March 2018 – Vida4U

March 25, 2018March 29, 2018

True Bread ( Part II)

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And he saith unto them, Follow — me, and I will make you fishers of men.
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

Given the overall flakiness of the disciples, their initial response to Christ calling is quit amazing. Oftentimes in the beginning of our walk with Christ His calling is met with exurberance, not much knowledge, but a willingness to step forward. I was 16 yrs. old, been a Christian for about a year and I volunteered to be a camp counselor. I was paired up with a 23yr. old college girl and together we were to represent a father mother type for the kids. She had 8 junior high girls and I had 8 junior high boys. I was way over my head but I didn’t know it. We had Bible discussions after the morning lesson from one of the pastors. I lead the discussion but the idea was that everyone would comment. We also had meals together and in general did camp activities together. One of our activities was to build a T- pee. The poles were twelve feet tall and with the kids holding the poles and my “ spiritual wife” holding the ladder, I was just barely able to reach the tops of the poles to latch them together. I was so grateful for my earlier years of being a boyscout. After this the last thing pending was getting the parachute wrapped around the top of the T-pee. I could not figure out how to do it. So I said let’s pray, we need God’s help. Not sure of what would happen next but in preparation I had my spiritual wife, Cindy (?) stand on one side of the T-pee and I on the other with the kids in between us. I told them to lift up the parachute as high as they could and be ready for God to wrap our T-pee. I commenced to pray not knowing what I would say if God didn’t come through. I prayed asking Him for His help, claiming a few promises that I had memorized for good measure and said Amen. After my Amen and thank you Lord for hearing our pray a gentle breeze came up out of nowhere and lifted the parachute up and around the top of the T-pee where I then could secure it. It was so cool and such a testimony to the kids, and to the both of us. The verse “I can do all things in Christ Jesus who strengthens me” became my verse. I learned that day that when your willing to go out on a limb for God, God will not disappoint.

I often wonder if I would have been several years more in my faith if I would have had the same response, or if my “spiritual maturity” would have gotten in the way? The disciples gave up their careers to follow Christ and James and John even left their family business with their father. What was their perception of Christ, what did it mean to be fishers of men? Did they think that Christ was going to be the next great rock star ( figure of speech) ? Would they become famous, rich, no longer having to fish for a living, or was it something else that motivated them? We are aware of Peter’s comment “ were else would we go Lord, only you have the words of eternal life,” but that was said later in Christ’s ministry. I don’t think we will ever fully know, but what we do know is that much had to change in their hearts and fortunately did change as Christ was ending His earthly ministry. Somewhere mid way into Christ ministry we get a window view of James and John. Their motives were typically human and self seeking. In Mark 10:35-37

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
– They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.”

And we could probably speculate, knowing how we are as human beings, that they were all probably in it for themselves. How about us, what are our motives for following Christ? I know it took me a while to understand what it meant to be a Christian. Initially, just like the disciples I was responding to His calling, a conviction He firmly put in my heart, but I had no idea of what being a Christian meant. I learned via His Word, I learned via His continued conviction of my sin and by attending church what being a Christian meant. I know when I did my own thing I felt awful until I made it right. Asking for forgiveness became instinctual. I became very sensitive to my union with The Holy Spirit, and knew exactly what Adan and Eve must have felt when the Spirit of God departed from them. So I learned. I learned it was much more rewarding to obey than to disobey and have to repent. Every time I did that it felt as if I was going backwards in my faith. Now 40 yrs. or so later, I know that there is no other way to live. I’m not interested, not even curious. The joy, peace and especially the assurance I feel over my life and my family is more precious than anything that this life has to offer. How about you, were are you in your journey? Can you say with Peter “ where else would we go Lord, only you have the words of eternal life ( Jn.6:68)?

Continuing in Mark 10 Jesus takes advantage of this teaching opportunity that James and John provided. In verses 42-45

“But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister; And whosoever of you will be the chiefest shall be servant of all.

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

If there was ever a measuring stick for spiritual maturity it would be this. How willing and to what extent are we ready to serve others, putting their needs before ours? As I have matured in my faith I have found that there is such a joy in helping others. Being able to smile kindly to another human being and have them feel the genuine kindness of the Lord through me is such a joy. There is a line in the movie Chariots of Fire where Eric Little’s wife is worried that is running career is becoming more important to him than serving the Lord. His reply is what has stayed with me all these years. “You need not worry, when I run, I feel the joy of The Lord in me, I am doing what He wants me to do.” And likewise,I feel the Lord’s pleasure when through me He lifts the spirits of others.

Normally I have two appointments per client, the first one is where we discuss the project and the second is when I come with pricing. On my first appointment with this particular client after about 15 minutes of us talking, he stoppped me and said, do you believe in God? I said yes, in fact my whole life is dedicated to knowing Him. He replied by saying, I knew it. Not much more was said after that and I went on to finish our meeting. However that was a very important lesson because it reemphasized the importance of always being ready, in season and out of season. We never know when the Spirit of God through us will reach out and touch someone. To me, that appointment was just like any other appointment, but it wasn’t. I took his comment as a sign from the Lord that this client was not far from the Kingdom. Some of us sow the seed of faith, others water it by our actions and words and others receive the joy of harvesting it, leading someone to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We do not know where we are in the process of someone’s salvation, we only know that we are a part of it. We need to always be ready.

Jesus told the story of a rich man leaving to a far away country and entrusting three of his servants with varying amounts of money. The first two doubled what the master gave them, the third hid it. Upon his return the master praised the first two but rebuked the third and he was cast out. There is no greater TALENT or GIFT in the world given to us than the life of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the very definition of LIFE. Indwelt by Him we have guidance, wisdom, peace, joy, forgiveness, encouragement as well as courage. In nothing do we lack or come up short. By maintaining our devotions we maintain a constant supply or stream of life permeated with the essence of who and what God is. To not take advantage of this or to hide it would be a terrible waste, and hence the severity of the punishment. It’s like siting at the table with a seven course meal and not eating it, but on top of that next to you sits a person starving and we don’t offer it to him/her. What are we doing? How blind or disengaged can we be? Is this gift of life being multiplied, or are we guilty of hiding it? Is His presence ever increasing in us, it should be.

Overall what I see and feel is a compromised Church. The term the Bible uses is lukewarm. Dividing our interest and desires between worldly persuits and a life of faith. We get comfortable with our life style and lose our desperateness for Christ. We lose sight of His horrendous sacrifice, to afford us a life in and with the Spirit. A life that can be 100% percent immersed in Him. There is not one part of us no matter how broken we are that He will not accept or that He cannot touch and bring healing. No shame that His Grace cannot erase or defeat and somehow be used for our good; all those who are in Christ are victors as Romans 8:38-39 promises.

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And it is this one single overarching powerful truth that makes us victors. His unseparable love towards us, as a strong current flowing through our soul. Do you feel it? It belongs to you, if you are in Christ – it is your birth right.

“And whosoever of you will be the chiefest shall be servant of all.“ I like short witty quotes, and one I read said, “the greatness of a man or women is not measured by how many people he or she is over, but by how many people he or she is under “Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your servant.” Jesus turns the worldly paradyme of greatness on its head when he defines greatness and uses Himself as our principle example, a beaten and tortured man nailed to a blooded Cross. Yet because of His horrendous sacrifice there is not a man, woman or child that He cannot forgive, love and restore to a life full of His presence.

The elites of this world will have their day in court. There will be only one question that they will have to answer, and it will not be how much money did you make, or how many business did you run, or even how much money did you give to charity, but what did you do with the man Christ Jesus. And the question will not only be posed to them, but to the poorest of the poor and everyone in between. How will you answer that question, could you say with the disciplines, “we have left everything to follow you, and then Peter’s reply, were else would we go Lord only you have the words of eternal life.”

As we approach Easter Sunday the truths we share are only true because of His crucifixion and His resurrection. In ending let’s take these verses to heart, 2 Corinthians 13:4-5

“For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. — Know ye not your own selves, — how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? And in 2 Peter 1:10-11

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Amen)”

Father God,

Our greatest need is not more wealth, or a better job, or even a happier marriage. Our greatest need is to be right with You. For in so doing everything else will come into order or we will have the grace to overcome. This Easter we (I) want to repent for being lukewarm. I want to be all I can be in You. Teach me to walk with You as a son with his father, or a daughter with her dad. Your sacrifice has given this to me, it is my birth right. I want to know what it is like to have the confidence to face each trail or be able to say no to each temptation for the “ surpassing worth of knowing you.” Let me be the prodigal that has come home, having tasted of the world but now with humility and desire hungers for the true bread of life and to be found residing in his/her Father’s home. Thank you and Amen.

More Forward in His Grace – Arthur

March 19, 2018March 29, 2018

True Bread

As we start this new Vida ask yourself what percentage of your self esteem come from what you do, what percentage comes from who you know ( your relationships) and what percentage comes from your relationship to the Lord.

Matthew 4:1-10

Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry ( literally starving)
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, That you shall not tempt the Lord thy God,
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Many years ago Bill Crosby coined a phrase, “ the devil made me do it.” He obviously never knew the scriptures. The importance of knowing God’s Word cannot be overemphasized, especially since Jesus used it to thwart the temptations and deceit of Satan. Satan means have not changed since the beginning, he cast doubt on God’s Word. To Eve he said “ you shall not surely die,” with the intent that she would eat the fruit. With Jesus he was casting doubt on Christ’s identity and if He was truly the Son of God. If He was, then there was no need for Him to be starving. He should be able to feed himself by turning the stones into bread. We might call this taking a short cut as opposed to waiting upon the Father.

How often we do this, justifying our actions though the scriptures teach otherwise. The most common example that comes to mind is when two “Christian” people who are dating allow themselves to become sexually active. They justify it because they are planning to get married. Many times this freedom is what breaks up the relationship as via their sexual freedom the relationship becomes more serious. They forgot that being friends is what drew them together and as more arguments ensue the end of their relationship, unless changes are made, draws near. Respecting the bounties allows them to grow first as friends working out their differences rather than entering into an intimacy that neither they nor their relationship is ready for. Fortunately for us, Christ didn’t take any short cuts and we need to follow His example. Christ knew who He was and the last person he needed to prove it to was Satan.

People will challenge our Christian beliefs wanting to draw us into debate with them. Most of the time you will exhaust yourself and gain nothing, they are not open to hearing the truth. Their main goal is to see if they can trip you up or discredit you in front of others. I use to get into these debates believing it was my duty to defend God and the Gospel. I learned that the greatest defense for both were not my words, but my life. When my life reflected Christ, then my words carried weight and debates were few. I would simply say that I am not interested in debating with you, nor do I have a need to prove anything to you. However if you would like to know about the love of Christ for your life and the forgiveness of sin found in Christ, then I would be honored to share that with you. That normally ended it, however that type of answer said kindly plants a seed, keeping it open for future talks.

Such a difference from my early days when I felt the need to defend the Gospel. By living the Gospel the defense of it is diminished. The reality of it is seen in us as we are being changed from Grace to Grace. I find that most of the questions stem from doubt or hurt, from others who were poor examples or had struggles of their own walking with Christ. However it’s hard to argue with someone who genuinely cares for you and wants your best. This Grace only comes from Christ abiding in us to excess, “and running over.” In Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

“Running over” is a characteristic of our Heavenly Father, if you want a double stoop of Rocky Road ice cream He gives you a triple, that’s just how He is. And as we continue to abide in Him He not only fills our void, since we leak daily, but He over fills us so we can go out and love on others. Sitting before Him, quieting my soul to be able to receive from Him is my part, filling me up is His part. Hence I can walk in peace and not strive with people. I am not here to exalt myself, but the Lord, now back to our verses.

In the next temptation, Satan even quotes scripture;

“ If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou shall dash thy foot against a stone.Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

This again follows the first points. People, especially cult groups claiming to be Christians will use the scriptures wrongfully doing exactly what Christ said not to do, testing God and unfortunately some have suffered the consequences. In Mark 16:15-18

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

This literally happened to Paul in Acts Acts 28:3-6
“And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped — the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
And he — shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him,o they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.”

In context this is the correct application of these verses. Paul was on a missionary journey and through no fault of his he gets bite by a very venomous snake, and God’s Grace intervenes. O let Christ words sink deep into us, “ you shall not tempt the Lord your God.” No short cuts in relationships, no short cuts at work, always doing an excellent job and no short cuts in life, including our taxes. We are to live a life above reproach.

“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.”;

Jesus never denied these claims of Satan, meaning that Satan’s claim of governance over the world did belong to him ( yet it’s interesting how God always gets blamed when something bad happens). And since is governing the world, how’s he doing, is he doing a good job? He’s doing an awful job and what you see in the world is what he will do in individual lives as well. Jesus titled him well. In John 10:8-11 Christ speaks of himself in relationship to others who have made similar claims…

“All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

Christ statement is not open for debate, we either believe it or we don’t. And if we believe it then our life should reflect and demonstrate that belief, period. Not perfect, but ever pressing in that direction.

The Olympic’s were just over and we were participants in cheering on our favorite althletes. They didn’t make it to the Olympics by pampering themselves, no they sacrificed, went without etc., just to be able to be there and compete. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul speaks of these games…

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but ( only) one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
But I keep-under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

And lastly Paul’s “ Olympic statement” Philippians 3:7-14

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead,
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press ( to purse, press forward, exert effort, diligent) toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus ( The Gold).” And how?

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Amen.

So back to our opening statement, how much of who we are, our self esteem comes from our work, family, friends or our relationship with the Lord?

Father God,

Thank you for this study, please show us our heart. Let us see our hearts, if our person is solidly based on You or is it You plus others. The best for us is when You are 100% of our self esteem, filling us up to overflowing and with the excess we engage with our family, friends and work. How much stronger would our relationships be if we followed Your way. Thank you and Amen.

Move Forward in His Grace – Arthur