Friend or Foe?

James 4:4b.   Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Man must accept responsibility for the fact that his nature has corrupted the world.

Genesis 6:11, 12. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.  And God looked upon the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all mankind had corrupted his way upon the earth.

The spirit of the world is common and familiar to the human spirit. We must be sanctified to serve the Lord in newness of life by the Spirit of Truth.

1 John 2:15-17.  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing  away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever.

All creation groans under the burden of man’s fall from grace.

Romans 8:19-21.  For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;  because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 

Jesus Christ restores our relationship with God, that was severed by sin.

Isaiah 59:1, 2.  Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Man’s nature is hostile to the divine nature, which must be received as a gift of God.

2 Peter 1:4. Thereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

To be delivered from that nature, man must be separated from the world into the Kingdom of God; to experience deliverance from corruption.

Romans 5:10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

The divine nature is not obtained by genetics, personal improvement or education.

John 1:12, 13. As many as received Him, He gave the authority 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.

Life in Christ by the Will of God separates us to be useful to His purpose. Many have placed their hope in the Grace of God, but grace without purpose leads into error.

2 Timothy 1:8, 9.  Who has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

We must be born from above by the Grace of God through Jesus Christ, and receive the Holy Spirit to truly love God, and one another.

The Message: God Is Love.

1 John 4. 

My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.  My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love! This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.

God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.

We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.

Set Free from sin, set free to Love

 

Faithful Men

2 Timothy 2:2. And the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit unto faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

The Memorials of God exist to perpetuate the memory of His intent and purpose. A faithful man understands that his commitment is not only to learn and live in the Remembrance of the Lord, but also to discipleship and the passing on of the doctrine of Christ to faithful men. This is what brought about the calling of Abraham.

To Command your Children and your Household

Isaiah 18:19.   For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

This testimony of God concerning Abraham is echoed in the testimony of Cornelius.

Acts 10:2.  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.

A righteous man instructs others in the way of the Lord to keep right judgment.

Psalm 106:3.  Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that does righteousness at all times.

To Love what He Loves

Psalm 33:4, 5.  For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in the Spirit of Truth. He loves righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

To love righteousness and judgment is to abide in His presence by the Spirit of Truth; for “righteousness and judgment is the habitation of His Throne.”

A Righteous Nation under God

Jeremiah 22:3. Thus saith the Lord; Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.

We stir up our hearts by the Remembrance of His compassion for those who are afflicted.

Psalm 103:6. The Lord executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

Genuine conversion is only accomplished by the righteousness from above.

Isaiah 1:27. Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

Born from Above

1 John 2:29.   If you know that he is righteous, you know that every one that does righteousness is born of him.

This is the work of the Holy Spirit through faithful men.

John 16:8.  And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

 

 

Patient Endurance

Psalm 27:14.  Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart;  Wait, I say, on the Lord!  

Wait on the Lord is a very familiar expression, used many times in the Old Testament Psalms and Prophets. But it does not seem to be used in the New Testament at all, or does it?

In the Septuagint, the Greek used to express waiting is hupomeno and is used 17 times in the New Testament to express enduring patiently. These passages inform us of the true meaning of “to wait on the Lord”.

Mark 13:13.  And you will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.  

Matthew 24:13.   And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 

This is a very important teaching that Jesus shared with his disciples during his final instructions. Having taken this message to heart enabled them to endure the challenge of being the first apostles of the Gospel.

 2 Timothy 2:10.  Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 

Hebrews 12:7.  If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?  

James 1:12.  Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised those who love Him.  

1 Peter 2:20.    But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure, this is commendable before God.  

 1 Corinthians 13:7.   Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.                        

The Spirit of Meekness

The Spirit of Meekness manifests when the human spirit is yoked to the Holy Spirit, in obedience. To be directed by the Voice of the Lord.

The Gospel is unto the Meek

Isaiah 61:1.  The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek.

Psalm 22:26. The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek Him: your heart shall live forever.

Psalm 25:9. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

Psalm 37:11. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Psalm 76:8 & 9. You did cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, when God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.

Psalm 147:6. The Lord lifts up the meek: he casts the wicked down to the ground.

Psalm 149:4. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people: He will beautify the meek with salvation.

Isaiah 11:4.  With righteousness He shall  judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked.

Isaiah 29:19.  The meek shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

The Apostle Paul and the Spirit of Meekness

2 Corinthians 10:1.   I entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.

Galatians 5:22 & 23.  The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Galatians 6:1  if anyone is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore them in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself lest you be tempted.   

Ephesians 4:1-3. I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Colossians 3:12-14.  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a quarrel against one: even as Christ forgave you, so also do.  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfection.

Titus 3:2.  Speak evil of no man, be not a brawler. But be gentle, showing meekness unto all.

1 Timothy 6:11. Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life.

2 Timothy 2:24-26. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

We can only serve like Moses in the spirit of meekness.

Numbers 12:3.  Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. 

Psalm 45:4.  In your majesty ride victoriously, on behalf of truth, meekness and justice.  Let your right hand display awesome things. 

Zephaniah 2:3. Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger.

Meekness in the Healing Ministry

Hebrews 3:1-6 compares the Lord Jesus Christ as the High Priest of our profession to the faithfulness of Moses in shepherding Israel through the wilderness. Quoting the Lord in Numbers 12, Moses is said to have been “faithful in all My House”.

Hebrews 3:5 & 6. And Moses was truly faithful in all His house as a servant for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; but Christ as a son over his own house, whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.                                                                                                   

Statements with the word “if” are not the most popular among many believers but Jesus himself said:

Matthew 24:13.  But he who endures unto the end shall be saved.        

The admonition is then repeated: 

Hebrews 3:14. for we are made partakers of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.                                   

Hebrews 3:15  While it is said; today if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the provocation. 

Now quoting from Psalm 95 and again comparing the body of Christ to the “church in the wilderness”.

When Hebrews 3:5 says that Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, a unique Greek word is used, and translating as “a servant” clouds the importance of this statement.

The word doulos is used over 100 times in the New Testament to convey the idea of being a bondservant or purchased slaves of Christ. This one time the word therapon is used which means an attendant. This is the word from which is derived therapeia and the English word therapy. As the therapon to the church in the wilderness Moses attended to the needs of the people, in particular, to maintain a right relationship with the Spirit of the Lord.

To have a zeal for the church and body of Christ, we are being called like Moses to be faithful in all his house. The significance of this statement is only understood from the visitation of the Lord in Numbers 12.

Numbers 12:6-8. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all My house. With him will I speak face to face, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

Hebrews goes on to say that now we all can come boldly before the throne of grace. We have the same access, the same opportunity to come into the Lord’s presence. After spending time in the sanctuary of the Lord we can speak without presumptuous error and offence. We can be faithful in all his house. Consider now the application of this word study to a correct understanding of this teaching of Christ Jesus.

Luke 12:42.  Who then is a faithful and wise servant whom his lord will make ruler(?) over his household (therapeia) to give them meat in due  season?

To properly understand Jesus when he teaches on stewardship we must always remember his statements “the words that I speak to you are spirit and life” and “the flesh profits nothing”.

The concern here is not flesh, Jesus said:

John 4:32-34. I have meat to eat that you know not of, my meat is to do the will of him that sent me.                                                          

Jesus is seeking elect stewards like Moses who can be faithful in all his house, to see to the spiritual health of the congregation. To be a therapon to provide therapeia (healing) for the body of Christ.  As the two other uses of the word therapeia in Luke 9:11 and Revelations 22:2, where the word is translated healing. Does the Lord want us to rule people or heal people?

Luke 9:11.  And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received  them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. 

Revelation 22:2.   On either side of the river was a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.