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~