A Greater Vision

 For by faith we are walking, not by perception.

2 Corinthians 5: 7, Concordant New Testament 

Just about everyone knows what it means to be blindsided.  To be surprised by a situation or event we did not see coming.  I've been blindsided more than my share in my own life.  Is being blindsided a common practice for us?  Are we destined to go through life not knowing what lies ahead?  I would disagree with that line of thinking.  As believers, we already are assured of the very nature of our own future.  We know what's coming.  How is it that we are so assured of our future in the Lord?  Because we know by faith that what God proclaims is true.  That Jesus is the only One by which all are saved {John 3:16, Acts 4:12, 1 John 4:14}.  By this we know that we have been assured of a future in the Lord {Romans 6:8, Galatians 2:20}.  I believe that there is nobody who can come along to blindside us into believing that God has rejected us.  Of course, our accuser never ceases to try to convince us otherwise.  But if we walk by faith, by what we know in our heart to be true, the words of the accuser will not take root.  I believe this is what the apostle Paul was speaking to in his letter to the church at Corinth.  Walk by faith, trust in what you know to be true {2 Corinthians 5:7}.  But what about those who try to deceive us?  Certainly there have been far too many false prophets in our time.  In hindsight, we realize that these are not the voices of the Lord but of the accuser {1 John 4:6}.  It is not too difficult to imagine that, having been created in Gods own image, that we carry Him within us.  Again, Paul spoke to this in Galatians {Galatians 2:20}.  Knowing this, we can trust that we often hear His voice within us.  How are we able to discern the voice of the Father?  My mother had a excellent phrase whenever I would question her on her faith.  She would simply say, "I know that I know."  She knew the Fathers voice and trusted His words in her heart.  But far too many believers have fallen prey to those who try to imitate the voice of God.  In my life I have seen multiple events where innocent people fell victim to someone claiming to proclaim the word of God.  The 900 victims of the Jonestown mass suicide are the most violent example.  But we don't need to be deceived.  The apostle John tells us to "Test the spirits" whether they are of God {1 John 4:1}.  Obviously, if someone tells you that God has revealed to them that you are to do something you know to be wrong, run away!  

Now faith is an assumption of what is being expected, a conviction concerning matters which are not being observed; for in this the elders were testified to.  By faith we are apprehending the eons to adjust to a declaration of God, so that what is being observed has not come out of what is appearing.

Hebrews 11: 1-3, Concordant New Testament 

I love the concordant New Testament translation of the iconic verse on faith which we find in the beginning of Hebrews.  I can visualize Paul speaking to this explanation of what true faith is.  Because we cannot walk by faith if we do not understand it to begin with.  What is faith?  Faith is assuming that what we expect will come to be.  We may not be able to see how a situation will unfold, but through our faith we trust in God that He will bring it about.  By faith we trust that all we see was created by the Father.  Despite the scientists proclaiming that we are descended from simple pond slime, my own faith tells me that God has created all.  By our faith, we are trusting in the Father.  Trusting in Him to do as He has declared.  Trusting in Him above all else.  A good friend of mine once used the examples of gravity and a park bench to describe faith.  We know that when we toss a rock in the air that it will fall back to earth.  This is engrained in our knowledge.  Nobody is going to come and convince us otherwise.  Also, when we come to sit on a park bench, we trust that the bench will support us.  We know this to be true.  This is the essence of trust, and the basis of our faith in the Father.  Walking by faith is walking in the assurance of the Lord.  Knowing that He is and that He hears us {Hebrews 11:6}.  We already know what we see, faith is being assured of what we cannot see {2 Corinthians 4:18}.  

At our not noting what is being observed, but what is not being observed, for what is being observed is temporary, yet what is not being observed is eonian.  

2 Corinthians 4: 18, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Chosen Few

 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loves us, and dispatches His Son, a propitiatory shelter concerned with our sins.  

1 John 4: 10, Concordant New Testament 

A friend once told me that Jesus chose us, we did not choose Him.  Seems about right when you consider the circumstances as to why Jesus came to be our Savior in the first place.  It is Christ who gives of Himself that our sins would be forgiven {John 3:16-17}.  Long before we took our first breath, it is Jesus who took an interest in us.  He chose us.  Now, I can hear many a Christian claiming that they themselves made that choice to accept Jesus into their life, and that's a good thing.  But is our choice to accept Christ really the beginning of the process?  I think most will admit that we were loved by God long before we chose to accept Jesus.  He loved us enough to create us in His own image {Genesis 1:27}.  He loved us despite the fact that our sin condition went against all that He is.  Yet despite our sin, God sent His Son to redeem us from it {Romans 5:8}.  We are chosen...by God.  So, you might feel good inside when you choose to cast aside what you once deemed important in your life for the sake of Jesus, but the fact remains that it is Jesus who chose you.  I think of where I would be without the love of the Father who sacrificed His Son on my behalf.  When you get down to it, it is because of the love of the Father that He chose me.  His love for me would not allow me to suffer the consequences of my sin.  I am well aware of the penalty of the sin nature I once carried {Romans 3:23}.  Yet that penalty was suffered by Jesus at the cross.  Again, Jesus chose the path to the cross knowing full well what was ahead of Him.  This He did for me.  Who does that?  Can we point to anyone we have ever met who, knowing they were facing death, instead chose to give of themselves that others would live {John 5:13}?  The fact is, you might think that you have chosen Jesus, but the Fathers gift to you came long before that decision was ever made {Hebrews 1:3}.  

Greater love than this has no one, that anyone may be laying down his soul for his friends.

John 15: 13, Concordant New Testament 

My mother used to tell me when I was young that God loved me before I was even born.  You could say that I had a good idea of the history of who I was even before I made up my own mind to choose Jesus.  It may seem a bit backwards, but many people already know a bit about God and Jesus before they make the decision to choose Him in their life.  Everyone likes to be on the winning team right?  I mean, most people already know how it will end for our accuser in the future.  Does our choosing Jesus come down to simply not wanting to go to hell?  Possibly.  But I had different reasons for making my choice.  I still get emotional when I think of what Jesus endured for me.  The persecution.  The painful scourging.  His death on the cross.  Jesus made it a point during His ministry to remind those who would listen what awaited Him at the hands of the religious authorities of the day {Matthew 20: 17-19}.  Jesus was well aware what awaited Him.  Yet He willingly accepted it all for me {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  I believe that at the very root of the gift all have received from the Father is love.  Not our love for Him, but His love for us.  Greater love hath no man, that he would lay down his life for his friends. 

Yet God is commending this love of His to us, seeing that, while we are still sinners, Christ died for our sakes. 

Romans 5: 8, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

A Unworthy Believer

 

Now perceiving it, Simon Peter prostrates himself before Jesus' knees, saying, "Come away from me, for a man, a sinner am I, Lord!" 

Luke 5: 8, Concordant New Testament 

The young fisherman, Simon, had just witnessed one of the first miracles of Jesus.  His once empty boat was now brimming with one of the largest catches he had ever seen.  What he could not do after a night of casting nets, Jesus had accomplished in mere moments.  By all rights, even Simon had to recognize that this was indeed a miracle.  But then, as he realized that he was indeed in the presence of the Christ, Simon did what all too many believers do, he suddenly became unworthy.  Unworthy of the affection of His Lord.  Undeserving of the bounty which Jesus had just provided for him.  In Simons mind it was simple, he simply could not be in the presence of the holy Christ whom he had prayed for since he was young.  See, Jesus is indeed holy, and too many times we cannot wrap our understanding around how we, as sinners, could be worthy of the saving sacrifice of Jesus.  The reality is that it is because all have sinned that Jesus gave of Himself.  But most believers refuse to allow that their sin, which Jesus put to death at the cross, is indeed a thing of the past.  I believe that sin is the greatest obstacle we face in coming to know Jesus.  Scripture tells us that all have sinned {Romans 3:23}.  It's something which we cannot escape from on our own, somewhere along the line we were sinners.  However, scripture also proclaims that through Christ our sins are no more in the eyes of God {Acts 13:38, 1 John 1:9}.  If we're to bring these so called sins before the Father, we might be surprised when He replies, "What sin?"  See, in the eyes of the Father, our sins are a thing of the past.  That old sin nature, our old man, was put to death with Jesus at the cross.  It is Jesus who became sin that its penalty would be taken away from us {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  Knowing this, all too many believers continue to live in the mindset that their sin prevents them from a close relationship with the Father.  After all, God is holy and we are but sinners, right?  

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loves us, and dispatches His Son, a propitiatory shelter concerned with our sins. 

1 John 4: 10, Concordant New Testament 

I was once one of the unworthy believers.  I was all too aware of all that I had done in my life.  On a daily basis Satan reminded me of the dirty rags I continued to wear.  I knew the story of the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus, but I didn't accept it in my heart.  My sin was always before me.  I knew that I was not alone in this thinking, because I often heard others speaking to the very same struggles.  However, one passage of scripture helped change my view of who I was.  The passage which proclaimed that it was the gift of God in that He released me from my former sin nature.  Not because I had loved God, but because He loves me {1 John 4:10}.  He loved me enough to create me in His own image {Genesis 1:27}.  He loved me enough to send His Son in my place {John 3:16}.  God knew the burden of sin I once carried, and because of His love for me He took it away.  Not too many passages of scripture have affected me as this passage in 1 John.  The apostle John lays out for us that it is by the Fathers love for us that we are no longer sinners in His eyes.  There is now nothing preventing us from a personal relationship with the Father.  This is the desire of the Father after all, that His children would once again return to Him {John 17:21}.  Once we realize that God has removed that sin barrier, it opens up a entire new reality in Him.  With our old sin nature out of the way, we're free to be in the presence of the Father.  Better than that, we're now free to realize what we've always had, the indwelling Christ within us {Galatians 2:20}.  

"I don't need to punish people for sin.  Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside.  It's not my purpose to punish it; it's my joy to cure it."

William P. Young, The Shack

~Scott~ 

What God Wants

 

And not to be configured to this eon, but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for you to be testing what is the will of God, good and well pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12: 2, Concordant New Testament 

One of the most popular lines of Christian speak these days is what is, or what will be, the will of God.  What is it that God desires?  For once we are in tune with the desires of the Lord, we will be in a much better position.  At least that's what most pastors will tell us.  So what is the desire of the Lord?  Does anyone really know?  We know from scripture that Jesus knew the desires of the Father, because He acted upon them {John 4:34}.  In fact, Jesus claimed that He only did what He perceived His father doing {John 5:19}.  It is only natural that He would learn from watching the Father, for that is what we do as well.  We can picture a young Jesus in the shop of His father Joseph learning from him.  This is also true with His Father in the heavens as well.  Jesus has been described as a man of mercy, patience and kindness.  Where do you think He learned these traits?  It is not too far of a stretch that He has been learning from the Father from the beginning {John 1:1-5}.  How many of us have learned at the feet of our parents?  It's easy to understand that genetics account for much of our own behaviors, but we also learn from what we experience.  So, what are the genetics of Jesus?  What is His DNA?  Scripture tells us that Jesus Himself proclaimed that when we see Him we see the Father as well {John 14:7}.  So, it is easy to say that the direct DNA of Jesus traces to our heavenly Father as well.  Interestingly enough, our own DNA will trace to the Father as well {Genesis 2:7}.  So, it is not too far beyond imagination that we should desire what our Father desires as well.  I have heard many a Christian express a deep desire to "know the Lord."  Is this just a coincidence?  What inspires one to desire to know the Lord?  Well, when we understand who we really are, we will see that we're not too far from the Lord.  The apostle Paul speaks to the reality of the indwelling Christ {Galatians 2:20}.  That is, it is Christ Jesus who lives in us.  He and the Father are one, as we are one with He and the Father.  This was indeed one of the desires of the Lord {John 17:21}.  It's not to difficult to see that more than a few things we desire are also what God wants. 

In everything be giving thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5: 18, Concordant New Testament 

Would it not be fitting to know and do what God desires?  After all, He has created us in His own image {Genesis 1:27}.  Why wouldn't we desire to know more about Him?  To do as what it is He desires.  It's who we are.  Make no mistake, when you look in that mirror each day, you see the Father.  The Father who created you in His image as well as The Father manifested through Christ in you.  It's only natural that we should desire to know Him.  Of course, one of the desires of the Father is that we would come to know Him.  Many a Christian has expressed this very desire.  To know the Father.  They are, in fact, doing the will of the Father.  They are realizing, perhaps without knowing, what God wants.  I have no doubt that when our own desire to know the Father is revealed in us, that it is the Father Himself who speaks to us what He desires.  I myself have experienced this revelation.  I realized my own desire to know the Father.  Now, if I were to say to some pastor that I was therefore doing the will of God I might not get a positive response.  For a good part of our history, doing the will of the Lord has been seen as a lofty goal and not something we could or would achieve.  Gods will has been seen as something we must aspire to in order to be good upstanding Christians.  I suggest that the will of the Lord is a part of who we are.  For if He remains in us, as Paul correctly recognized, then His desires remain a part of us as well.  His desires are our own.  

That they may all be one, according as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us, that the world shall be believing that Thou dost commission Me.

John 17: 21, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Robbing God

 

Will a human defraud Elohim?  For you are defrauding Me.  Yet you say, in what way do we defraud you?  In the tithe and the heave offering!  With a curse you curse Me, and Me you are defrauding - the nation, all of it!  Bring the entire tithe to the treasure house, and viands shall come to be in My house.  And test me, indeed in this, says Yahweh of the hosts, if I will not open for you the crevices in the heavens and I empty for you a blessing until there is insufficient storage. 

Malachi 3: 8 - 10, Concordant Old Testament 

Who doesn't want to be blessed by God?  In fact, how about being blessed with the riches of heaven poured out upon you?  Sounds good, right?  But wait, there's a catch.  How much did you tithe this week?  Because if you did not tithe then perhaps your blessing might be delayed until such time that you are right with God financially.  You could even say that you are robbing God.  What?  Who in his right mind would ever rob God?  Yet the book of Malachi and countless Christian pastors have told us that when we withhold our tithes that we are indeed robbing God {Malachi3:8-10}.  I've even heard a pastor proclaim that these words we find in Malachi are a covenant with God that should never be broken.  Feel guilty yet?  I've been in too many congregations where these words from the Lords prophet and servant have been misunderstood and confused.  Yet far too many pastors continue to jump on the robbing God bandwagon without at least providing some context of what Malachi was speaking of.  It sounds much better to say that we are robbing God when we don't tithe.  Why?  Because it keeps the collection plates full that's why.  These days, a church with empty offering plates does not stay a viable church for too long.  And so todays church leaders continue to misconstrue the meaning of the words of Malachi.  I've been in many a congregation.  I've heard the accusations of guilt spoken by the pulpit pounders each Sunday.  You MUST give ten percent of your income to the Lord!  They institute tithing challenges, promising to reimburse you in full if God does not indeed bless you for tithing to the church.  Then again, what well meaning Christian is going to approach a pastor and ask for a refund?  Think of the stigma attached to that.  And so we go along, not wanting to rob God.  

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are taking the tithes from the mint and the dill and the cumin, and leave the weightier matters of the law, judging and mercy and faith.  Now these it was binding for you to do, and not leave those.  Blind guides!  Straining out a gnat, yet swallowing a camel!  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are cleaning the outside of the cup and the plate, yet inside they are brimming with rapacity and incontinence."  

Matthew 23: 23 - 25, Concordant New Testament 

So, what was it that the Lord was speaking to when He spoke through the His servant Malachi?  First off, we're not talking about a collection plate offering here.  The purpose of this tithe was to provide for those who ministered in the temple.  The storehouse was the place where the tithes were brought that there might be food in Gods house for His servants in the temple.  For those who served in the temple were not allowed to work outside of it.  The ministry in the temple was their vocation.  This tithe was never meant to financially support the temple itself.  Can you see how the truth of the tithe has been misconstrued by todays church leaders?  Today we commonly reference a scripture spoken to provide for the Lords servants to place a unnecessary burden of guilt upon the church.  How do you suppose God views those who continue to speak these words to the Lords children?  Is it Gods intent to demand a percentage of what we earn?  Let's be perfectly clear, everything we will ever have is a direct blessing from the Lord.  He alone knows our needs and our desires before we speak them.  God is also not in the business of punishing us for not tithing.  His love for us is beyond our comprehension.  I recently had a revelation in my spirit of something radical.  How is it that I do not see that I am living a life of the Fathers blessing each day?  I live in the Lords blessing, yet I haven't tithed in over 15 years.  How does that happen?  Am I still robbing God?  Perhaps if you were a pastor you might consider someone like me public enemy number one.  

"Yet take heed not to be doing your righteousness in front of men, in order to be gazed at by them, otherwise surely you have no wages with your Father who is in the heavens." 

Matthew 6: 1, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Raising The Dead (A Son Comes Home)

 

And rising, he came to his father.  "Now, at his still being far away, his father perceives him and has compassion, and running, falls on his neck and fondly kisses him.  Now the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.  No longer am I worthy to be called your son.  Make me as one of your hires men.'  Yet the father said to his slaves, 'Quick!  Bring forth the first robe, and put it on him, and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet.  And bring the grain fed calf, and sacrifice it, and, eating, we may be merry, for this my son was dead and revives; he was lost and is found.'  And they began to make merry.  

Luke 15: 20 - 24, Concordant New Testament 

I was once again reminded this week of the human side of the drug crisis affecting the Portland area.  Just over a year ago, I came across a young man who, for all appearances, appeared to be asleep while waiting for a train.  Unfortunately, the reality was that the young man had passed away the night before of a drug overdose.  I wondered at the time just what would bring a young man to this point.  I also wondered at what his family must be thinking.  Were they looking for him?  The answers to those questions came this week.  The other day I was approached by a woman who claimed to be the young man mother.  She had driven all the way from California to see the exact place where her boy had spent his final hours.  She shared a few memories with me of the young man who was her son.  A photo of a lively young man who seemed to be happy.  She shared with me that her son, Jevon, had ran away from Redland, California some time ago and she wondered where he could have been.  I didn't ask, but someone from the authorities had obviously contacted her once they had established the boys identity.  That call must have been one of the worst moments of her life.  I shared with her what I remembered about that morning.  How I stayed with her son for as long as I could before the EMS took him away.  How I wondered what his family must have been going through.  Wondering if he was a believer.  I never heard from the mother if Jevon knew the Lord, and I didn't want to dig up too many bad memories for her.  She thanked me for being there with Jevon that day and began her return journey home.  I was once again left with the questions of what could have been.  Did Jevon know the Lord?  Had he ever hear the name of Jesus?  I can only imagine that, as had the father of the prodigal son, that our Father anxiously awaited the return of His beloved child once again.  

For you died, and your life is hid together with Christ in God.

Colossians 3: 3, Concordant New Testament 

I was not prepared to address the philosophical question of how God sees the unsaved this morning.  The church will tell us all the do's and do nots which we will need to follow in order that we do not face the Father as one of the unsaved heathen.  But what of someone who has never heard the name of Jesus?  I know, I know, who could possibly not hear of Jesus?  But in a world filled with the plots and disinformation of our accuser, anything is possible.  So I believe in my heart that it is entirely possible that one not consider the name of Jesus.  Now the question becomes, how does God see those who have never known His Son?  Well, we know that God has never been about retribution, but redemption.  We know that the very nature of God is love {1 John 4:8}.  So, is it entirely possible that a Father with nothing but love for His child would put all of that aside to condemn him?  I will never buy into that line of thinking.  Our heavenly Father is not like our earthly fathers.  His love is never ending.  His thoughts are always for us.  We were lovingly created in our Fathers own image {Genesis 1:27}.  Does this sound like a God who would rather condemn us for not knowing Him?  Why would a Father who has given so much effort to ensure that we are with Him for eternity suddenly turn his back on us?  Like I said, you will never convince me that this is how God treats His children.  In the movie Come Sunday, the reverend Carlton Pearson is punished by the church for daring to speak out against the existence of hell.  If God had the opportunity save His child, why wouldn't He?  Jevon has returned home once again.  I pray you have finally found peace young man.  

In Whom the God of this eon blinds the apprehensions of the unbelieving so that the illumination of the evangel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, does not irradiate them. 

2 Corinthians 4: 4, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Doing Gods Business

 

If anyone should be saying that "I am loving God," and should be hating his brother, he is a liar; for he who is not loving his brother whom he has seen can not be loving God whom he has not seen.

1 John 4: 20, Concordant New Testament 

Some time ago I lived by a simple philosophy, that I would treat others in the same way that they treated me.  Sounds good, until you run into the whole love one another thing which Jesus calls upon us to do {John 13:34}.  Yet it's obvious that I was living in the here and now, concerned only with a flesh reaction to a flesh provocation.  Not only is there no room to exhibit the indwelling Christ when we behave in such a way, but we tend to alienate quite a few potential friends as well.  One of the first questions I asked my friend as I was exploring this revelation of Christ in me was...where was Jesus when I behaved in this way?  Well, it turns out that He was in the same exact place that He had always been, within me.  But wait, Jesus was still in me despite my bad behavior?  Yes.  I have never known Jesus to go back on His word, so when He says that He will be one with the Father and me, He keeps His word {John 17:21}.  The trouble is, I had forgotten just who I was in Him as I set about to institute the Lords revenge upon more than a few people who, in my eyes, so obviously deserved it.  I was going about doing Gods business.  It is, in fact, the Lord who take care of that little matter of dealing with those who have wronged others {Romans 12:19}.  As one might expect, it doesn't work out too well the other way around.  For when we take it upon ourselves to take revenge upon others, can we not expect the same in return when our turn comes around?  And the vicious cycle continues.  I will be the first to admit that at times it is hard as all hell to turn the other cheek.  People and situations of this world will often drive you to the point of going Rambo on anyone you feel deserves it.  In your eyes, you are justified to take action.  But are we?  Were we also not graced with a Savior the same way those around us were {John 3:16-17}.  Did Jesus not warn us that this is what the life of the believer would entail {John 16:33}?  We also once walked as those who are in the world walk {Romans 3:23}.  Yet it is by the love and grace of the Lord that He called us out of that life.  

They are of the world; therefore they are speaking of the world, and the world is hearing them.  We are of God.  He who knows God is hearing us.  He who is not of God is not hearing us.  By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

1 John 4: 5-6, Concordant New Testament 

I often think back to those times where I took it upon myself to do Gods business and cringe.  I can imagine the light within me being shrouded by a blanket thrown over it {Matthew 5:14-16}.  Where is there room for Jesus to show Himself through me when I condemn others?  Keeping in mind that even though Christ is in me, He is NOT responsible for this behavior.  This is the works of the flesh all the way.  The good news is that we can overcome the world as Jesus has.  We can choose not to react to those around us in such a negative way.  Not only does this open the door for those around us to see Christ exhibited through us, we will feel less guilty in the long run.  How is it that Jesus, being in spirit, can be known by this world?  One sure fire way is by those who know Him.  Jesus Himself tells us that those around us will notice our good works and glorify the Father {Matthew 5:16}.  The best way to show Jesus is to keep that light within us shining for all to see.  In time, He will open up opportunities to reveal Himself to others through us.  Haven't you ever met someone that you just knew ahead of time that they were a follower of Jesus?  I have.  It is in moments such as this where Christ is showing Himself to others through us.  Besides, any retribution I might take upon others pales in comparison to what God can do.  Let go and let God.  

"You are the light of the world. A city located on a mountain can not be hid.  Neither are they burning a lamp and placing it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it is shining to all those in the house.  Thus shine your light in front of men, so that they may perceive your ideal acts and should glorify your Father who is in the heavens." 

Matthew 5: 14-16, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Spirit Identity

 Now we all, with uncovered face, mirroring the Lords glory, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the spirit. 

2 Corinthians 3: 18, Concordant New Testament 

Do you believe in ghosts?  I do for sure.  As a kid growing up I had a lot of interest in ghostly happenings.  The spirit world has always fascinated me.  Of course, if I were to watch a good horror movie it would scare the crap out of me.  Yet I was still interested.  Recently the actor Russell Crowe was cast as the character "The popes exorcist."  Traditionally, the Roman catholic church has taken a dim view of the occult.  While acknowledging it's very existence, they have dismissed the spirit realm as that of the evil one (Satan).  Yet, the new Russell Crowe film has been said to be based on true stories of people possessed by evil.  If this is to be seen as true, what need then would the Pope have for an exorcist if the spirit realm was not that relevant?  I have always believed that the spirit realm that surrounds us is a very real part of our lives.  Our experiences on this earth are never one dimensional.  In fact, research has suggested that there are indeed more than a few dimensions surrounding us.  This isn't something out of star trek, but a proven fact.  How does this affect us as believers?  Ask yourself this question, where is heaven?  In your understanding, where is it that heaven exists?  Up in the sky?  In space?  Well, neither of these may in fact be correct.  There have been a few Christian leaders who have come out to proclaim that heaven as we know it is simply another dimension adjacent to our own.  Michelle Meyers, author of the book Famous In Heaven And At Home claims that the scriptures do not "Give us a GPS to heaven's location," but of a promise of a place where we will be in the Fathers presence.  I tend to agree.  Throughout the scriptures we're told of the beauty and wonders of the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus proclaimed that He went to prepare a place for us {John 14:3}.  Jesus also often used parables to describe the glories of heaven to his listeners.  Jesus would obviously know where heaven was, yet His words were more to what we will experience there than its actual location.  The second piece of this puzzle is the understanding of our own identity, who we truly are.  Are we simply cells, flesh and blood?  Or, as I believe , is our identity tied to something far greater than we have come to comprehend?  We're told that we are created in Gods own image {Genesis 1:27}.  Is God flesh and blood?  Or, is He spirit?  For whatever identity the Father has, we share with Him.  

"The bible doesn't give us a GPS to heavens location, but rather, the promise of a place where we will forever worship around the throne of God.  Heaven is where God is, longing to be gracious to us, and where Jesus awaits the command of the Father for His triumphant return for all who believe in Him."

Michelle Meyers ~ Famous In Heaven And At Home

Whether you believe in the words which Ms. Meyers speaks or not, most will agree that they grew up knowing heaven as a place and not a specific location.  For most of my childhood, I grew up going to Sunday School classes where pictures of Jesus walking in sunlit meadows with children were common descriptions of what we would find in heaven.  Of course, this was the churches version of what heaven will be like.  Yet it seems the church version of heaven and the way it's described in the bible are not really too much different from each other.  We're told that if we make the test, that we will be there among others who have done the same.  I get it.  This is the church position.  So, now that we have established that there is definitely a heaven somewhere surrounding us, what exactly does that have to do with the existence of ghosts and the like?  Well, what if those spirits which so many people have sworn to have seen are simply our eyes being temporarily opened to another dimension?  Could it be possible that many have witnessed those from heavens dimension interacting with our own?  Could you wrap your understanding around the possibility that those from heaven could interact with our physical world?  Why not?  You believe that a man was raised from the dead, why would this be any less possible?  Whether or not you believe in the spirit dimension existence of heaven or not, it cannot be denied that there are spirits that exist around us.  Not all of them need the Popes blessing to be sent away.  

If, then, you should be beholding the Son of Mankind ascending where He was formerly- - -?  The Spirit is that which is vivifying.  The flesh is not benefitting anything.  The declarations which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 

John 6: 62-63, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Dog And Pony Shows

 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves, according as the custom of some is, but entreating, and so much so rather as you are observing the day drawing near.

Hebrews 10: 25, Concordant New Testament 

Within the Eastern Orthodox faith, this past week is considered the "Holy week," the celebration of the resurrection of Christ.  I only know this because my co worker friend and his family are of the Eastern Orthodox faith.  He is Egyptian by birth, immigrating here with his family some years ago.  Needless to say, he is very adamant concerning attending his church during this time.  It is a time of tradition as well as celebration.  I get it.  I recall the churches which I have been in also made it a practice to put on majestic Christmas and Easter celebrations.  I will say that the congregations during these times is a dramatic increase over the regular Sunday morning service.  Which brings me to my point.  In the past I have been, let's just say, a bit critical of the mainstream church practice of elaborate celebration services with loud music and flashy props.  Yet a conversation I had with a good friend of mine this week has given me a new perspective.  What if one of these elaborate church celebration services were the only thing which drew a person of family into the church?  Would they still be considered by some as annoying?  Perhaps, but realize that the Lord could also be providing that particular service on that particular Sunday to reach one who desperately needs to know Him.  What's your opinion of flashy church services now?  Up until this week, I was totally against the dog and pony shows which many big congregations put on each week.  Believe me, I've seen my share of them.  I remember standing in the foyer of the church one Sunday morning with a decibel meter fully intent upon confronting the lead pastor with my noise complaint.  Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and I retired my noise meter.  Yet one thing I always noticed about these Sunday rock and roll shows is that there was always a steady stream of first time visitors.  Obviously, something had driven them to walk through the doors of that church that day.  I have no idea just how many of these people eventually became regular attenders, only that they chose our church to visit.  So the question remains, are we to deny someone the opportunity to hear of the Lord simply because we don't like how a congregation conducts their services?  I should hope not.  

The God Who makes the world and all that is in it, He, the Lord inherent of heaven and earth, is not dwelling in temples made by hands, neither is He attended by human hands, as if requiring anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all. 

Acts 17: 24-25, Concordant New Testament 

In the book of Acts, the apostle Paul makes an important observation upon seeing the idols of the Roman temple he is walking through.  It is God, the creator of all that we see, who does not dwell in temples made by human hands {Acts 17:24}.  The brick and mortar church has never been the home of the Lord.  People have referred to the local church as Gods house, far from it.  That's not to say that the spirit of the Lord cannot and is not present in our local church.  But dwell there?  No.  Paul makes the point that the Lord requires nothing from us {Acts 17:25}.  It is we who require Him.  Over the years many a Christian has come to associate the brick and mortar church building as the center piece of their faith.  It is where we gather, celebrate and worship.  Yet the church building should not be our focus.  Paul proclaims that Christ Jesus is the head of our church {Colossians 1:18}.  It is He who we should be celebrating and worshipping.  It is Jesus who is the reason we gather.  This is precisely what the early church of the followers of Jesus did.  Meeting and assembling in different homes talking about the life and teachings of Christ.  This was as authentic a church as you can get.  Yet we do not see loud praise and worship bands as the early church met.  No, they simply shared a meal and talked about Jesus.  As in our houses or worship, all were welcome.  So, who am I to deny someone the opportunity to hear about Jesus simply because I don't like loud church music?  For all I know, that raucous celebration was allowed by the Lord Himself to bring in someone who desperately needs to know Him.  In that case, welcome to the dog and pony show brother! 

Now all those who believe were also in the same place and had all things in common.  And they disposed of the acquisitions and the properties, and divided them to all, forasmuch as some would have had need.  Besides persevering day by day with one accord in the sanctuary, besides breaking bread home by home, they partook of nourishment with exultation and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor for the whole people.  Now the Lord added to those being saved day by day in the same place. 

Acts 2: 44-47, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Raising The Dead (The Old Man)

 So that, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; the primitive passed by. Lo! There has come new! 

2 Corinthians 5: 17, Concordant New Testament 

It's an issue that many a believer deals with each day.  No, it's an issue that everyone deals with at one time or another.  Whether you're a believer or not, you will from time to time recall the old man.  The old man that you used to be.  The old man whose thoughts and behaviors you wish that you could put behind you.  One of the greatest compliments I have ever received came from a Christian friend some time ago.  One day he made the comment to me that I had changed...for the good.  I was overjoyed to say the least.  I knew that Jesus was in my heart, yet I had fought long and hard to overcome that man I had been before.  That man who often frequented strip clubs.  That man who trusted in himself above all else.  That was my old man.  As hard as I tried, it was difficult to escape all the old man had done.  The more I tried, the more his memory haunted me.  Needless to say, I wasn't proud of the man that I was then.  I'd done some pretty bad things.  I wasn't a hardened criminal by any means, but I had hurt those closest to me.  This was my struggle with the old man.  I'm certain that my struggles are not too much different from others who have fought their own memories of who they once were.  But where the old man is concerned, it's personal all of us.  When I talk of the old man these days, people will notice that I speak of him in his proper context.  He is no more.  Where did he Go?  Well, to be honest, I had nothing to do with His ultimate demise.  What I will claim credit for is the realization of the man I truly am.  I was helped along in this realization by the words of the apostle Paul.  It is Paul who speaks to our one true identity in Galatians.  The old man is gone.  It is no longer I, but Christ Jesus who lives in me {Galatians 2:20}.  The old man was put to death by Christ at the cross.  Paul also speaks to the new creation which I am now after the death of the old man {2 Corinthians 5:17}.  So Jesus did not leave us orphans, but came to be in us {John 14:18}.  The old man no longer has a place in us.

With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, but living in me is Christ.  Now that which I am now living in the flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me.  

Galatians 2: 20, Concordant New Testament 

I recall a good Christian friend of mine who once showed me a old photo of him when he was homeless and living on the streets.  He referred to the picture as "The old man."  How appropriate!  My friend understood where the old man belonged.  The old man no longer defined him.  In fact, it never had.  For in our rush to rehash old memories, we all too often forget our one true identity in Christ Jesus.  It is Jesus who gave Himself for the forgiveness of our mistakes we all too often torture ourselves by remembering.  It is also Jesus who became sin that we would be spared its penalty {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  Ask yourself, which came first, the death of our old sin nature through Jesus, or our own memories of the bad things we've done?  Obviously, at one time or another, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross escaped our memory.  We have forgotten that it has never been about how bad we've been, but about the love and grace of the Father.  The Father who demonstrated His love for us with the death of His Son {1 John 4: 9-10}.  We have NEVER been beholden to those memories of the old man.  Knowing that, we should keep him in his proper place.  There is no need to resurrect that fossil.  

To put off from you, as regards your former behavior, the old humanity which is corrupted in accord with its seductive desires, yet to be rejuvenated in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new humanity which, in accord with God, is being created in righteousness and benignity of the truth. 

Ephesians 4: 22-24, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Skeletons In The Closet

 Yet He, answering them, said to them that "Ideally prophesies Isaiah concerning you hypocrites, as it is written, that this people with their lips is honoring Me, yet their heart is away at a distance from Me.  Yet in vain are they revering Me, teaching for teachings the directions of men.  For, leaving the precept of God, you are holding the tradition of men of the baptism of ewers and cups.  And many such like things you are doing."  And He said to them, "Ideally you are repudiating the precept of God, that you should be keeping your tradition." 

Mark 7: 6-9, Concordant New Testament 

I was talking to a friend this week about God and religious things when he suddenly shared with me that he had left his previous church due to being hurt by the pastor.  Apparently the pulpit pounder did not approve of the woman he was marrying and expressed doubts about whether he could perform the ceremony for him.  This, of course, was a hurt felt deeply by my friend and his future wife, and they decided to walk away from the church.  For her part, his wife is a believer, although a bit rambunctious at times.  Whether or not this had anything to do with the pastors actions I do not know.  What I do know is that in a setting where the love of the Lord is meant to be a shelter in the storms of life, it seems that one man refused to exhibit the love of God.  For much of our history, the church has been seen as a refuge from all which is wrong with the world.  Political refugees has often found shelter within the walls of the church.  It is a place where all are welcome in the Lord.  Sounds good right?  Except that this is not the case with all churches.  In my lifetime I have been witness to the fall of many great Christian pastors who chose to follow their flesh instead of upholding the ideals of the Lord.  Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart immediately come to mind.  The philandering of Swaggert played out in the nations media, who were all too eager to showcase the downfall of another Christian leader.  Yet that is beside the point.  I have no doubt that there are hundreds if not thousands of believers out there who have abandoned their church and, quite possibly, their own faith as a result of being wounded by those in the church.  I myself was hurt by a associate pastor at the church I used to attend.  While I did not end up leaving said church, the experience definitely opened up old wounds I had continued to carry with me.  Should the church be a place where we should be on guard from such things?  In a perfect world, no.  However, as most believers are aware, we live in a fallen and not a perfect world.  Whenever man is involved, all bets are off the table.  I do not care how strong of a believer you are, one is always at risk of being influenced by the flesh.  When that happens, it is no longer the Lords lead we're following.  

If being hurt by the church causes you to lose faith in God, then your faith was in people and not God.

Unknown 

The scriptures tell us who are trust is to be in {Psalm 118:7, Proverbs 3:5}.  Make no mistake, the Fathers desire is that we place all of our worries, cares and desires upon Him {Matthew 11:28}.  Those in the church may help us with releasing our worries unto the Lord, but our faith and trust was never meant to be placed upon man.  Man can differ.  Man can change his mind with the prevailing winds of the day.  Yet it is Christ Jesus who is the same today and forever {Hebrews 13:8}.  This is a lesson I learned too late to avoid being hurt by someone in authority within the church.  For anyone who has ever suffered the same wounds as I have I would pose one question.  Where is it that you place your faith?  Is your faith and trust in He who never changes?  Or, is your faith in the soft spoken leader behind that pulpit?  I know where I stand...do you?  Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way advocating for a mass exodus from the church because all pastors are not worthy of our trust.  What I am saying is that we are to be very mindful of who we place our faith in.  It is Jesus who welcomes us unto Him, that we will place our burdens upon Him.  There are NO skeletons in the closets of the Lord.  What we will find in the Father is His redeeming love and grace.  There is no pulpit pounder in the world who can make that promise.  I welcome all to place their faith in He whose very nature is love {1 John 4:8}.  We can never go wrong with that.  

And we know and believe the love which God has in us.  God is love, and he who is remaining in love is remaining in God, and God is remaining in him.  

1 John 4: 16, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Happiness Is The Living Jesus!

 

Now, answering, the messenger said to the women, "Fear you not!  For I am aware that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.  He is not here, for He was roused, according as He said.  Hither!  Perceive the place where the Lord lay.  And, swiftly going, say to His disciples that He was roused from the dead, and lo!  He is preceding you into Galilee.  There you will see Him. lo!  I told you."  And coming away swiftly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to report to His disciples. 

Matthew 28: 5-8, Concordant New Testament

What should have been a happy occasion turned out to be anything but.  After all, it was Easter Sunday, one of the most important days in the Christian faith.  Yet, at the close of his sermon the pastor chose that moment to remind those listening that, should they have any unconfessed, that they should indeed come forward to receive the forgiveness of Jesus.  Of course, this came right after this same pastor had spoken a sermon that Jesus had died on the cross to forgive us our sins.  Did He miss a few along the way?  For those that are not in the know, this is the story of how I walked away from the mainstream church and never looked back.  I was that guy in the congregation that morning wondering why I still needed the forgiveness of Christ if He had already given it to me.  Unfortunately, this continues to be the mantra of the church.  I received a message from a good friend the other day on the importance of Easter.  His message?  This is our theme, not sad but joy.  He gets it.  As I sat in church that morning, the atmosphere was not one of celebration of the birth of Jesus but of the apprehension of what was coming next.  Do we truly believe that Jesus wiped the slate clean?  If so, we need to be shouting this from the rooftops.  Our happiness and joy should know no bounds.  Every church service should be filled with His children in joyful celebration of the gift which the Lord has given us.  The resurrection of Christ should be happy and not sad.  Yet, as with many circumstances, the church has missed the mark.  Knowing the gift which the Lord has given us is far beyond the Easter egg hunts and baskets of candy which seem to have overtaken what should be a day of celebration.  The church cannot shoulder all of the blame for this atrocity, as big business also had a hand in derailing our happy Jesus day.  

Through Whom we have the access also, by faith, into this grace in which we stand, and we may be glorying in the expectation of the glory of God. 

Romans 5: 2, Concordant New Testament 

It wasn't too hard for me to think of a title for this page.  For I believe that knowing in my heart that Christ Jesus is alive in me is a good cause to celebrate.  He took that punishment which was meant for me {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  He is not dead, but living {Luke 24:5}.  He is not distant, but a personal part of me {Galatians 2:20}.  For this I am forever grateful...and happy.  There is nothing about what Jesus has done for me that could sway me into being sad.  Alas, the remembrance of His sacrifice shall also bring joy and happiness to my heart.  The Christmas song Joy to the world could very well be the anthem of Easter.  Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King.  Why is it that we do not celebrate the resurrection of Christ with the same happiness as His birth?  If you ask me, both give us plenty of reasons to celebrate.  Were the angels in heaven sad at the resurrection of the Lord Jesus?  No, they gladly proclaimed the wonderful news of the risen Lord to all who came to the tomb.  The news of His victory over death was not treated with sorrow by those who knew Him.  Think about this, where is it that you will hear of the resurrection of Jesus with sadness?  Not in the scriptures for sure.  No, the only place we might associate sadness with the risen Lord is in the messages from the pulpits in our houses of worship.  Yes, He is risen, but now what?  What sins have you not declared?  He forgave your sins, but you still have work to do.  What's with that?  Let's try an approach with celebration for our risen Christ.  Thank you Jesus for giving me life!  After all, that is exactly what He has done.  He is risen!  Let all the world rejoice!  

Be rejoicing in the Lord always!  Again, I will declare, be rejoicing! 

Philippians 4: 4, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

At The Cross

 

In this was manifested the love of God among us, that God has dispatched His only-begotten Son into the world that we should be living through Him.

1 John 4: 9, Concordant New Testament 

I was talking with a friend the other day who was very much looking forward to the good Friday and resurrection Sunday services at his church.  Of course, he is steeped in the traditions of the Eastern Orthodox religion so I cut him some slack.  This Sunday morning, my thoughts of Jesus will be of a different nature.  I will not be celebrating Jesus as the crucified man who lives in heaven.  Instead, I will be celebrating my life in Him.  This is the Jesus I have come to know.  Of course, I was once like my Eastern Orthodox friend, somewhat dependent upon the traditions of the church to forge my own view of who Jesus was.  I looked upon the cross on the wall in the sanctuary and my thoughts turned towards He who gave His life for me.  But that's where the story usually ended.  Yes, Jesus gave Himself that my sins would be forgotten, but that was all I knew of Him.  The Jesus I once knew was in heaven at the Fathers side watching over me.  There was no personal connection nor relationship there.  In my mind, that cross was the end of the road for Jesus.  His work done, He now was free to relax in the Fathers presence.  Sadly, this is the same view of Jesus which the church speaks of today.  Is this the Jesus you know?  If so, then you might be a bit confused when I say that it is not the Jesus I have come to know in my heart.  The Jesus I know is not distant, but is very much a part of my daily life.  The apostle Paul speaks to this reality of Jesus in Galatians {Galatians 2:20}.  Yet when I speak of the Jesus I know, I'm usually met with a blank look.  This is not the Jesus they have heard about most of their lives.  I recently thought of my journey to come to know Christ in my life and I was left with one glaring question.  What good is it to only know ABOUT Jesus?  For if all we know of Jesus is what we've heard then we're missing the point.  It was never the intention of the Father that we should know about Jesus.  That produces no personal connection with Him.  I can hear of the life and times of Jesus all day long and still never know Him.  That is not the Jesus I now know.  

Now they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.  Now, entering also, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus.  And it occurred, at their being perplexed concerning this, Lo! two men standing by them in flashing attire.  Now at their becoming affrighted and inclining their faces to the earth, they say to them, "Why are you seeking the living with the dead?  He is not here, but was roused.  Be reminded how He speaks to you, being still in Galilee, saying that, 'The Son of mankind must be given up into the hands of men, sinners, and be crucified, and the third day rise."  And they are reminded of His declarations.

Luke 24: 2-8, Concordant New Testament 

One of my favorite passages of scripture which we find concerning Jesus can be found at the end of the book of Luke.  There, on the first resurrection morning, those arriving at the tomb of the crucified Christ were met with a something unexpected.  For instead of finding the body of the crucified Lord, they instead found only His burial garments in His now empty tomb.  They were also surprised at the appearance of men in "flashing attire" who asked of them one of the most important questions in history.  Why are you seeking the living with the dead."  Indeed!  The same can be said of those seeking a closer relationship with Jesus today.  Why are you seeking the living among the dead?  Why are you seeking the living Christ through a dead theology?   For He is not dead, nor is He distant from those who seek Him.  The church mantra will proclaim that Jesus died on that cross and then ascended into heaven to sit beside the Father.  Anyone who hears this might come to the conclusion that the cross was the end of the line for Jesus.  That all we can hope for is to be "Like" Him.  Why do we seek the living amongst the dead?  If we seek to know Jesus, we can best start by looking within ourselves.  For He did not rise from the grave to be simply a memory, but that we would be one with He and the Father {John 17:21}.  This is the Jesus I know.  It is also the Jesus you can know as well.  He is not dead, but is alive in us.  

With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, but living in me is Christ.  Now that which I am now living in the flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, who loves me, and gives Himself up for me.

Galatians 2: 20, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Greatest Gift

 

And we know and believe the love which God has in us.  God is love, and he who is remaining in love is remaining in God, and God is remaining in him. 

1 John 4: 16, Concordant New Testament 

Who is Jesus to you?  Is He a get out of jail free card graciously given to you by the Father?  Or, is He an intimate part of the life you live each and every day?  This is the question I will be asking this Easter celebration weekend.  Jesus is much more than the symbolism of the cross which we have come to associate with Him.  When Jesus prayed in the garden that night that we would be one with He and the Father, He was giving us notice that He was not going away.  Death could not hold Him, and today it is Christ Jesus who lives in us.  The cross was not the finish line, it was the starting line.  I look forward to sharing with you this weekend what Jesus means to me. 

For thus God loves the world, so that He gives His only-begotten Son, that everyone who is believing in Him should not be perishing, but may be having life eonian.

John 3: 16, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Thanking God

 

And everything, whatsoever you may be doing, in word or in act, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God, the Father, through Him.

Colossians 3: 17, Concordant New Testament 

I was listening yesterday to a short little video by motivational speaker/game show host Steve Harvey.  In the video, Mr. Harvey made the observation that many people are going about their day the wrong way.  See, for too many people, they wake up each and every day with the stresses of this world weighing them down.  There are bills, relationships and job stress that not only keeps us up at night, but directly influences how we approach the coming day.  Before we even get our first cup of coffee, we may well have a negative attitude.  Obviously, those around us will pick up on this as well.  The solution?  Well, Steve Harvey proclaims that whenever we feel ourselves sinking into these feelings of negativity, we should stop, take a moment, and think of the things which we are thankful for.  This simple task will refocus our attention from the negative to the positive in our lives.  I have to admit that long before I watched the Harvey video, I had taken time each day to thank the Lord for what He has accomplished in me.  I know where my bread is buttered.  I know that my human efforts only take me so far.  The blessings, and low moments in my life all deserve gratitude and praise to the Father.  The issue with far too many Christians is that they thank God for the blessings in their lives but filter out the low moments.  Is not the Lord with us in the good as well as the bad?  Should we expect good from the Father and not the low moments as well {Job 2:10}?  Christians have had the "Name it and claim it" phase where believers are told to simply ask God for their desires and pray He will provide them.  So, have we now reduced God to simply a lottery ticket to be played?  What happens when what we pray for doesn't materialize?  If God angry?  Is He withholding our desires because of our bad behaviors?  Can you see where this road leads?  I am under the understanding that God indeed knows what we need at any given time {Matthew 5:32}.  While there is something to be said about celebrating the blessings in our life, celebrating Christ in our lives is far more important.  

Be rejoicing always.  Be praying unintermittingly.  In everything be giving thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, Concordant New Testament 

I'm not sure just when I decided to give thanks to the Lord at various times through the day, but it's been awhile.  I recall that there were times when I would feel down and out with all that was going on around me.  When the revelation of Christ Jesus in me was revealed in my life, suddenly God did not seem so far away.  Knowing Jesus made things more personal for me, and I began to see all the things which the Father is involved in in my life.  There was no disconnect between myself and the Lord.  He is with me each and every day.  In good and bad, I can count on Him to be there with me.  I am not that naive to understand that all which I am is from God.  For this I am thankful.  The other day I was putting gas in my car and grumping about how much the total bill was (Thank you Joe Biden!).  Suddenly I realized that it was due to the Lords blessing that I have the funds to pay for my vehicle and the fuel.  Everything I will ever have is a direct result of Gods hand upon me.  The teachings of the old preacher Norman Grubb tell us that we are NOT independent from the Lord.  In fact I...no longer exist.  Grubb tells us that there is no independent self in the universe but for the Father.  Knowing this, how can I claim that I am in control of my own life?  I should indeed be thanking the Lord each and every day!  For it is God who loved me.  It is God who created me, and it is God who remains in me each and every day {Galatians 2:20}.  What part of my life is He not a intimate part of?  Thank you Lord.  

There is no independent, self-operating self in the universe, except the One who calls Himself the I AM {Ex 3:14} and says, "I am the Lord and there is none else, there is no God beside Me." {Isa 45:5}

Norman Grubb, No Independent Self 

~Scott~ 

A Higher Standard

 

Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all welcome, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, foremost of whom am I.  But therefore was I shown mercy, that in me, the foremost, Jesus Christ should be displaying all His patience, for a pattern of those who are about to be believing on Him for life eonian.  

1 Peter 1: 15-16, Concordant New Testament 

I was talking with a friend this week who was lamenting the fact the he could not bring himself to the standard which Christ Jesus set for us in his life.  He admitted that he had sin which he still struggled with and I could tell that this was agonizing him.  He shared a story with me of how he had approached a pastor in his church with his issue but came away feeling a bit worse than he did going in.  The pastor had related to my friend that Jesus had indeed set the standard for us as far as living a righteous life goes.  The padre advised him to pray very hard, and that at some point he may be able to let go of his sin.  Let go of his sin?  So it's now up to us to release ourselves from the wiles of sin?  I told my friend that Christ had already tackled the issue of his sin at the cross.  Yet I don't think it made him feel too much better.  This happens to be a story which is repeated day after day.  Modern Christians have been brainwashed into the idea that we need to live up to the example which Christ Jesus presented us in His life.  That is a tough act to follow.  But it is not something we need to partake in, because we're told that it is Christ who became sin for our benefit {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  That's right, on the cross Jesus bled and died that He would absorb the penalty of our sin.  We have no need to strive to achieve the righteous standard set by Jesus.  Of course, that doesn't mean that we should run riot through the world with bad behavior simply because we have already been forgiven.  The apostle Paul addresses this question in Romans.  How are we who no are no longer enslaved to sin continue to live in it {Romans 6:1-2}?  Why should we who are forgiven resurrect what Jesus died to condemn?  Sadly, as in the case of my friend, this is not what many believers are being taught.  It seems that the message coming out of the church these days is not one of forgiveness but of condemnation.  Jesus did not give us a tough act to follow, He gave us freedom from that.  

What, then, shall we declare?  That we may be persisting in sin that grace should be increasing?  May it not be coming to that!  We, who died to sin, how should we still be living in it? 

Romans 6: 1-2, Concordant New Testament 

I'm a firm believer that should all believers worldwide come to know the freedom we have in Christ Jesus that far too many churches would close their doors for good.  Knowing that we are free from dependence on sin, what need would do we have for another Sunday sermon on how to follow the example of Jesus?  How can I follow the example of One who was without sin?  For it was One without sin who gave Himself that I would be free.  Jesus accepted my sin that I would be spared that punishment.  As I said, Jesus did not present to us a example to follow, but a life of freedom.  Freedom in knowing that sin no longer controls us.  Freedom in Christ who remains in us {Galatians 2:20}.  Again, this is the message which todays church fails to provide.  Like a crowd of liberals soaking up their news from CNN, todays believers get all of the gospel they feel they need from our houses of worship.  Yet the message of Christ in us goes largely unheard in Christian circles.  That is a problem.  Fortunately, the truth is there for all who desire to see it.  I sat through far too many sermons while in church without ever realizing the truth of Jesus in me.  My truth most always came from the mouth of the pastor.  It was not until I was out of the church environment that I began to see the freedom of Christ Jesus in me.  I don't consider my years in church to be wasted, as I have developed many friendships that still remain with me.  We do well to remember that Jesus never intended to leave us His example to follow, but that we would recognize Him in us.  

~Scott~