And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
“You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”
And He said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.” And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH TRANSGRESSORS’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.” They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.” Luke 22:25-38 NASB
This is a lecture on humility. In God's Kingdom, servitude is the rewardable virtue. Really, this chiding from Jesus seems more like a gentle reminder of Whose they were. He, their Lord, modelled the life of service. Their squabbling over rank in the preceding verse was beneath them, and completely unnecessary. He told them that they were those "who have stood by me in my trials," and could expect to dine with Him and reign with Him in His coming Kingdom. Stay focused, guys. We're almost there, and it is about to get rough.
Then these frightening words to Peter (v. 31): "Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat" ! Satan demands? From the Father? From the Son? And apparently, he was given this permission. Remember Job? Satan also had permission to put him through the wringer. It is a test of faith. Actually, it is a demonstration to Satan and to the believer that his faith can withstand the evil pressures designed to make him denounce God. God had confidence in Job's faithfulness under extreme pressure. It is also a demonstration of the total forgiveness of the Savior for His weakling believers who do sometimes succumb to fear. Jesus had confidence that Peter's faith would survive the coming ordeal and that he would become a source of strength to his brethren.
This is a momentary glimpse into the inner workings of the angelic conflict. Satan is an archangel. The most evil one, to be sure, but still an angel in communication with the Godhead. There is much more to our lives than what we can see, hear or touch. There are forces watching, scheming and manipulating our circumstances to confuse us and embarrass us and to belittle our relationship with our Lord. Peter is about to undergo a grueling test, and he will fail that test. But Jesus knows the end from the beginning, and He knows Peter will come through it chastened, humiliated, but stronger than ever. Jesus' statement about having prayed for Peter illustrates the doctrine in Hebrews 7:24-25. He is our high priest Who makes intercession for us.
Over Peter's declaration of absolute loyalty, Jesus simply told him "you will deny three times that you know me." And this would happen within the next few hours.
On their earlier mission, He had sent them out with no supplies, weapons or equipment. This time, He says, equip and arm yourselves and take some money. Jesus was about to be arrested and prosecuted as a criminal, and executed. He knew His men would be frightened and scattered, and thoroughly confused by the events about to take place. At least they could fend for themselves until the smoke cleared.
How He must have grieved for them as the time drew near.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Thursday, November 20, 2014
One Purpose
In the believers’ time of “suffering for the sake of Christ,” Jesus is our example of endurance. We learn to identify with Him and occupy our minds with Who and What He is and What He has done for us.
Hebrews 12:2-3 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
As veterans of sufferings, we share the sufferings of Christ. He identifies Himself with us through human suffering; we identify ourselves with Him by bearing His cross (testimony of His work and His Word) in this world, our battlefield in the Angelic Conflict.
The basis for Christian service is true humility (orientation to grace).
The basis for humility is knowledge of positional truth (undeserved security IN CHRIST).
The basis for knowledge of positional truth is the Word of God.
Philippians 2:1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion…
“if” is first class condition throughout the verse. "If" and it's true. These are statements of fact.
“encouragement, consolation” : the one instrumental in speaking closely, tenderly, comfortingly.
“In Christ”: positional truth. Having believed in Him, we are born again and are secure IN HIM forever.
“love” : for Jesus Christ. A matter of spiritual growth. It is possible to be saved, but not know Jesus well enough to truly love Him. As we learn Him, we learn to love Him.
“fellowship of the Spirit”: Holy Spirit. "Fellowship" is Koinonia. Sharing in common. Partnership.
“affection and compassion” empathy. Mercy. Grace thinking. We’re in this together. Body of Christ. As He is, so are we. John 17:18 “As you have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” John 20:21 “….as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
What’s happening here? The character of Christ is being formed in the believer. You may not understand the weaknesses and hurts of your fellow believers, but you know that Jesus understands, therefore you can have compassion.
Since all those "ifs" in verse 1 are true, you, believers, will....
Philippians 2:2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Jesus Christ always emphasized the positive in believers.
1. Encouragement….He has experienced testing, Matthew 4:1
2. Consolation………He has experienced sorrow, Matthew 26:38 “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful unto death..”
3. Fellowship………..He has depended on the Holy Spirit and the Word, Isaiah 11:2, Matthew 3:16
4. Compassion……...He knows our frame. Isaiah 40:11 “Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arms He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.”
Matthew 9:36 “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”
Matthew 14:14 “When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.
”Matthew 15:32 “And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.”
The sheep do not survive alone. They graze in flocks. The compassionate shepherd caters to their needs.
He criticized religion.
He criticized legalism.
He denounced Satan.
He is our advocate….our Shepherd-Lover….He ever lives to make intercession for us.
The source of our encouragement/consolation/fellowship/compassion: BIBLE DOCTRINE, because we know about our Lord only through His Word.
Hebrews 12:2-3 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
As veterans of sufferings, we share the sufferings of Christ. He identifies Himself with us through human suffering; we identify ourselves with Him by bearing His cross (testimony of His work and His Word) in this world, our battlefield in the Angelic Conflict.
The basis for Christian service is true humility (orientation to grace).
The basis for humility is knowledge of positional truth (undeserved security IN CHRIST).
The basis for knowledge of positional truth is the Word of God.
Philippians 2:1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion…
“if” is first class condition throughout the verse. "If" and it's true. These are statements of fact.
“encouragement, consolation” : the one instrumental in speaking closely, tenderly, comfortingly.
“In Christ”: positional truth. Having believed in Him, we are born again and are secure IN HIM forever.
“love” : for Jesus Christ. A matter of spiritual growth. It is possible to be saved, but not know Jesus well enough to truly love Him. As we learn Him, we learn to love Him.
“fellowship of the Spirit”: Holy Spirit. "Fellowship" is Koinonia. Sharing in common. Partnership.
“affection and compassion” empathy. Mercy. Grace thinking. We’re in this together. Body of Christ. As He is, so are we. John 17:18 “As you have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” John 20:21 “….as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
What’s happening here? The character of Christ is being formed in the believer. You may not understand the weaknesses and hurts of your fellow believers, but you know that Jesus understands, therefore you can have compassion.
Since all those "ifs" in verse 1 are true, you, believers, will....
Philippians 2:2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
....one purpose which is demonstrated by the character of Christ.
Jesus Christ always emphasized the positive in believers.
1. Encouragement….He has experienced testing, Matthew 4:1
2. Consolation………He has experienced sorrow, Matthew 26:38 “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful unto death..”
3. Fellowship………..He has depended on the Holy Spirit and the Word, Isaiah 11:2, Matthew 3:16
4. Compassion……...He knows our frame. Isaiah 40:11 “Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arms He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.”
Matthew 9:36 “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”
Matthew 14:14 “When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.
”Matthew 15:32 “And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.”
The sheep do not survive alone. They graze in flocks. The compassionate shepherd caters to their needs.
He criticized religion.
He criticized legalism.
He denounced Satan.
He is our advocate….our Shepherd-Lover….He ever lives to make intercession for us.
The source of our encouragement/consolation/fellowship/compassion: BIBLE DOCTRINE, because we know about our Lord only through His Word.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
God's Good Work
Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. Philippians 1:1-5
The word translated “bond-servants” in verse 1 is dulos. It means slaves.
“Saints” literally means holy ones, set apart for God’s service. An important fact to realize is that all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are saints. Not the plaster variety you see in churchyards. Not dead “miracle-workers.” Real flesh-and-blood living people, and those believers who have gone before us. I cringe when I hear a believer say “well, I’m no saint, but…” Well, yes, you are. You should acknowledge that fact. It is a fine designation for anyone who belongs to the Lord. God's Word never instructs us saints to pray to other saints (living or dead), and certainly no saints are supposed to pray to us. Wouldn't that be ridiculous? There are whole religions, however, that teach their people to do just that.
Our prayer is to be directed to God the Father through the authority (in the name) of Jesus (God the Son), through the power of God the Holy Spirit, who intercedes for us with groanings we cannot utter. The vocabulary we use is the language we speak. God understands our language and our thoughts, without formulaic oratory. The age of the Apostles is over. The Canon of Scripture is completed and translated into all major languages of the world. This eliminates the need for specialized languages (other tongues) for prayer or public speaking. Our personal prayer is from our soul to God's mind. Silent or spoken, He understands. Anywhere. Anytime. You, Saint, can communicate directly with God. It is an important function of the Christian life.
“Overseers" are pastor-teachers, sometimes referred to as bishops. “Deacons" are specially ordained men who help with the ministries of the church. There was already good organization in the local churches. This one was the first local church in Europe. The Congregation was made up of mostly Gentiles. There were several prominent women serving in this church. They were not pastor-teachers, however. That spiritual gift is bestowed on males only. Women have other gifts, and more than enough to do.
“Grace to you:” God’s special favor, and “peace:” reconciliation. From the Father and the Son. Paul expressed his deep appreciation for this congregation, which he and Timothy had planted together, after meeting Lydia and her friends who were seeking truth about God’s plan (Acts 16:13-15). When they learned of Paul’s imprisonment, they sent help to him. This epistle is in part a thank-you note for that much needed help. He continually prayed for them, joyfully, remembering how supportive they had been in his ministry.
V.6: “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
There is no going back. This is a divine promise. You were born into the body of Christ when you believed in Him. You are IN HIM forever. He has a plan and purpose for your life. The work He began in you (notice it is HE who began it) WILL be completed. Perfected. Matured. It is HIS work, and it isn’t over until the return of our Lord to claim His own.
The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Psalm 138:8
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them. Psalm 139:16
…awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I Corinthians 1:7-9
It is no accident that we are where we are. There is a plan. We are part of it. We have been recruited as members of a vast company of soldiers who belong to Jesus Christ, LORD of the Armies. He has chosen us, redeemed us, equipped us and sent us forth to share His gospel in the world. He will accomplish His will in us. We have been reborn into a New Species of humanity who know and understand what unconditional love is, because it is the production of God the Holy Spirit in our souls. We will grow into the mature representatives of God that He has designed us to be.
He is seeing to it.
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. Philippians 1:1-5
The word translated “bond-servants” in verse 1 is dulos. It means slaves.
“Saints” literally means holy ones, set apart for God’s service. An important fact to realize is that all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are saints. Not the plaster variety you see in churchyards. Not dead “miracle-workers.” Real flesh-and-blood living people, and those believers who have gone before us. I cringe when I hear a believer say “well, I’m no saint, but…” Well, yes, you are. You should acknowledge that fact. It is a fine designation for anyone who belongs to the Lord. God's Word never instructs us saints to pray to other saints (living or dead), and certainly no saints are supposed to pray to us. Wouldn't that be ridiculous? There are whole religions, however, that teach their people to do just that.
Our prayer is to be directed to God the Father through the authority (in the name) of Jesus (God the Son), through the power of God the Holy Spirit, who intercedes for us with groanings we cannot utter. The vocabulary we use is the language we speak. God understands our language and our thoughts, without formulaic oratory. The age of the Apostles is over. The Canon of Scripture is completed and translated into all major languages of the world. This eliminates the need for specialized languages (other tongues) for prayer or public speaking. Our personal prayer is from our soul to God's mind. Silent or spoken, He understands. Anywhere. Anytime. You, Saint, can communicate directly with God. It is an important function of the Christian life.
“Overseers" are pastor-teachers, sometimes referred to as bishops. “Deacons" are specially ordained men who help with the ministries of the church. There was already good organization in the local churches. This one was the first local church in Europe. The Congregation was made up of mostly Gentiles. There were several prominent women serving in this church. They were not pastor-teachers, however. That spiritual gift is bestowed on males only. Women have other gifts, and more than enough to do.
“Grace to you:” God’s special favor, and “peace:” reconciliation. From the Father and the Son. Paul expressed his deep appreciation for this congregation, which he and Timothy had planted together, after meeting Lydia and her friends who were seeking truth about God’s plan (Acts 16:13-15). When they learned of Paul’s imprisonment, they sent help to him. This epistle is in part a thank-you note for that much needed help. He continually prayed for them, joyfully, remembering how supportive they had been in his ministry.
V.6: “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
There is no going back. This is a divine promise. You were born into the body of Christ when you believed in Him. You are IN HIM forever. He has a plan and purpose for your life. The work He began in you (notice it is HE who began it) WILL be completed. Perfected. Matured. It is HIS work, and it isn’t over until the return of our Lord to claim His own.
The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Psalm 138:8
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them. Psalm 139:16
…awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I Corinthians 1:7-9
It is no accident that we are where we are. There is a plan. We are part of it. We have been recruited as members of a vast company of soldiers who belong to Jesus Christ, LORD of the Armies. He has chosen us, redeemed us, equipped us and sent us forth to share His gospel in the world. He will accomplish His will in us. We have been reborn into a New Species of humanity who know and understand what unconditional love is, because it is the production of God the Holy Spirit in our souls. We will grow into the mature representatives of God that He has designed us to be.
He is seeing to it.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
The God of Your Father
Moses was tending his father-in-law's sheep in the wilderness when he saw a bush, strangely burning, but not being consumed. Curiosity led him to investigate in Exodus chapter 3
When God introduced Himself to Moses from the burning bush, He called Himself “the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6), thereby identifying Himself as the Almighty and Sovereign One who justifies, regenerates, and provides perfectly for His own, and remains faithful to His people forever. All this “according to the good pleasure of His will” (Ephesians 1:5).
The God of your father: was the One in Whom Moses' family placed their trust, as they hid their beautiful boy-child from the evil that was intent on destroying the male children of Israel.
God's purpose is Grace.
The God of Abraham: chose Abram out of Ur of the Chaldeans to become the first of a new race, a peculiar people of God’s own possession. Abram was to become the “father of a multitude of nations,” with whom God established a covenant of blessing forever. Abraham “believed in the Lord: and He reckoned it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Abraham was justified by faith in the One Who Provides.
God’s policy is Grace.
The God of Isaac: creates life where there seems to be no hope. He miraculously regenerates His people through new birth. Isaac’s physical birth was symbolic of this spiritual truth. We never need to “help God” by human efforts to force our mistakes into the shape of His promises as in the Hagar-Ishmael episode. What God has promised, God will deliver! Note Genesis 17:5-8. “I will make you the father of many nations…I will make you exceedingly fruitful…I will establish My covenant…I will give to you and to your descendants…I will be their God!”
What a contrast with Isaiah 14:13-14, in which Lucifer declared "I will" (be the supreme being). God's "I wills" were all about promoting His man, Abraham, by guaranteeing him progeny. Lucifer's "I wills" were about self-promotion.
The God of Isaac makes perfect provision for the needs of His people. Later in Isaac’s life, the ram was provided as a substitute for Isaac on the altar of sacrifice. This foreshadowed Jesus who was substituted in death for all of us (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, you, me) once and for all, paying the full penalty for our sins. I John 2:2: …and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”
God's system is Grace.
The God of Jacob: implants a new nature in the soul of the believer. Over a period of many years and lots of discipline, Jacob became a man of great integrity whose testimony was total faith in the plan and purpose of “the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day” (Genesis 48:15). That isn’t the way he started out. He was a selfish, swindling cheat for much of his adult life. He looked out for number one, as we’re inclined to say. Jacob’s story begins in Genesis 25 and goes all the way to chapter 50; most of it is a sordid tale indeed. However, as we come to chapter 48 and see the unflinching faith of this man, we can believe that he had grown into his new name…Israel. The conniving supplanter had become the Prince of God.
Now, why didn’t God identify Himself as the God of Israel? Because it was to Jacob that He confirmed the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 28:13-24, and to whom He made this wonderful promise in verse 15: “And behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land for I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you.”
God remains faithful. He knows who are His.(2 Timothy 2:13,19).
Philippians 1:6 “…He who began a good work in you will perfect it. (2:13)…for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
God's production is Grace.
When God introduced Himself to Moses from the burning bush, He called Himself “the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6), thereby identifying Himself as the Almighty and Sovereign One who justifies, regenerates, and provides perfectly for His own, and remains faithful to His people forever. All this “according to the good pleasure of His will” (Ephesians 1:5).
The God of your father: was the One in Whom Moses' family placed their trust, as they hid their beautiful boy-child from the evil that was intent on destroying the male children of Israel.
God's purpose is Grace.
The God of Abraham: chose Abram out of Ur of the Chaldeans to become the first of a new race, a peculiar people of God’s own possession. Abram was to become the “father of a multitude of nations,” with whom God established a covenant of blessing forever. Abraham “believed in the Lord: and He reckoned it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Abraham was justified by faith in the One Who Provides.
God’s policy is Grace.
The God of Isaac: creates life where there seems to be no hope. He miraculously regenerates His people through new birth. Isaac’s physical birth was symbolic of this spiritual truth. We never need to “help God” by human efforts to force our mistakes into the shape of His promises as in the Hagar-Ishmael episode. What God has promised, God will deliver! Note Genesis 17:5-8. “I will make you the father of many nations…I will make you exceedingly fruitful…I will establish My covenant…I will give to you and to your descendants…I will be their God!”
What a contrast with Isaiah 14:13-14, in which Lucifer declared "I will" (be the supreme being). God's "I wills" were all about promoting His man, Abraham, by guaranteeing him progeny. Lucifer's "I wills" were about self-promotion.
The God of Isaac makes perfect provision for the needs of His people. Later in Isaac’s life, the ram was provided as a substitute for Isaac on the altar of sacrifice. This foreshadowed Jesus who was substituted in death for all of us (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, you, me) once and for all, paying the full penalty for our sins. I John 2:2: …and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”
God's system is Grace.
The God of Jacob: implants a new nature in the soul of the believer. Over a period of many years and lots of discipline, Jacob became a man of great integrity whose testimony was total faith in the plan and purpose of “the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day” (Genesis 48:15). That isn’t the way he started out. He was a selfish, swindling cheat for much of his adult life. He looked out for number one, as we’re inclined to say. Jacob’s story begins in Genesis 25 and goes all the way to chapter 50; most of it is a sordid tale indeed. However, as we come to chapter 48 and see the unflinching faith of this man, we can believe that he had grown into his new name…Israel. The conniving supplanter had become the Prince of God.
Now, why didn’t God identify Himself as the God of Israel? Because it was to Jacob that He confirmed the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 28:13-24, and to whom He made this wonderful promise in verse 15: “And behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land for I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you.”
God remains faithful. He knows who are His.(2 Timothy 2:13,19).
Philippians 1:6 “…He who began a good work in you will perfect it. (2:13)…for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
God's production is Grace.
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