“He is risen! He is risen, indeed!”

This greeting was used in the early age of Christianity. We still use it today in our church. It wasn’t just for Easter, though, but a greeting for everyday use. What would happen if we greeted each other with it everyday, reminding each other that we serve a risen Savior? It might change the way we view the world, each other, our lives, and the way we worship, which brings us to our next topic in our look at Freedom in Christ. Let’s combine our key verses in John 8,

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:31, 34

So far, we have discovered that,

1. Our chains of bondage to sin have been broken!
2. We have been given access to the throne of God!

Today, we will explore: We can talk to God anytime!

²² So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again [after Jesus’ resurrection]; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy [the indwelling Holy Spirit]. ²³ At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. ²⁴ You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

²⁵ “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father [through the Holy Spirit]. ²⁶ Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, ²⁷ for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.

With the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we have an open channel to God through the Spirit. We turn to Him in our minds just like we turn to speak to another person around us. We know He hears because we speak to Him through His Spirit who is in us (Romans 8:26).

Understand this: If we are wise, we will ask for whatever is good for us and good for the kingdom. Even if we ask for something we consider necessary or for someone else, we always qualify it with, “Not my will, but Thy will.” Jesus set this example for us in the garden (Matthew 26:39). I say it like this, “We ask according to what we know; we trust that You will answer according to what You know, Lord.”

Reminding each other that He is risen promotes conversation with the risen Savior. Let’s praise Him today on this special day!

Lord Jesus, thank You for conquering death for us so that the lines of communication with the Father have been restored. We partner with You in this world to be Your hands for serving, Your feet for going to those in need, Your ears for listening, Your arms for holding, and Your mouth for sharing Your love with others. You have risen and we are grateful! Amen.

Christ set us free to see Him more clearly and to follow Him more closely. Just like the woman caught in adultery….

We have been discussing the character of Jesus and how He interacted with people. Yesterday was the rich, young ruler; today we will look at the woman caught in adultery:

John 8:9-11 (NLT) When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

“No, Lord,” she said.

And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

The first thing we notice is that Jesus did not address her until her accusers had left. He dealt with her immediate need of safety first; then He dealt with the reason she was there.

The second thing we notice is that Jesus didn’t condemn her even though the law did. Jesus had the right to interpret the law because He is the Law Giver. As God, He wrote those laws. Jesus had come to fulfill the law so that it no longer condemned mankind. Sin had wounded us and had broken the relationship between God and mankind. Jesus came to “bring good news to the poor…to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed…to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies [the devil, sin and death]…to give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair” (Isaiah 61:1-3).

The third thing we notice is that Jesus instructed her to begin to live differently. Only an encounter with the Savior can transform our lives. He strips the power of sin in our lives and changes our desires to godly ones so that we can learn to live in ever-increasing righteousness and godliness.

Jesus’ compassion for lost souls is clearly evident in His gentle and loving treatment of this woman. May we keep in mind when dealing with others that Jesus sees beyond our sin, our blindness, and our wounds, and our deception to the person we are: His beloved children.

Abba, You love us so much! Thank You for not treating us as our sins deserve, but as children who need our Father’s healing touch. May we live restored in the fellowship of the Trinity. Amen.

Doubting Thomas…

I like Thomas. He was a realist. He said, “Let’s go with Him so we can all die together.” He also refused to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead until he saw Him himself,

John 20:24-25

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

I love Jesus’ invitation to Thomas to come and touch Him,

John 20:26-27

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

I believe that Jesus extends that same invitation to all of us,

Hebrews 4:16

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Consider Esther, when approaching the king, risked her life counting on him pointing his scepter to her, which he did, and her nation was saved. How much more will we be saved as Jesus holds His arms out to us beckoning us to, “who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

May we respond as Thomas did,

John 20:28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Abba, may we get up every morning and make Thomas’ confession, “My Lord and my God!” We take great confidence knowing that we are accepted, “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Amen.

“Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.” We can trust Him as much now as they did back then.

Yesterday, we found in Scripture that Jesus is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. He is our Beginner and our Ender, so to speak. Now, having the assurance that He began a good work in us and knowing that we are secure in Him for eternity, we can focus all our attention on His command:

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

Jesus tells us three times to love one another. What does that love look like? There are several passages that deal with the subject; we will look at one of those passages today.

What is love?

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
⁸ Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Jesus never asks us to do anything that He didn’t do. In all His dealings with people, He always dealt with them according to their need. Some people needed comfort, some care, some healing, and some rebuke, and we all need His forgiveness, which He offers everyone by way of the cross. Here’s how we could read this text:

Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind. Jesus does not envy or boast, and is not proud. He does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, and He keeps no record of wrongs (PTL!). Jesus does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth (He IS truth). Jesus always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Jesus never fails.

In my high school days, I was taught to read this passage in a similar fashion. How am I to be?

Be patient, be kind. Do not envy or boast, and do not be proud. Do not dishonor others, do not be self-seeking, do not be easily angered, and keep no record of wrongs. Do not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. Always protect, always trust, always hope, and always persevere. In doing these things, I will never fail to be like Jesus!

“Love one another.” Easy peasy, right? Notice all these actions are not dependent on love as a “feeling.” Many times, in order to demonstrate this love, it will be regardless of how we “feel.” We’re gonna need some serious help from the Holy Spirit! Thankfully, we have this promise:

²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹ equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ [by His Spirit], to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

Abba, help us to love like You. We know that we are Your disciples because You have given us Your love in our hearts. May we act on it, share it, and depend on it in all situations. We love because You loved us first. May we never forget that. Amen.

If you want to know who Jesus truly is, then Ephesians 1 is definitely the chapter for you!

Yesterday, we put to prayer Ephesians 1:17-23. Today, we will begin to look into the verses and the spiritual truths that are there for us. Paul actually got to walk with Jesus in the heavenly realm (see 2 Corinthians 12:2-4) and knew what he was talking about. Here is the passage:

¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you wisdom and revelation from the Spirit, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

1. Paul asks that God would give us the same wisdom and revelation that he received–how can that happen unless we can talk to Jesus personally just as he did? We CAN through prayer!
2. Paul describes God as the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We know them as Three in One: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
3. The eyes of our heart is a metaphoric way of saying, “May our inner being be open and receptive to the wisdom and revelation that the Spirit is offering us.”
4. The hope to which He has called us is “Christ in us, the hope of glory.” This hope is the very message that Paul was commissioned to take to the Gentiles (Colossians 1:27). Knowing Christ more richly and fully is a progression that takes a lifetime and is the goal of every Christian (Philippians 3:10-11).
5. This glorious inheritance is not gold or silver, but the people of God. We are HIS holy people, and we are all being built up into a temple for Him, “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:21-22).”

This incomparably great power for us who believe is what we will talk about tomorrow. For today, let’s worship Him as our Hope and celebrate His presence and participation in our lives.

Abba, thank You that You live in our hearts by way of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus Christ. I know that “the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.“* I want Your freedom in my life: freedom from fear, from thinking small, from worrying what others think, and from the self-imposed judgment of the failures of life. In You, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”** May we live in the awareness of Your freedom and exalt Your name forever, Lord Jesus! Amen.

*2 Corinthians 3:17
** Romans 8:1

Reflections on heaven from last night’s presentation:

I was involved in a huge praise and worship presentation yesterday. There were over 500 people onstage! Many of these people are members of my choir as well as fellow ministers I’ve known for 40 plus years. I played percussion in the orchestra, so I stood for most of the afternoon rehearsal (3.5) hours and performance (3 hours). We are all tired today….

The music was hymns of our faith and was a neat service with lots of audience participation. As much as I wanted to immerse in the joy of the experience—and I did occasionally—I had to focus on playing the music. Here are my reflections:

• The music was beautiful and I enjoyed being a part of something much bigger than I usually get to do. I got a sense of what it will be like in heaven with so many instruments and so many singers around me.

• Making sure that I played my part correctly meant that I couldn’t just listen and soak it all in. At the same time, there is a great feeling of accomplishment and a certain satisfaction in a job well done and to be a part of an overall experience that went way above one that I could achieve as an individual.

•The fatigue is something that we will only fight in this world. Once we get our glorified bodies, mental and physical fatigue will be no more!

I look forward to playing in a heavenly orchestra praising my God and Father, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and my earthly Companion and Guide, the blessed Holy Spirit.

Abba, thank You for the opportunity and privilege of last night’s experience. In all we do, may You receive all glory and praise. Amen.

Why do we give credence to the Old Testament? Didn’t the New Testament replace it?

¹⁶ All [Old Testament] Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for ever y good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Most people tend to forget that anytime Scripture is used in the New Testament, it is from the Old Testament. From, “A Grand Illusion,” by David Young, page 56,

“As many as 300 quotes and allusions to the Old Testament appear in the New Testament alone. Take the Gospel of Matthew. Chapters 1 and 2 make four references to the Old Testament as the infallible Word of God:

1. That Jesus would be born from a virgin (1:23, referencing Isaiah 7:14),
2. In Bethlehem (2:6, referencing Micah 5:2),
3. That He would flee to Egypt (2:15, referencing Hosea 11:1),
4. and that Herod would kill babies in Bethlehem (2:18, referencing Jeremiah 38:15).”

We know these prophecies to be true based upon the Gospels and history. They were the Word of God fulfilled. The disciples believed it, and so do we. The Old Testament is the Word of God.

Again from, “A Grand Illusion,” pages 56-57,

“The apostle Paul regularly argues for the validity of the Old Testament and builds his theology around it as the Word of God.” “Paul teaches us that those who put their faith in Christ actually obey the Old Testament because the entire Old Testament was written about Christ (Romans 3:31; 8:3-4). Paul makes the point that the Old Testament was actually written for Christians because we are its heirs (1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 15:4). The rest of the New Testament continues to build upon the conviction that the Old Testament is the Word of God–quoting it, alluding to it, and building a theology upon it.”

Are there differences of interpretation? Sure! We don’t have first versions of any of the original Scriptures. We have many copies that substantiate each other, but then we have interpretations from Hebrew to Greek to Latin to English (the Vulgate), Hebrew to Greek 200 BC (Septuagint) and Hebrew to Greek 1050 AD (Masoretic), and the many Hebrew/Greek/Latin to English versions that we have today. On top of all that, we have different biblical views through which we read the Scriptures, such as Christological (Christ as the fulfillment of all Scripture) and eschatological (the study of End Times). The one verse upon which we all rely is,

¹⁵ All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Philippians 3:15

We can trust that the Spirit will “guide us into all truth” (John 16:13). We read regularly, widely, and meet to discuss His Word in order to get a full, well-rounded and mature understanding (the definition of perfection). Christ is the Head of the Church and He guides us as a body. We need each other.

Today, trust the Spirit to guide you into all truth as you read His Word. Talk about what you read with someone and enjoy the presence of the Savior among you.

Abba, Robin is that person for me. We have such great discussions. I also love it when the kids come over and want to talk about Scripture and the things that they are learning. Then, I love to go to church and teach Sunday School and hear what others have to say about their walk with the Lord. You have provided me with plenty of opportunities to grow. Bless You, Lord. Amen.

Choosing to follow Christ calls us to walk in the light as He is in the light. Through obedience we have relationship.

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

Each day, we are faced with choices of light and life or death and darkness.

Walking with Jesus: Light and life.

Turning away to our own desires: Darkness and death.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

19 “The Light has come into the world. And the Light is the test by which men are guilty or not. People love darkness more than the Light because the things they do are sinful. 20 Everyone who sins hates the Light. He stays away from the Light because his sin would be found out. 21 The man who does what is right comes to the Light. What he does will be seen because he has done what God wanted him to do.” John 3:19-21

9 Be sure your love is true love. Hate what is sinful. Hold on to whatever is good. Romans 12:9

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12

What it boils down to is this: To believe in Jesus is to trust Him. He is there for us whenever we turn to Him. If we are striving to walk with Jesus, we don’t have to worry about salvation. We just need to learn to trust Him in everything with everything for everything. Let’s start with our very next decision…

Abba, You really do want a personal, on-going relationship with us. You want us to confide in You with every decision we make no matter how great or small. We can trust You to lead us in light and life. You are the Light of our lives. Amen.

A quick catch-up on the retina…

18 Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.
Isaiah 6:9 (paraphrased) You are ever hearing, but never understanding; you are ever seeing, but never perceiving.

I was reminded by one of my readers that I had not finished our study on the eye. Although each part of the eye is important, it is the retina that does the actual “seeing.”

Even though the eye is small, only about 1 inch in diameter, it serves a very important function – the sense of sight. The eye is one of the most complex organisms in the human body. It is made up of many distinct parts working in unison together and in order for the eye to work at its best, all parts must work well collectively.*

I always thought of the retina as a small spot on the back of the eyeball. Come to find out, it’s the “Light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. It contains millions of photoreceptors (rods and cones) that convert light rays into electrical impulses that are relayed to the brain via the optic nerve.”*

The retina processes light through a layer of photoreceptor cells. These are essentially light-sensitive cells, responsible for detecting qualities such as color and light-intensity. The retina processes the information gathered by the photoreceptor cells and sends this information to the brain via the optic nerve. Basically, the retina processes a picture from the focused light, and the brain is left to decide what the picture is.**

The sheer complexity of the retina/optic nerve/brain interaction goes way beyond anything that Evolution can produce–given that it has some kind of agenda. Actually, evolution can’t have an agenda, unless we want to count the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which states that without outside energy, everything reverts to its most basic form. It’s the law of Entropy. The eye would not keep trying until it hit upon the right combination; it would be reabsorbed into the primordial soup. Not only that, but there is not body to support it (same problem). It takes a lot more faith to believe in macro-evolution than it does a Master Designer.

Let’s thank the Lord for His creativity and complexity.

Abba, I know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. All I have to do is “look” at my eyes. Granted, I don’t see as well as my eyes were designed, but I know I will in the body You have prepared for me in Your kingdom. I can hardly wait (and not just for perfect eyesight)! In the meantime, may I serve You with all I am. Give me Your eyes to see opportunities of ministry in Your name and in Your power. Amen.

*AssociatedRetinaConsultants.com

**Retina Function, Healthline.com

Senator James Lankford published his monthly letter and included some hearings going on in the Supreme court. He also included his view and why he views abortion as he does. Here is what he said:

Standing for Life at the Supreme Court

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in potentially the most consequential case for human rights in 48 years, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The Court heard arguments from the Mississippi Solicitor General on behalf of Thomas Dobbs, the State Health Officer of the Mississippi Department of Health and from attorneys representing, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The fight is about a Mississippi state law that bans abortions after 15 weeks of gestation. 

This case provides the Court with an opportunity to revisit the now infamous ruling in Roe v. Wade.

In Roe , the Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that the Constitution guarantees the right to have an abortion until a child is determined “viable,” which was not defined then and which science has now established as a time very early in a pregnancy. The issue of abortion is very divisive in our culture, but this is an issue that was not resolved by Roe v. Wade. It was only made even more volatile.  

In the last 48 years, because of Roe, 62 million children have died by abortion in America. That is equivalent to losing the combined populations of Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Delaware, Rhode island, Maine, New Hampshire, Hawaii, West Virginia, Idaho, Nebraska, New Mexico, Kansas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Nevada, Iowa, Utah, Connecticut, Oregon, Kentucky, Louisiana, Alabama, and Oklahoma.

For some, abortion is about “choice” and “court precedent,” rather than children. I stand firmly on the side of the children in this debate. On Tuesday, during my speech on the Senate floor, I quoted Psalm 41:1, which says, ‘Blessed are those who have regard for the weak.’

I led members of the Senate Republican Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday to stand for life and to remind Americans that when a pregnancy test comes up “positive” it means that there is a baby in the womb, not just random “tissue.” This is not an argument about convenience. It is an argument over children. I have fought hard in the US Senate to protect the lives of the unborn, protect taxpayers from being forced to pay for abortions, and protect the conscience rights of healthcare providers. This week, it was the Supreme Court’s turn to protect the rights of the unborn. You can watch my remarks on the Senate floor in support of life HERE .

What is the Dobbs case, and why does it matter?

In 2018, Mississippi enacted the Gestational Age Act, which limits abortion to 15 weeks of gestation except in a medical emergency or what’s known as “severe fetal abnormality.” The Jackson Women’s Health abortion clinic in Mississippi sued the state over the law, and federal courts said the law violated a precedent set in Planned Parenthood v. Casey that the government couldn’t place an “undue burden” on access to abortion, a line abortionists have used to block many state laws that seek to protect women and children.

Babies at 15 weeks, the time Mississippi says should be the time limit to receive an abortion, have fingers, toes, a nervous system, and a heartbeat. They can suck their thumb and even are already right or left hand dominant. They are human beings who are very much alive and should never be discarded as “tissue.”

The Supreme Court has fixed its mistakes before.

In December of 1952 and again in 1953, the Supreme Court heard arguments on the legality of segregation brought by the Brown family from Topeka, Kansas. The Brown family was fighting against legalized segregation. At that time, segregation was fully protected by the Court’s decision in Plessy vs. Ferguson in 1896 under what became known as the disgraceful “separate but equal” legal standard, which haunted our nation for more than half a century until it the Court fixed it in Brown v. Board of Education. The nation still celebrates the Court righting that wrong in its decision to reverse “separate but equal.” I believe we will celebrate in the days ahead when the court made right the wrong created in Roe .

I understand that I have a Biblical worldview, and I believe every person is created in the image of God. Not everyone in Oklahoma shares my view of God and my faith. But I also firmly look at the science of life. The science is crystal clear to anyone who is willing to get past the talking points and actually look into the womb. At the moment of fertilization a new and distinct human being comes into existence. The child’s DNA is different than the mom’s DNA. In fact, it’s the only tissue in her body that has distinctly different DNA because it is a different person. Abortion is not just a medical procedure. It’s the taking of a human life.

I talked this week with an abortion survivor—one of thousands. Her name is Melissa Ohden. She is founder of Abortion Survivors Network (ASN) and is now in her 40s with children of her own. Melissa survived a botched abortion and was actually delivered alive during an abortion procedure. Her tiny body was taken by a nurse to the NICU of a hospital and she is alive and thriving today. You can hear my conversation with Melissa about her story of life and surviving an abortion HERE . It was remarkable to sit and talk with a person in my office who survived an abortion and see again that abortion is about real people.  

The Court decision that led to the death of 62 million children is what needs to be discarded.

Overturning Roe does not end abortion in America. It just allows each state to decide how they will protect the lives of children in the womb. Prior to 1973, each state had its own laws on abortion. In the future, we could have a patchwork of laws about abortion across the country, just like we do right now on homicide. In some states like Oklahoma, if a pregnant mother and her child are killed, the perpetrator faces two charges of murder—one for the mom, one for the baby. In other states, the law is different and only the mother is recognized as a victim.

I really believe, in the decades ahead, our nation will look back on the past 48 years of elective abortion with grief. In 1830, southern slave owners denied humanity to their slaves. In 1900, men denied women the right to vote. During World War II, the US rounded up Japanese Americans and put them into camps. All three of those were considered legal and appropriate at the time. Many fought changing all three of those decisions. Today, we see all three as national embarrassments. 

There was a time when the Court ruled “separate but equal” was somehow considered justice, but we realized six decades after the Plessy v. Ferguson case that ending segregation was actually justice in the Brown v. Board of Education case. I look forward to the Court deciding to fix the mistake they made in Roe v. Wade and turn our hearts back to our children, no matter how small.

For now, we wait six months to hear the decision from the Supreme Court. They will most likely release their opinion in June of 2022. 

This is Kelly Anderson and I approve of this message.

This Sunday, our church is gathering for a feast. We will eat together and fellowship together after a time of worship. For some, it may be a time of remembrance of those who have gone on before us (bitter-sweetness), those who have left us (sadness mixed with prayers of hope), and the goodness of God for all of us through and in Jesus Christ.

Feasts are designed for us to remember:

1. We are God’s and He loves us.
2. He has a Plan for us and we are living in that plan.
3. He has given us each other as family for eternity–yes, even that crazy aunt or uncle!
4. Our fellowship with Him and in Him can never be broken.
5. He has much more in store for us, so much more that we can’t even begin to imagine.

When God established Israel, he commanded them to observe three annual feasts:

1. The Feast of Unleavened Bread in the Spring in commemoration of Passover.
2. The Feast of Pentecost 50 days after the offering of Firstfruits (the first Sabbath after the Feast of Unleavened Bread).
3. The Feast of Tabernacles (booths) in the Fall after the New Year had begun in commemoration of Israel living in tents (booths) in the wilderness, but also a reminder that the Promised Land (heaven for us) was coming.

There were other feasts, but these three required the attendance of every male, and the entire family often went together to celebrate. Jesus was crucified during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Holy Spirit came during the Feast of Pentecost; could it be that Jesus will return during the Feast of Tabernacles? It’s definitely worth pondering. Whether He does or not, His Return is the next great Event in Christian history.

So, as we gather with our families, our church families, friends, work associates, and any other thanksgiving gathering, let’s be in remembrance of God’s love for us.

Our Father in heaven, thank You for loving us, for Your mercy and Your grace, for Your provision and Your Presence in our trials and tribulations. As the shepherd was with the sheep in the valley of the shadow of death (headed from one green pasture to another), so Jesus is with us in our valleys. With humble, grateful, and thankful hearts we praise You and worship You through Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit as our Guide. Amen.

The birth of Christ was a unique event: God coming to live in the body of a baby. Emmanuel means, “God with us.” Some people might think that because He was born that the Son didn’t exist before the Incarnation. Not So! Philippians 2:6-8 tells us that, “He, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped [hung onto], but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in the appearance of a man…” As we can see, Jesus was with God BEFORE He came to earth. 

We get a clear picture of the Father’s Plan in Ephesians 1:3-4, “How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.”

The same way that God came through Christ into the world, He comes into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Christ is born into our hearts even as we are born into Him! “…God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father.” Gal. 4:6 We tend to use the picture of baptism when referring to being born again, but Jesus eluded to this concept of being born in us when He was praying on the night He was betrayed, “My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father–that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.”

Did you catch the reason for the “One” concept? It’s meant as the very thing that makes Christianity unique–and desirable. Being one with God through Jesus makes all His followers one. This oneness is what attracts future believers to Christ.

The presence of God in the world had been promised since Adam, again through Abraham, then David, and was finally delivered through Mary. It is interesting to note that the Old Covenant was never intended to save, but to show our need of salvation. Romans 3:20 says, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.” It is also interesting to note that Jesus spent three years reversing the physical consequences of sin in people. There are only two people mentioned in the Gospels whose sins were forgiven: the paralytic who was let down through the roof (Matthew 9:1-8), and the woman at Simon the Pharisee’s home (Luke 7:36-50). There is one man who Jesus warned to stop sinning after he was healed, and that was the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-15). Jesus’ miracles pointed to His Godhood and fulfilled the prophecies about the Messiah. He, indeed, was who He said He was.

It wasn’t until Jesus fulfilled God’s plan that was first stated in Genesis 3:15, elaborated upon in Isaiah 53, and then fulfilled on the cross that the mystery of the Gospel came to light. Part of this mystery is about God living in us. Paul sums it all up for us in Romans 5:1-5, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God…because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” It’s as if the pillar of fire that led the Israelites in the desert exploded at Pentecost and came to rest on each and every believer! He, the Holy Spirit, now leads us from the inside. We have been reborn, remade, refitted for the holiness, which is the Spirit of Christ in us.

Just as Christ was born into this world, so we are born into Christ and He in us. Christmas is truly a wondrous time of year; most people just don’t know why. Maybe we can help them. As we share the Christmas story about the birth of Christ, let’s include the event of our own birth into God through Christ and how Christ has been sent to live in us.

The Incarnation in us is the PURPOSE of Christmas.

You’ve Been hurt.

Concerning “End Times,” I have to ask myself this question, “What difference does it make in my daily obedience if I know the particulars of Christ’s return or not?”

I have come to a conclusion that we will not know the details of Christ’s Return until we see Him actually return. I believe that He has left the matter intentionally vague. When we postulate about HOW He will come, we tend to become divisive and argumentative when we are warned that those kinds of arguments are not beneficial:

³ As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer ⁴ or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. ⁵ The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:3-5

I’m sure that Paul was referring to something particular, but it can certainly be applied to the “End Times” argument. Whether a person believes that:

1. Times will grow darker and darker until Christ removes His church from the earth (the Pre-Millennial viewpoint),
2. Times will grow darker even as the light grows brighter until Christ’s once and final return (the Amillennial viewpoint),
3. Times will grow brighter as the Gospel spreads over all the earth and eventually overcomes evil, at which point Christ returns (the Post-Millennial viewpoint),

we ALL believe that Christ will come, that the Gospel is going forth, and that we have a job to do. To go beyond these truths ventures into subjecture.

If I were a bolt in the side of a ship, I would not care what kind of ship it was, nor where it was going–I just know that I’m on the Right Ship. My job is to hold the ship together at my little point, along with all the other bolts around me. Regardless of the weather, I am going to hold to the best of my ability, and I have it on good authority from the Builder that we will make it to harbor.

This illustration is how I see the End Times. God has kept the future vague on purpose, therefore let us not worry about the details, but remain focused on the task at hand, which is to be obedient to the Spirit in making disciples.

There is one other warning I would like to give, and that is concerning expectations. To settle on one of the above-mentioned viewpoints gives expectations that God doesn’t have to meet. These expectations can get in the way of us seeing what God is doing. They can also cause us to second-guess what God wants us to do or to interpret His commands wrong. Peter wove his way through the expectation-minefield in Acts 10 in the salvation of Cornelius:

1. Peter had never eaten anything considered unclean (v.14), but God told him not to call anything (anyone) unclean that HE considers clean (non-Jews; v.15).
2. He entered the house of Cornelius, who was a non-Jew (an Italian Roman), which was forbidden by Jewish law (v.25-28).
3. The Holy Spirit fell on that household even as it did at Pentecost (v.44-46).
4. Peter, who had no expectations at this point, took the next step and had them baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (v.47-48).

Our attitude should be the same as Peter’s when it comes to ministry. Let’s just do the next thing that we are asked by the Spirit to do. We can let God take care of how He will save His own and judge evildoers, thus we avoid polarizing controversies among Christ’s family members. We can take Paul’s own opinion on such matters:

¹⁵ All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things [reaching for the prize He has for each of us]. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you [on an as-needed basis]. ¹⁶ Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Philippians 3:15-16

And, what is it that we have already attained? A pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Let’s get on with the business at hand of making disciples!

By the way, there is a fourth viewpoint and that is the “Pro-millennial” view, which is:

Whatever Jesus wants to do I’m for it!

In the words of an old professor, “If Jesus chooses to do things differently than I believe, I still want to go, don’t you?” [not an exact quote, but close]

Want to be like Christ? He tells us how. All we have to do is…depend on Him for everything–and do what He did.

3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Romans 12:9-11 is a great place to start:

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Let’s break it down:

1. Focus- We need our attention to be on what is good. Keep our minds open to the presence and participation of His Spirit in everything.
2. Diligence- Our devotion to Christ and to our brothers and sisters in Christ needs to be consistent. We should never give up. Maybe it should be called the Practice of Christianity (like practicing law or medicine).
3. Action- If we are not moving forward, then we are drifting backward. “The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep them from going [drifting] down to the grave.” Proverbs 15:24
4. Renewal- The Spirit gives us strength, tenacity, and determination to keep working at it. We are always successful, even if it’s just in the fact that we never give up trying. It counts.
5. Reward- For this we look at verse 12: We will be “joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” These are characteristics of Jesus. We are most like Him when the Spirit creates these traits in us. How do we get them? Through practice, tenacity and determination; by not ever giving up.

I told the story of the two frogs the other day. I’ll tell it again:

Two frogs found themselves in a large can of milk out on the farm one day. They swam and swam until one of them gave up and “croaked.” The other kept swimming until he felt something under his flippers. It was butter! He swam a while more and then used the butter to jump out of the can. Tenacity won the day!

Our desire to please Jesus comes from His Spirit within us. As we struggle, He uses our struggles to recreate Himself in us. We become like Jesus! Is this good news? Yes and no. Yes in the fact that we are becoming like our Savior, but no in that we will continue to struggle. We can take great comfort in the fact that Jesus struggled His whole life here on earth. We also can take great comfort in His peace that He offers us along with His love and His joy. He also gives us hope, mercy and grace each time we need it–which is all the time (or seems like)!

Today, let’s worship our Savior and Lord with all our hearts and thank Him for winning the war for us ahead of time. Our battles now take on a whole new perspective.

Abba, may You continue to conform us into the image of Your Son. Jesus, You are our Hero! We want to be just like You. We worship You today, thanking You and blessing You as our Savior and our God. Amen.

One of the things I like about posting is the feedback I get. In this case, I need to make some adjustments and clarifications to what I said. The blue print is what I have either added or changed from the original. The red print is either a link or is the subjective material.

Here is the second half of #9 of the Top 10 Things I Would Like to Say

Their importance is not necessarily rated, but their order has a flow to it. They move from initial contact to ultimate destiny.

1. Absolute truth is based upon empirical, changeless evidence. When followed to its logical conclusion, it must stand the closest scrutiny.
2. Debating Evolution vs. Creation does no one any good unless a person is willing to consider that the other person may be right. 
3. Faith comes by hearing; are you ready to listen?
4. Why I believe in Jesus.
5. We are designed to create, but not by ourselves. The Spirit wants to create with us!
6. Every decision we make shifts our direction, vision, and course. How much depends upon the decision, and how long depends upon our own stubbornness.
7. Jesus is Jewish.
8. We owe quite a debt to Israel.
9. Jesus is coming soon! How do we get ready?
10. What awaits us in heaven?

²⁴ Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips. [Jesus is coming soon]
²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you. [Jesus is coming soon]
²⁶ Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways. [Jesus is coming soon]
²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil. [Jesus is coming soon]

#9 Jesus is coming soon! How do we get ready? Part 2

Yesterday, I made the statement that mankind will not know the hour, day, or year when Jesus is coming back, but we can know the season. Today, we look at His actual coming.

The best verses are in Revelation 19 where John describes the Second Coming:

9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords.

19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

Let’s break it down:

1. The doors to heaven were standing open.
2. Jesus was on a white horse as opposed to the donkey He rode into Jerusalem.
3. His names are Faithful and True, the Word of God, King of kings and Lord of lords, plus there is a name that only He knows!
4. His robe is dipped in blood–whose blood, it doesn’t say. It could be His; it could be His enemies’.
5. The many crowns represent His sovereignty over all kingdoms.
6. Saints that have died are with Him! They are dressed in white (the big tell), and they don’t have weapons–they don’t need them. Jesus strikes down His enemies with the sword of His mouth. How? The same way He created the universe with His words. He will pronounce words of judgement and voila! Done. Somewhere in this process, those saints meet up with their earthly bodies that are glorified and the saints that are still alive on earth join them (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
7. The beast and the false prophet are cast into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 

If we were to keep reading, it just gets better and better!

There are other clues to the imminent return of Christ: This is how Satan does business:

1. One world currency
2. The mark of the beast
3. Worldwide communication
4. Treaties and kingdom coalitions. “We are focused on fruit while the world is focused on success.” Ricky Griffin

These we all have now. What we DON’T have is a peace treaty between Israel and her surrounding countries. Clinton tried it in 2000, but failed. President Trump initiated a peace plan in 2017 that is still underway. PEACE. That peace plan may be the very thing that allows Israel to build her temple.

There is another vie on the temple in Ezekiel 43-48. In fact, the LORD did away with the old sacrificial system with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 A.D. It’s very likely that He will NOT allow it to be reconvened. If so, then we must consider a different interpretation of the building of that temple.

1. It may be the specifications for the temple Zerubbabel built upon returning to Jerusalem after the deportation; there is not mention of it, but the timing is right.

2.It could be plans for Herod’s temple built in 6 BC, but he really just renovated and added to the current structure.

3. It could be a spiritual temple, which relates to the building of Christ’s kingdom using believers as “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5). If so, then the river that begins at the temple door and passes right by the altar (Ezekiel 47:1) could represent the Gospel: God’s gift of salvation (the temple door) through the shed blood of Jesus (the altar), that grows and fills the land (like a mustard seed-Matthew 13:31-32).

At the Second Coming of Christ, Jesus will renew all things, so we do not lay up for ourselves treasures here on earth, but heavenly treasures (Matthew 6:19-21).

How shall we prepare? Peter tells us how:

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way [the old world passing a way by fire], what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation… 2 Peter 3:11-12, 14-15

Solomon said it best, though, when it comes to evangelism:

10 If you falter in a time of trouble [don’t look back], how small is your strength [weak is your faith, double-minded is your heart]! 11 Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

Jesus said that the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few (Matthew 9:37-38). Let’s BE THOSE HARVESTERS!

One more thing: Each year, I get really excited when Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) rolls around. Why? I’m glad you asked! Jesus fulfilled four of the seven Jewish festivals, which, by the way, were instituted by God, with His death (Passover and Unleavened Bread), resurrection (First Fruits), and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost). If He did it with the first four, I believe that He will fulfill the last three just as literally. The New Year is begun with the Feast of Trumpets, then 10 days later is the Day of Atonement, and then the Feast of Tabernacles/Ingathering. These easily translate into The Return, The Judgement, and Heaven. We may not know the day, hour, or year, but we CAN know the season! This year, Rosh Hashanah is Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20 (the trumpet can be blown anytime during these days). It seems a bit early according to other prophecies, but–who knows? Christ may surprise us all!

I believe that God is preparing His church for a final push; whether it’s global revival or gleanings, I don’t know. I believe that God is spreading His kingdom today at an exponential rate, especially in the middle East, Africa and Asia–anywhere there is persecution. I believe that He is training me for something specific. He has not revealed it to me, and probably won’t until it’s time or close to time to do whatever it is for which He is training me. In the meantime, I am staying close to Him with my eyes fixed on Him; I am writing down everything He is saying to me, and trying to memorize as much Scripture as I can. I am trying to whittle down my testimony and the Gospel presentation to their essential points so that I can share them quickly and concisely. And, I am praying for God’s Spirit to move in your heart and all who read my posts along with those who meet with me for prayer each Wednesday morning.

What is God calling you to do to prepare for what is coming?

Abba, I pray that You will impress upon the hearts of Your children what it is that You want us to do, whether it’s to get up earlier and read more in Your Word, to make lists of people and pray for them, or to talk to our neighbors, coworkers, and even random people to find out what their spiritual needs are–and then to meet them. May we all make ourselves available to You for WHATEVER You have for us to do. We are Yours. Do with us as You will. Amen.

The End of the Beginning-David Phelps

Here we are, folks. One more day and night until we celebrate the RESURRECTION! Actually, we celebrate it EVERYDAY, but it becomes even more real when we gather together on the birthday of the NEW COVENANT. I wish I could be with you in person, but “virtual Sunday’s Cool” will have to suffice. Be sure to join me on Facebook or ZOOM tomorrow at 11:00.

From tomorrow on, Jesus begins to spread the word of what is now awaiting all who trust in Him.

Jesus Has Risen

It started first with the angel, “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” v. 6-7

Next came the two on the road to Emmaus, Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us? v31-32 I LOVE the disciples’ description of what it is like to have the LORD explain Scriptures to them. I desire the same experience every morning! It’s why I get up each day. For what do you get up each day? I pray it is to have Jesus open your mind to Himself in the Scriptures.

Next came the rest of the disciples. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 351 OT Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. v44-45

The rest of the REVEALING is where we come in: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and [as you go,] make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The “I’m with you always” part is what the cross is all about! His continuous presence and participation in our lives is what He intended. Was it your intention when you asked Him into your heart? Today is a good day to tell Him that you are glad He did what He did and that He is where He is: IN YOUR HEART, and to ask Him to make His presence known to you throughout today and every day. Jesus’ Invitation for Sweet Fellowship

Happy Resurrection Day

The man took the lamb from the flock and carried it to the altar. As he took the knife to slit its throat, he looked down into the round, black eyes of the lamb.

“I can’t do it,” he cried as the knife clattered to the ground. The man released the lamb to return to the fold.

But, the lamb did not move. Instead, it looked up at the man and said, “You must, for it is the only way for you to be right with Abba. He wants you to have fellowship with Him, and this is the only way.”

The man replied, “But, why must you give your life? What have you done to deserve such treatment?”

“Whether I die by your hand, by wolves, or by old age, I am still subject to death. All of nature is subject to frustration until Jesus returns and sets it free.”

The lamb walked closer to the man and continued, “If my death will foster His coming by showing you the depths of your sin, the lengths that Abba will go to get you back, and be a foreshadow of the death of my King, then I gladly lay down my life for you.”

With tears in his eyes, the man took the lamb and held it close. “Thank you,” he whispered, “and I am sorry. Maybe we will meet again in His glorious kingdom.”

As the lamb’s blood dripped over the sides of the altar, the man prayed, “Father God, receive this sacrifice in my place.”

The Father replied, “I do. Now come and have sweet fellowship with me. One day soon, I will be your Sacrifice. No more will I require nature to pay for you sin; I will do it Myself.”

The man fell on his face before the LORD and worshiped Him. “When, O LORD?”

“Soon, Joseph, soon.”

²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29