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The Beatitudes Study Part 5 Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

12/31/2014

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My study of the Beatitudes continues with Matthew 5:6. This benediction from Jesus reads,

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

The Greek word translated hunger is peina and it means to be hungry, needy, and desire earnestly. (Strong's). The Greek word for thirst is dipsaó and it likewise means to thirst and desire earnestly. (Strong's). Imagine desiring righteousness as much as you want a glass of water when your mouth is parched, not just when it would be nice to have a drink but when you are thirsty, when you long for the cool water to slide down your hot throat and satisfy your need only the way water can. That is the way we should seek righteousness. Not just wanting it or thinking it would be nice, but needing it, craving it, not able to live without it as the sustenance of our souls.

Righteousness or dikaiosuné is defined as justice, justness, righteousness of which God is the source or author, God's judicial approval. (Strong's). Do you want God’s approval that desperately? Well, there is great news for you if you do.

Jesus said you can be happy because you will be satisfied. The Greek word for satisfy, chortazó means to feed, satisfy and fatten. (Strong's)You may be starving for righteousness, but Jesus will give you so much, you will be fat with it! You won’t have to be sparing with goodness. You do not have to be meager because Jesus will give you plenty to exercise.

Your yearning for righteousness will be fulfilled. He is the source of life, He is the source of eternal life and the only way to the Father. (John 14:6). Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that He was the source of living water and anyone who drank from Him would never thirst again. (John 4:14-15). Your longing for righteousness will be satisfied much deeper than you could imagine. 2 Corinthians 5:21 reads,

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

In Jesus, you are righteous! In Jesus, you are righteousness! Yes, God approves of you! God loves you and Jesus made the way for you to be reconciled to the Father and be righteousness. You aren’t that old self anymore who craved self-satisfaction or worldly things. You are a new creation, you are righteous. You are blameless in the eyes of God. He doesn’t see your sin anymore, He sees your righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:16-21)

All you have to do is ask Jesus and it is yours. Free! Done! If you sincerely want it, Jesus gives it to you. Then you will find other things happening. You will want that righteousness to be evident in your life. You will want to demonstrate your love for God by wanting to be as good as He says you are. And you will want it for other people too. And as deeply as you want it, Jesus will continue to satisfy your desire for righteousness. You will seek it out. You will pursue that need, the way you go after food and water, not as a luxury but a need. And then you will strive for it above and beyond food or water, but that is okay because Jesus also promised that if you chase God and His righteousness above all else, the rest of the stuff would fall into place. Matthew 6:31-34 reads,

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Do you want God’s approval? Do you want Him to say you are good? He will if you simply ask Jesus to make you right. Jesus promised to satisfy your want for goodness. In fact not just meet the need to make you rich with it.

References:

Strong's. (n.d.). 1343. dikaiosuné. Retrieved from http://biblehub.com/greek/1343.htm

Strong's. (n.d.). 1372. dipsaó. Retrieved from Strong's Concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/1372.htm

Strong's. (n.d.). 3983. peinaó. Retrieved from Strong's Concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/3983.htm

Strong's. (n.d.). 5526. chortazó. Retrieved from Strong's Concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/5526.htm

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John 17:1-5 Jesus Endured the Cross For You

12/31/2014

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John Chapter 17 Verses 1-5

Jesus loves you so much that He was able to face the horror of His arrest, trial, and death sentence with joy. He withstood terrible suffering and indignity with joy because He kept His eyes on the results. Because He was not about Himself about the Father.

Before Jesus’ arrest which He knew was imminent, Jesus prayed. John recorded the prayer for us. Verses 1-3 read,

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Jesus knew His death was looming and rather than focus on the pain it would bring Him, He focused on the purpose of it, the glory it would bring the Father, and the eternal life it would bring to us. He could stop it from happening at any moment. Although He was completely human, He was also God and the Father had given Him authority over life. He could display the immense power of His divinity at any time but His love for us and for the Father was too great to let Him do that. His desire for God’s will was higher and bigger than the angst of His trial and execution.

Jesus glorified or revealed the Father in everything He did in His life. Every word He spoke was from the Father, every act He did was because of the Father. (John 8:28). Jesus was now about to reveal the Father in the ultimate way. Jesus kept His eyes on God and God’s will instead of focusing on the suffering He would experience.

The Father’s will is driven by His love for you and me. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Because God loves us so deeply, He sent His only Son, a part of Himself to us. Jesus glorified God through His whole life and then suffered the cross so that we could have eternal life. And Jesus kept that in mind too. Jesus thought about us and the eternal life we would receive and it comforted Him. He loves you so much that He was willing to undergo a death that has been described as one of the most gruesome thinkable.

Jesus gave up His life willingly and bore that horrific shame because He wanted you and me to have eternal life. He could stomach it because He also knew that He would soon be returning to the Father, to the eternity He already knew. He kept His eyes off Himself and on the results. One of those results was Heaven. In verses 4-5 Jesus prayed,

“I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

Jesus sacrificed the awesome splendor and brilliance of Heaven to step down and live as a man. But He knew what awaited Him. He lived His life glorifying the Father and soon the Father would glorify Him, lift Him up and bring Him back into the fullness of God again. Jesus didn’t suddenly appear at His conception or at His birth. Jesus has existed from the beginning. He was God and with God before the world. The world was made through Him. (John 1:1-5). He is the word of God, the will of God manifested and He was about to demonstrate God’s love and will in a great, terrible, and beautiful way.

I cannot imagine suffering more severe than what Jesus faced through His trial and crucifixion. He withstood it by choice and with joy because He knew that He would be in Heaven with the Father, because glorifying God was much more important than His comfort, and because He loves us enough to give us eternal life. Hebrews 12:1-3 reads,

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”

Whatever you go through here for Jesus, you can endure it. You can take your eyes off yourself and focus them on Jesus. Jesus endured for you. He is in you, helping you through everything you are going through. You can remember that you are glorifying God. You can look around you at the lost who don’t know the love of God yet, and persist for them.

Jesus promised you would suffer if you follow Him. But He suffered first. He showed us how to endure it. Look to His example and persevere because He did it for you, because you want to glorify Him, because you love people as He loves, and because you know the hope that awaits you.

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Beatitudes Study Part 4 The Meek Will Inherit the Earth

12/30/2014

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Picture
My friend Doug Cooper who truly depends on God for His strength.
Matthew 5:5 reads,

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

When I imagine the earth belonging to someone in a worldly sense, I picture people like Alexander the Great or Attila the Hun conquering countries as their own. I envision strong powerful people with armies and weapons harshly attacking others.

Yet Jesus said the meek will inherit the earth. Meekness gives me a picture completely different than conquerors such as Napoleon, I see a person of submission and weakness, a person who doesn’t fight back when he is injured. But that isn’t exactly what the Greek word for meek means. The Greek word praus is translated to meek in English, but it is more than meekness. It means exercising God's power under His control. (Strong's). Praus means the strength it takes to turn the other cheek. It is gentleness. It is letting God be strong instead of you.

You do not have to fight on your own. There is no way to overcome the world without Jesus. Jesus died and resurrected and He beat the enemy.  You do not win the world, Jesus did that. You will inherit the earth. It will be given to you as an heir of Christ. It is yours because God bequeathed it to you. Jesus did what we cannot do. Romans 8:1-4 says,

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

The battle is in the future and the battle is now, but Jesus already won it. Instead of beating the air and making a weak and useless effort fighting the enemy yourself, let Jesus victory be yours.

John 16:33 reads,

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Deuteronomy 20:4 says,

“For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."

You are in the fight! You are in the battle, but it is not your strength, weapons or abilities that are effective. It is God. Ephesians 6:10-11 reads,

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

When you let God be your strength you are already a victor. When you rely on what God has done for you and the gift of His never-ending grace you are a conqueror. Revelation 3:12 reads,

“The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.”

God is giving you a whole new earth. It is all yours, you’ve inherited it already. Revelation 21:1-3 reads,

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God”

What an amazing reason to celebrate because we are weak. It is in genuine and biblical meekness of complete reliance on God that we have victory. Jesus lived, died and resurrected for you. Vengeance is God’s. He has already written the last battle and the enemy loses. But those who are meek enough to rely on God are covered by Jesus’ blood and we are conquerors with Christ! Nothing can change that! Nothing can take the love of God from you. It may look like weakness to the world. It may look like the world is winning. But it isn’t true. Christ wins. Romans 8:35-39 reads,

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

References:

Strong's. (n.d.). 4239. praus. Retrieved from Strong's Concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/4239.htm

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The Beatitudes Part 3: Blessed are Those Who Mourn

12/30/2014

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PictureI took this picture on a trip to Panama in 2011.





Matthew 5:4 reads,

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”










The second beatitude seems almost backwardly confusing. How can someone who mourns be happy? Mourning is expressing sorrow and grief. The Greek word translated to mourn in this verse is pentheó. Strong’s concordance defines it as “to grieve over a death or a personal hope (relationship) that comes to divine closure. It is manifested grief so severe it takes possession of a person and cannot be hid.” (Strong's). Blessed means happy and to be envied. (Strong).

How can lamenting that intense be something that give you happiness or a reason to be envied? Because they will be comforted. They won’t be comforted with clichés or empty words. They will be comforted by truth and love. They are comforted by God Himself.

What was your reaction when you realized the depth of your sin compared to God’s holiness? What was your response when you grasped what Jesus had done for you? If you are like me, even now, when you consider your sin there is a deep heaviness of your soul for a moment, a sadness so deep that it should overwhelm you. But the Comforter reminds you that Jesus loves you so completely that your sinful soul was healed by the wounds of His crucifixion and that because of that you are called a Friend of God and a child of our Awesome Father. He repeats to you, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1). He tells you again who Jesus is and what He has done. Isaiah 61:1-4 reads,

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion--
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
    they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
    the devastations of many generations.”

That is not only a reason to be happy but to be overjoyed, jubilant, and celebrate. It is reason enough to praise God for eternity.

And though we sometimes feel like all hope is gone, though we ache and strain for those we’ve lost and miss, though we sometimes think we cannot endure one more struggle, He reminds us of we do have hope. Eternity is waiting for us and with us now. Some of our loved ones have died and we miss them horribly, but this life on earth is not the end. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 reads,

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

The lost cannot be comforted by that truth. They do not have the hope of Jesus. There are no words that can comfort them. Only Jesus can bring them the consolation and succor they desperately need. But until they acknowledge it, feel it and express it, He will wait.


References:
Strong. (n.d.). 3701. makarios. Retrieved from Strong's Concordance:  http://biblehub.com/greek/3107.htm

Strong's. (n.d.). 3996. pentheó. Retrieved from Strong's Concordance:  http://biblehub.com/greek/3996.htm


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John 16:27-33 Peace through Jesus

12/30/2014

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John Chapter 16 Verses 27-33

Jesus was getting closer and closer to the time of His arrest and crucifixion and was teaching the disciples some of the more difficult lessons they would learn from Him. In verses 27-28 He told them,

“for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

Jesus told His friends clearly, He came from God and was leaving to return to the Father. They had believed Him and known it. They had declared it themselves, and they had heard Jesus say it in numerous ways. Jesus proclaimed He was the Messiah to them. He was nearly finished with His work on earth and would be going back to the Father soon. They had vacillated from time to time. Now they felt they had confirmation that fortified their belief once and for all.

The disciples responded in verses 29-30.

“His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”

I think it is the mark of a true student and good teacher than the student can be transparent with the teacher and understand that his honesty will allow him to learn more. The disciples could admit that up until that moment they had waffled a little over Jesus’ identity. They knew He was the Christ but sometimes they doubted.  Jesus knew that. This wasn’t news to Him. God knows our hearts and there is no reason ever to hide any of it from Him.

Jesus knew their hearts better than they did. He didn’t chastise them and say, “Seriously, after all the miracles and everything you’ve experienced you still harbor some questions?” He answered, “Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.” (Verses 31-32). There is no scolding in His answer. He was showing them their hearts. They thought their belief was cemented and strong, but soon the events that unfolded would be so difficult that their certainty would crumble and their faith would wither to microscopic proportions. Whatever pride they held at that moment was burst, their attention was taken off of their own goodness and focused back to Jesus.

While Jesus told them they would scatter and abandon Him, He assured them He wouldn’t be alone, the Father was with Him. He gave them devastating news about themselves and He comforted them at the same time. “It’s okay, I understand, you’re human, but I don’t depend on you for strength and comfort, I depend on my Father.”

The disciples must have been shattered at His words. They really loved Jesus. But Jesus had more words for them and He knew that at the right time, the Spirit would remind them of what He said and comfort them. Verse 33 reads,

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus arrest was going to be bad, His mock trial horrible, and His crucifixion indescribably awful. All but John would desert Him. Imagine the way they felt cowering in their homes thinking they had disappointed their Lord. But Jesus had already forgiven them. He had already consoled them before they even did it. And He spoke words for them and for us that greatly encourage.

We do have trouble in the world. The struggles don’t stop because we become followers of Christ. In fact the conflict with the world becomes greater. Our very souls are in opposition to the world. But in Jesus and with Jesus we have peace. He comforts us throughout any difficulties. He has taken away our discord with God. We are at peace with God because Jesus overcame the world. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. He made the way for us to know Him, to commune with the Father, and to be filled with the Spirit of God. Jesus overcame the world so we could overcome the world.

What are you struggling through right now? Let the Spirit comfort you. Remember the peace Jesus made for you. Remember the Father is your Father too. His love covers you. Because Jesus overcame the world, so have you.

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The Beatitudes: Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

12/29/2014

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Picture
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” –Matthew 5:3

Remember that blessed is translated from the word makarios which is defined as happy, blessed, and to be envied. (Strong).

This is the first of the Beatitudes. The word for poor in this verse is translated from the Greek word ptochos. The word is defined, "to crouch or cower like a beggar – properly, bent over; (figuratively) deeply destitute, completely lacking resources.” (Strong). It is not merely poor but absolutely in need. In a position where one has no choice but to beg because he cannot fill his need on his own.

The word spirit is translated from pneuma which means spirit, wind, or breath. (Strong). It is our life force. It is ourselves as we relate to God. It is in fact the same word that is used to denote the Holy Spirit when the word is preceded by the adjective holy.

Therefore, poor in spirit means destitute of spirit, begging in humility for spiritual needs to be met. Romans 5:23-25 tells us that we are all in spiritual poverty and that Jesus provides the way to meet those needs. It reads,

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”

Although all have sinned and consequently every person needs Jesus, only some ever acknowledge the need. It is for those who concede it that the Kingdom of Heaven is given. Those people who recognize they are dependent on Jesus to meet their need, not just once but every moment of every day, who are given the joy of salvation, the joy of living in the Kingdom of Heaven even now while we walk on earth.

The more we understand how much we have sinned and how there is nothing we can do on our own, the more we admit our necessity and reliance on Jesus the more we are able to celebrate and be overjoyed at His grace and mercy. Romans 5:19-21 reads,

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Genuine happiness is not gained by pretending to be good. Authentic bliss is not achieved by justifying or ignoring one’s turpitude. True joy is reached when we are able to recognize our sinfulness and ask Jesus, the only one who can to forgive us and make us righteous.

Choose happiness. Don’t close your eyes to your depravity, recognize it. Submit yourself as the beggar you are to Jesus and let Him freely give you the richness of His grace. Jesus turns the tears of mourning over your sin to gladness and praise for His salvation. Jesus quoted Isaiah 61 about Himself. Read verses 1-3 and see that Jesus will do it for you too.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion--
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified”

Let Jesus turn your mourning to gladness, let Him give you a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.

References Strong. (n.d.). 3701. makarios. Retrieved from Strong's Concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/3107.htm

Strong. (n.d.). 4151. pneuma. Retrieved from Strong's Concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/4151.htm

Strong. (n.d.). 4434. ptóchos. Retrieved from Strong's Concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/4434.htm

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John 16:23-27 God Wants You to be Happy.

12/29/2014

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John Chapter 16 Verses 23-27

Yesterday we read about how Jesus turns our sorrow to joy through the crucifixion and resurrection, and that the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to experience joy regardless of our circumstance. We have joy because we are saved. We have joy because we understand God’s plans and purposes, and even when we don’t understand them, we know He has reasons.

Today, we will continue reading as Jesus expounded on God’s relationship with us. Verses 23-24 read,

“In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

We don’t ask things of Jesus, He taught us to pray to the Father. Before the crucifixion the disciples didn’t ask in His name because He was with them. But when He returned to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit they became His representatives on earth, just as you and I are His representatives. So we ask in Jesus’ name.

Jesus said many times whatever we ask in His name, the Father would give it to us. He said it again here with the addition “that your joy may be full.” What does that mean? It means that our friendship and partnership with God, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit would be complete and comprehensive. The joy of that relationship is bigger than we can explain to someone who doesn’t have the Holy Spirit to help him grasp it. In that friendship, God allows us in on His plans. (John 15:15). He wants us to know Him and to be glad. He wants joy to radiate from us and emanate every area of our lives. We can ask the Father anything, as Jesus’ delegates on earth and the Father will give it because He wants that joy for us.

God wants you to be happy. He doesn’t want you to trudge through your life. He made it possible for you to be jubilant even through the most difficult times. You have hope. You know your future. You have promises. You have a relationship with God. That camaraderie and alliance with the LORD is absolutely a reason to celebrate no matter what. And the Father wants to prove it to you. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” Verses 26-27 read,

“In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.”

When you pray, you are not asking a priest or prophet to pray for you, and you are not waiting for a third party to tell you God’s response. You are not even asking Jesus to pray for you. You, yourself are going directly to Almighty God and asking. And He is listening because you are covered by Jesus’ blood. You are righteous and holy and you can talk to Holy Awesome God. You get to call Him Father. How amazing is that? Who are we? Yet, we get to enter into His presence anytime we want and enjoy fellowship with Him. And He loves us! He loves us a lot. He wants to bless us, give us gifts, and give us what we ask for!

Do you have children? Do you want them to be happy? Do you want them to succeed in life? Do you want them to meet the potential you see in them? Yes, of course you do. You are human, imagine how much deeper the perfect love of Love Himself is then. Luke 11:9-13 describes it like this,

“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

You are more than God’s child, as if that isn’t enough. You are His friend, his partner. He adores you. He has so much He wants to give you. Just ask Him. Go ahead. If you aren’t sure if what you ask is wise or in His will, ask anyway. God knows His will. He won’t give you something outside His plans.

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Join Me as I Study the Beatitudes.

12/28/2014

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Besides my normal daily Bible reading I have decided to read more about choosing happiness. With prayer, the Holy Spirit led me to study the Beatitudes. According to Strong’s Concordance, blessed is translated from the word makarios which is defined as happy, blessed, and to be envied. The further explanation of the word is “properly, when God extends His benefits (the advantages He confers); blessed.” (Greek, 3701. makarios).

The Beatitudes begin the discourse known as The Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew. Jesus’ teachings were groundbreaking and shook the foundations of religious establishment. The beatitudes spoke to people who were struggling, living in poverty under a tyrannical government and a religious system that catered to ritual in order to honor God, but had left God out of the equation. Jesus told them that even in those positions they were to be envied and considered fortunate and that they could be happy.

That was not the common view then, and it is not the popular opinion now. Let’s read them and you will see that it doesn’t seem a happy or good thing to be in any of the situations Jesus says are advantageous. Matthew 5:1-12 reads,

“Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

This is an example of the difference between the world and the Kingdom of God. It is very different in the Kingdom of God, those outside consider us foolish, crazy, and even evil. But they don’t understand, and cannot understand until they have the Holy Spirit to help them.

How is it good to be poor in spirit, mourn, or meek? Those qualities are not desired by the world. In fact they are disdained. These traits are only possible with the Holy Spirit as He conforms to the image of Christ. It is not an easy task to want righteousness so badly that it is akin to deep hunger and desperate thirst, a need. Being merciful is, for me something I have to work hard for. Being pure in heart in a foul and sinful world is a struggle analogous to climbing a mountain. Being a peacemaker means that somehow in the middle of strife, turmoil, and conflict that one cannot only maintain his peace but bring it to others. Being persecuted for righteousness? Well we all know that is no fun.

But Jesus says these are all reasons to be happy! He says these are good things and we are blessed even to be envied for those qualities.

Join me over the next week and half or so as we study each of these reasons to be glad. Believer, remember Jesus words, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.”

References:

Greek, 3701. makarios. (n.d.). Retrieved from Strong's Concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/3107.htm

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John 16:16-22 Jesus Makes Joy out of Pain

12/28/2014

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John Chapter 16 Verses 16-22

Jesus continued teaching the disciples before His arrest and crucifixion. Although it was He would go through an ersatz trial, beatings, and torturous execution, His words were for His friends so that when they went through the grief of it, they would remember and have comfort. Verse 16 reads,

“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.”

The disciples didn’t know what Jesus meant. They asked one another and wanted to ask Him. I think by now they knew that Jesus said things the way He did for a reason and they trusted Him to clarify it in His way rather than interrupt Him and ask for explanations. And Jesus did, but not by saying, “Remember, I told you I was going to die and rise from the dead three days later.” They would remember that when the time was right. He instead talked about the anguish and heartache they would experience. Verses 20-22 reads,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”

They were about to go through deep pain and they would react in that pain. Although of the eleven men there, only John stayed with his Lord throughout the trial and crucifixion, all of them wept bitter tears and felt the intense distress of losing Him. They cried from their homes or other places they hid. But Jesus said the world will rejoice.

I believe He meant it two ways. On one hand the immediate majority of people overcome by the mob mentality cheered and celebrated Jesus’ crucifixion. They didn’t think they had to deal with His rabble rousing trouble making ways anymore. But in the truest way, the world rejoiced because Jesus’ death and resurrection meant hope and salvation, it brought forgiveness and reconciliation with God. His sacrifice gave us life.

The disciples would most certainly hurt and grieve but that sorrow would absolutely turn into joy. The joy of Jesus death and resurrection is deeper, truer, and greater than any joy that exists. It is perfect and it is ours because of what Jesus did. Jesus used the analogy of childbirth to explain it. I’ve been told and I can imagine that the pain of childbirth is horrendous. But after the pain there is a new life, a child filled with potential and the love the mother has for that child turns her excruciating pain into exquisite joy.

When Jesus suffered and died on the cross, His pain was intense but He faced it with joy because He knew the purpose He served. The disciples’ misery was also intense, most of them had abandoned Jesus and they felt guilt, loss of hope, loss of a true friend, and loss of a leader. But then Jesus rose from the dead and their sorrow became joy. They knew then more clearly than ever before that Jesus was the Son of God, Messiah, and Savior. He forgave them for their desertion and betrayals. They were overjoyed. But then He ascended and gave them the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit came into them their joy was complete it was a joy that was in their very cores, they understood the beauty and mystery of the Gospel, they were able to reflect Christ, think like Him, and act like Him. And Jesus told them that joy could never be taken from them. It is was theirs forever, regardless of the suffering they experienced.

Isaiah 31:1-3 describes it like this,

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion--
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”

And Psalm 30:11-12 says,

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!”

The pain in life is still there. God makes good come out of it, He turns your mourning into dancing, and gives you reason to praise. That same joy is yours, Believer. No matter what you go through you have God with you. He is in you making it possible for you to go through it, learn through it, and become more like Jesus through it. He saved you and gave you the ability to pass that good testimony on to others and share His joy with a world that needs Him.

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John 16:14-15 When Jesus Returned to the Father, the Holy Spirit Came to Us

12/27/2014

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John Chapter 16 Verses 4-15

Before he gave up His life, Jesus spent the last evening before His arrest teaching the disciples some weightier lessons than He had so far taught them. At the time Jesus’ Crucifixion looked, to His disciples like the worst tragedy that could happen. But we know that Jesus’ sacrifice made the way for hope and joy for us. Starting in verse 4 Jesus explains why.

“But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

The eleven disciples Jesus was preparing to be apostles loved their Rabbi, Lord, and friend deeply. They were truly dismayed at the thought of His looming death. They didn’t want to believe that it would really happen. But Jesus told them it was a good thing, because once He went to the Father, the Helper would be sent.

It is an advantage that Jesus returned to the Father and the Holy Spirit came. But why? While Jesus was with them, The Holy Spirit had been with them but not within them and not the way He would be. (John 14:16-18).  But once Jesus made a way for salvation the Spirit of God could commune with believers in a new and intimate way. Jesus described some of what the Holy Spirit in would do in verses 8-11.

“And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

The Holy Spirit is the one who makes the guilty aware of his wrongs in order for him to come to a place where he can acknowledge his need of Christ. We can point fingers and blame until the cows come home and we will never have an effect on an unbeliever’s heart. It is the Holy Spirit and only the Holy Spirit that can bring a person to faith. He is the one who makes it possible for us to follow Christ and live honorably even though Jesus is not physically walking the earth. He conforms us to Jesus’ image. And He reminds us that the world will be judged and although Satan is defeated, there are countless souls who will be judged alongside Him. He loves them and doesn’t want any of them to perish. The Holy Spirit made sure that the disciples remembered all of Jesus words so they could teach and spread the Gospel. He also continued to teach them the profound truths of God as He continues to do today. Verses 12-13 read,

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

Just as Jesus did nothing and said nothing without the Father, it is the same of the Holy Spirit. He teaches us and directs us. He illuminates truth to us and allows us to understand the word. He showed the future to the apostles and He shows us too. He reveals to us the profound mysteries of the Kingdom of God.

Verses 14-15 read,

“He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

The Holy Spirit perfectly reflects Jesus. He is the Spirit of God. He reveals God to us and through us. Not only does He show us who Jesus is, He makes us into Jesus’ image. Even as He conforms us to the likeness of Christ, He endows us with Jesus’ attributes, authority, and gifts. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for you and me to do what Jesus did, to love as Jesus did and bring people to a relationship with God. The Holy Spirit is God and He is in you, Believer.

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    Donna Campbell

    As I read the Bible every day, I take what God teaches me, what He says, and write it out. I then share that with you. It gives me a deeper understanding of the Word and I hope that it will encourage you as it does me, to put your love and faith into action.

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