gracedman

[gracedman]

The Pathway to Privilege

The Path to Privilege

We hear so much these days about the concept of privilege. There is a common notion in the minds of some that the way we conceive of privilege and the basis upon which it is assigned, explains all that is in the world system these days. Certain people are more privileged socially, economically, politically, and personally based upon a particular structure or system of privileges. And so, there is a pathway to privilege. Find out what that pathway is, and get on it, and you are headed to the possession of privilege.

Maybe we should stop here in our discussion and talk specifically about this notion of privilege. Just what exactly is it? And why is it such an issue to many in their thinking? Let’s look at the specific definitions:

As a noun: a privilege is “a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor: a prerogative especially: such a right or immunity attached specifically to a position or an office.” As a verb: to privilege is to “to grant a privilege to;” or “to accord a higher value or a superior position to 〈privilegeone mode of discourse over another.” Both of which lead to the adjective: Privileged: where one is “privileged” i.e. has or enjoys one or more privileges 〈privileged classes and/or is “not subject to the usual rules or penalties because of some special circumstance.>

There are some groups of people who would challenge the very notion that human beings are more privileged than the animal kingdom around them. And others who would extend that challenge to the plant kingdom as well. To them I would have to answer with the following verses as foundational even before the fall of mankind:

Genesis 1:26–27

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

So, God, himself, exalted mankind, those made in his image, over the animal and plant kingdoms. If God is so instrumental in this initial assignment of privilege, would it be wrong to consider that any other assignment of true and lasting privilege must be sourced in him? I think not. His blessing and privileges should become our standard. His pathway to privilege is far superior to any other:

Genesis 1:28–31

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Lord Jesus, we are hungry to know your pathway to privilege. Open our ears and hearts for the new and better way for our lives. We desire to be blessed and privileged by you alone. Amen!!!

[gracedman]

Melchizedek or Levi?

Hebrews 7:1–3 (ESV)

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, …. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

Hebrews 7:6–7 (ESV)

But this man (Melchizedek) who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.

Hebrews 7:11–12 (ESV)

Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.

Hebrews 7:18–19 (ESV)

For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

Hebrews 7:24–25 (ESV)

but he (Our Lord Jesus) holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

What a sad announcement. The perfect law of God “made nothing perfect.” For no matter how well one conforms outwardly to its requirements, (and some do extremely well) the law is unable to change our old sin natures into anything close to what God expects or could call righteous. For as James clearly expounds:

[gracedman]

Melchizedek or Levi (Part 2)

James 2:10 (ESV)

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

Imagine the frustration built into the Levitical system: Perfectly live in every ordinance, rule and obligation but have one wrong thought or motivation and you are just as guilty as if you had rebelliously broken every commandment in utter disregard for any of it. For the law, any legal principle makes nobody perfect. It never enables one to become righteous before God. Righteousness before God comes only one way: as a gift. Given freely by God himself to those who receive Christ as savior:

Romans 5:17 (ESV)

For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

It is only when we have active faith in this gift that we will experience his perfect and powerful peace:

Isaiah 32:17–18 (ESV)

And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

Jesus Christ came to save sinners, not instruct the ignorant or lead the lost and wandering. He came to give a new life based upon his finished work at the cross. Consider the original apostles. Three years of intensive training and instruction. They lived daily 24/7 with the Son of God himself. And yet even after all that training, what did they do at his moment of crisi?. In the garden, they slept. At his trials, they ran and cursed. Peter denied him and went back to fishing. It wasn’t until Pentecost, that they stood up and were bold in their faith. It wasn’t until the Holy Spirit brought them his righteousness and his peace that they were able to even begin to live as they were instructed. For then they lived in the power of His endless life and not their own. And we are no different today.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the complete deliverance from the law of any sort. Thank you for the power of your endless life in our hearts. Thank you that we can move from Levi to Melchizedek. Amen!!!

[gracedman]

Adamic Roots

Colossians 2:1–10

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Right now, I am a frustrated gardener. I have planted over a dozen tomato plants and have only seen yields of three tomatoes. The first and largest tomato was just turning red and I was rejoicing in it. I came home one afternoon to discover it was gone. Stolen!!! No one knows where it went. Three tomatoes had become two. When the other two much smaller tomatoes began to turn red, I snatched them and brought them into the house. But one was deformed and declared useless by my wife. The other I ate as part of my salad that night. Now, I am back to square one. I have these tomato plants that don’t make tomatoes.

Now, don’t tell me, you know how to fix my problem. These are plants that have organic soil, plenty of water and just the right sunlight. It’s a mystery to everyone I’ve asked. They have been fertilized, fed and tied up. Some are almost taller than I am. They are dark green and look healthy. They just don’t make tomatoes. It bothers me. It gives a great struggle of sorts. I want it fixed.

One person, I have consulted suggests that I have a root problem. Very intriguing to me. For all the proper growing conditions are right there, but they don’t seem to connect with the plants. Everything seems to be ready and set, but no fruits are developing. Everything looks good, but there is a sterility to them.

As I read the apostle Paul, this morning I had to smile. He knew about root problems. Maybe not with tomato plants, but with a far more serious issue: in the lives of believers. Some people who are believers are just like my tomato plants. Everything has been provided for them, but they just don’t seem to mature and bear fruit. They are knit together in something other than Christ. They are rooted and grounded in things that keep them carnal and barren. But, boy, they look so good. They just have the wrong spiritual roots. So, they never have God’s spiritual fruits. They never bring fruit to maturity. Jesus had them pegged:

Luke 8:14

And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

[gracedman]

Adamic roots (Part two)

There is only one solution for spiritual roots that are not of God. And that is the cross of Jesus Christ. We need to take up our own personal portion of it and allow the cross to purge out the infections that Adamic roots can bring to the soul. It may hurt. The word may cut. It hurts to get well. To grow up in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ can be a dangerous and challenging thing to our natural life and its preferences. You see we have a supernatural opponent who is in active warfare against our growth and maturity. Paul makes reference to this in our passage:

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

The truth is that even though the work is finished for us and complete in heaven, in terms of our experience on the earth, we are very much a work in progress. We can refuse to let Adamic roots go. And we can get side tracked and go back to our fallen roots. We can be taken captive by words not from heaven nor from the mouth of God. We can miss the temporal purpose of eternal redemption in our daily lives and for soul. Now, some would at this point, deal with the wide variety of Adamic root problems. They would like us to analyze them all. “You are who you are because of your past experiences, or genetics, etc.” But I like Paul’s short summary here: “I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments, philosophy, and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world.” And don’t miss the amazing provision God has made for us in Christ. Which Paul further describes as: “in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” We can see our Adamic roots replaced by the fullness of God in our lives. We should see the fullness of God flow and fill us with all that Jesus Christ is and can be. We can develop our capacity for God and his word so that these words fit our lives:

Luke 8:15

As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

I am not giving up on my tomato plants. I already have plans for a new type of garden that is supposed to be better able to bring fruit to whatever vegetables you plant in it. And God never gives up on anyone who truly trusts Christ as their savior. He is a faithful gardener. He knows how to root out Adamic roots and replace them with his new ones.

Lord Jesus, thank you for consistent initiations towards us as your children. Show us how to bear fruit for your kingdom. Amen!!!

[gracedman]

What Kind of Teacher are You?

Now many people would not consider themselves to be a teacher. But the fact is that in a certain sense and to a certain degree we all are. We are all influencing someone whether or not our role has been officially defined or not. We are all teaching someone, either in a negative or positive way. Paul and the Bible has much to say about these things:

Romans 2:19–21

if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself?

Perhaps, Paul’s words here came from his own Rabbinical studies. Here is a quote from one Rabbi he probably had read and may have memorized:

“Thou hast many a man who teaches himself but does not teach others; many a man who teaches others but does not teach himself; many a man who teaches himself and others; and many a one who teaches neither himself nor others.… The man who teaches others but does not teach himself. How, for example? A man learns a piece of teaching twice or thrice, then teaches it to others, and then concerns himself with it no further, but forgets it; that is one who teaches others but does not teach himself.”

There is a series of possibilities:

1) A person who teaches himself but not others.

2) A person who teaches others but not himself.

3) A person who neither teaches himself nor others.

4) A person who teaches both himself and others.

These options are fully supported by various scriptures. James exposes and warns of the extra accountability teachers will face:

James 3:1

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

[gracedman]

What Kind of Teacher are You? (Part Two)

Here is the warning to the teacher who teaches himself but not others:

Ezekiel 34:2–4

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.

Here is the warning to those who are taught by those who do not teach themselves:

Matthew 23:1–4

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.

Later on, in this chapter, the Lord Jesus warns us to watch out for the lack of teaching on both fronts:

Matthew 23:13

But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

In these three situations, there are problems. But not what we would normally think or expect. It is not until we get to the fourth condition that we see what it is that God finds fault with in teaching situations. Jeremiah gets it right. He outlines the proper mode of divine teaching:

Jeremiah 3:15–17

“And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart.

Our problem is that we too easily follow the desires of our own evil heart. We stubbornly defend our own rights to do so. We don’t like it when God is free to teach both the teacher and the people from his own heart.

Lord Jesus, help us to be so very aware of our source for living and become what you desire us to be. Give us all the very best teachers. People who speak from the throne of God and with the very heart of God, in your name we ask. Amen!!!

[gracedman]

Characteristics of Christianity

John 1:17

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

In this verse from the book of John, a widely used Greek verb (translated here as “came”) describes how Jesus Christ brought grace and truth to humanity. Its primal meanings are relevant to our understanding of how foundationally essential, grace is to Christianity: It means “to come into being through process of birth or natural production, be born, be produced.” And “to come into existence, be made, be created, be manufactured, be perform.” Moses had brought an accountability system. His accountability was first to God himself and then to the rest of humanity. He brought a form of Divine truth that shuts every mouth and before God eliminates any merit in our humanity. We are living in a day, where every mouth is wide open and people are screaming out about the merit found in them and their particular group. But their frame of reference is not from God, their accountability is not to God. So, their tactics, produce chaos and confusion and every evil work. Jesus Christ came to birth something else within mankind. The following verses from the Sermon on the Mount reveal the heart of Jesus Christ:

Matthew 5:43–45

“You have heard that it was said, (by Moses and his law) ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. …

Here, our same Greek verb (translated “may be”) carries the nuance and meaning: “to experience a change in nature and so indicate entry into a new condition.” Christ says, “Love your enemies and pray for them, because you have experienced a change in nature and have entered into a new condition as sons of your Father who is in heaven. He concludes this passage with this verse:

Matthew 5:48

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

This verb to “be” is in the future tense in the Greek, so another possible translation is “You will be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Because you have been born again and had a change in nature. (more on this later) Note that in the following list of verses, Paul reckons upon “grace being given” by God to change our nature:

[gracedman]

Characteristics of Christianity (Part Two)

Romans 12:3

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Romans 12:6

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;

1 Corinthians 1:4

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

1 Corinthians 3:10

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.

Galatians 2:9

and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

I did not list every verse I found, that is relevant to this essential quality of Christianity. But those I did list should adequately establish that Christianity is a supernatural work of God in and through his people. “Grace was and is given” by God to the humble of heart. And to those of us who will receive this grace given by God, we have this wonderful hope:

1 John 3:2–3

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Lord Jesus, we are so in awe of the fact that you have brought us divine truth and supernatural grace. We humbly ask that it would be effectual in our lives. That we would be truly changed. That we could be like you in our personal lives and ministry. Amen!!!

[gracedman]

Words That Hurt, Cleanse, and Cure

Ephesians 4:1–3

I THEREFORE, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called [with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God’s service, Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another. Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace.

There are some words in the Bible that hit home. Many times, we like to take a subtle pride in our ability to control the outward expressions in our life. I don’t swear or cuss; tell off-color jokes; nor a whole host of other things in the gray areas. You won’t find me frequenting bars or X-rated movies nor soliciting prostitutes. No, I have all those types of things off the table and am not even tempted by them seriously. But living with complete lowliness of mind (humility); Ouch!! I am not there yet. And when the Holy Spirit probes my heart, very often he finds this terrible problem: Pride complexes.

Andrew Murray wrote a book called “Humility.” I have read it several times. Each time I do, the rate of reading goes down. It is so convicting. Paul and Andrew must have got together and conspired to nail me to the quick. I am a grace guy. Listen to my messages or read my writing and you will discover this to be true. But God has a special person in mind when he parcels out his grace:

James 4:6

But he gives more (greater) grace. Therefore, it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

God gives his greater grace to those who will live “with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and he opposes those who walk in pride. We can be saved but have God resist us experientially. We can be carnal and stubborn. We can resist the spirit of God in our daily walk. It is to those of us who would go that route, that Paul cries out and wrote these words to. Don’t miss God’s daily portion of grace for your lives:

Ephesians 4:1–3

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Get hurt, then cleansed, converted, and cured. There is greater grace to be had for each and every day.

Lord Jesus, help us to live in resurrection life. On the other side of the cross, where you are. Amen!!!

[gracedman]

The Shock of Gentleness

Imagine my astonishment!!! An American, whose culture combines raw power and ambition with determination to produce its greatness, to then read what David, the pivotal king of all Israel, said about “gentleness.” Boy, there was a culture clash within my heart:

Psalm 18:35

You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.

Here was a theme that has made me aware of my need for conversion. For what had “gentleness” ever brought me or what had benefits had it ever confirmed on anyone. Where I grew up, toughness and self-assertion were what ruled the day. And now the Bible was calling me to something completely different:

Ephesians 4:1–2

I beg you…to live and act in a way worthy of those who have been chosen for such wonderful blessings as these. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

One paraphrased version expands on the time component to say “always be humble and gentle, not in fits and starts,” but always. There are many areas of our lives that require flexibility and a willingness to identify with others, but there is one area where we need to work in solid concrete. That is in “humility and gentleness.” Let’s just say it straight: People will let you down. Even some people we have had high expectations and hopes for. People that we have been intimately involved with; people in leadership over us; People we may have leadership over; People we truly love with all our being. Yes, stay reasonably true to the mark of the high calling of God on your life and you will find that people will leave you. Some in a legitimate call from God and some perhaps for dishonest reasons. One brings joy and gladness; the other brings sorrow and setbacks. And the bigger they are the more people are influenced for better or for worse.

David was quick to see the bad and the ugly in himself. When David was treated unfairly by her husband, Abigail pulled him out of a scrape with his own fit of temper:

1 Samuel 25:21–31

David had been saying to himself, “A lot of good it did us to help this fellow. We protected his flocks in the wilderness so that not one thing was lost or stolen, but he has repaid me bad for good. All that I get for my trouble is insults. May God curse me if even one of his men remains alive by tomorrow morning!” When Abigail saw David, she quickly dismounted and bowed low before him. “I accept all blame in this matter, my lord,” she said. “Please listen to what I want to say. Nabal is a bad-tempered boor, but please don’t pay any attention to what he said. He is a fool—just like his name means. But I didn’t see the messengers you sent. Sir, since the Lord has kept you from murdering and taking vengeance into your own hands, I pray by the life of God, and by your own life too, that all your enemies shall be as cursed as Nabal is. And now, here is a present I have brought to you and your young men. Forgive me for my boldness in coming out here. The Lord will surely reward you with eternal royalty for your descendants, for you are fighting his battles; and you will never do wrong throughout your entire life. Even when you are chased by those who seek your life, you are safe in the care of the Lord your God, just as though you were safe inside his purse! But the lives of your enemies shall disappear like stones from a sling! When the Lord has done all the good things he promised you and has made you king of Israel, you won’t want the conscience of a murderer who took the law into his own hands! And when the Lord has done these great things for you, please remember me!”

[gracedman]

The Shock of Gentleness (Part Two)

Here, David is called to pour the concrete of “humility and gentleness.” And when he does, his passions of the moment crumbled at the promises of God. And David recognizes the hand of God in her coming to him and grants her request:

1 Samuel 25:32–35

David replied to Abigail, “Bless the Lord God of Israel who has sent you to meet me today! Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murdering the man and carrying out vengeance with my own hands. For I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel who has kept me from hurting you, that if you had not come out to meet me, not one of Nabal’s men would be alive tomorrow morning.” Then David accepted her gifts and told her to return home without fear, for he would not kill her husband.

The outcome of this account is found in the next several verses:

1 Samuel 25:36–42

When she arrived home, she found that Nabal had thrown a big party. He was roaring drunk, so she didn’t tell him anything about her meeting with David until the next morning. By that time, he was sober, and when his wife told him what had happened, he had a stroke and lay paralyzed for about ten days, then died, for the Lord killed him. When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise the Lord! God has paid back Nabal and kept me from doing it myself; he has received his punishment for his sin.” Then David wasted no time in sending messengers to Abigail to ask her to become his wife. When the messengers arrived at Carmel and told her why they had come, she readily agreed to his request. Quickly getting ready, she took along five of her serving girls as attendants, mounted her donkey, and followed the men back to David. So, she became his wife.

In the Greek, the word for gentleness means “the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance, gentleness, humility, courtesy, considerateness, meekness.” In my mind, it means not to throw one’s weight around, so you are willing to give others proper consideration. David credited God’s gentleness as the primary source of any greatness David had in his life. I still find this very challenging!!!

Lord Jesus, help us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. Help us to think with you. And when we do our thoughts shall be established in grace. Amen!!!

[gracedman]

Paul’s Prayer for Us

Colossians 1:3–14

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing

as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,

….And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in (by means of) all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 1:3–4

it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Paul shared a burden with Luke. They even used the same Greek verb about their desire for their readers and listeners. They wanted them to have spiritual comprehension of the gospel so that their knowledge would be exact, complete, and thorough. Paul wanted them to hear and be convinced and Luke wanted them to have a certainty about the things they have been taught. Luke was a historian and a documenter; Paul was a pastor/teacher, a master builder and apostle, who cared for his flock. He is praying for this group of Christians for a particular end: that they would “understand the certainty of the grace of God, and would come under its influence in a real and authentic way.” That they would be “filled with the knowledge” that brings certainty and intimacy with God. That they would have a walk with God that reflected the quality of God’s investment in them. In this prayer, Paul’s word for “knowledge” is the Greek noun related to the special Greek verb he uses. Both relate to knowing and knowledge that is given to bring both certainty and intimacy with God. Paul credits a fellow worker with the initiation of this wisdom to the Colossians, to show that such a state is not centered in himself or any other human servant but rather in God alone:

[gracedman]

Paul's Prayer for Us!!! (Part two)

Colossians 1:7–8

just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

“Epaphras did not simply lead the Colossians to Christ and then abandon them. He taught them the Word and sought to establish their faith. The word translated “learned” in Colossians 1:7 is related to the word disciplein the Greek language. It is the same word Jesus used: “Learn of Me” (Matt. 11:29) or, in effect, “Become My disciple.”

We are not told exactly how or why Paul took up the burden for this group of believers. Epaphras seems to have started them in their faith but he did not stay with them, but rather joined with Paul as a part of his team. Later in this letter, Paul gives further insight:

Colossians 4:12

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

The word for “struggling” in the Greek refers to a fight or contest and, in some cases, means to “strain every nerve” to reach a particular goal. I wonder if we know as much as we should about this kind of praying. I would love to have such a man to be praying for me and my loved ones. I would love to learn about how to pray for others in this way as well. Remarkably, what Epaphras prayed for in a struggle Paul had already referenced to in his opening prayer. I wonder who was the teacher and who was the student?

Colossians 1:9–14

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Lord Jesus, you teach us, we teach each other and we all grow closer to you and to each other. Show us how to be prayer warriors. Expand our hearts for the entire world Amen!!!

[gracedman]

Jesus Christ Never Changes!!!

You can tear down every statue, burn every book, shred every piece of canvas, paper, or film that mentions or honors the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You can forbid the mention of his name, the singing to him in worship or teaching about him. But Jesus Christ never changes!! And he never will. He is forever the way, the truth, and the life. He is the one who never ever changes. He is the only one consistent in a world flowing and floundering in inconsistency. The writer of Hebrews said it this way:

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).

Malachi said it this way:

Malachi 3:6

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

God is committed to “the unchangeableness of his Divine counsel:”

Hebrews 6:17–18

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

“It is the perfection of Jehovah that He changes not in character, will, purpose, or aim”

We live in a world that exists in the notion that there is an underlying and foundational justice to it. The world does not wish to deal with the fact that it is fallen and under the headship of Evil. Satan has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. Many live as though he does not exist. So, mankind, in complete denial of its own individual and personal corruption, blames others for the inconsistencies in their own lives. I remember so well the days of my youth. Days when we challenged and blamed our parents and the older generations for inflicting us with inconsistencies. We screamed out for change. We marched, burned candles and demanded that everything conform to our expectations. Immediately. We screamed for peace with rage and fury. We had none within ourselves. We had never dealt with our personal problems, the ones within our own hearts. Or if we did, we followed ungodly counsel and found no answers. And the futility fueled the flames of the desperation that we felt for the need for change.

[gracedman]

Jesus Christ Never Changes!!! (Part two)

Then many of us met the unchangeable one, Jesus Christ. We ran right into the one who was calling individuals out of the world system and its never-ending cycles of confusion:

Psalm 102:25–27

Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.

Are you looking for one who will not ever let you down? One who will not change? Then look to Jesus Christ. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And he has gifts for you:

James 1:16–18

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Lord Jesus, how deeply we need to have every vestige of the world removed from our hearts and minds. Show us again the splendor of your majestic self and the stability that comes from you and your word alone. Amen!!!

[gracedman]

Jesus – He Ain’t No Superman!!!

We all are familiar with the comic book hero called “Superman.” As a toddler, he arrives on the earth from a distant planet and has super human powers: X-ray vision, strength and speed that far exceed any ability any human being has. Clark Kent learns to manage and hide his powers and use them in useful ways. But although there may seem to be certain parallels to Jesus Christ, in the end there are great differences. First, Superman is fictional; and Jesus Christ was and is real. John, the Apostle, said this about the reality of Christ:

1 John 1:1–3

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

John, essentially says: We touched him; we saw him with our own eyes; we heard him with our own ears. He was just as tangible and existent as we are. Later in this letter he even says this:

1 John 4:1–3

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess (this about) Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

You see John, the Apostle, says these things to a group of believers who were faced with the notion that Christ could not be both human and divine at the same time; so, according to this error, his appearance as a man was somehow just an apparition or a hologram. In other words, again according to this false view, because the material world is evil, Christ could not have entered into it without defiling himself; so his appearance only seemed to be human. In their distortion, Christ never was fully or completely a man who had flesh and blood. Do you see a pattern? First, an absolute denial of sinless perfection. Second, a denial of his complete deity. (which we addressed in our last posts) and third, a denial of his complete humanity. i.e. he only appeared to be human.

But as we said recently, Christ is not a hybrid of deity and humanity. There is never a mixing of his two natures: one, that would lower his divinity and create a deified humanity. Nor, a second, that would elevate his humanity to create a humanized divinity. Our Jesus – He Ain’t No Superman! So, although Jesus Christ has two natures within his unified personality, these two natures do not mix and cannot be separated. Each nature remains intact and pure to it essence. Sometimes we can identify the expression of one of these natures, but we cannot separate them. If we do or try to on the basis of some rationale, as plausible as it may appear to be, we will end up with “another Jesus” and not the one who is truly our “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” And if we have another Jesus, we will destroy the full value of our salvation and the privileges associated with it. Here is just one example: