Called To Fight

The other day I was reading through The Abolitionist Church Handbook, and I came across Isaiah 1:17. I decided I needed to take a closer look at this verse. (sorry if this is boring for you...I love this stuff! :0)

Learn to do good;

seek justice, correct oppression;

bring justice to the fatherless,

plead the widow's cause.

This fairly short verse has FIVE commands in it! But don't let that discourage you! Every command is fulfilled as we abide in Jesus.

Are You Up For A Challenge?

In Sunday School this morning, our teacher mentioned that he came across a website last night that advertised memorizing the New Testament in five years. The whole New Testament . . . in five years!


Wow.


Wouldn't that be amazing! To have that much of the Word of God hidden in your heart.

What's Your Disposition?

I get distracted pretty easy when I am studying a passage of scripture - there's just too much good stuff in the Word! I recently returned to Romans 8 (meanwhile Eph. is waiting for me to finish Rom 6-8...haha).  Well, I really enjoyed my study of Romans 8:6, yesterday, and wanted to share it with you. :0)

For to be carnally minded is death;

but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

"To be minded" is all one word. It is only used 4 times in the New Testament, and all of them are right here in Romans 8 (twice here in verse 6, once in verse 7, and once in verse 27). "To be minded" is talking about "the tendency or inclination of the mind, it's bent. It includes the act of the understanding and of the will." Another place that I looked replaced the word "to be minded" with "disposition". I'm not sure why, but I immediately thought of Jane Austen's movies (even though I haven't watched any in quite a while...). I guess because "disposition" is not an every-day word.

I looked up "disposition" and this is what I found:

• your usual mood.
• inclination: an attitude of the mind, especially one that favors one alternative over others.
• a natural or acquired habit or characteristic tendency in a person or thing.
• a habit, a preparation, a state of readiness, or a tendency to act in a specified way.

"Carnally" is the same word that is often translated "flesh". It's the part that thinks about me, myself, and I.

What if my disposition was of the Spirit instead of "of me"?? What if I had no thought for myself, but was always willing to serve?? What if my disposition was JESUS?? Oh glorious day! As I continue to "reckon" myself dead to sin, this will happen! Every command, every promise is true EN Jesus!

Oh Abba, keep me there, en Jesus, resting, abiding, dwelling in Him . . .

FREEDOM!!! (part 2)

I took a break from studying Ephesians in order to study Romans 6-8. I just finished chapter 7. If you missed my summary of chapter 6, you can find it here.

The first thing that I noticed as I began to study chapter was that Paul was writing to those who "ginosko'd" the law - to those who knew the law intimately, the Jews. He starts out by showing them that you are only subject to the law if you are alive. If you are dead, how can the law have authority over you?? He concludes this claim by stating that through Jesus we have become dead to the law, in order to be married (or joined) to Him - Him who was raised from the dead, yahoo!! :0) The end result of this union is that we would bring forth fruit unto God. Previously our fruit was unto death. We were held fast by the law, but we have been delivered in order that we should serve God in newness of spirit.

Self-Control?!?

Today in Sunday School class we took a quick jaunt through the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) . . . . . which is always convicting. :0) But not like it used to be . . .

The Kingdom Of God

Throne Room of the Neuschwanstein Castle

Have you ever thought to yourself, "What exactly is the Kingdom of God?" I have. So I did a word study on it and collected all of the verses that said anything about the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven. Then I took a thought from each verse and organized them into paragraphs. The following is the result. It isn't meant to sound pretty - I just did it for myself, so I could see "at a glance", what the scriptures say. (If you want a "real" article about the Kingdom of God, go here.)

If My People . . .

There's a verse that I've been hearing a lot lately. I'm sure you've heard it too. Yesterday at church someone pointed out that there seems to be a part of this verse which is overlooked. It is easy to look at the promises of God and forget that so many of them are conditional - we have to do our part first. This particular verse has a number of conditions to it. I have broken it up a little and added some emphasis . . .

FREEDOM!!!

I took a break from studying Ephesians in order to study Romans 6-8. I just finished chapter 6. It is so good!! :0)

Romans 6 is just full of "simple statements of fact". That's what the indicative mood means, which is used quite a bit! And these are no measly statements of fact . . . these are HUGE!!

Too Heavenly Minded??

I've been thinking a lot lately about the fact that Jesus was called the Son of Man - or rather, that was His preferred title. (Son of Man meaning that He was demonstrating God's original intent for (hu)man.) It is interesting to read through the Gospels with this in mind - that He gave up his "God-ness" when He came to earth and relied solely on the Father the way you and I are supposed to. It is easy to fall into thinking that He did what He did because He was God, instead of realizing that He did what He did because He was a man filled with God - just like we can be! (Acts 2:22, Luke 3: 21-22, 4:1)

It's The Little Words . . .

. . . that can make ALL the difference.

I know, it main seem silly to you, but there are two little Greek words that I really like. When I first discovered these words I got so excited, and now, whenever I am reading or studying the Bible and I come across the word "no" or "not", I just have to stop and see which Greek word it is. :0)

I Reckon (pt 2)

It might be helpful to read my previous post I reckon.

I decided to look at the other places where the Greek work for "reckon" is used. One of the places I found was in Philippians 4:8, where it says "think on".

Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

I Reckon . . .

I'm sure we are all familiar with Romans 6:11, but this week as I heard a sermon about it and did my own study of the verse, it hit me in a new way.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, 

but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Falling In Love . . .

As I have been learning what life is all about - knowing and loving Jesus with all that I am - I am finding that this truth is all throughout the Word! . . . . hmmm, imagine that! ;0)

I was reading one of T. Austin-Sparks' books last night (just discovered his amazing website) when I "re-discovered" Jeremiah 9:23-24 . . .

In All Your Ways . . .

Last Sunday's sermon was about how to know the will of God. The main passage was Proverbs 3:5-6, which I'm sure, we are all very familiar with. Later I did a little digging and found a treasure. I was really looking forward to sharing what I'd found in Sunday School this morning (we always discuss the previous sermon in S.S.), but it just didn't work out. So that leaves me with no other choice but to share it with you! ;0)

Like An Apple Tree

I was in special need of some comfort this morning . . . so where did I turn? It might seem strange to you, but I turned to the book of Song of Solomon. There I find not my mighty, conquering King, but the Lover of my soul. There I find a love and a Lover that surpasses all else. There I find . . . an apple tree. :0)

Valiantly!

I really like Psalm 60:12 (and 108:13 ;0) . . .

"Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies."

I decided to look up the word valiantly yesterday and found that there are two words translated "valiantly". The one used in this verse is the one most commonly used. It has to do with strength, wealth, army, and influence. I also found that it is the same word that is translated "virtuous" in the books of Ruth and Proverbs. I knew that virtuous had to do with strength, but valiant adds a whole new dimension. :0)

The other word for "valiantly" is pretty cool too. It means to strengthen, to be strong, to be courageous, to overpower. It seems to be most often translated "be strong", as in "Be strong and of a good courage", Joshua 1:9. At least once it is translated "prevailed", as in when David "prevailed" over Goliath.

You are probably wondering where I am going with this . . . hang on, I'm almost there. ;0)

So with this word we have the idea of strength and courage, of prevailing and overpowering . . . Well, look at the verse I came across today as I read in "Mighty Prevailing Prayer" about wrestling with God . . .

" There is no one who calls upon Your name, who rouses himself to take hold of You..." Isa. 64:7

The word for "to take hold" is this same word for valiantly. What does it mean to be strong, to overpower, to prevail against/over God?? I'm sure this verse, this idea, contains an important secret to prevailing prayer. A secret that I want to discover. A secret that yields mighty results for His kingdom and His glory.

Oh may the Lord no longer be able to say that there is no one who calls on His name, no one who rises to take hold of Him!

His Masterpiece

For we are His workmanship, 

created in Christ Jesus for good works, 

which God prepared beforehand, 

that we should walk in them. 

Ephesians 2:10

This verse, I'm sure, is very familiar to all of us, but as I have been studying it I have found some really cool things . . . at least I think they are cool. :0)


I think the typical understanding of this verse says that God created me in Christ Jesus to do good works for Him, which He planned for me to do, before the world began. I just have to stay close to Him so that He can show me what they are.


Let's take a closer look at a few words . . .

• "workmanship" - this is talking about something that is made, a workpiece or masterpiece. And I believe this Greek work "poiema" is where we get the word poem. This word is in the nomitive case, which means it is the subject.
• "created" - this word means to create or produce from nothing, or to create and form in a spiritual sense, speaking of regeneration or renewal. This word is in the aorist tense, which means that it has "no time zone". The emphasis is not on when it took place, just that it really happened. It is in the passive voice, meaning that the subject is receiving the action - we are being created by God. And, not to confuse you, but this is a verb that is acting like a noun, which is also in the nomitive case . . . which means it is the subject.
• and then, of course, there is the word "en", which I like so much. :0) This word is speaking of the idea of resting in someone or something, abiding. It is used twice in this verse . . . of our being created in Christ Jesus, and of the good works that we are to walk in. 
• I guess I should probably mention that "God" is the subject as well. Yeah, Greek is very different from English. :0) They can have lots of subjects in one sentence. I think part of it is just to place extra emphasis on these words.

If I haven't lost you, you are probably wondering what I think is so cool. :0)  Well, I guess it all comes back to "sourcing". (I am not a Greek scholar by any stretch of the imagination, so if I am reading too much into this, please let me know.) I am seeing that I am His masterpiece, being created (or produced) as I rest in Jesus, with motion towards doing good works. The "for" good works is not the word that means "because" - He created me because He wants me to do good works for Him. No! He created me to be in relationship with Him, and as I am "en" Him there will naturally be motion towards doing good works. I am not doing good works for Him. I am resting in Him and He is doing them through me. 

Now, isn't that cool? ;0)

Backwards Is Frontwards

This morning I was studying Ephesians 2:8 - a verse that is very common to many of us . . . maybe too common??

"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

One cool thing that I saw is that the word for "are" (or rather "you are") is a present tense, active, statement of fact. It's not just something that happened one day in the past. It can be happening right now . . . if . . .

The other cool thing I saw is that the word for "of", in "not of yourselves", means "out of". This has to do with the source, or the origin. You and I can't be the source of anything in our lives - it has to be "out of" God that we live, and move, and have our being. This is how we are continually saved . . . saved by His life. :0)

So as I was thinking about this, this morning, my eyes were drawn to some notes I had written down from one of Stephen Manley's sermons. It was from podcast number 74. I don't usually take notes when I'm listening to sermons, but once in a while I hear something that I just have to write down. :0) In this sermon he was talking about dying to ourselves and the things of the Kingdom of God that seem backwards to us . . . but only because we've been living in a backwards world. Backwards is really frontwards. :0)

Towards the end of the sermon Stephen says . . .

"What are you doing living for yourself?? Who would take their career . . . who would take their energies . . . who would take their securities . . . who would take their dreams, their plans . . . who would take their retirement . . . who would take their possessions . . . who would take their entire life and lay it at His feet, and take their hands off and say, "I abandon it all. I no longer dictate. Do anything You want to with me."?  . . . Who would do that?? I have no idea who would do that. I only know what you call them when they do it. They're called Christians! Wouldn't you like to be one?" . . .

"We . are . not . our . own! We've been bought and paid for with a great price. And You died, that they . who . live . should . no . longer . live . for . themselves. Save us, oh God, from ourselves, please!"

Sooo . . . are we ready to go frontwards? :0)

Victory In Jesus

Easter was pretty amazing this year! :0) We attended the community sunrise service for our third year - it just keeps getting better every year! The subject for the sermon was kind of similar to my last blog . . . about the resurrection life that is available to us. Then we had our own church service, which was beautiful. It was the first Sunday for our interim Pastor. Every year we all bring flowers and make this beautiful cross. :0)

But at some point during the day my eyes were taken off of my beautiful Lord and the life that is available to us in Him, and focused on the many ways that I fall so incredibly short of what God wants me to be. It was rather discouraging. You know when there is only one area of your life that needs to change, it is easy (in our flesh) to think that with God's help, it can happen. Well, haha, there is much more than one area, so I was feeling quite overwhelmed and helpless to do anything. Then as I was reading from the book "They Found The Secret", I decided to skip ahead and read the authors testimony. It was just wanted I needed to hear!

Raymond Edman was at a very low point in his life and one day as he was outlining 2 Corinthians, he came across 2:14 ~ Now thanks be unto God which always leadeth us in triumph in Christ. 

"The words staggered me: always leadeth us in triumph in Christ. I read them over several times, slowly, thoughtfully, a word at a time. Then I turned to another translation. It read: "Wherever I go, thank God, he makes my life a constant pageant of triumph in Christ . . ." The contrast between this verse and my life was complete . . ."

I understood how he felt, but then I realized that this was a promise from God - VICTORY!! This is what I needed!! So I started praying, asking God to give me this victory . . . . . until He whispered to my heart that this victory was already mine - IN Christ! I realized that I couldn't have my focus on the areas that I fall short . . . I need to always have my eyes on Him. To be EN Him, resting in Him, in the shadow of the Almighty. What an amazing place to be! :0)

Before I went to bed I decided to take a closer look at this verse, and you know what I found? It pretty much means exactly what it says! ;0) I thought it was interesting that the word translated "thanks" is the word most often translated "grace". But "always" means "always, at all times", and "in Christ" means to be resting in Him. He literally causes us to triumph when we are resting in Him! Needless to say, my Easter ended on a very triumphant note. :0) All praise be to God!! He is SO good!!

Victory in Jesus, my Saviour for ever . . .

Pleasures Forevermore

In continuing my study of Ephesians I finally reached verse 6 of chapter 2 yesterday . . . but I let me start with verse 4 . . .

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Back in chapter one we learn that Christ was seated at the right hand of God, and that everything and everyone is in subjection to Him,  that all is under His feet.

For years I've heard how I need to "reckon" myself dead to sin - that I was with Christ, in Christ, when He died on the cross. As I read verse 6 it suddenly hit me that I was in Christ, too, when He was raised back to life! So what would it mean for me to "reckon" myself raised to life, together with Christ and seated in Him, at the right hand of God?

Wow! What an amazing thought! The first thing that comes to mind is victory - a triumphant, victorious life. Not bothered by anyone or anything, not harrassed by the enemy, full of His love, joy, and peace . . . always. :0) If I am "en" Christ, then I have everything that He is . . . IN Christ I have everything I need for life and godliness. :0)

As I was thinking about all this yesterday, at one point, I was staring at my computer while my brother was working on it. Suddenly the verse on my background caught my eye . . .

You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

At His right hand?? Christ is at His right hand! And in Christ, I am at His right hand too!! No wonder there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore! :0)

So as you celebrate the greatest demonstration of love this world has ever seen, and the most amazing act of victory over sin and death and satan, may you remember that you too, were raised to life together with Him and seated in the heavenlies. Hallelujah!! :0)