"...Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..." (Ephesians 6:18)
The great "armor of God" passage directly precedes this verse and basically concludes with this verse. I don't really remember it being taught in the many studies I have participated in. I have also heard a minister admit that he has oftentimes fluffed over it. Why? Because it shows us how much we don't get it. Consider that phrase: "praying always"...hmmm. Do we do that? I would have to say that I do not. I could, of course, rationalize that Paul was using hyperbole. But I remember that he uttered this directive more than once:
Col 1:9 "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;"
1Th 5:17 "pray without ceasing,"
2Th 1:11 "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of [this] calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of [His] goodness and the work of faith with power,"
1Ti 2:8 "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;"
In addition, the example of Jesus is wildly awash with prayer. This is seen, not just in the Gospels, but also in what we are told about Jesus' current activities: "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25) and also "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." (Romans 8:33-34)
So, the question begs, what is our response? Do I fluff over this call to prayer? Is it just another, in a seemingly endless line, of those instructions stemming forth from the Bible and decreed from the pulpit for the righteous and doctrinally inclined? I think not. Jesus wants a relationship with us. I can think of no other way that better pulls us out of the quicksand of earthly existence and brings us into the spiritual plane. We can turn to prayer in every living activity that I can think of. Even sleep!! I remember the instance of preparing and giving a Bible study...it was incredible! Probably the best I ever did...and it was in a dream!!
I have experienced what refocusing on God through prayer can do to my mental/emotional state. Putting God squarely in the center of my thought life manifests itself directly in my actual life. Unfortunately, I don't do it "unceasingly". But I want to. I need to. I have to.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The One Command
What is Jesus' greatest command?
Informal surveys show that only one out of ten Christians know the answer to this. I didn't know it. Even fewer people (me included, again!) know that the question is actually made simpler by the fact that Jesus actually only ever gave one command!! Are you intrigued? I was...and thus proceeded to blitz through the book that posed this question (The Love Revolution by Gaylord Enns...this blog will never do it justice so you would be best to just stop here, get a copy of the book, turn to John 13-15, and prepare to have the eyes of your heart opened!! But I have been so affected by the reading of it myself that I cannot help but continue on...).
Mat 26:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke [it], and gave [it] to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
With these words, spoken at the Last Supper, Jesus officially ended the Old Covenant and established the New Covenant. I will not attempt to delve into covenant theology; but know that a major transition just took place. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews: "In that he states "A new [covenant]," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." (Heb 8:13) So the Old Covenant, the Law, the Ten Commandments (which were intrinsically linked to the Old Covenant...check out Exodus 20-24 where the Covenant is established and agreed upon) have now been surpassed by the New. So, what commands are given as part of the New?
1Jo 3:23 "And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment."
Jesus gave us this, His one and only command, moments after the establishment of the New Covenant!! (John 13:34-35) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." He then reiterates it a number of times in the teaching that followed and repeated it verbatim later that night as they headed to the Gethsemane Garden (John 15:12).
The other writers of the New Testament all were in on the gig too!!
Rom 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
1Thes 4:9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another
1Pet 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
1John 3:11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another
1John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
1John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another
1John 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
2John 1:5 And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.
Rom 12:10 [Be] kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another
Gal 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not [use] liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another
Eph 4:2 ...with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love
1Thes 3:12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we [do] to you,
Hbr 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
1Pet 3:8 Finally, all [of you be] of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, [be] tenderhearted, [be] courteous;
1Pet 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
Rom 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if [there is] any other commandment, are [all] summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Jam 2:8 If you really fulfill [the] royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;
1Pet 5:14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Amen indeed! Suddenly, Jesus' teaching about the goats and sheep in Matthew 25 takes on so much more significance for me: "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did [it] to one of the least of these My brethren, you did [it] to Me'...Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do [it] to one of the least of these, you did not do [it] to Me.'" (Matt 25:40,45) When we love one another we are, in very real fact, loving God because we know that as part of the New Covenant He has taken up residence inside each one of us! Eph 2:18-22: "For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner[stone], in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." And don't forget this powerful revelation: "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col 1:27)
I don't fully understand what has happened to me over the last few days but it seems to me that this command should and needs to be at the center of everything we do! And I humbly realized that in my life it is not. But I so desire to obey Jesus in this, His one command to us. May the love revolution begin in my heart and mind...and yours too!! Amen. Just dreaming of the results this will enact in my life brings a smile to my heart. Thinking of what it could do for our Lord's Church staggers me. Contemplating how it will affect the world around me gives me hope.
Informal surveys show that only one out of ten Christians know the answer to this. I didn't know it. Even fewer people (me included, again!) know that the question is actually made simpler by the fact that Jesus actually only ever gave one command!! Are you intrigued? I was...and thus proceeded to blitz through the book that posed this question (The Love Revolution by Gaylord Enns...this blog will never do it justice so you would be best to just stop here, get a copy of the book, turn to John 13-15, and prepare to have the eyes of your heart opened!! But I have been so affected by the reading of it myself that I cannot help but continue on...).
Mat 26:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke [it], and gave [it] to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
With these words, spoken at the Last Supper, Jesus officially ended the Old Covenant and established the New Covenant. I will not attempt to delve into covenant theology; but know that a major transition just took place. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews: "In that he states "A new [covenant]," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." (Heb 8:13) So the Old Covenant, the Law, the Ten Commandments (which were intrinsically linked to the Old Covenant...check out Exodus 20-24 where the Covenant is established and agreed upon) have now been surpassed by the New. So, what commands are given as part of the New?
1Jo 3:23 "And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment."
Jesus gave us this, His one and only command, moments after the establishment of the New Covenant!! (John 13:34-35) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." He then reiterates it a number of times in the teaching that followed and repeated it verbatim later that night as they headed to the Gethsemane Garden (John 15:12).
The other writers of the New Testament all were in on the gig too!!
Rom 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
1Thes 4:9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another
1Pet 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
1John 3:11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another
1John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
1John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another
1John 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
2John 1:5 And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.
Rom 12:10 [Be] kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another
Gal 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not [use] liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another
Eph 4:2 ...with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love
1Thes 3:12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we [do] to you,
Hbr 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
1Pet 3:8 Finally, all [of you be] of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, [be] tenderhearted, [be] courteous;
1Pet 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
Rom 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if [there is] any other commandment, are [all] summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Jam 2:8 If you really fulfill [the] royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;
1Pet 5:14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Amen indeed! Suddenly, Jesus' teaching about the goats and sheep in Matthew 25 takes on so much more significance for me: "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did [it] to one of the least of these My brethren, you did [it] to Me'...Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do [it] to one of the least of these, you did not do [it] to Me.'" (Matt 25:40,45) When we love one another we are, in very real fact, loving God because we know that as part of the New Covenant He has taken up residence inside each one of us! Eph 2:18-22: "For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner[stone], in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." And don't forget this powerful revelation: "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col 1:27)
I don't fully understand what has happened to me over the last few days but it seems to me that this command should and needs to be at the center of everything we do! And I humbly realized that in my life it is not. But I so desire to obey Jesus in this, His one command to us. May the love revolution begin in my heart and mind...and yours too!! Amen. Just dreaming of the results this will enact in my life brings a smile to my heart. Thinking of what it could do for our Lord's Church staggers me. Contemplating how it will affect the world around me gives me hope.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Music to my Ears
It occured to me this week, whilst reading of David and Saul's relationship, that singing is at least one activity we do here and now that we will for certain be doing in the there and forever.
Makes me consider music, lyrics, melodies, and rythmn a little bit differently, a little more spiritually.
Makes me consider music, lyrics, melodies, and rythmn a little bit differently, a little more spiritually.
Wedding Bells
It is mind-tingling to see how Jesus describes His relationship with us:
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed [are] those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." (Rev 19:7-9)
and...
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them [and be] their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Rev 21:2-4)
and...
And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. (Rev 22:17)
and...
For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp [that] burns. The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD will name. You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. For [as] a young man marries a virgin, [so] shall your sons marry you; and [as] the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, [so] shall your God rejoice over you. (Is 62:1-5)
I know that my own personal wedding with my wife was pretty awesome. The feast (party) shortly afterwards was cool. The honeymoon was incredible. And the marriage itself is something I would never want reversed.
I can't help but believe that all this pales weakly in view of what our relationship with Jesus should be now...and what it will be in eternity.
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed [are] those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." (Rev 19:7-9)
and...
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them [and be] their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Rev 21:2-4)
and...
And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. (Rev 22:17)
and...
For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp [that] burns. The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD will name. You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. For [as] a young man marries a virgin, [so] shall your sons marry you; and [as] the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, [so] shall your God rejoice over you. (Is 62:1-5)
I know that my own personal wedding with my wife was pretty awesome. The feast (party) shortly afterwards was cool. The honeymoon was incredible. And the marriage itself is something I would never want reversed.
I can't help but believe that all this pales weakly in view of what our relationship with Jesus should be now...and what it will be in eternity.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Hail to the Chief
Define your relationship with God? Do it right now.
I suspect that most of us would try to relate it by comparing it to one of the human relationships we have. There are many of them: romantic, familial, professional, spiritual, friendly. Human relatioship attributes would probably include some of the following:
I suspect that most of us would try to relate it by comparing it to one of the human relationships we have. There are many of them: romantic, familial, professional, spiritual, friendly. Human relatioship attributes would probably include some of the following:
- it changes
- it is both experiential and empirical (observable)
- it is often difficult to define
- it can become dormant
- it is not predictable; while sometimes very predictable
Are these true of our relationship with God? I would say yes. Are they true of His relationship with us? I think not.
I was thinking the other day that our relationship with God can end up being like our one with President Obama. We don't see him personally face-to-face, ever. He doesn't come over for dinner or hang out with us in any of our day to day activities. But we do know an awful lot about him (some true, some not). Nevertheless, for the most part, we respect him and give him titles. But we never grow close to him; nor will we. He is worlds removed from us. Is it any different with Jesus? Is He close to us in our daily life? What do we know about Him? Is He worlds removed from us?
How does Jesus become a daily part of your life, experientially present? Matthew 25:34-40.
How do we know Jesus? 1Cor 2:2, 2Cor 13:2-8
Is He worlds removed from us? 1 John (the whole book but especially chapter 4 and most especially v.12-13)
I don't think we can hope to define our relationship with God by any comparison to our human understanding of relationships: (1Cor 2:9-16) But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed [them] to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is [rightly] judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
All journeys start with first steps. First steps require an understanding of walking. And walking begins with baby steps. Relationships are no different; neither is our one with Jesus. These verses are my baby steps. One day I hope to be walking and running with Jesus...and then to one day walk in His divine light for always (Rev 21:24).
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