves his brother abides in the Light
and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
I John 2:10

17But whoever has the world's goods,
and sees his brother in need
and closes his heart against him,
how does the love of God abide in him?
I John 3:17

10And if you give yourself to the hungry
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.
Isaiah 58:10

10. Gather with other believers.

7but if we walk in the Light
as He Himself is in the Light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus His Son
cleanses us from all sin.
I John 1:7

16Then those who feared the LORD
spoke to one another,
and the LORD gave attention and heard it,
and a book of remembrance
was written before Him
for those who fear the LORD
and who esteem His name.
Malachi 3:16

30

fkj

Three Mistakes

“The Bible is a most wonderful and precious gift from the Lord to His people. But the Bible was not meant to take the place of the Lord Himself, nor the Spirit whom He sent. The Bible is a means, not an end. Knowing the book of the Lord is not our goal; our goal is to know the Lord of the book.”
Rick Joyner There Were Two Trees in the Garden Page 11

Three Mistakes

The whole of the Bible encourages us
to join faith with obedience;

mere mental assent is not true biblical faith
because what the Bible says
should always results in action.

This inconsistency
between understanding and obedience
is a bane of the contemporary church.

“Woe to them!
They have taken the way of Cain;
they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error;
they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.”
Jude 11 NIV

Any time the Scripture uses the phrase
“Woe to them!,”
it has the effect of grabbing my immediate attention.

It is a stern warning given by the Spirit of God
saying in-other-words,
“Hey, listen up, you better pay close attention to this,
or something bad is going to happen!”

Here in Jude we are warned
not to fall into the mistakes
of three of the Bibles losers –

three who knew the way of the Lord,
but chose to go their own way
in their own wisdom.
We all know that wisdom apart from God is foolishness!

Cain: “ I’ll do it my way!”

Cain was a farmer,
while his brother able was a shepherd.
(Genesis 4:2).

The Word says he (Cain) was of the evil one
“not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother
And for what reason did he slay him?
Because his deeds were evil,
and his brother's were righteous.
1 John 3:12 NASB

as he was out of harmony with God

“By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain,
through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous,
God testifying about his gifts, and through faith,
though he is dead, he still speaks.”
Hebrews 11:4 NASB

He chose to bring his own offering before God,
instead of the required offering of God,
as his brother Able did in obedience.

Cain’s offering was rejected by God

“but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard
So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.
Then the LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry?
And why has your countenance fallen?
If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?
And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door;
and its desire is for you, but you must master it.’"
Genesis 4:5-7 NASB

Cain rejected God’s call
for his repentance and restoration with God,
refusing to enter into relationship with God
through the prescribed offering.

In his jealousy,
(unsubstantiated) feelings of rejection and rage
he killed his brother able.

How this still rings true today
of those who would contend
that there are many paths to salvation
outside of Christ Jesus –
the only prescribed way given by the Father.

It reflects the many doctrines of men and the evil one,
that have crept into many believer’s hearts,
that contend that worship and obedience
can be as men “interpret”
and pervert the Word of God.

Balaam: pursuit of wealth and fame (position)

Balaam, the son of Beor,
was a man endowed with the gift of prophesy.

“So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor,
at Pethor, which is near the River,
in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying,
"Behold, a people came out of Egypt;
behold, they cover the surface of the land,
and they are living opposite me.”
Numbers 22:5 NASB

His reputation had proceeded him,
to the point that when the Israelites were encamped
in the plains of Moab,
Balak the king of Moab sent for Balaam
and enticed him to pronounce a curse on Israel
in exchange for personal gain.

The Word tells us that Balaam was at first prohibited by God.

He was summoned a second time and he refused to go.

At length, however,
God seeing the wickedness in his heart,
(the desire for riches and honor of man
that Balak set before him)
He allowed him to go.

God’s anger was kindled against his selfishness
and he set the angel of the Lord in his path as an adversary.

“forsaking the right way, they have gone astray,
having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor,
who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
but he received a rebuke for his own transgression,
for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man,
restrained the madness of the prophet.”
2 Peter 2:15-16 NASB

When Balaam tried to curse Israel
words of blessing flowed from his lips.

He nevertheless suggested to the Moabites
the expediency of seducing Israel
by enticing them to commit fornication.

The effect of this is recorded in Numbers 25;
as in a later battle against the Israelites
Balaam is killed at the hand of an Israeli sword.

How often today we hear the cry of Balak
being subtly offered to the people of God.

The deceptive offering of financial gain
or positions of power,
if you will only do what is “after all, politically correct.”

Any act that draws us away
from the security and purposefulness
of living a life in God’s presence
and an attitude of obedience
facilitates spiritual adultery against God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I remember distinctly on an occasion some years ago,
when I worked under an ungodly administrator
(who was a former believer in Christ)
who seemed to delight
in undermining the ways of righteousness.

I recall praying that God would ‘change this person’s heart’ –
or remove this person from the position of authority
(knowing that all authority comes from God)
which allowed such decisions.

Then it happened –
one day at a large public meeting,
this person make a public statement that mocked God!

In a flash I heard myself say out loud,
“Thank you very much!”

This was said loud enough so that
many of the people around me heard it clearly.

Many of them, who were believers,
came to me and asked why I would say thank you
for a statement that obviously had mocked the Lord.

I replied that I had said “Thank you”
because I knew that God would not sit by
and allow His name to be mocked!

From that moment I began to take authority in prayer
“With the high praises of God in my mouth
and a two edged sword in my hand…
I began to ask God to as David did in Psalm 149:
To wreak vengeance upon the nations of darkness
and chastisement upon
the evil people in authority,
To bind their kings with chains,
and their nobles with fetters of iron,
to bind up the principalities
and powers of evil in high places
To execute upon them
the judgment written in His Word.
This is the honor of all His saints.
Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

Asking God to remove this evil influence quickly,
I began to speak to believers proclaiming that God
was going to remove this person from office.

Most of the people I talked with
thought I had gone “over the edge”
because for all appearances this person’s influence
seemed to be growing,
rather than diminishing.

In the end it happened overnight!
This person was fired
and moved out overnight-
and many of the people
that had been hired by this administration
were gone within a few months.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Korah: refusal to honor authority

Korah whose name literally means,
baldness, ice, or frost
was the son of Izhar
and he rebelled against Moses and Aaron,

together with Dathan,
Abiram and two hundred and fifty leaders.

A Levite, the son of Izhar,
the brother of Amram,
the father of Moses and Aaron (Exodus 6:21)

The institution of the Aaronic priesthood
and the Levitical service at Sinai
was a great religious revolution.

The old priesthood
of the heads of families passed away.

This gave rise to murmurings and discontent,
while the Israelites were encamped at Kadesh
for the first time,
which came to a head in a rebellion
against Moses and Aaron,
headed by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
Two hundred and fifty princes, “men of renown”

i.e., well-known men from among the other tribes,
joined this conspiracy.

The whole company demanded of Moses and Aaron
that the old state of things should be restored,

alleging that “they took too much upon them”

“Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath,
the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram,
the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth,
sons of Reuben, took action,
and they rose up before Moses,
together with some of the sons of Israel,
two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation,
chosen in the assembly, men of renown.
They assembled together against Moses and Aaron,
and said to them, ‘You have gone far enough,
for all the congregation are holy, every one of them,
and the LORD is in their midst;
so why do you exalt yourselves
above the assembly of the LORD?"
Numbers 16:1-3 NASB

On the morning after the outbreak,
Korah and his associates presented themselves
at the door of the tabernacle,
and “took every man his censer,
and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon.”

But immediately “fire from the Lord”
burst forth and destroyed them all

“Fire also came forth from the LORD
and consumed the two hundred and fifty men
who were offering the incense.”
Numbers 16:35 NASB

Dathan and Abiram
came out and stood in the door of their tents,
and their wives, and their sons, and their little children,
and the ground opened that was under them;
and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up.


A plague thereafter began
among the people who sympathized
in the rebellion,
and was only stayed
by Aaron’s appearing between the living and the dead,
and making “an atonement for the people” (Numbers 16:47).

Aaron knew well about such intercession
It was Moses who interceded for him
when he made the ‘golden calf’
which saved his life. (Deut. 9:19-20)

The descendants of the sons of Korah
who did not participate in the rebellion
afterwards rose to eminence in the Levitical service.

The Word of God says
all things are naked and open before God
who alone is our judge.
“And not a creature exists
that is concealed from His sight,
but all things are open and exposed,
naked and defenseless to the eyes of Him
with Whom we have to do.”
Hebrews 4:13 Amplified Bible

We are further chastened
that we are to live in harmony
and under the authority that God has established for us.

There are three primary areas
where we are to submit to God’s authority:
In the Home
On the Job
In the House of God

All authority is established and ordained by God
(even when we don’t agree with them).

The life of David is a marvelous picture
of one who remained under authority
even when that authority was deceived,
even demonically controlled.

David refused to come against
God’s appointed authority
even though all his friends were telling him to do so.

Indeed he refused to come against Saul,
even after being anointed by Samuel
as the next king of Israel.

The Word tells us
that we should not murmur against,
speak evil of, or plot against authority….

But we are to submit ourselves humbly
and wait on God to make the change.

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings”
Philippians 2:14 KJV

We live in a ‘Homer Simpson’ culture
that has raised the ‘put-down’
and the rebellious complaint
to its highest idolatrous form

They are indeed words of rebellion against God
and His established authorities
in the Home,
on the Job and
in our Churches.

“Woe to them!
They have taken the way of Cain;
they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error;
they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.”
Jude 11 NIV

Cain “ I’ll do it my way
Balaam pursuit of wealth and fame (position)
Korah refusal to honor authority


Let’s endeavor to live lives
that will glorify God
and not to be enticed and made captive to these three errors.

Let’s worship in Spirit and in Truth…
as God desires
Let’s place righteousness ahead of personal gain and position
And let’s be quick to listen
and slow to speak
so that when we perceive error in a brother or sister,
we are able to restore them in love
and be hands that lift them up,
not tear them down.

“Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual
[who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit]
should set him right and restore and reinstate him,
without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness,
keeping an attentive eye on yourself,
lest you should be tempted also.
Bear (endure, carry) one another's burdens
and troublesome moral faults,
and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ
(the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it].”
Galatians 6:1-2 Amplified Bible

May you grow in His grace,
and know the richness of your inheritance in Him,
who was, and who is, and who is to come!

30

fkj

A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY

There is no emptiness of soul ever for those whose life is devoted to God. --

William Lawson

A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY

"Sing unto him a new song; ...and shout for joy."
Psalm 33:3
Here is an account I read some years ago...
but I do not remember the resource or author...it has no less impact!
She was six years old when I first met her

on the beach near where I live.
I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles,

whenever the world begins to close in on me.

She was building a sand castle or something and looked up,

her eyes blue as the sea. "Hello," she said.

I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small child.

"I'm building," she said." I see that. What is it?" I asked, not caring.

"Oh I don't know, I just like the feel of the sand."
That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes.
Just then, a sandpiper glided by chattering it's song.

"That's a joy," the child said. "It's what?" I asked, uncaring.

"It's a joy! My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy."
The bird went gliding down the beach. "Good-bye joy,"

I muttered to myself, "Hello, pain..." and turned to walk on.

I was depressed; my life seemed completely out of balance.
"What's your name?" She wouldn't give up. "Ruth," I answered.

"I'm Ruth Peterson." "Mine's Wendy,... and I'm six."

"Hi, Wendy." I offered. She giggled. "You're funny," she said.

In spite of my gloom I laughed too and walked on.

Her musical giggle followed me. "Come again, Mrs. P," she called.

"We'll have another happy day."

The days and weeks that followed belonged to others:

a group of unruly Boy Scouts, PTA meetings, an ailing mother.

The sun was shining one morning as I took my hands out of the dishwater.

"I need a sandpiper," I said to myself, gathering up my coat.

The never-changing balm of the seashore awaited me.
The breeze was chilly, but I strode along, trying to recapture the serenity I needed.

The sandpipers were there running up and down the beach in their curious way,

chattering one to another their happy song.

I had forgotten the child and was startled when she appeared.

"Hello,Mrs. P," she said. "Do you want to play?"

"What did you have in mind?" I asked, with a twinge of annoyance.

"I don't know. You say." "How about charades?" I asked sarcastically.

The tinkling laughter burst forth again. "I don't know what that is."

"Then let's just walk." Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her face.

"Where do you live?" I asked. "Over there."

She pointed toward a row of summer cottages.

Strange, I thought, in winter. Where do you go to school?"

"I don't go to school. Mommy says we're on vacation."

She chattered little girl talk as we strolled up the beach,

but my mind was on other things.

"When I left for home," Wendy said, "it had been a happy day."

Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her, and agreed.

As I walked to my car a sandpiper stood on a bulkward chattering it's song.

Three weeks later, I rushed again to my beach in a state of near panic.

I was in no mood to greet even Wendy.

I thought I saw her mother on the porch

and felt like challenging her about keep her child at home.

"Look, if you don't mind," I said crossly when Wendy caught up with me,

"I'd rather be alone today."

She seemed unusually pale and out of breath. "Why?" she asked.

I turned on her and shouted, "Because my mother died!" ........
and thought, my God, why was saying this to a little child?

"Oh," she said quietly, "then this is a bad day."

"Yes, and yesterday and the day before that and-oh, go away!"
"Did it hurt?" "Did what hurt?" I was exasperated with her, and with myself.

"When she died?" "Of course, it hurt!" I snapped, misunderstanding,

wrapped up in myself. I strode off.

A month or so after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't there.

Feeling guilty, ashamed,and admitting to myself I missed her,

I went up to the cottage after my walk,and knocked at the door.

A drawn-looking young woman with honey-colored hair

and beautiful blue eyes, opened the door.

"Hello," I said. "I'm Ruth Peterson. I missed your little girl on the beach today

and wondered where she was." "Oh yes, Mrs. Peterson, please come in."

"Wendy has talked of you so much. I'm afraid I allowed her to bother you.

If she was a nuisance, please accept my apologies."

"Not at all-she's a delightful child," I said, suddenly realizing that I meant it.

"Where is she?"
"Wendy died last week, Mrs. Peterson. She had leukemia.

Maybe she didn't tell you." Struck dumb, I groped for a chair,
and tried to catch my breath. "She loved this beach;

so when she asked her father and I to come, we couldn't say no."

She seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy days.

But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly...." Her voice faltered.
"She left something for you... if only I can find it.

Could you wait a moment while I look?"

I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something,

anything, to say to this lovely young woman.
She handed me a smeared envelope, with MRS. P printed in bold, childish letters.

Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues;

a yellow beach, a blue sea, a brown bird with notes coming from its beak.

Underneath was carefully printed: A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY.

Tears welled up in my eyes,

and a heart that had almost forgotten how to love opened wide.

I took Wendy's mother in my arms. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

I muttered over and over, and we wept together.
The precious little picture is framed now and hangs in my study.

Six words-one for each year of her life-

that speak to me of inner harmony, courage, undemanding love.

A gift from a child with sea-blue eyes and hair the color of sand-

who taught me the gift of love.

"Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise,

making the most of every opportunity"....
"...be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:16a, 18b,-20

Have a blessed day in the Joy of the Lord!

30

fkj

Part 1 Do Not Judge

“There is no place for judgment in this life. We are living in a season between Calvary, which was judgment on Christ for all the sins of mankind… we are living between that day of judgment on Calvary, and The Day of Judgment, when God wraps up everything on the earth and everyone will be judged. Between those two times of judgment, we are living a prophetic season of grace.

Let me ask you a question… ‘Was Jesus judged enough for sin?’ If he wasn’t then there isn’t a person in this room who is saved, right?. ‘Was Jesus punished 100% for sin?’ Some of you are convinced, others are saying ‘I’ll just hedge my bets and wait, it might just be a trick question.’ But it’s not. Third question, ‘Did the Father pour our every last ounce of wrath and anger and indignation upon Jesus?’ So, He hasn’t got any left then.”
Graham Cooke
Voice of the Prophets 2009

Part 1 Do Not Judge

“It is impossible to enter into communion with God when you are in a critical temper; it… leaves you with the flattering unction that you are a superior person.”
Oswald Chambers


“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye,
but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”
Matthew 7:1-3 NASB

The prime Greek word for judge is krino (kree'-no) which means to determine, to decide mentally or judicially, to form an opinion, to try, to condemn, to punish.

By judging others we indicate that we are
putting ourselves in the place of God.
The Lord alone has the right to judge.

"Do not speak against one another, brethren
He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother,
speaks against the law and judges the law;
but if you judge the law,
you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge,
the One who is able to save and to destroy;
but who are you who judge your neighbor?”
James 4:11-12 NASB

When we make judgments about people, it is most often done based on a partial understanding of the situation. Our own presuppositions and perceptions have a way of coloring our evaluation of the situation. We have a very limited view of the other’s viewpoint and the circumstances and life events which caused the person to act in a certain manner or declare certain things. The Lord Himself warned us not to make judgments based on appearances.

“Do not judge according to appearance,
but judge with righteous judgment."
John 7:24 NASB

If we make such judgments based on partial information the Word says that we act foolishly and shamefully.
“He who gives an answer before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.”
Proverbs 18:13 NASB
The very purpose of the Law is to identify the facts and make us aware that we need divine assistance in coming to the truth… “righteous judgment" comes from the Lord.
When we see a brother or sister and believe they are in sin, our position should become one of intercession and seeking the Lord on their behalf, so that they may be restored in the mercy of God.
Sharing the “news” with others, under the cover of needing to pray for them is simply gossip and slander. We have been given the ministry of reconciliation not the ministry of criticism.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ
and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
2 Corinthians 5:18 NASB

Criticism and mockery, are a part of the language of Hell.
We have been called to love and edify one another,
with the goal of restoration in mind.

“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass,
you who are spiritual,
restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness;
each one looking to yourself,
so that you too will not be tempted.”
Galatians 6:1 NASB

End Part 1
30

Part 6 of 6 New Beginnings – The Passover

"For God does not want to save us by our own but by an extraneous righteousness, one that does not originate in ourselves but comes to us from beyond ourselves, which does not arise on earth but comes from heaven."
Martin Luther



Part 6 of 6 New Beginnings – The Passover:

"Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying,

'On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves,

according to their fathers' households, a lamb for each household.
'Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old;

you may take it from the sheep or from the goats.
'You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month,

then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight.”
Exodus 12:3,5,6 NASB

God’s direction to the children of Israel was quite specific with regard to the Passover lamb

(or goat). They were to take the animal into their homes for five days before the day of its sacrifice. During this time the lamb was to be carefully examined to make certain that it was perfect, without even the smallest blemish.
This was a foreshadowing prophecy of the true Passover Lamb, the Lamb of God who also entered the Holy City of God five days prior to His crucifixion. When Jesus entered Jerusalem the people were bringing lambs into their homes in preparation of the Passover.
While the religious leaders of the day were plotting to have the Lord put to death, households all over Jerusalem were going through the tradition of examining their Passover lambs for flaws. The Pharisees and Sadducees went to great lengths to demonstrate that Jesus was flawed – an enemy of the state. Despite their best efforts and false witnesses, Jesus was judged as being without flaw… the perfect Passover sacrifice.
On the day of Preparation (the day when the Passover lambs were traditionally sacrificed our Lord was crucified.

“Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation,
since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”
John 19:42 NASB

As the Passover lambs were being sacrificed in homes throughout Jerusalem, the perfect Passover Lamb was being slain in their midst.
The disciples who had heard the Lord predict the events of this day, totally missed it – they were all (not just Peter) too busy hiding from the religious rulers, suspecting that they were next on their hit list.
The precious Passover Lamb is still being missed today. Many people, even some believers, are still vainly attempting to earn their way into heaven through good deeds in lieu of the blood of the Lamb. Such low thinking is an abomination before God and an affront to the Cross of Jesus Christ.
The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear,
your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.
If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Matthew 6:22-23 NASB

To proclaim works as a path to salvation is to deny the power of the Cross.

"I do not nullify the grace of God,
for if righteousness comes through the Law,
then Christ died needlessly."
Galatians 2:21 NASB

The Christian experience is not one of working to gain the approval of God. It is a walk founded in having the approval of God because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. Our love of the Savior comes out of the fact that He first loved us, was crucified for us, was buried for us, and was resurrected that we might have life and life abundant. He paid the full price for our acceptance before the Father. We can add nothing to the work of Christ Jesus that will make us more acceptable.
One of the main problems in the church today is that we often fail to examine the Passover Lamb of God. Many who call themselves Christians, who go to church week-after-week, have little of no true fellowship with Jesus. A Christian walk based on an emotional experience is most likely going to end in disillusionment. It is only when we take the Lord into our homes and sup with Him at the table of His presence, that we develop a relationship that will transcend the trials and tribulations of this life.
There are many who call Jesus Lord yet they do not really know Him. Such relationships hold an inherent danger, as the Lord said Himself:
“Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Many will say to Me on that day,
'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name,
and in Your name cast out demons,
and in Your name perform many miracles?'
"And then I will declare to them,
'I never knew you;
depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness (evil).’
Matthew 7:21-23

There is a difference between believing in one’s mind and one’s heart. There are many who profess Christ and have an academic understanding, but are devoid of a heart-to-heart experience. They may know the Word of God but fail to know the God of the Word. Walking with Jesus is not an intellectual exercise. The closer we examine and get to know the Passover Lamb the greater will be the source of light and life in our lives.

Our relationship must be one that is genuine with the Lord; one based on intimacy and time spent alone with one another. If that relationship is not a legitimate one it will never stand in the testing which comes to every spiritual seed that is planted in our lives.

"And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying,
"Behold, the sower went out to sow;
and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road,
and the birds came and ate them up.
"Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil;
and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil.
"But when the sun had risen, they were scorched;
and because they had no root, they withered away.
"Others fell among the thorns,
and the thorns came up and choked them out.
"And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop,
some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.
"He who has ears, let him hear."
And the disciples came and said to Him,
"Why do You speak to them in parables?"
Jesus answered them,
"To you it has been granted to know
the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,
but to them it has not been granted.
"For whoever has, to him more shall be given,
and he will have an abundance;
but whoever does not have,
even what he has shall be taken away from him.
"Therefore I speak to them in parables;
because while seeing they do not see,
and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
"In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
'YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;
YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;
FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL,
WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,
AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES,
OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES,
HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,
AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN,
AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.'
"But blessed are your eyes, because they see;
and your ears, because they hear.
"For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men
desired to see what you see, and did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
"Hear then the parable of the sower.
"When anyone hears the word of the kingdom
and does not understand it,
the evil one comes and snatches away
what has been sown in his heart.
This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
"The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places,
this is the man who hears the word
and immediately receives it with joy;
yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary,
and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word,
immediately he falls away.
"And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns,
this is the man who hears the word,
and the worry of the world
and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word,
and it becomes unfruitful.
"And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil,
this is the man who hears the word and understands it;
who indeed bears fruit and brings forth,
some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."
Matthew 13:1-23 [CAPS: Quoting Isaiah 6:9-10]

There is great wisdom in beholding the Lamb, in examining the Passover Lamb of God thoroughly. In the examination of the Lamb, we will come to know Him intimately. In His intimacy we will find newness of life and divine promise, purpose, power and passion for the establishing of His kingdom in our hearts and in our spheres of influence.

30
fkj

Part 5 of 6 New Beginnings – The Passover:

"One verse in every six in the first three Gospels relates either directly or indirectly to money. Sixteen of our Lords forty-four parables deal with the use of misuse of money. A loving, joyful, liberal giving to the Lord’s work is an acid test of a spiritual heart, pleasing to God."
William Allen
WORK THE SCRIPTURES BEFORE PUBLISHING

Part 5 of 6 New Beginnings – The Passover:

When we come to know the Lord in the intimacy He has called us to we see through His eyes, hear through His ears, understand through His mind, and develop the compassion of His heart… this is what it means to walk in the Spirit of God.
“Have this attitude in yourselves
which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, although He existed in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant,
and being made in the likeness of men.
Being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself
by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him,
and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow,
of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:5-11 NASB

When we walk in the authority of His power and glory, the cares which once preoccupied our hearts and thoughts, fade in comparison to the majesty of His presence and the import of His will for our lives.

The world may be consumed with the financial collapse of the stock market, the brazen actions of rogue nations, the pestilence of a pandemic or the war torn nations of the world. But when we get caught up in His Spirit and begin to exercise kingdom principles we will see as the prophet Isaiah saw, that the whole earth is filled with His glory, in the face of these seemingly insurmountable issues.
“And one called out to another and said,
‘Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts,
the whole earth is full of His glory’."
Isaiah 6:3 NASB

The things of the earth are real, but the things of God’s kingdom are far greater, in importance and relevance.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways My ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways
and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 NASB

Are hearts and minds are made new in the blood of Christ. We are wise to be cognizant of the issues of this age, but if we are continuing to be anxious over the things of this world, then we have taken our eyes and assurance off Jesus. The battle is the Lords, but our eyes must be disciplined to keep our focus and faith in and on Him.

“…and that all this assembly may know
that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear;
for the battle is the LORD'S
and He will give you into our hands."
1 Samuel 17:47

If we are not abiding in Christ then there is no good thing in us. The Word says that our hearts and flesh are desperately wicked… so much so that we can’t understand the magnitude of our own deception.

“Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers,
beware of the false circumcision;
for we are the true circumcision,
who worship in the Spirit of God
and glory in Christ Jesus
and put no confidence in the flesh”
Philippians 3:2-3 NASB

“For I know that nothing good dwells in me,
that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me,
but the doing of the good is not.”
Romans 7:18 NASB

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing;
the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”
John 6:63 NASB

“The heart is more deceitful than all else
and is desperately sick;
Who can understand it?”
Jeremiah 17:9 NASB

“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
but he who walks wisely will be delivered.”
Proverbs 28:26 NASB

But the Good News of the Gospel message is that we no longer have to live in our old sinful nature. The resurrection life of Jesus Christ brings us new life in Him.

"I have been crucified with Christ;
and it is no longer I who live,
but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
"I do not nullify the grace of God,
for if righteousness comes through the Law,
then Christ died needlessly."
Galatians 2:20-21 NASB

When Jesus proclaimed “Teleos” (It is finished) from the Cross of Calvary, he meant just that! Our Salvation, Deliverance and Healing are each complete in His finished work. Much of the church is living with one foot in the kingdom and the other in the world. James warns us that such a mix lifestyle will lead to our lives being totally unstable.

“For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
James 1:7-8 NASB

Maturity in the Lord has little to do with the human effort of our flesh, and everything to do with becoming intimate with Him. The more we press into His presence through fellowship, the Word and the Spirit; the more useful we will be in establishing His kingdom – the heavenly realm – here on the earth. Jesus is the complete package, He really doesn’t need our help, but He does need and require our surrender and obedience to His call and His Word.

He is the firstborn of all creation (Colossians 1:15) and the first of many brethren.(Romans 8:29). Everything was created by the Lord and everything is held together by Him (Colossians 1:16-17). All things, including the significance of your life and mine, will be summed up in Christ Jesus! (Ephesians 1:10)

Jesus by His grace has given us the power to walk in victory over every evil by His Spirit.
It’s not my might not by power, but by My Spirit…

“Then he said to me, This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying,
'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.’”
Zachariah 4:6 NASB

When we stumble and fall, it is never due to the fact that we lack the power to resist the temptation that is before us, it is because we fail to choose to walk in obedience to what He has proclaimed over our lives.
“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB

There is no “can’t” when you are walking in the Truth.
We may refuse to walk in the truth by stating “I will not” or “I did not,” but in Christ we can do all things by His grace, and in the power of His Spirit.

I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me."

Philippians 4:13 NASB

In Christ, and in Christ alone we have become a new creation for a new beginning. We can do all things for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ simply by abiding in Him. The word abiding means literally to “live in.” When our life source is the source of all life we will always experience blessing and victory.


“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this,
that one died for all, therefore all died;
and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh;
even though we have known Christ according to the flesh,
yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature;
the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Now all these things are from God,
who reconciled us to Himself through Christ
and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself,
not counting their trespasses against them,
and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were making an appeal through us;
we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 NASB

End Part 5

30
fkj