Uncategorized – Page 9 – Living Words of Encouragement

Upon What are You Focused?

In her book, Discipline, The Glad Surrender, Elizabeth Elliot’s concluding paragraph of Chapter 2, entitled, ‘How Do We Know We are Called, she comments about C. S. Lewis’, the child Lucy, a character in the Chronicles of Narnia, from the book, Prince Caspian.

She writes, “For Lucy, believing was seeing. The others could not at first because they would not. It is always thus. The believer alone will be able to hear the call. It comes from beyond ourselves, beyond our society, beyond our climate of opinion and prejudice and rebellion and skepticism in which we live, beyond our time and tastes. It draws toward the center of all things, that still place of which T.S. Eliot wrote:

Against the Word the unstilled world still whirled

Against the centre of the silent world.

Question: Are you, am I, are we, is the Body of Christ ready for such a moment in which we need to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church as the ‘unstilled world’ races headlong in circles around us?

Elliot’s words were penned, then published in 1982. Her words reflect the society in which she lived and observed then :what is the condition of our society today? What is “the climate of opinion and prejudice and rebellion and skepticism” in which we live in 2023? Has it grown beyond our “…time and taste…”?

We find ourselves living in uncertain times. There is ‘unprecedented unrest’. Most of us, I believe, would probably confess that we do not really want to live in these uncertain times of unrest. But the reality of the moment cannot be dodged. We might even find ourselves fearful that this unrest may escalate into conditions that will unravel the nations of the world and may even destroy the fabric of our own nation, unhinging a lifestyle that plummets into chaos, fear, turmoil and uncertainty.

It is certainly easy to speculate and collapse mentally into that frame of thought. As T. S. Eliot wrote, “the unstilled world is whirling.” Eliot’s whirling is the ‘unprecedented unrest’ that we are witnessing and embracing in the world today.

Jesus put it this way, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b, NKJV)

Ah!, the word tribulation. A word that engenders much speculation, engaging Bible readers, Bible students, Bible scholars, pastors and teachers to theorize about end-time events.

A lot of that is happening at this time. I am not minimizing that thought. However, I want to encourage you to stay focused on the Lord, His Word and the community of the believers that you fellowship with regularly.

Returning to T. S. Eliot’s words, “the unstilled world (the one in tribulation) is still whirling about becoming increasingly more chaotic and tumultuous; and as Eliot points out, it is whirling (swirling) “about the centre of the silent Word”-God’s Word. Who is the Word of God? Jesus. (see John 1:1-5) [inserts mine]

Visualize with me the following: Can you see the overlay of Christ’s Words to His disciples in John 16:33b placed upon Eliot’s prose? Christ, Who is the Word of God has overcome the world. His position is one of quietness overlaying the whirling tribulation pulsating throughout the nations.

The world may raise its turmoil, chaos, and fanaticism; but it cannot overcome Christ. Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection has brought death to death. The world, the flesh, and the devil have no power over the Son of God. Jesus Christ is Lord. All authority and power has been given unto Him. Jesus ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of His Father, God Almighty. The enemy has been defeated and in Christ, we share in His triumphal victory.

That reminds me of the words of a song, “O Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever, He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood, He loved me ‘ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.” (E.M. Bartlett, Victory in Jesus lyrics copyright Albert E Brumley & Sons)

Upon what are you focused? In Whom are you resting? In Whom are you taking refuge? Do not allow yourself to get caught up in the “unstilled world” and its “whirling”.

Let us stop here for a moment and reflect upon Psalm 62:1-8. (Using the Tree of Life Version)

“My soul waits in stillness only for God-from His comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress–I will never be moved. How long will you assault a man to crush him, like a leaning wall, a fence to be torn down? They only plot to topple him from his rank. Delighting in falsehood, they bless with their mouth, but inwardly they curse. Selah. My soul wait in stillness only for God–for from Him comes my expectation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my strong tower–I will not be moved. On God, my salvation, and my glory is the rock of my strength. My refuge is in God.

The title to this post is ‘Upon What are You focused?’ I trust that your focus has been changed from ‘What’ to ‘Whom’.

Question: Upon Whom Are You Focused?

In our time of turmoil, chaos, uncertainty, and ‘unprecedented unrest’, our refuge must be in God not in political leaders, not in the leaders of the nations of the world, but in the One who rules Sovereignly over all the nations of the world.

Does God use the leaders of nations to accomplish His ends? Absolutely. The history of civilization is a testimony to His Sovereignty.

“There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God. A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God. O, Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God, hold us who wait before Thee, near to the heart of God.

There is a place of comfort sweet, Near to the heart of God, A place where we our Savior meet, Near to the heart of God.

chorus

There is a place of full release, Near to the heart of God, A place where all is joy and peace, Near to the heart of God.

chorus.

Author: Cleland Boyd McAfee (1903)

In closing this post, I would like to direct your attention to my post, ‘Finding Refuge in the Lord’. It can be found and read at livingwordsofencouragement.com

Blessings, a brother in Christ,

The Coming Unrest

On June 14, 2023, I posted that the Lord had impressed upon me that there will be ‘unprecedented unrest’ coming to our nation (and to the world) I encouraged those who follow my posts to visit livingwordsofencouragement.com and read or re-read the post, The A.R.R.O.W. of God. Why?

The A.R.R.O.W. of God post is the foundation of what I want to share with you. It will provide the back round of my thinking and what I believe the Lord has been sharing with me.

Psalm 64 is a vivid picture of what our nation has been experiencing for many years. Psalm 64 is the psalm that I have personalized to pray for our nation. In this psalm, God shoots His arrow. I believe that arrow has been shot and that the effects of that arrow are now beginning to be seen; and that, God’s arrow is the impetus for the ‘unprecedented unrest’ that will be experienced by our nation and throughout the world.

Psalm 64: 7-9 (NKJV) says, “But God will shoot at them with an arrow; Suddenly they shall be wounded. So He will make them stumble over their own tongue; all who see them shall flee away. All men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; For they shall wisely consider His doing.”

Question: What is being referred to in verse 8, where it states, “So He (God) will make them stumble over their own tongue.”? We need to look back at verses 2-4, where it records what those, who are now stumbling over their tongue, had done.

In Psalm 64:2, King David cries out to God to hide him “…from the secret plots of the wicked, From the rebellion of the workers of iniquity.” Verse 3 continues, it is these, who have sharpened “their tongue like a sword” and have bent “their bows to shoot their arrows–bitter words.” How many ‘bitter words’ have been and are constantly being spewed out in our nation daily and throughout the past 5-10 years (or longer)?

Who have they been shooting at? Verse 4 answers that question. They have shot “…in secret at the blameless; Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear.”

When the psalm gets to verse 7, the ‘tide has turned’; there is a ‘boomerang effect’ taking place; in short, the ‘times have changed’.

What has brought about this change? God shot His arrow at the wicked and the rebellious of verse 2. Remembering verse 7, “But God will shoot at them (wicked and rebellious) with an arrow; Suddenly they (wicked and rebellious) shall be wounded.” God knows who these individuals and/or groups of people are. His arrow will hit the intended mark(s). (insert mine)

I believe that I can confidently say that there will be no ‘fake news’; no spinning of the events taking place. I do not discount that people will try to discredit what is taking place but it will be obvious foolishness. Why? verse 9 says, “All men shall fear; and declare the work of God.”

Truth will be revealed. God’s ARROW has accomplished it. An acronym for God’s A.R.R.O.W. is: A Righteous Revelation Of Wrong-doing.

Backing up to verse 7, and using a Hebrew Lexicon:

The words, ” “shall shoot” means to lay or throw(especially an arrow, i.e. to shoot figuratively, to point out ( as if by aiming the finger), to teach.”

God will identify those who need to be brought to the ‘light’ who have been speaking and doing the deeds of ‘darkness’.

The words, “at them with an arrow” refers to a “a piecer, i.e. and arrow; by implication, a wound; figuratively, (of God) thunder-bolt; the shaft of a spear.”

The word ” “suddenly” means instantly-straightway, sudden(-ly).”

The words, ” “shall they be wounded” mean beaten, blow, plague, slaughter, smote, sore, stripe, stroke, wound(-ed).”

What this will look like? It is not my place to speculate?

Verse 8 tells us that “all who see them (wicked and rebellious) shall flee away.” (insert mine)

Those who witness what is taking place will seek to separate themselves from those who have been wounded by their own tongues (verse 8).

Not only will there be a fleeing, but a fearing (verse 9).

I believe that ‘all men’ implies to all humanity (the righteous and the unrighteous). Verse 9 continues and says that “And shall declare the work of God”. Some may say I am stretching it; but in our day of technology, when something happens in one part of the world, the whole world can know about it instantly. Therefore, I believe ‘all men’ will acknowledge that what takes place is the ‘work of God’. (insert mine)

The scope and magnitude of what takes place is gong to create a universal ‘aghast’. There will be no other explanation than what is being witnessed is the direct intervention of God.

If Psalm 64 ended at verse 9, we would have a lot of unanswered questions and humanity would be left as we sometimes say, ‘shaking in their boots’.

Maybe humanity needs to experience such a great shaking?

Maybe humanity needs to be awakened to a healthy ‘fear’ of God?

Fear can be devastating, as well as healthy.

I suggest that from the flow of the narrative of David’s words poured out to God, their tenor understandably results in a fear of God.

Let us remind ourselves of some words found in the Letter to the Hebrews.

“See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven. Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrew 12:25-29, NKJV) (emphasis mine)

If I may be so bold, it would not surprise me that the fear humanity will experience will be akin to what Hebrews 10:31 (NKJV) says, “It is a fearful things to fall into the hands of the living God.” (emphasis mine)

I am not saying that what is going to take place is the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; but what will take place will be a Divine intervention and manifestation of God’s Presence in and on the earth that will witness to the created world that God is Who He says He is, ‘I AM THAT I AM’.

This past February, the world witnessed the manifest Presence of God in a mighty way that began at Asbury College in Kentucky. That Presence went to other college campuses and to nations and cities throughout the world. My understanding that God’s Presence is still at work today in the world.

It appears that God is going to notch ‘His Presence’ up.

Going back to Psalm 64:9, I left us with the thought that humanity was ‘shaking (trembling, quaking) in their boots’.

B.U.T. (Believers Understand This) God in His grace has a verse 10. David doesn’t end his dialogue with God in despair. (emphasis, insert min)

Psalms 64:10 (NKJV) reads, “The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him. and all the upright in heart shall glory.”

I want to share with you three additional translations of this verse, very similar; yet a little different, but I believe very important for us to embrace.

The Tree of Life translation, uses Hebraic emphasis, “the righteous will be glad in Adonai, and take refuge in Him. Let all the upright in heart give glory.” (emphasis mine)

The Rotherham Emphasized Bible, uses a word by word translation, “the righteous shall rejoice in Yahweh, and seek refuge in Him, then they shall glory–all who are upright in heart.” (emphasis mine)

The Expositors Bible Commentary, Revised Edition, Vol. 5, composed by Dr. VanGemeren (Dr.V.), NIV version, “Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord, and take refuge in him; let all the upright of heart praise him.” (emphasis, insert mine)

What do I want you to embrace? There is a specific action we need to take? Yes, we must trust in the Lord. My thought is that we must embrace that trust as a place of refuge. (emphasis mine)

In his commentary, Dr. V. writes, “The psalmist encourages the godly to hope in the Lord during adversity. He will vindicate his servants (the righteous, Ps. 1:6, 7:10, 11:2) who are upright in heart. The righteous are those who rely on God finding protection with him (Ps. 1-2, 57:1, 58:10-11). The sound of lament will give way to the sound of praise (my note: that is what is taking place not ending at verse 9 and having a verse 10) in honor of the Lord. He alone establishes justice on the earth.” (Question, do you believe there is righteous justice in our nation? in the earth?)

What am I emphasizing? Let me say it again, we will need to take REFUGE in the Lord. (emphasis mine)

Why? The Lord said that an unprecedented unrest is coming to our nation (to the world).

Where will humanity flee too, when they flee from, to escape what they are going to experience?

Let me remind you again of Psalm 64: 8,9. Psalm 64:8 speaks of those fleeing from the ones that God has caused to be wounded by their own words. And then, Psalm 64:9 says that all men (humanity) shall fear. Referring back to a former post entitled, Finding Refuge in the Lord, I quoted Derek Kinder. He said, “There is not refuge from God, only refuge in God.” (insert mine)

What is the reason for this atmosphere of fear?

Quoting Dr.V. again, “Just as the wicked suddenly ambush the godly (vs.4), so the Lord will “suddenly” bring his judgment (vs. 7). Their punishment will be based on the “law of retaliation” (lex talionis), i.e. their sins will boomerang on them (cf. 62:12). What they had planned to do, the Lord will do to them (cf.7:16, Pr. 6:27). He will shoot (yara) them down, as it were, with “arrows” (cf. v.3, &:12-13). The evil they had planned to do with their own “tongues” will fall back on them (v.8; cf.v.3) and bring about their ruin. The shame they had planned to bring on the godly will come on them (cf. 22:7; 52:6-7; 59:10; Jer. 48:26). The bold challenge of autonomy and anarchy (v.5) has it counterparts in the fear imposed by God’s judgment on humankind. The wicked asked “Who will see us?” (ra a; NIV text note, v.5) and were unafraid of the consequences of their acts. When all humankind (adam; cf.58:11; Isa 40:5-6) sees the power of God, all will “fear” (yara). Then justice will triumph! The psalmist encourages all people to “proclaim” (nagad, GK 5583) and to “ponder” (sakal GK 8505, “learn from”) the acts of God (cf. 2:10; Isa 41:20). The history of redemption reveals the “works of God” in judgment of rebellious human beings. The story of redemption proclaims the mighty act of God.”

In Dr. V’s commentary, he refers to ‘all humankind’. I agree with that.

Now looking carefully at verse 10. Logically, since verse 10 refers to the righteous being glad in the Lord; what will be the state of the unrighteous?

All humanity includes the righteous and the unrighteous. There are no other classifications of identity. In verse 9, we read that “all” fear; however, progressing to verse 10, the righteous do not remain in fear. Why? They trust in the Lord. They have taken refuge in Him. The upright in heart have nothing to fear or dread. They have a different kind of fear. Their fear is an awe and respect for God. In Christ, the righteous sort through what is taking place, realize that the ‘unprecedented unrest’ is the “work of God”, “for they shall wisely consider His doing. ” Remember all mankind (all humanity) will realize what is taking place is the hand of God. The facts will not be nebulous. The righteous will take refuge in God; but the unrighteous will be uncertain, confused, and troubled. (emphasis, insert mine)

There will be ‘unprecedented unrest’; the righteous take their refuge in their God; quieting their inner fears that arise from the fear that permeates the atmosphere of the nation (and of the world). The righteous will have an inner peace. Jesus said in John 14:27 (NKJV) to His disciples to quiet their fears about His departure.: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (emphasis, inserts mine)

The unrighteous do not have that assurance or peace within them because they do not have the Spirit of God in their lives. The unrighteous have fled from those upon whom the hand of God has fallen. They are in trembling and fear.

Where is their place of refuge?

Can they find a place of refuge? Can they find refuge in the Lord? Absolutely! (emphasis mine)

Why can’t God’s intervention be for the purpose of performing a dual function? The administration of judgment and the opportunity for salvation. This is what Dr. V. was implying in his commentary.

Is not the CROSS, the very instrument of God’s grace that judges sin and provides salvation for the sinner?

Why can’t all this activity of God’s Sovereignty be His Divine intervention to awaken an awareness of His love for His humanity?

I submit, this is what will actually taking place. Has not God intervened in the lives of nations and His people throughout history to awaken humanity to Himself through judgment and repentance for salvation?

This is the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God’s grace is to intervene in hopeless affairs of mankind creating an ‘unprecedented unrest’ to awaken a confused and troubled world to a hope that can only be found in God, Himself.

This is Good News. Why? Because,

God has so loved the world that He, Himself, sent His only begotten Son into a helpless humanity so “…that whoever believes in Him (Christ is our (Refuge) should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16b-17, NKJV) (emphasis, insert mine)

Sending His Son into the world, John 1:10-14 (NKJV) says:

“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came unto His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Will there be ‘unprecedented unrest’? Yes

Is God in the midst of this ‘unprecedented unrest’? Yes

Do we need to be afraid? No, not if we are in Christ.

Is God out to destroy this nation? No; but He is going to judge sinfulness.

I have no idea what that will look like. But, reading Psalm 64:7-9 makes it clear that God is involved.

As I close, let us focus on Psalm 46:1-3 (NKJV):

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble, Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried in to the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains share with its swelling. Selah

Our God is an awesome God, He reigns in heaven above…

Blessings, a brother in Christ, deo

tbc

Finding Refuge in the Lord, because an ‘unprecedented unrest’ is coming to our nation.

On Sunday, July 2,2023, Matt Rehrer, the Executive Pastor of North Creek Church, shared a teaching from Psalm 46. His sermon title was SHAKEN BUT STILL. I concur with the title of his sermon because of what I believe the Lord has been speaking to my heart and the hearts of others in the Body of Christ.

Back in October, 2021 when we were engaged in battling the Covid epidemic, I wrote a post entitled Finding Refuge in the Lord. On June 14, 2023, I wrote and published a post, entitled The Coming Unrest. I re-posted that article on July 7, 2023. That post emphasizes the necessity of taking refuge in the Lord.

It is my goal to update that post Finding Refuge in the Lord and to incorporate Psalm 46 as the Lord directs. I believe that finding refuge in the Lord is essential for the Body of Christ to understand, embrace, and ready itself for the ‘unprecedented unrest’ coming to our nation and to the world scene in the near future.

Let me begin.

I want to share what I believe the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church in preparation for what is on the horizon.

The foundation of what I am sharing is incorporated in the posts, The Coming Unrest and the The A.A.R.O.W. of God. I know that sounds like a lot to juggle; but I believe that the Holy Spirit will make a clear statement.

As Derek Kinder once said, “There is not refuge from Him, only refuge in Him.“

We, believers, find ourselves living in a world bombarded with harsh words, criticism, lies, deceit, innuendoes, and false accusations. What else should we expect from a world ruled by Satan who is the “prince of the power of the air”; whose spirit “is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2 ESV). In this atmosphere there is no place of refuge, rest or peace, except in the Lord. (emphasis mine)

In the Tree of Life Version (TLV), Psalms 62:6-9 says, “My soul, wait in stillness, only for God-for from Him comes my expectation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my strong tower-I will not be moved. On God, my salvation and my glory is the rock of my strength. My refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart in His presence. God is our refuge. Selah (emphasis mine)

The continuous pounding of the daily caustic rhetoric is like a jack-hammer breaking up the concrete, creating a relentless noise perpetuating unrest, distrust, irrational conversations and disturbing thinking. The constant spewing forth of such words, as the Book of James tells us, “…is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:15-18 ESV)

The church of Jesus Christ has faced this type of verbal brutality throughout its history.

Jesus made no secret of this happening to His followers. In Matthew 5:10-12 (ESV), Jesus said, “Blessed are those who persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil (verbal assaults) against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (insert mine)

The inflammatory dialogue has become incendiary promoting acts of violence that are daily occurrences in our nation and the rest of the world. Added to this is the increase of Christian persecution which has contributed to the killing of many believers throughout the world. These tragedies are documented by Christian organizations such as the Voice of Martyrs, Open Doors USA, and other evangelistic organizations ministering within the nations (i.e. India, Afghanistan, North Korea, China, Africa, etc.) and other continents where Christians have been persecuted and killed.

The truth is that most followers of Christ, living in the twenty-first century in North America, have never experienced the reality of the words spoken by Jesus. If you are like me, the closest I have come to being persecuted has been some level of ‘feeling’ uncomfortable or ‘personal’ intimidation, which is in reality not persecution at all.

Many followers of Christ in the rest of the world experience daily the full weight of Christ’s words.

Am I ready for such opposition? Are you? Is the Body of Christ?

In our nation, the Christian community has been experiencing a rise in opposition to religious freedoms. Opposition has taken the form of objections to stances taken in/at the workforce, disapproval of religious preferences, resistance to Biblical beliefs, and hostility when Christian’s express their personal opinions that are not in keeping with the perceived cultural norms.

Beginning in 2019, as you remember, the Covid pandemic spurred a number of confrontations when our government officials issued guidelines restricting movement, the assembling of ourselves together, and other protocols that were interpreted as infringements upon our personal rights as citizens of this nation, citizens of our states, and citizens in our local communities.

For instance, can government officials make guidelines to restrict a church from assembling together for worship? Some said yes; some said no; some successfully followed the guidelines; other dismissed them completely. Over time, the Covid pandemic subsided, its restrictions were relaxed, and the right to assemble was reinstated.

However, there was some collateral damage done to some congregations because the adherents of the local congregation were not of the same mind-set regarding the enforcement or non-enforcement of the guidelines. The Body of Christ had some schisms, hurts, and bad feelings to work through. I know of one congregation that did not survive. I wonder how many other churches suffered greatly.

There were many other rulings that the citizenry of our nation wrestled with, such as: masks, no masks; mandatory vaccine shots; no mandatory vaccine shots; eating inside and/or outside at restaurants; spatial distancing; and health guidelines if you contracted Covid, such as. travel restrictions; employment regulations; and many others that were residual because of the governmental guidelines.

We all know now, because we experienced it, some more acutely than others, that our entire country was in a national turmoil.

Daily we were bombarded with ‘do this’ or ‘that’ ; or ‘don’t do this’ or ‘that’.

People asked a lot of questions; and many did not receive adequate answers.

There was confusion, chaos, and calamity.

Some said that the governmental control was absolutely mandatory.

Others were concerned about the overarching control that our government officials exercised upon our individual lives and the lives of our citizenry.

The confusing part was that our government officials,over time, found themselves unsure of what to do and say, and as such became contradictory trying to explain themselves.

In many instances, they backed themselves into a corner and the prospects of getting themselves extricated from the problems they created did not seem promising.

Over time, things have quieted down regarding Covid; but the residual effects of governmental control have lingered.

This has raised new concerns.

Where have the government’s edicts taken us as a nation?

Now that they have had, what they believe has been a success issuing edicts, what will be the extent of their continual control?

I submit that is what many in this nation are struggling with?

In addition to Covid, there have been other major issues that have taken center stage in our on going struggle against the government’s insistence to regulate and reform our nation.

I am referring to abortion, free speech, racism, immigration, border control, energy, school curriculum, parent’s rights, national debt, climate control, gun control, and voting regulations to name some of the most dominant internal issues; and I haven’t even listed any external issues involving our relationships with other nations.

These areas of concerns have been rearing their ugly heads over the past several decades and gaining traction in our communities. The seeds of most of these problems have been sown over the course of our nation’s history. The frequency of objection regarding these issues have become numerous.

Why?

Because they are real issues that need to be addressed.

One thing that I have noticed is the increasing irrationality of those who support the administration’s handling of our problems; and the increase in the level of their verbal defiance against those who disagree with the administration’s positions.

We are losing our civility as a nation to dialogue.

Maybe our elected government leaders are not as interested in solving the issues facing our nation as they are about using the problems to remain in control and power so that they can change the fundamental construction of our Constitutional Republic.

Why do I bring this to our (your) attention?

I will say it again.

These are real problems that we as a nation, must address, and deal with if we are going to maintain a civilized nation as founded by our founding fathers.

In order to rationally address our issues, let us consider this importance assessment.

What is the ‘fruit’, ‘the influence’ that these issues are exerting over our nation?

First, let us identify the source.

What is the source of the ‘influences’ that I am referring too?

According to James 3:13-18, the source of these is issues is not from ‘above’ but from ‘below’. ‘Below’ means that the source is “earthly, unspiritual, demonic”. Those are not my words; they are God’s Word.

Let me put those words into context.

James 3:13-18 (NKJV) says, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Let us ask ourselves some questions.

Do we have confusion or clarity in our nation?

Do we have unrest or peace in our nation?

Do we have division or unity in our nation?

Do we have bondage or freedom in our nation?

These are just some of the comparisons we could make.

The truth is that we as a nation are being affected by ungodly ‘influences’ determined to undermine our nation.

Let’s reflect on the passage James 3:14 (ESV). What does the Word of God say are the effects of these ‘influences’? “But where bitter jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” (emphasis mine)

Is this an appropriate description of what we are witnessing daily in our nation?

I do not believe that it is a stretch of my imagination to look at the cultural fabric of our nation, and say that these words accurately describe what we see, hear, and experience daily in our nation.

The remedy will come by a Sovereign work of God in the life of this nation.

A ‘spiritual’ awakening will need to happen; and this ‘awakening’ will take place God’s way, and not man’s way.

Ephesians 5:13-17 (NJJV) says: “But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says, “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do no be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit…”

As a believer, how am I (are we) to respond? *We must fast and pray.* As I have been sharing in previous posts, I believe, that the Lord is going to intervene with His ARROW (Read Psalm 64) and expose the lies and deceits perpetrated against this nation.

I believe that God’s ARROW has already been ‘shot’ and that the effects, as stated in Psalm 64 are already being realized.

But the intensity of the effects of that ARROW will continue to grow.

The results of that growth will become ‘unprecedented unrest’.

The Lord has been and is still enlisting members of the Ekklesia to fight with prayer and fasting against the evil principalities influencing this nation.

We are His people. (1 Peter 2:9-12)

We are to be salt and light to the unsaved world. (Matthew 5:13-16)

We are also to be spiritual soldiers doing battle for the Lord (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Does this mean that everything will ‘magically’ disappear, and all the problems will be instantly solved?

No!

Why?

Until the Christ returns, there will always be opposition to the Lord and the Gospel message.

Christian truth is an obstacle to the world.

We need to remember that the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is to be a ‘voice’ and an ‘influence’ for the health of the nation in which it resides.

A Christian is not obliged to ‘check’ his/her Christianity at the door of public office; nor is a Christian supposed to ‘flaunt’ one’s Christianity on the job or in public.

A Christian is to be a positive witness of the life of Christ that is living in him/her. (Matthew 5:13-16)

Today (July 11,2023) I read a quote spoken by President John Adams, who stated, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

We are living in a time when we are witnessing the the truth of his insight.

This nation has lost its morality and its relationship to God; and we are watching our nation being governed by many elected officials who are not interested in the governing principles of our Constitution.

They are morally corrupt and irreligious. The results are devastating.

Therefore, let this truth permeate our (your) thinking: a person, who loves the Lord, and seeks to walk uprightly before Him, honoring Him in all that he/she does or says, will come into contact with those who oppose Christianity. That’s the way it is. This is not negative; it is reality.

Jesus was being absolutely truthful when He told His followers that they would be treated harshly because of their association with Him.

Spiritual ‘awakenings’ are a two-sided coin.

There is God’s side; and there is Satan’s side.

Satan opposes God’s intervention.

He always has and he always will; but he is not in control, and he is a defeated enemy.

That is the assurance of the Victory of the Cross.

Yes, the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness are in spiritual battle.

The victory is ours now in Christ. (emphasis mine)

Living out the Victory of Christ is our mandate until Christ returns. (emphasis mine)

The Apostle Peter reminds us of the spiritual battle in I Peter 4:12-14 (ESV).

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trail (get ready for the heat, and it’s not global warming) when it comes to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you share Christ’s suffering, that you may rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, and God rests upon you.” (insert mine)

Believer be encouraged, the Trinity is present with you. (emphasis mine)

You are not alone.

Did you see it?

In the last sentence of the previous paragraph, the name of Christ, the Spirit of glory, and God are all mentioned.

It is easy to understand why Peter said, “you are blessed”.

How can one not be blessed when you are surrounded by the Eternal Godhead?

Remember, you are a citizen of another Kingdom, the Kingdom of God.

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV), says God, “has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his blessed Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

O VICTORY IN JESUS, MY SAVIOR FOREVER…(sing it!) (emphasis mine)

If we truly understand this, and live our lives accordingly, we will be a MARKED people in the eyes of the world. We will be the candidates for their opposition. (enphasis mine)

We will be reviled, persecuted, spoken evil of, having many words uttered against us falsely for following Christ.

That is what Jesus taught and told His followers would happen.

We must turn off and tune out the confusion of the world.

I am not suggesting that we stick our head in the sand and ignore the ‘signs of the times’ around us; neither am I suggesting that we do not interact with unbelievers.

What I am saying is that we must ‘wake up’ to the reality that we have always lived in an evil world and the Christian ethic that once graced our nation has been systematically removed ‘stealthily’ from our society; and we are now living in a nation and a world that has become more hostile and vocal against the followers of Christ.

We must not allow ourselves to get caught up in the destructive rhetoric promulgated throughout our nation and the world.

We must keep ourselves free from being governed by the words and thoughts of the world.

We must not allow our hearts to be controlled by the destructive verbal rhetoric of this world.

We must not shrink back from following and focusing on the Lord.

Please read Matthew 24:1-24. Let us not be deceived. Let us continue to grow in God’s ‘agape’ love and not grow cold as lawlessness increases. Let us endure (holds one ground in conflict) to the end and be saved. (insert mine)

To accomplish this, we need to center on Christ and His Word. In Him, we will find refuge and rest (r and r) in the midst of the storm of ‘unprecedented unrest’ coming to our nation (and the world). He is our peace. (insert, emphasis mine).

Our God is an Awesome God, and He, Himself, is coming with His Presence and Power to deal with this nation (and the world).

As Matt Rehrer said Sunday, June 2,2023, there will be a shaking; but in the midst of the shaking, there is a stillness in God. That stillness is found and experienced in Him as our refuge. (my summary, and emphasis)

Be blessed, a brother in Christ, deo

*Regarding fasting and prayer* : fasting and prayer aligns our heart and mind with the heart and mind of God. Fasting and prayer sets our life (our desires) aside to focus on what the Lord wants to say and to accomplish through His people. Please read Isaiah 58. Fasting and prayer is also for spiritual battle. You N.E.E.D. to read Nehemiah, Ezra, Esther, Daniel. They all fasted and prayed in their time of spiritual need and battle with the enemy for their nation.

Please continue to pray for our nation, and fast as directed by the Lord.

EMBRACING THE COMING ‘UNPRECEDENTED UNREST’

[The following blog was originally posted on August 12, 2022. It was entitled A PLACE OF REFUGE, THE E.R. ROOM. I have made a few changes to the original text that came to mind as I was re-engaged with this topic. I encourage you to read this post and pray that the Lord will prepare you for the upcoming turmoil that this nation and the world will experience. Our refuge is in the Lord. There is no fear in the Presence of the Lord. Our nation is in the hands of the Lord. He will be doing a mighty work in our midst.

I encourage you to read Psalm 46. Psalm 46 is an account when David was facing a tumultuous time; but he kept his focus on His God. We, too, need to keep our focus on our God. Psalm 46:10-11 (NKJV) records, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.” Selah.

The following is the post from August 2022:

The Hebrew word for refuge is machseh. Proverbs 14:26 says, “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.” (NKJV)

The Strong’s concordance #4268 defines the word as: “A shelter, refuge, protection, fortress; a hope; a place of trust; a shelter from storm…Machseh is translated “trust” in Ps. 73:28, where the psalmist has put his trust in the Lord (that is, he made the Lord his trustworthy place or shelter)In the present reference, a fortress is suggested.”

In Psalm 62:5-7 (NKJV), The psalmist says, “My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved (shaken). In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, and my refuge (machseh), is in God. (inserts mine)

It is no secret that we are living a chaotic times. Everything that can be shaken appears to be being shaken.

Hebrews 12:25-29 (NKJV), says, “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”

If you have read my last post, the ‘A.R.R..O.W. of God’, I would like to expand upon the last two verses of Psalm 64. Psalm 64: 9,10 (NKJV) says, “All men shall fear, And shall declare the work of God; For they shall wisely consider His doing. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him. And all the upright shall glory .”

This is the reaction of mankind to God’s intervention in this nation, and the nations of the world.

I want to share with you what I believe the Lord shared with me regarding the implications of His intervention as I was reflecting upon Psalm 64 in light of the most current affairs of our nation (August 9, 2022).

This is what I wrote to the Lord: Thank you Father for your arrow–and its effect on those who have spewed out evil, planned evil and have carried it out. Thank you Father for Your impact, revelation, and exposure. Your ARROW will wound, be the enemies downfall, so great will be Your intervention that people will be astounded, separate themselves from the evil ones, and declare, this is the work of God, many will fear and flee away, and ponder what God has done. Life will come to a standstill; people will be in shock, people will be numb, unable to function, their lives will come to a halt not knowing what to do. Father, how is Your Church to respond? How am I, are we, to respond? What words are appropriate? We will not gloat. Psalm 64 says, we are to take refuge in You and give You the glory.

For the past several days, I have been pondering ‘God’s E.R. Room’. These thoughts have come as a result of my daily devotions. Here is a paraphrased thought summing up what I have been reading. In our society today, we can speak ‘our’ truth without any consideration as to what the truth is. Or, put your mind around this, “if reality is not absolute, then there is no such thing as truth. If there is no such thing as truth, then there is literally nothing to discuss.” (gotquestions.org, ‘What is absolute reality?)

As my wife has been lamenting lately, “stop the world, I want to get off” How many of you feel that way?

I am so glad our Heavenly Father has an ‘E.R. Room’. Have you ever been to the ER? Why did you go there? Because something was wrong, or perceived as not being right. You wanted someone to look at it, diagnose it, and put you on a pathway to healing. I will let you fill in the personal information.

Let me share what I have been thinking about regarding ‘God’s E.R. Room’. Psalms 64:9-10, (NKJV), says,

“All men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; For they shall wisely consider his doing. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.

Remember the context: God, Himself, has intervened into the affairs of humanity. He has made Himself known in a powerful way, and mankind is in fear. They know that what they are experiencing is the hand of God.

Humanity needs a place of safety. Where is your place of safety?

What is God’s E.R. Room? It’s a place we go to enter His Refuge. In His E.R., we Encounter His Presence, we embrace His Rest, we experience His Reality, we find His endless Mercy, we are empowered by His Grace, we are encompassed by His Peace, and we are engaged by His Encouragement.

In God’s E.R. Room, we can express (confess) our sin, experience His Forgiveness, eliminate our stress, experience His quietness, elude our tribulation (trials), embrace His Solitude , escape our persecutions (persecutors), and experience His Protection.

As we embrace His Care, we express our praise, we elaborate our gratitude, and we exercise thanksgiving, all to Him.

His E.R. Room is our place of Refuge. In our Father’s Refuge, we enjoy giving Him the Glory due His Name, and experiencing the healing that comes trusting Him.

There is a place of quiet Refuge, it is ‘God’s E.R. Room’.

He is Emmanuel, God with us, He is our Refuge.

God’s E.R. Room is Emmanuel’s Refuge.

Resting In Emmanuel’s Refuge, a brother in Christ, deo

Wake Up Call!

For many my words will probably be critical and harsh. But that is ok. Sometimes things needs to be said that people may not want to hear.

The Corinthian Church basked in the wisdom of the world and conducted themselves in a worldly lifestyle living out their spirituality. They were saved; but they were a long way from being Biblically spiritual. And Paul let them know how he perceived them and bluntly told them so. I am not a Paul. All I am saying is that I would like to point out a concern.

A personal note: As I was beginning this blog, my wife, entered my office, asked what I was doing. I told her starting a blog. She asked about going for a walk. I told her, no problem, so I shut down the blog. As we began our walk, she began sharing with me that she was not happy about the news broadcasts we have been watching. I told her that I understood. As we continued, she then told me that she realized that she had to consciously walk in the light of the Lord and not in the darkness of this world. I again understood, and realized that she was also referring to the news broadcasts. We have wrestled with this before; and we struggle to find news outlets that we are comfortable with as a news source. What was very interesting to me was that she was expressing to me what I was about to write about in the blog before we went for a walk. The Holy Spirit was confirming my thoughts. Also, I received an acronym for the the word light. Light is Living In God’s Holy Thought. (emphasis mine)

I am back from our walk; so now it is time to resume the blog.

As I said, Paul refuted their stance. I Corinthians 1:18-31 reads, (Tree of Life Version), “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the intelligent.” Where is the wise one? Where is the Torah scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For seeing that–in God’s wisdom–the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased–through foolishness of the message proclaimed–to save those who believe. For Jewish people ask for signs and Greek people seek after wisdom, but we proclaim Messiah crucified–a stumbling block to Jewish people and foolishness to Gentile people, but to those who are called (both Jewish and Greek people) Messiah, the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brothers and sister, that not many are wise according to human standards, not many are powerful, and not many are born well. Yet God chose the foolish things of the world so He might put to shame the wise; and God chose the weak things of the world so He might put to shame the strong; and God chose the lowly and despised things of the world, the things that are as nothing, so He might bring to nothing the things that are–so than no human might boast in Messiah Yeshua, who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and holiness and redemption–so that, just as it is written, “let him who boasts boast in Adonai.”” (emphasis mine)

For Paul, the Corinthian Church was not walking the light of God’s Word, they were not Living in God’s Holy Thought. (emphasis mine)

It is my understanding that there are churches that have embraced the thinking of the world with respect to CRT, WOKE, and MAGA. They are of the opinion that the church needs to embrace such thinking to be inclusive and relevant in the culture of our nation.

Is this type of thinking walking in the light of God’s Word? Is this God’s Holy thought?

I would like to put my spin on such thinking. As a believer in Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, I will shock many, by saying that I embrace C.R.T., W.O.K.E. and M.A.G.A. Let me explain.

The world believes in Critical Race Theory. I, as a believer in Christ, believe in Christ’s Redemptive Teaching. Which of the two is God’s Holy thought?

The world believes in Woke-‘being open minded’, especially, ‘alert to racial prejudice and discrimination.’ I, as a believer in Christ, realize that I need to be open minded to the lost, and that there is no place for racial prejudice and discrimination in the Body of Christ or toward unbelievers outside the church.

It is no secret that the Church is accused of being intolerant, not open minded, and discriminant as it adheres to the Word of God. This has become a major stumbling block for many congregations and denominations. The issue is what does the Word of God teach? For me, personally, to be W.O.K.E. is Walking Out Kingdom Ethics; it also means Worshipping Our King Everyday.

So, which of the two major understandings of WOKE align with God’s Holy thought?

I also realize that many believers in the church embrace a politically MAGA lifestyle. And that lifestyle can and does affect the Body of Christ. Many believers support M.A.G.A.-meaning, Making America Great Again. The church must come to the realization that the government, a political party, or Christian Nationalism will not Make America Great Again. Am I anti-American, NO! There is only one way that this nation can be restored to its working order as established by our Founding Fathers. The Church must repent of it’s sins, the sins of this nation, seek God, and pray. That is not new news for the Church. Only our Heavenly Father’s Divine Intervention can save this nation. We are at the ‘edge’; and we are teetering on that edge precariously. As a believer in Christ, M.A.G.A. means to me Magnify Almighty God Again(Always).

Which of these two understandings express God’s Holy thought?

Psalms 33:12 (Tree of Life Version) says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is Adonai, the people He chose for His own inheritance.” (emphasis mine)

According to I Peter 2:9 (TLV), as believers in Christ, we, “…are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praise of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (emphasis mine)

Remember what I shared at the beginning of this blog. My wife Christine mentioned that she needed to focus on the light and not the darkness. In Christ, we are children of the light. Jesus said, ” I am the light of the world. The one who follows Me will no longer walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, TLV) [Also see John 1:1-5; and I John 1:5] (emphasis mine)

I would like share the following passage of scripture written by the Apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus for your encouragement and admonition.

Ephesians 5:1-20, TLV, “Therefore be imitators of God, as dearly beloved children; and walk in love, just as Messiah also loved us and gave Himself up for us as an offering and sacrifice to God for a fragrant aroma. But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed–don’t even let these be mentioned among you, as is proper for kedoshim (saints). Obscene, coarse, and stupid talk are also our of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. Know for certain that no immoral, indecent, or greedy person–who is really an idol worshipper at heart–has any inheritance in the kingdom of Messiah and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s judgment comes on the children of disobedience. Therefore do not be partners with them. For once you were darkness, but now in union with the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light ( for the fruit of light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them–for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that are done by them in secret. Yet everything exposed by the light is being made visible, for everything made visible is light. This is why is says, “Wake up (Church), O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Messiah will shine on you.” So pay close attention to how you walk–not as unwise people but as wise. Make the most of your time because the days are evil, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is recklessness. Instead, be filled with the Rauch (Spirit), speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your heart to the Lord–always given thanks for everything to God the Father, in the name of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah.” (words in parentheses are my inserts) (emphasis mine)

Let me close with a question. Upon whom or what do you focus? Where is the focus of your attention? What if F.O.C.U.S. means, Focus On Christ Using Scripture.

I submit to you that as you FOCUS on Christ using the Word of God you will walk in God’s Holy thoughts.

When Paul called up short the Corinthian Church for lack of spirituality, and accused them of being like the world with regards to wisdom and knowledge, he said to them in I Corinthians 2:1-5 TLV, “When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come with excellent of speech or wisdom, proclaiming the mystery of God. For I decided not to know about anything among you except Yeshua the Messiah– and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive word of wisdom–so that your faith would not bein the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (emphasis mine)

Paul was focused upon God’s Holy thought.

What was Paul’s message? What is the mystery he referred too? What Holy thought was he fixated upon?

It was “Christ crucified”.

The world wants nothing to do with the message of the Gospel.

Unfortunately as the church considers other topics of importance and ignores the foundation of the gospel message, the church renders itself ineffective without an authoritarian voice expressing God’s Holy thought to a lost world; and the church will preach a non-essential, meaningless message to the people within the church.

The focus of the Church must be on Christ, and message of the Gospel, based upon the light of God’s Holy thought in the Word of God.

It is time for the church to wake up, and ask itself if it is walking in the Light, meaning, Living In God’s Holy Thought. (emphasis mine)

Is the local church that you attend focused upon Christ, and God’s Holy thought as outlined in the Word of God? If not, ask the Lord to find you a new place of worship that focuses on Christ, and God’s Holy Word.

Blessings, a brother in Christ, deo

What does MAGA mean to you?

Before you stands three doors to choose from, door #1, door #2, and door #3.

Door #1, refers to Make America Great Again. For many you may want to choose this door. However, for the purpose of this blog, I am not making a political statement; nor am I endorsing or repudiating political parties.

Door #2 refers to Making A Gross Assumption. Let me explain.

On February 8, 2023, at Asbury College, after the conclusion of their regular weekly Chapel service, something irregular happened. Students stayed after the conclusion of the service and the Presence of the Lord came and the weight of His glory was more than evident. For the next two weeks plus, there was continual worship and prayer. Students didn’t want to leave. Many came from many other college throughout the United States (the last number I read was 200), many people came from other nations to experience and/or check out what ‘ God was doing’. All of this you can discover for yourself on the internet and I recommend that you do so.

So, what does Making A Gross Assumption mean?

I am concerned that people in our nation, beginning at the top, in our government nationally, in our states, in our counties, and even in our local communities, spiraling its way downward into our churches, and coming to rest in our populace in their households will assume that the outpouring of the Presence of the Lord that began several weeks ago at Asbury College is a referendum of God’s approval of our lifestyle as a nation, a people, and even of the church. I do not believe that is true at all. Do I know God’s thoughts about the condition of our nation? No, but God has instructed us to examine the fruit of people’s work and words. Do you see good fruit or bad fruit? Do you hear words that lift you up or cause fear and despair? It is not wrong to judge such things.

There is no doubt that the Lord has come. As one pastor’s wife commented, who went to Asbury with her husband, and I paraphrase, it was as if God came seeking us, not us seeking Him; we are responding to Him; He is not responding to our initiative. This is not man-made; this is God-made.

I will say it this way, for us to assume that our lifestyle as a nation is pleasing to God and He chose to come is Making A Gross Assumption.

I would like to draw our attention to Isaiah 60:1,2 (Tree of Life Version, Hebraic emphasis). It reads:

“Arise shine, for light has come! The glory of Adonai has risen upon you. For behold, great darkness covers the earth, and deep darkness the peoples. But Adonai will arise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.”

In context, the prophet Isaiah is speaking to Israel about their wanton lifestyle. He is pleading with them to repent and return to Him. Why? Because He loves them.

Israel has committed spiritual adultery against their God. They forsook Him and sought out many other lovers. We, too, as a nation, have turned our back on God, rejected His influence and providence in the founding of our nation, and set aside His Word as an influence to govern our personal lives and the national affairs of this nation.

The Light that we as a nation, once abided in, has been ‘darkened’, if not close to being extinguished, ‘deep darkness’. (I recommend that you read Isaiah 59 in its entirety. )

Isaiah 59:1-2, TLV says: “Behold, Adonai’s hand is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. Rather your iniquities have made a separation between you and your god. Your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”

Sounds like there is no hope. But God….Isaiah 60:1 says, “Arise shine, for your light has come…”

Question: What came? Light (John 1:1-5) Who is the Light? (John 8:12) Jesus; (I John 1:5) God; Who took the initiative? Ephesians 2:4 TLV, “But God was rich in mercy…” .

This is what happened at Asbury College? God came. He took the initiative in spite of our sinful lifestyle as a nation. Why? That’s Who God is; that’s the Father’s essence.

What we are witnessing here and throughout the world is God’s game plan.

What is that G.A.M.E. plan?

His Grace And Mercy Extended to a lost and darkened world.

We as a nation are shrouded in ‘darkness’; alas, ‘deep darkness’. What does it mean to be ‘shrouded’? wrapped in burial clothes, covered from view, to be concealed. We are dead in our trespasses and sins that have separated us from our God.

Can this nation be resurrected? Only God knows!

Jesus said to Martha, ” I am the resurrection and the life! Whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 TLV

There is hope! We can confidently say that because God has come; and as we respond to Him in faith, hope is present. God sent His Son because He loved the world (John 3:16). He still comes into the world to make Himself known and to minister to His people and to save sinners from their sin, and to forgive them of their sins. Such is the Grace of God. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Hebrews 11:1,6 TLV says,

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of realities not seen…Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

At Asbury College, God came, the students responded to His Presence, and in faith pursued Him. God initiated it; the students responded; and people were blessed; and that Presence is spreading all over the world.

At Asbury College, God, Himself, chose to intervene in the lives of a student body.

Again, let me bring our thought back to where I started regarding door #2.

Don’t misunderstand what God is doing.

MAGA does not mean door #1 is being opened; meaning God is making America great again and

Don’t believe that door #2 means that God is present because everything is ok in the nation-wrong! Don’t make that gross assumption.

There is still one last door.

Door#3.

Door #3 shouts out, let us Magnify Almighty God Always.

What is the Testimony of Jesus concerning this outpouring at Asbury?

God is being magnified for Who is He?

Our God is an Awesome God!

Jesus is being worshipped, magnified, exalted, extolled, praised, honored…

The Word is being read and shared.

Testimonies are being shared.

People’s lives are being changed, not by hype; but by a life changing encounter with a Person. The Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As others have intimated that this ‘looks like’ pure Gospel ministry.

A Jesus ministry. Not orchestrated by people; but ‘conducted’ by the Holy Spirit.

In short, this is a Family affair, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, the Three in One.

Examining Isaiah 60:1.2 closely, it is not far fetched to see God magnified in this passage. We are to rejoice that our light has come; we are to recognize that His glory is upon us (rejoice and magnify the Lord); and even though “darkness covers the earth, and deep darkness the peoples” that does not prevent God Himself, Adonai, arising upon you, personally. (rejoice your Heavenly Father has come to you…to you…to you-let that sink in.)

So, what door are you going to chose to walk through?

door #1

door #2

door #3

Upon what or who will you focus?

door #1 focuses on politics

door #2 focuses on a wanton lifestyle

door #3 focuses on a personal relationship with the Lord, worshipping God, and being helped by the Holy Spirit.

I encourage you to focus on God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 62:2-3,6-9, TLV says,

“My soul wait in stillness only for God from Him comes my salvation–He alone is my rock and salvation, my fortress–I will not be moved…My soul wait in stillness only for God–for from Him comes my expectation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my strong tower–I will not be moved. On God, my salvation and my glory is the rock of my strength. My refuge is in God.”

Jesus is Lord, blessings, deo

Jesus’ Baptism and Jesus the Baptizer

In the last blog series, our attention was focused in Luke 2, recounting Jesus’ Incarnation, birth, boyhood, becoming, bar mitzvah, and belonging. As you might recall that was a series of 6 blogs.

As I continue, I will be considering two things. The first is Jesus’ Baptism; and the second is Jesus the Baptizer. This will take at least 2 blogs.

Luke 3 is a bridge that spans 18 years in the life of Jesus. The following two blogs, too, will act as a bridge that prepares us for the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

At the end of Luke 2, Jesus is 12 years old. He returns home with His parents to Nazareth. Luke 2:52-53 says (TLV), “Then He went down with them to Natzeret and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured all these words in her heart. And Yeshua kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” I highlighted those two words hoping they would recall to mind what was shared in the last blog.

As was emphasized in the blog, Jesus’ Boldness, His obedience was a major characteristic describing the 18 year lifespan between 12 to 30 years of age. We know that Jesus was obedient because He never sinned. What was emphasized was what Philippians 2:8 says of Jesus. “He humbled Himself–becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (TLV). He lived a Holy life. Using the word HOLY as an acronym, H.O.L.Y. is Humble Obedience Loving Yahweh. This is Who He was, and this is how He lived His life before God and mankind.

Luke 3 relates the ministry of John the Baptist and his encounter with Jesus. Information about John the Baptist is not only found in Luke 1:5-25, but also in Mark 1:1-11, and Matthew 3:1-17.

Luke 3 fast forwards for us the life of Jesus. He “was about thirty years when He began His ministry.” (Luke 3:23, TLV)

There are three main divisions in Luke 3.

The first is John’s ministry and interaction with the people, verses 1-21.

The second involves John baptizing individuals, verses 21-22.

It was during one of these times when John was baptizing that Jesus came to John to be water baptized.

Luke 3:21-22 says (TLV), “Now when all the people were immersed, Yeshua also was immersed. And while He was praying, heaven was opened and the Ruach ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit) came down upon Him in bodily form like a dove. And from out of heaven came a voice, “You are My Son whom I love–with You I am well pleased.” ” (insert mine)

The third section records the genealogy of Jesus.

The genealogy begins from the time of Jesus back to the original creation of Adam. The scripture in the TLV, verse 23b, says, “He was the son (as was supposed) of Joseph”… (and records His genealogy back to) “Adam, the son of God.” (See Luke 3:23-38)

Focusing on Jesus’ water baptism, Matthew 3:13-17 (TLV) explains, “Then Yeshua came from Galilee to John, to be immersed (baptized) by him in the Jordan. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be immersed (baptized) by You, and You are coming to me?” But Yeshua responded, “Let it happen now, for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” So John yielded to Him. After being immersed, Yeshua rose up out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Ruach Elohim (Holy Spirit) descending like a dove and coming upon Him. And behold a voice from the heavens said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” ” (I trust that you recognized that Jesus’ baptism was a Trinitarian event-God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.) (inserts mine)

Question: Why did Jesus insist that He must be water baptized in order “to fulfill all righteousness”?

T. Austin Sparks, in his teaching entitled, ‘The Natural and the Spiritual Man’ says of Jesus’ water baptism:

“This mission I have come to fulfill requires the death and burial of one kind, the resurrection and bringing into being on the other side of the Cross another kind.” That is what the New Testament teaches about baptism. The meaning of His baptism then, was in the light of the Cross which is the true fulfillment–the putting out of the sight of God of a type, a type. He is on the Cross, figuratively on the the Cross, in the Jordon. He is taking the place of a whole race of being which are being dismissed by God as never suitable for His presence, and coming out on the other side He is attested as beloved; that which is suitable to God.”

In the first Adam, all have died because of Adam’s disobedience. In Adam, in sin, I am unsuitable to be in God’s Presence. Jesus, is the Second Adam. Because of Christ’s obedience, as a believer ‘in Christ’, I am forgiven, clothed in His Righteousness, and now I am suitable to be in God’s Presence. (See Romans 5).

This is the Gospel of Christ. This is the message of Christ Crucified. This is the free gift of salvation that God, the Father, has provided for mankind by the sacrificial death, the burial, and the resurrection of His Son.

When a believer in Christ is water baptized, he/she identifies with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. The old man, Adam, with his sin nature, is buried in the waters of baptism; and when they come up out of the water, having been immersed, as Christ was immersed, they are on the other side of the Cross on Resurrection ground in newness of life.

2 Corinthians 5:15,17 (TLV) says, “And He died for all so that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised…Therefore if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away (dead and buried); behold, all things have become new.” ( boldness and insert mine)

You are a new creation in Christ Jesus.

Christ is the ‘first fruits’ from the dead. He is the first one of a new race. In Christ we are not longer in the the Adamic human race (positionally), we are in Christ, the Man Christ Jesus.

I Corinthians 15:20-22 (TLV), “But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man (Adam), the resurrection of the dead also has come through a Man (Jesus). For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah will all be made alive.”

Continuing the thoughts of T. Austin Sparks, the first Adam is done away with, it has died and is buried. When Christ was raised from the dead, “the old had passed away.” Jesus is the last Adam, by virtue of His death and burial. His resurrection establishes the hope resonated in accepting Christ; not only are we forgiven of our sins, we are given the gift of eternal life and the promise of a new body. Consider the following:

I Corinthians 15:35-49, (TLV) , the Apostle Paul writes,

“But someone will say, “How are the dead raised?” and, “With what kind of body do they come?” Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. As for what you sow–you are not sowing the body, that will be, but a bare seed, maybe of wheat or something else. But God gives it a body just as He planned, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of humans, another flesh of animals, another of birds, and another of fish. There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one one while the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption! Sown in dishonor, raised in glory! Sown in weakness, raised in power! Sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body! If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a live-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is of the earth, made of dust; the second man is from heaven. Like the one made of dust, so also are those made of dust; and like the heavenly, so also those who are heavenly. And just as we have borne the image of the one (Adam) made from dust, so also shall we bear the image of the One (Jesus) from heaven.” (inserts mine)

What does all of this mean? When we are water baptized, having accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we have identified ourselves with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. We, too, have died. We, too, are buried. Theologians say we have ‘positionally’ died in Christ. Carrying that metaphor forward, when we come up out of the waters of baptism, we too, have been raised in newness of life. Therefore, we are ‘positionally’ in His resurrection. We have become a new creation in Christ Jesus. And if you can realize this, we are a new race. We are still in our earthly body, the one in which we were born. But there is a new life in us, and that life is Christ.

Paul said it best in Galatians 2:19-21 (TLV), “For through the law I died to law, so that I might live for God, I have been crucified with Messiah; and it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me. And the life I now live in the body, I live by trusting in Ben-Elohim (Son of God)–who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God–for if righteousness comes through Torah, then Messiah died for nor reason.” (insert mine)

We are in the process of being conformed to the image of Christ. We are in a struggle. There is a battle within us between flesh and Spirit. This is what Paul explains in Romans 7 and 8. This is also the same struggle that Paul addresses in his letters to the churches in Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, and Thessalonica . And, whoever authored the letter to the Hebrews certainly understood the difference between the old covenant and the new covenant, which pictures the difference between natural and the spiritual, i.e. the flesh and Spirit. As a new believer in Christ Jesus, we begin learning how to follow Christ. We learn how to walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. This process is called sanctification. This is a continuation of the work of grace that the Lord began with our salvation and continues to work into us throughout our lifetime. And because we are a new creation, the world does not understand us; therefore we need to understand who we are in Christ. We need to really understand that so that we can “be in the world, but not part of the world.”

Listen to Jesus’ words that He prayed to His Father regarding His disciples prior to His arrest.

John 17:13-16 (TLV) , “But now I am coming to You. I say these words while I am still in the world, so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world hated them, because they are not of this world just as I am not of this world. I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that you You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

What is the reason that we are different? It is because Christ is different, unique, One of a kind.

Fellow believer, in Christ, as a new creation, you are different from the humanity that is in the world, just as Jesus was different from the humanity that was in the world. Now you are in His ‘difference’, and His difference is in you, because you are in Christ.

Did the world understand Jesus?

Did the world love Jesus?

Did the world make life rough for Jesus?

Did Jesus tell His disciples to expect this same type of behavior from the world to assail them?

Matthew 10: 22 (TLV), “And you will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (See the context in Matthew 10; also read also Matthew 5, I, II Peter)

Does the Lord leave us on our own to battle this out? No!

He sends the Helper, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. This is one of the major emphases of what Jesus shared with His disciples in the Upper Room the night that He was betrayed.

Paul instructs us, “Therefore, my loved one, just as you have always obeyed –not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence–work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For the One working in you is God–but to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13, TLV)

Note that these verses follow Paul’s exhortation found in Philippian 2:5-11 in which he instructs us to adopt the same attitude that was in Christ.

We as believers, in Christ, having come up out of the waters of baptism, are now standing on Resurrection ground. Resurrection ground is on the other side of the cross. We have crossed over from ‘first Adam ground’ to’ second Adam ground’. This means we have left the kingdom of darkness and been transferred into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son.

Colossians 1:12-14 (TLV), With joy…we give thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the kedoshim (saints) in the light. He rescued us from the domain of darkness and brought us to the kingdom of the Son who He loves. In Him we have redemption–the release (forgiveness) of sins. (inserts mine)

Now what? We know that Jesus had to be water baptized by John because it pointed to His death, burial, and resurrection. We are water baptized to identify in His death, burial, and resurrection; so that we, too, put the death our natural life. It is dead and buried. And as was said previously, we are raised in newness of life identified in Christ.

Now we must direct our attention to the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus at His water baptism.

In all four gospels, the words of John the Baptist are recorded regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit at Jesus’ water baptism.

What did John the Baptist say? Let’s look at the scriptures. Using the Tree of Life Version (TLV):

Matthew 3:11 “As for me, I immerse (baptize) you in water for repentance. But the One coming after me is mightier than I am; I am not worthy to carry His sandals. He will immerse (baptize) you in the Rauch ha-Kodesh and fire.” (Holy Spirit)

Mark 1:7-8 ” “After me comes One who is mightier than I am” , he proclaimed. “I’m not worthy not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals! I immersed you with water, but He will immerse you in the Ruach ha-Kodesh.” “

Luke 3:16 “John answered them all saying, saying, “As for me, I immerse you with water. But One is coming who is mightier than I am; I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals! He will immerse you in the Ruach ha-Kodesh and fire.” “

John 1:29-34 The next day John sees Yeshua coming to him and says, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is the One about whom I told you, “He who comes after me is above me, because He was before me. I didn’t know Him, but I came immersing with water so that He might be revealed to Israel.” Then John testified, “I have seen the Rauch (Spirit) coming down like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on Him. I did not know Him; but the One who sent me to immerse in water said to me, “The One on whom you see the Rauch (Spirit) coming down and remaining, this is the One who immerses in the Rauch ha-Kodesh.”(Holy Spirit) ” And I have seen and testified that this is Ben-Elohim.” (Son of God) (inserts mine)

This will be our transition point. We have considered John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus and it significance in our lives.

Now let us consider Jesus the Baptizer, as spoken of in the Word of God and its significance in our lives.

blessings, a follower of Christ, deo

Let us go forth!

Asbury College ‘Revival’

In the past two weeks, our nation and other nations throughout the world have been exposed to a new headline in the news and maybe even in their newspapers. For sure, it has been a topic on the internet. What am I referring too?

I am referring to what took place at Asbury College on February 8, 2023.

What did take place? It appears that the operative word is ‘revival’. The word itself elicits many divergent and interesting thoughts. Those thoughts go back through Church history and have been written about by many authors, theologians and history buffs throughout the years. Some of writer’s thoughts rejoice in what took place; and some of the writer’s thoughts rebuke and question what took place.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, I am none of those; but I would like to share with you some thoughts about what has taken place. I have not been there. I have watched some reporting of what has taken place; and I have seen a few interviews with people who have shared their insights and perspectives.

What is the purpose of ‘revival’? Ultimately, the purpose lies in the heart and mind of God. As I have heard others share, the concern they have is, will there be the fruit of the revival lived out in changed lives? Lives that will seek to live and serve the Lord obediently obeying His Word, and fulfilling the life that the Lord has chosen for them to live.

The foundation for ‘revival’ is Christ. He is the “Chief Cornerstone”, Isaiah 28:16 (TLV), “Therefore thus says Adonai Elohim (The Lord God): Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone, a firm foundation–whoever trusts will not flee in haste.” To this I would add, Paul’s words written in I Corinthians 2:2 (TLV), “For I decided not to know about anything among you except Yeshua the Messiah–an Him crucified.”

Prior to those words, Paul had written to the Corinthian Church, the following:

I Corinthians 1:22-24 (TLV) says, “For Jewish people ask for signs and Greek people seek after wisdom, but we proclaim Messiah crucified–a stumbling block to the Jewish people and foolishness to Gentile people, but to those who are called (both Jewish and Greek people), Messiah, the power of God and the wisdom of God.” Is it possible that some people will stumble over what is taking place and perceive it as foolishness? Unfortunately, yes.

Peter and John standing before the Sanhedrin, having been arrested for proclaiming that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead (Acts 4:2) were asked “By what power or in what name do you do this?” Peter answered.

There may be some who make the same assertion about what they are watching taking place.

Acts 4:8-12, (TLV):

“Then Peter, filled with the the Ruach ha-Kodesh, (Holy Spirit) said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a mitzvah (commandment) done for a sick man, as to how this fellow was healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Yeshua ha-Mashiach ha-Natzati (Jesus Christ of Nazareth)–whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead–this one stands before you whole This Yeshua is the stone–rejected by you, the builders–that has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” ” (inserts mine)

This is the foundation of the ministry of the Church. Paul writing to the Church in Ephesus says in Ephesians 2:18-22 (TLV):

“…for through Him we both have access to the Father by the same Rauch (Spirit). So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household. You have been built on the foundation made up of the emissaries (Apostles) and prophets, with Messiah Yeshua Himself being the cornerstone. In Him the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple for the Lord. In Him, you also are being built together into God’s dwelling place in the Rauch (Spirit).” (inserts mine)

This is the foundation of the work being done in the lives of the students (and others) at Asbury College. Some call it revival. Some call it a visitation. Some may call it God’s Intervention. Others believe that it is the Third Awakening taking place in our nation. One headline I saw today on Google said, Asbury Revival, a ‘Spontaneous Outpouring’. What ever you call it, the fact is that it has happened.

Did you know that this is not the first time an outpouring like this has happened at Asbury College. The first outpouring was in 1905, then 1908, 1921, 1950, 1958, 1970, 1992, and 2006. 2023 is the 9th time this has occurred at Asbury College. Interestingly, most have occurred in the month of February.

I submit that the foundation of any true ‘revival’ must be upon Christ, Who is the chief-cornerstone, and the message of the gospel, which is grounded solely in ‘Christ Crucified’. Any other motivation or foundation is suspect. It must be focused on the Lord.

From what I have heard and read, the focus is on Christ.

Having made that statement, is it possible for God to work in the hearts of a people apart from what I just stated? I said that my previous statement is based upon God coming to His people to do a work in their lives; to turn them away from their sins; to have them repent; and to be free from the bondages that have caused them to be incarcerated by sin; and to restore them to a right relationship with Him that would lead to a deeper fellowship with Him on a daily basis. That is what is on the heart and mind of God for His people.

To answer the question, I raised, I would have you consider the city of Nineveh that responded to God’s Word through His prophet, Jonah. Nineveh was not God’s people Israel; but they responded to God’s Word. They fasted, prayed, and repented, and God relented destroying the city at that time.

Jonah 3:7-9 (TLV), says, ” “He(king of Nineveh)made a proclamation saying: “In Nineveh, by the decree of the king and his nobles, no man or beast, herd or flock, may taste anything. They must not graze nor drink water. But cover man and beast with sackcloth. Let them cry out to God with urgency. Let each one turn from his evil way and from the violence in his hands. Who know, maybe God may turn and relent, and turn back from his burning anger, so that we may not perish.” “

What did God do? Jonah 3:10, ( TLV) “When God saw their deeds–that they turned from their wicked ways–He relented from the calamity that He said He would do to them, and did not do it.”

Question: Did Nineveh experience a ‘revival’? I guess it depends on our definition of revival. But we cannot excuse the fact that God did a mighty work in their midst.

Returning to my thoughts to Asbury College, God has not come to Asbury College with the purpose to judge them as He did sending His prophet telling them to repent or else judgement would happen.

Then what took place?

Consider this thought, fallow ground is being broken up. What does that mean? Picture with me a generation of young people who are barren in their spiritual understanding, dry, parched, and weary with religion and the troubles that are faced daily in the world. They may appear to be happy and satisfied on the outside, but inwardly they are unhappy, sad, and without hope. Mentally, they may be exhausted from the daily rhetoric that they are bombarded with in the media, especially social media. They are pressed down in their minds. They are not living in freedom within themselves. They are discouraged, depressed, and in despair.

Fallow ground is a piece of land that has been left unattended, intentionally or unintentionally. It has become hard, maybe even cracked, and appears to be totally barren. I suggest that the student’s hearts are fallow ground that they, themselves, have left unattended intentionally, or unintentionally.

In the Old Testament, the prophet Hosea was used by the Lord to confront His people, Israel, with their sin. The Lord was stern with His people through the prophet; but the Lord did not leave them without hope. Why? Because God loves His people. He is in covenant love with them.

In the opening section of the Book of Hosea, of the THE SPIRIT FILLED LIFE BIBLE , the following is written describing the conditions in the nation of Israel at the time of the prophet Hosea. (Please bear with me.)

“The Book of Hosea is about a people who need to hear the love of God, a God who wants to tell them He loves them, and the unique way God chooses to demonstrate His love to His people. (Do you see the similarity of this what is took place at Asbury College?) The people think that love can be bought…that love is the pursuit of self-gratification…and that loving unworthy objects can bring positive benefits. ( Ring any bells in our culture?) God wants Israel (His people) to know His love, which reaches out for unlikely and unworthy objects (we are all unworthy) … which guides with gentle discipline, and which persists in spite of the peoples’ running and resisting (Any parallels come to mind?) The problem is how to get God’s message of love to a people not inclined to listen, and not inclined to understand if they do listen. ( I cannot comment on whether or not the students at Asbury College fit into what was just said about God’s people; however, it would not surprise if some did?)

On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, the chapel message was about God’s love. The challenge was to learn to love as God loved. A number of students stayed to seek the Lord. Another person followed up the chapel speaker continuing to discuss God’s love. In that atmosphere God came, and His Presence was ‘felt’, ‘experienced’, and ‘overwhelmed’ the students, however, you choose to describe it. God was there by His Holy Spirit, and lives were changed; sin was confessed; weeping occurred; and the students embraced the Presence of God, and God the Father embraced the students in His Love.

Returning to Hosea, in the context of Hosea 10:12, God has been speaking to His people about their sin. Hosea 10:12 (TLV), says, “Sow to yourselves righteousness. Reap in accord with covenant love. Break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek Adonai, until He come and showers righteousness on you.”

Let me review and then proceed. As in Hosea, God has not given up on this generation of young people. In the chapel service, God spoke to the students through His Word. The Spirit of God moved upon the hearts of the students. The students took what was being said to ‘heart’ and acted upon it. The students did not understand that their hearts and lives were fallow ground. God’s Word, ministered to the students; the Holy Spirit stepped in and began to move in their midst. The Lord, by His Spirit, visited the lives of the students individually. The students responded with worship-they prayed and praised the Lord. By doing this, unbeknownst to the them they were beginning to break up their fallow ground, the fallow ground of their hearts.

A few days ago, I was reminded of these words spoken by Rev. Paul Schoch (1916-2009). “Praise is the plough that prepares the heart for the planting of the promises.” I shared this with my wife Christine. She remembered them too. And then she said, “This is what is happening at Asbury.” Yes! I saw it. And now I am sharing with you what I believe is part of the truth of the visitation of God at Asbury College.

The students, who stayed after the Chapel service, entered into a time of ploughing their hearts that had become fallow ground for whatever reasons. Their worship of prayer and praise broke up the hardness of the surface of their hearts; as they continued to worship, their prayer and praise began to turn over the earth beneath the surface; a softening of their hearts took place and they were ministered to by the Lord. The Word tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3)

What began as a regular chapel service at Asbury College on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, exploded into a mighty outpouring of God’s love, Presence, and working in the hearts of all those who sought the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:17, 18 (TLV) : “Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Rauch (Spirit) Adonai is, there is freedom. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord , are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory–just as from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (insert mine)

These students are being set free from the bondages that have shackled their lives. They have thrown off “every weight and entangling sin” (Hebrews 12:1 (TLV), that has burdened them down. Now they can as Hebrews tells us, “Let us run with endurance the race set before us, focusing on Yeshua, the initiator and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2 TLV)

However you want to describe what took place beginning on February 8 at Asbury College, one thing is for certain. God came into their midst. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They were all there.

The students responded, they prayed and praised, the Holy Spirit ploughed the fallow ground, the student’s hearts were prepared for the planting of the promises of God into their lives, and the Lord ministered freedom to the students.

Galatians 5:1 (TLV) says, “For freedom, Messiah set us free–so stand firm, and do not be burdened by a yoke of slavery again.”

So, I would say to the students, Stand firm, and don’t go back to your former lifestyle.

The blessing is, as I have heard others say, you do not personally have to go to Asbury College to be ministered to by the Lord. Seek the Lord where you are, call upon His Name, break up your fallow ground, begin with prayer and praise. The same Godhead Who visited Asbury College will visit you when you seek Him with all your heart.

It is time to seek the Lord, pray for those at Asbury that they will continue on with the Lord.

Let us go forth, a brother in Christ, deo

Jesus’ Boldness

This is the sixth in a series of blogs about Luke 2:1-52.

This concludes a series that began with the Incarnation.

Mary and Joseph have found Jesus. Jesus had chosen to stay in Jerusalem after the celebration of the feast of Passover and talk with the teachers of the Torah in the Temple. All things considered that doesn’t appear to be wise. At least three days had come and gone since Mary and Joseph had left Jerusalem with a caravan assuming that Jesus was present traveling with “relatives and friends” (Luke 2: 44, TLV).

His parents have been through an emotional ‘hell’. Upon finding Jesus, Mary has confronted her Son with the question, “Child, why did you do this to us?” (TLV)

I would like to interject this thought. To our knowledge, no angel has showed-up during this episode in the life of Joseph and Mary to give them instructions about what was taking place; what was about to happen; or what they were going to experience. God, the Father, did it differently. The parents were on their own. The angels had served their purpose in the formative stages of the life of Jesus. Now, no more angels. The Torah has and is governing the family.

Therefore, I propose to you that this episode in the life of Mary and Joseph becomes an awakening in their hearts to see and experience Jesus with a new understanding. Mary must realize that ‘Jesus is no longer a Child’. Joseph must recognize that ‘the Child is a Bar Mitzvah, a son of the commandment’. Jesus, according to the Torah now ‘Belongs’ to the Jewish adult community. But, what does that mean with regards to His relationship with His mother and father, right now, tomorrow, and the future ?

Where did they find Him?

He was sitting, conversing with the teachers of the Torah. And, it appears that He was holding His own in the conversation. The teachers of the Torah were amazed at His understanding and His responses. Can we safely assume that Jesus was expressing ‘wisdom’ that the teachers of the Torah believed was beyond His years?

(remember, the definition of ‘precocious’; it said of a child, that it was expressing ‘wisdom’ beyond his/her years?) (insert mine)

Jesus has been separated from His parents for at least three days. Jesus obviously has exercised poised resourcefulness. For me, this speaks of His upbringing, His ability to take care of Himself, and His personal strength.

Verse 49 (TLV) is Jesus’ response to the moment, to His parents, and about His future. Jesus says, “Why were you searching for Me? Didn’t you know that I must be about the things of My Father?”

Sounds like Jesus has everything under control.

I believe that Jesus understood what being 12 meant at this time in His life. Jesus had remained in Jerusalem because that is what His Father had directed Him to do. Jesus is no longer a ‘Child’ in the eyes of the Jewish community; He has ‘Become’ a ‘son of the commandment’; and He, now, ‘Belongs’ as an Adult to the Jewish nation into which He was born, but don’t forget, He is 12.

Can we conclude that Jesus is exhibiting a ‘Boldness’? He is seeking to do His Father’s will. This boldness has caused a ‘tear’ in the relationship between Himself and His father and mother; and though it has caused momentary grief, it is a necessary grief, that will initially hurt, but be healed; however, we are aware that a greater ‘tear’ ‘will be experienced by His mother, as she witnesses Her Son’s ministry that leads Him to the cross to be crucified.

Read the narrative carefully of the life of Jesus in Luke 2. Directing our thoughts to two verses, verse 39 says (TLV) “When Joseph and Miriam had completed everything according to the Torah of Adonai, they returned to the Galilee, to their own city of Natzeret (Nazareth).” Verse 41 says, “Now His parents were going every year to Jerusalem for the Passover feast.” Jesus is in Jerusalem at this time because Joseph made sure his family kept the Torah. Jesus is being bold and in His Boldness, He is being strong: body, soul, spirit. Jesus is keeping the Torah, accountable for His own actions and responsibilities.

Returning to verse 49, there is nothing in Jesus’ response that is “childish’. It speaks of Luke 2:40 (TLV), “The Child kept growing and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon Him.”

This 12 year old is manifesting the fruit of verse 40 in the presence of the teachers of the Torah and also expressing it to His parents. What His parents had witnessed for the past 12 years in their quiet, respectful home is now blossoming (remember that was part of the definition of the word ‘precocious’ that we considered in the previous blog). His blossoming is a manifestation of the ‘favor of God’ that was upon Him. That favor is Grace! The word “favor’ is the Greek word, ‘charis’-grace.

Simply put again, making a strong statement, this 12 year old ‘Bar Mitzvah’ standing before Mary and Joseph, responding to His mother is no long the Child as His mother had known Him.

I submit that verse 49, which is Jesus’ answer, respectfully responds to His parents with a quiet boldness that left them amazed by His answer; just as the teachers of the Torah had been amazed by His answers to them. Jesus is not challenging His parents; nor is He ridiculing them. Let’s look at Jesus’ answer again.

“Why were you searching for Me? Didn’t you know that I must be about the things of My Father?”

Luke provides for us what many of us may be thinking. To what degree of significance did His parents understand this moment in the life of Jesus at the age of 12 years old and coming to the feast of Passover? I would say that they envisioned their pilgrimage like the other family’s from their town of Nazareth. Their Son has turned 12; He has now passed from Childhood to being responsible as an Adult under the Torah; and He is responsible for His own actions. Nothing wrong with that, except, Jesus is more than a natural son, He is the Son of God/Son of Man. God in the flesh. He is unique. There is no one else like Him, then or now, or in the future. That is why what has transpired in the life of Jesus and His mother and father is significant.

Interruption: I just had this thought and I want to express it: Mary is ‘giving birth’ again. She is experiencing the ‘birth’ of an Adult Son. Do you see it? or am I imagining it? this time it is in her heart.

Verse 50 (TLV) tells us that “But they did not grasp the message He was telling them.” And if the teachers of the Torah heard this same conversation, I do not believe they understood it either.

And we know Pharisees and the teachers of the Torah didn’t understand Him when He was an Adult ministering for three plus years on His way to the cross.

Verses 51-52, are an incredible revelation in the life of Christ. Remember, Jesus is 12 years old. He has entered ‘Belonging’ to the Jewish community. He has been ‘Bar Mitzvah, a son of the commandment’; He is now recognized as being an Adult and responsible for His actions. As stated previously, it is easy to recognize that the ‘favor of God was upon Him’ based upon His interaction with the teachers of the Torah and His response to His parents. Ok, you have said this before; I know, but…

Question: How did this 12 year old young adult live with His earthly parents after having this spiritual encounter orchestrated by His Heavenly Father, in the Temple (His Father’s House) talking with the teachers of the Torah and causing disruption in His parents lives?

Verse 51 (TLV) tells us that He went back home to Nazareth with His parents and “was obedient to them.” Jesus didn’t flaunt His age before His parents. Jesus didn’t have an attitude that said, ‘I’m an adult now, and I will do things My way’. I am the Son of God, step aside. He didn’t think of Himself more highly than He ought to think. As the Son of Man, He continued to humble Himself and was obedient to His parents and to the Torah. (boldness mine)

Why are the words ‘humble‘ and ‘obedient‘ an important words?

Jesus is living out Philippians 2:5-8 (TLV) “Have this attitude in yourselves, which also was in Messiah Yeshua”…

“Who, though existing the form of God, did not consider being equal to God a thing to be grasped. But He emptied Himself–taking on the form of a slave, becoming the likeness of men (Incarnation) and being found in appearance as a man. He humbled Himself–becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (insert, boldness mine).

Remember Jesus is the Son of Man/Son of God, the Second Adam, in the flesh. He is living a sinless life. He is growing into Manhood. He is fulfilling the Word of God perfectly (See Matthew 5:48). I Peter 1:13-16 (TLV), the Apostle Peter exhorts us, “So brace your minds for action. Keep your balance. And set your hope on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Yeshua the Messiah. Like obedient children, do not be shaped by the cravings you had formerly in your ignorance. Instead, just like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in everything you do. For it is written, “Kedoshim you shall be, for I am kadosh.” (You shall be holy, for I am holy) (emphasis mine) This requires walking humbly before the Lord. What did Jesus teach about humility? Matthew 23:12 (TLV), “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

Holiness is the life that Jesus lived as the Son of God/Son of Man. He was perfectly Holy because in Him was no sin. Here is an acronym for the word H.O.L.Y. — Humble Obedience Loving Yahweh. This is the lifestyle that Jesus walked out here in human flesh.

Remember Philippians 5:5 (TLV) instructs us to “Have this attitude in yourselves, which also was in Messiah Yeshua.” That is a daunting statement. Apart from Christ in us it is impossible to fulfill. Only by the Grace of God can we learn to walk in the likeness of Christ.

This is the attitude that Jesus lived as He grew up in preparation for His Ministry, and the attitude that He continued to live while fulfilling His Ministry.

How long was He at home with His parents? To answer that question, we need to keep reading. Beginning with Luke 3:1 and following, we can find the answer to that question. Luke 3:23 (TLV) says, “Yeshua was about thirty years old when He began His ministry.” Doing the math, 30 -12 = 18. So Jesus apparently stayed home and helped His family for around 18 years; and since many believe that Joseph passed away while Jesus was still at home, then Jesus assumed taking care of the family, because He was the oldest Son. How can I say that with confidence? When Jesus was hanging on the cross, He spoke to John to take care of Mary His mother; and told Mary that John was now her son. He made sure His mother was taken care of. (John 19:26-27)

Simply stated, Jesus submitted to His father and mother and lived with them until the time came when He had to be about ‘the things’ of His Heavenly Father. That ‘thing’ was to be “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. (John 1:29)

Reflecting now on verse 51 (TLV), Luke writes about how all of this affected Mary.

“But His mother treasured all these words in her heart.” Sound familiar, the shepherds had come to worship the new born King. The shepherds had told Mary what had been revealed to them in the fields that night. Luke 2:19 (TLV) says that Mary upon hearing these words…”treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

Jesus’ words spoken to His mother, Mary, quieted her anxiousness, her sorrow and her fears.

I highlighted the words ‘treasured‘ on purpose. I found out in the Strong’s concordance that they are two different Greek words. The first one, used in Luke 2:19 means ‘to keep, observe, keep closely together; the second one, used in Luke 2:51 means ‘ to watch thoroughly, to observe strictly’.

Based upon these two different words, do you see a difference? The difference that I see, is why I am saying, a ‘birthing’ took place in Mary’s heart.

What I observe here is the ‘mothering process’ that explains about how Mary ‘handled’ the early years of Jesus’ life; and then how Mary “handled” the latter years of Jesus’ life. From Jesus’ birth to age 12, as a mother, she watched over Him, making sure everything was right. She was a ‘hand’s on’ mother that kept a ‘close watch approach on Him’, but was not suffocating. Now, at age 12, Jesus is entering the next official stage of His Jewish life. Mary needs to change her ‘mothering’ routine. Jesus is going to live out His Bar Mitzvah. This means that Jesus is no longer a Child. Mary musts take a ‘hand’s off’ approach as HIs mother. Realizing that He is 12, from now on she is to ‘observe’ Him living out His life as He matures into adulthood. This is the ‘birthing’ revelation that Mary had about Jesus in her heart– Birthed out of Childhood into Adulthood. Isn’t this the exact same thing that we as parents need to understand and embrace as we mother and father our own children.

In the beginning, before Jesus was born in the flesh, God, the Father, sent His angel to speak to both Joseph and Mary and tell them what was going to take place. God continued to use angels as they were necessary to establish this family in a safe place. Over the past 12 years the family has been dwelling in that safe place. The place is still safe; but the dynamics are changing because Jesus is now 12 years old. His Heavenly Father has come into the midst of this family through the Torah and showed Mary and Joseph that Jesus is now beginning a new stage of development at the age of 12. He now ‘Belongs’ to the Jewish community in a new way. From a practical parenting standpoint that means that the process of fathering and mothering must change with regards to Jesus’ age and development.

This brings me to a final comparison. Compare Luke 2:40 with Luke 2:52. What similarities and differences do you observe? (TLV)

This is what I would like you to observe ? Luke 2:40 is Jesus’ growth and development as a Child, as typified, by what Mary treasured in her heart. Luke 2:52 is Jesus’ growth and development as an Adult, as typified, by what Mary treasured in her heart. Luke 2:52 is the maturing of Luke 2:40. What Mary treasured in seed form, grew for 12 years and has now ‘birthed’ into what she will treasure watching her Son mature.

Notice the wording of each verse.

Luke 2:40 (TLV) “The Child kept growing and became strong, filled (to make full, complete,[picture to the brim]) with wisdom; and the favor [grace] of God was upon Him.” (inserts mine)

Luke 2:52 (TLV) “And Yeshua (not the word, Child) kept increasing(to advance in amount, to grow[picture what was originally given is now maturing])in wisdom and stature(as big as, how great), and in favor[grace] with God and men(His influence and recognition is expanding in the community; He was becoming an integral part of the community of Nazareth; His influence was beyond the ‘four walls’ of His household.) I would like to share a scripture that substantiates His integral part in the community showing how He grew in favor with men. Luke 4:16 (TLV) tells us, “And He came to Natzeret (Nazareth), where He had been raised. As was His custom, He went into the synagogue on Shabbat and He got up to read.” I believe that this is a testimony of the type of life that He had lived from the time He was 12 years of age until He began His formal ministry about 18 years later. (inserts and emphasis mine)

Do you see the process in its beginning stages of His Birth through Boyhood to age 12; then from age 12, His Bar Mitzvah, through His Adult life until it’s time to enter into His ministry about age, 30? All of this, Mary had been and was now treasuring in her heart. Mary was in the transition. Her transition required embracing a ‘birthing’ into the next level of her ‘mothering’ responsibilities in Jesus’ life.

The nuances between the two verses are significant. A seed breaks forth out of the ground into the sunlight; the plant begins to grow; the plant becomes strong; the plant blossoms; the plant blooms; the fruit of the plant is partaken of… and then the plant dies. Why?

Jesus said (John 12:24 TLV) “Amen, Amen I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.” What is Jesus referring too? His sacrificial death on the cross, as the Lamb of God.

But He is also referring to much more.

I want to close with the following verses found in John 12:25-26 (TLV),

“He who loves his life will lose it, and one who hates his life in this world will keep it forever. If any man serves Me, he must follow Me ;and where I am, there also will My servant be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”

To live out these words requires humility, obedience, and agape (God’s love).

In Christ, we ‘Belong’ to the Father; and we are all in the process of ‘Becoming’.

As we continue our walk with the Lord, we grow and blossom. I am sure that you are familiar with the words, ‘bloom where you are planted’. Those words are still true. Jesus bloomed where He was planted. And as we bloom where we are planted; we, too, will grow in favor/grace with God and man.

blessings, let us go forth, to serve in the Kingdom of God, deo

Part 6

Belonging To What?

This is the fifth in a series of blogs about Luke 2:1-52.

Your child is lost, you have spent a long time looking for your child, and finally you find him or her. What is your response? relief, anger, frustration, confusion, love…maybe all of them in some form or another, but most likely a lot of emotional mixture.

Without sounding too pious, in this circumstance, we must remember Who this Child is and what His parents have been chosen to do. We are not Joseph and Mary. But under these circumstances looking for our lost child, would that negate having a concerned ‘loving’ response when we found our child? I assume that many of us would be ticked off, and find it very hard to be loving. Is that true of all of us? Probably not; but I would hope that we could have a loving response; at least somewhat of a loving response. But under the emotional stress of looking for our ‘missing’ child, most of us don’t know how we would respond. Do you?

Can you imagine what it might have been like realizing that you didn’t know where Jesus, the ‘Son of God’, was, the One, who had been committed to your up bringing?

Let’s remember what the angel of the Lord had told each of them some 13 years earlier.

Matthew 1:20 (TLV) “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Miriam (Mary) as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Rusch ha-Kodash (the Holy Spirit). She will give birth to a son and you shall call His name Yeshua; for He will save His people from their sin.” (inserts mine)

Luke 1:30-33 (TLV) the angel spoke to her, “…do not be afraid, Mariam (Mary), for you have found favor with God. Behold you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you shall call His name, Yeshua. He will be great and will be called Ben-Elohim (the Son of God). Adonai Elohim (the Lord God) will give Him the throne of David, His father. He shall reign over the house of Jacob for all eternity, and His kingdom will be without end.” (inserts mine).

No pressure, right?

Both of them were probably really afraid. Where is the angel when you need him?

Jesus is ‘Becoming’. As I shared in the previous blog, God is ‘presenting’ His Son in the Temple. God, the Father, is giving Jesus, His ‘Bar Mitzvah”. Jesus has become according to the Torah (Law) a ‘son of the commandment’. Jesus is also now entering into ‘Belonging’, ‘Belonging’ to what? He is ‘Belonging’ to the Jewish nation of Israel as One responsible for His own actions and the keeping of the Torah.

This ‘Belonging’ has been directed by God, His Father, according to the Torah in the presence of the scholars/teachers of the Torah in the Temple. I would like to say that this is a ‘special’ moment for the Father in the life of His Son, Jesus.

verse 46 says, that Jesus’ parents “found Him sitting in the center of the teachers listening to them and asking them questions.” Jesus is exercising His wisdom interacting with the teachers of the Torah. Do you think that Mary and Joseph recognized this as a special moment in the life of Jesus?

Before answering that, I would like to share a thought that I cannot prove.

I wonder if any of the teachers involved in this encounter with Jesus, when He was twelve years old, were present in Jerusalem, listening to Him, when He, as an adult, was teaching in the Temple during His ministry? Consider this ‘aha’ moment: “I remember Him… He was… 12… we were in the Temple… He was sitting in the center…we were encircled around Him… we were talking back and forth…suddenly His parents showed up and…

verse 47 (TLV) records the reaction of the Temple scholars, “and all those hearing Him were astonished at His understanding and His answers.” That same amazement was paramount throughout His entire adult life. All who heard Him were amazed. Why were they amazed? They had a difficult time comprehending the depth of the conversation that was happening between them and Jesus. It was the ‘wisdom’ that He accumulated during His formative years .

I see, sitting before the teachers of the Torah, a well behaved, good looking, young boy who spoke like no other 12 year old they had ever encountered before and ‘the favor of God was upon Him’.

What we do not know is the pattern of formal education that Jesus has had as a Child growing up. But, I believe that it is safe to conclude that Joseph made sure that Jesus’ education as a Child was handled properly according to the Torah and to the educational opportunities available in Nazareth. His education provided the back round and the input that became His wisdom.

Deuteronomy 6:4-8 says, TLV

Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words, which I am commanding you today, are to be on your heart. You are to teach them diligently to your children, and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when to lie down and when you rise up. Bind theme as a sign on your hand, they are to be as frontlets between your eyes, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Part of the mystery of the Incarnation is stated by Paul in Philippians 2:5-8(TLV), “Have this attitude in yourselves, which also was in Messiah Yeshua, Who, though existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal to God a thing to be grasped. But He emptied Himself–taking on the form of a slave, becoming the likeness of men and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself–becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

At this time, all, I want to reflect upon is what does this mean in terms of His ‘wisdom’ as a Child? As God, He is omniscient; but, He emptied Himself of His prerogatives as God. What does that mean in real life, having been born as a Baby and then in the process of growing up as a Child? This is unknown to us.

I sought to find out what Jewish education consisted of at the time of Jesus’ Childhood. There was a lot to read. In short, the father is responsible for his children’s education. There were centers for learning; and there was a time table of education based upon the child’s age. Restating what I said earlier, I think that it is safe to conclude that Joseph made sure that his children’s education was properly taken care of, and that included Jesus.

Two blogs ago, I encouraged readers to read Luke 2:41-50 and consider the question why could, what has been described in this passage, been difficult for Jesus’ mother and father to comprehend?

Let me begin restating, I believe that since the family’s return from exile in Egypt, having been sent there to avoid Herod’s rampage to kill Jesus, they had lived a quiet, respectful, ‘normal’ life in Nazareth. I conclude this based upon Luke 2:39-42. However, we must consider this: that because of the special events surrounding the birth of Jesus, it seems reasonable to assume that His parents must have anticipated a time when things would change; the problem was not knowing when that change would occur and under what circumstances.

We, too, as parents know that a time comes when changes take place in the dynamics of our family life as our children grow up.

Guess what? The time for change has come, according to the Torah. Now that His Son has turned twelve, God, the Father, is moving His Son, Jesus forward, governed by the Torah. Jesus goes to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Passover traveling with His parents and stays behind to speak with the teachers of the Torah. His parents discover Him missing; like normal parents, they panic; and trace their steps backward to Jerusalem. And finally they find Him. Now what?

What is His parent’s response?

verse 48 (TLV): “When His parents saw Yeshua (Jesus), they were overwhelmed (KJV-amazed; NKJV-astonished)” “and His mother said to Him, Child, why did you do this to us? (inserts mine)

Question: Is this comment a negative confrontation by His mother? “Look! Your father and I were searching for you frantically (TLV)” (KJV-sorrowing; NKJV-anxiously). (insert mine)

I am not a theologian. I have not studied Greek. But as a parent, I think I hear exasperation; at least, surprise. In essence I hear Mary saying, “Jesus you’ve never treated us this way before.” Do you sense what I am sensing as a parent? Many years ago I wrote a note to myself in my Bible about this passage, wondering if, at this moment, Mary had forgotten, “What she had pondered in her heart” (Luke 2:19) (TLV), 12-13 years earlier, when Jesus was born, and she was holding Him, wrapped in swaddling clothes on that first night in a stable.

Looking up the definition of the word ‘frantically’, it means “distraught with fear, anxiety or other emotion; it also means in a hurried, excited and chaotic way.” (Oxford Collegiate Dictionary) . I conclude that Mary and Joseph reacted like normal parents, having been pushed to the edge emotionally, very anxious and distraught because their Child has been missing for three days.

In the KJV, it says, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” (emphasis mine)

In the NKJV, it says, “Son, why have you done this to us? Look! your father and I have sought You anxiously.” (emphasis mine)

In the TLV, it says, Child, why did you do this to us? Look! Your father and I were searching for You frantically.” (emphasis mine)

Question: Was this confrontation private, or in front of the scholars of the Torah? Did His mother and father walk into center of the circle and confront their Son? I don’t know for sure but just reading verses 46-48 (TLV), and taking the verses at face value, it appears to me likely that may have happened.

I do not know what the Greek tenses are.

Follow this thought: “After three days they found Him in the Temple sitting in the center of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all those who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and His answers. When His parents saw Yeshua (where was He? He was sitting in the center of the teachers), they were overwhelmed. And His mother said to Him (no indication of movement by Jesus to His parents or vice-versa; therefore, it appears that Mary interrupted the proceedings) “Why did you do this to us?” ” (I suggest Mary, seeing her Son, impulsively interrupted what she saw before her, and blurted out her question. Rude, yes; but I do not think it is totally out of the question.) (inserts mine)

But we do know how Jesus responded as a twelve year old ‘Bar Mitzvah’. I used that designation on purpose. His mother (TLV) called Him Child. Other translations use Son. He is most assuredly a Son, especially The Son; I wonder if His mother still considered Him a Child? I am assuming that the translators of the TLV know that meaning of ‘Child’ is an appropriate translation for the Greek word used. The word ‘Son’ (Strong’s Concordance) means child, daughter, son. So, I am back to my original question, does His mother still consider Jesus as a Child in her eyes, when in reality, He is 12, and according to the Torah, Bar Mitzvah, now an Adult Son? Let’s let the event do the talking.

The dynamics of this Divine Intervention by Jesus’ Father having His Son interact with the teachers of the Torah in the Temple has caused an ’emotional upheaval’ in the life of Jesus’ parents. Jesus’ ‘Belonging’ is undergoing transition. But doesn’t that happen to all parents as they go through experiences that affect their relationships with their children? Discernment is required for letting go; especially knowing when is the right time and how to let go.

So, I will conclude this section with another question.

If Mary considers her Son still a Child, what does that tell us about how Mary envisions her Son at this moment in her life? in her heart?

TBC, a journeyer in Christ, deo

Part 5

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