Effective Prayer

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

James 5:16 KJV

• The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working ~ or The effective prayer of a righteous person has great power. ESV

The Apostle James has written this letter to believers, having been dispersed who were now living in cultural adversities and without the support of their former home church.  James writes to encourage them to remain stedfast in all things while they patiently wait for the return of the Lord. “He who endures to the end shall be saved” could be the background thought to James letter with the conclusion in chapter fives leaving us with his thoughts regarding prayer, praise and community.

An interesting note with regard to the King James Translation; the word “fervent” is not actually in the original Greek.  However it does use the Greek word ~ 2480 isxýō – properly, embodied strength that "gets into the fray" (action), i.e. engaging the resistance. For the believer, 2480 (isxýō) refers to the Lord strengthening them with combative, confrontative force to achieve all He gives faith for.

Let us begin with an understanding that all prayer is conversation with our Heavenly Father.  We commune; [to converse or talk together, usually with profound intensity, intimacy, etc.; interchange thoughts or feelings; to be in intimate communication or rapport:to commune with nature; interchange of ideas or sentiments].

It is through our communion with Him that we learn and grow up into Him in all things. We read our bibles in this position and attitude of communion. We read, we ask, we listen and we learn.  Leaning into Him to hear as He reveals truth to us about who He is and the way He works enables us to begin to hold ‘effective’ prayers.   

Our conversations (prayers) with our Heavenly Father begin by acknowledging our need to be rightly aligned with him :’Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’.  Jesus’ prayer for his disciples was for this perfect union: “that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one.”

James used the Greek word 1162 déēsis for ‘prayer’  which means: (deō, "to be in want, lack"; see the cognate 1189 /déomai, "praying for a specific, felt need") – heart-felt petition, arising out of deep personal need (sense of lack, want). [1162 (déēsis) ultimately roots back to 1211 /dḗ ("really") which likewise implies a felt need that is personal and urgent.

So we can glean that this prayer is a petition that is both personal and urgent and with strength required to meet resistance; thus, fervent prayer.

Then we have the word effective to consider.  What makes our prayers effective; 1754 energéō (from 1722 /en, "engaged in," which intensifies 2041 /érgon, "work") – properly, energize, working in a situation which brings it from one stage (point) to the next, like an electrical current energizing a wire, bringing it to a shining light bulb.

What makes our prayers effective, I would say, is our position of being right before the Father.  Fervent, effective prayers flow from a righteous man.  A righteous man is right before God.

In all our prayers, we begin by acknowledging our personal and absolute need for God.  To begin by joining with him in his purposes, one in His thoughts, purposes and ways. We want to hold the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of understanding in the knowledge of His will.

The practical application of this would simply be ~ ‘How do you (Father) see this?  What do you say about this?  How are you at work in this?   How do I join with you in what you are doing here and now?’

We hold our desires, our needs in a place of absolute submission to His will.  We assume nothing, until we know.  Until we know His will, there is the place of leaning into the Holy Spirit who makes intercession for according to the will of God.  He holds the mind and heart of God and prays the ‘right’ things.

We must be cautious about presumptuous prayers.  James included in his letter the reason we have unanswered prayers:

And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—   you want only what will give you pleasure. James 4:3 NLT

Our right alignment with God is a key to answered prayer. We are learning. Our  communion with God is a learning of Him. As we go about our daily lives we are enabled through our knowledge and understanding of Him.  We  can come to the place where we only do what we see our Father doing, saying only what we hear him say.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

The book of James

James…… to the twelve tribes in the dispersion

James 1:1

The Apostle James outlines various conditions in his epistle that believers may face and a right response to them.  These dispersed believers are living outside of the community that had been birthed and developed in( Acts chapter two) up to the time of Stephen’s persecution.  Following Stephen’s death we learn the church in Jerusalem suffered great persecution and believers scattered while the apostles stayed in Jerusalem.

It is believed that this letter from the Apostle James was the first of the New Testament writings.  As the overseer of ‘the church’ in Jerusalem, there would be a desire to make sure these scattered saints where continuing in the apostles doctrine, daily prayers, communion and fellowship. To that end, his epistle is filled with practical and insightful words of truth and wisdom designed to lead all the readers into right living in the midst of varying cultures.

James begins the letter with an encouragement to remain joyful under the trials and tribulations they are now and will continue to be facing in these new environments without the same ongoing support of their Christian community and apostolic oversight. As we move through all the words that are profitable for instruction and correction, we come to his final admonitions in chapter five.

There, he exhorts them to be patient until the coming of the Lord.  They were all obviously looking for his return, and the danger of growing weary in well doing must have been foremost as James writes; ‘Establish your hearts and remain steadfast for the coming of the Lord is at hand’.

James concludes his letter with a series of questions and answers by

• Are you suffering? Let him pray.

• Are you cheerful? Let him sing praise.

• “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

• Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed, the fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

With these very words James has established a foundation that the church has built upon through the ages.

Praying at all times, in all circumstances with the ability to rejoice through them all, was key within the early believers.  Dealing with the same thoughts and feelings we experience today, James’ words still provide, when embraced and practiced, the same strength and help.

We have a promise from Our Father, as James writes inspired by the Holy Spirit,

“the fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much” that I would like to take the next few Good Words and explore with you.

FELLOWSHIP OF SUFFERING

The Fellowship of Suffering

“Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”

This is Jesus’ question to James and John, recorded in Mark 10:35-40.

During communion, I found myself praying for a receptivity not only to the blessing communion brings but also the discipline it invites.  The phrase “the fellowship of His suffering” rose up from my Spirit and I began to commune with the Holy Spirit around this and came to our scripture today.

“Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”

‘Yes’ -at times- can be such a presumptuous answer.  The longer we live with Christ the greater our understanding of the cost required to serve Him.  The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak; yet, when sought, grace is found.  Jesus promised to never leave us alone, helpless or comfortless.

The bible tells us in Revelation 13:8 that Jesus was a lamb slain from the foundation of the world. His kingdom was prepared from the beginning in Matthew 25:34 and later that His was a body prepared.  Jesus, Hebrews records, delighted to do the will of His Father (Hebrews 10:5-7).  The Apostle Paul tells us, giving us an example to imitate, that his greatest press is to know Christ and the fellowship of His sufferings. (Philippians 3:7-12.)

From Williams New Testament translation we read from Philippians chapter 3 beginning with verse ten ~

“Yes, I long to come to know Him, that is, the power of his resurrection and so to share with Him His sufferings as to be continuously transformed by His death, in the hope of attaining, in some measure, the resurrection that lifts me out from among the dead.  It is not a fact that I have already secured it or already reached perfection, but I am pressing on to see if I can capture it, the ideal for which I was captured by Christ Jesus.”

The idea of dying daily is seen in Paul’s press.  The continuing process of transformation proceeds only through our choices of offering yielded obedience to our Lord.  Then, salvation from the temptation of sin flows in grace and peace that He alone brings.

This work yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are being trained through the discipline of denial.

As those called, chosen and set apart, there is a cross for each of us to bear.  There is a cup to drink from and a baptism to engage.

It is through these experiences that we are shaped into the servants of our Lord.  That place of intimacy is not found by seeking positions of prominence and prestige, as we all do, in immaturity and ignorance.  We learn this is not to be so among us.  Rather a life of submitted humility, not to be served, but to serve and give our life as a ransom for many.

The story continues, verse 39 of Mark 10 ~

“They said to Him,”We are able.”  And Jesus said to them, “the cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.”

Just for further contemplation ~ this Help Word Study reminds us baptism is a complete immersion.  No dipping of the toes.  And to clarify, I speak of the required total life discipleship that is immersed into becoming one with Him.

907 baptízō – properly, "submerge" (Souter), i.e. baptize (immerse, literally, "dip under").  907 (baptizō) implies submersion ("immersion") in contrast with 472/antéxomai ("sprinkle").

[As the root of 907/baptízō, 911 (báptō) signifies "dip under," "go below" which LS lists as a primary sense, along with "plunge, sink."  911 (baptō) is even used in antiquity of drowning.]

The Gospel of God

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe in the gospel.”

Mark 1:14-15 ESV

Once again, we find the word Gospel here as a continuation of a message bringing the hearers Good news of victory. Mark identifies firstly the message as the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; a message about Jesus.   Now we learn Jesus continues the message identifying it as the “Gospel of God”.

The phrase ‘gospel of God’ does not change who the message is about but rather who the message is from. Simply stated the Gospel of God is the message of God’s promise fulfilled.

When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Galatians 4:4

Jesus announces “the time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand”.  As Jesus begins to go about teaching and preaching His message, we learn it was a message with a new and living way. It was new wine not to be put into old wine skins.  It was a message with power and authority not seen before.  We learn this message upset the status quo in religious and political arenas.  We learn that Jesus’ message required “repentance and believing” to enter into this new Kingdom.  And, we learn that while it was received by multitudes, it was continually resisted.

The Apostle Paul enlarges the “gospel of God” in his letter to Rome.  From Chapter one,  where Paul declares he has been set apart for “the gospel of God” and continues in verse two ~

which He (God) promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake,

The Apostle Paul emphasizes this message has its foundation from the beginning of time. This message originated with God (Genesis 3:15)  The prophets through the ages decreed it and then wrote it down.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Faithful men and women believed it and watched for it. Luke 2:25-38. Now, we have been given a more sure word of prophecy in the fulfilment of God sending his son.

Jesus appeared in the fullness of time and his message still held a need for repentance.  Jesus preached, ‘Repent and believe in the gospel,' still being required to enter into this new Kingdom.  To those who believe he gave power to become the sons of God.

Now, with lives impacted and changed, we have been given stewardship of THIS message.  May we be found faithful stewards over His message.

That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.  I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes……”  Romans 1: 15-16

The Beginning of the Gospel

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God

…Mark 1:1

From Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words we find the word Gospel originally denoted a reward for good tidings; later, the idea of reward dropped, and the word stood for “the good news” itself. The Eng. word “gospel,” i.e. “good message,” is the equivalent of euangelion (Eng., “evangel”)

I like looking at “the beginning’s” of something.  They generally hold the blueprint for future practice.  Our verse today tells us about the “beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  It reveals to us that the beginning started with a message and a messenger.  “Behold I send my messenger before your face who will prepare your way.”

In Hebrew, the word for good tidings, or gospel, is besora and the bringer of the message is a mevaser. From an article written by Andrew J. Spallek @  http://www.ctsfw.net/media/pdfs/spallekoriginandmeaning.pdf. we find the word originally connected to messengers bringing word in battle.  It had connotations of victory. Spallek explains that since the message came to be associated with the battlefield and news of victory, every messenger from battle came, by extension, to be called a mevaser .This is the same word as evangelist in Greek.

We understand that this gospel of Jesus Christ is called “good news” because it announces to all that there is now a new King and Kingdom that gives life and liberty to all.

John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, prophesied over his son decreeing John was the beginning of the Lord promises fulfilled to His people.  John would give knowledge of this salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercies of our God.  To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace; Luke 1:67-79.

John the Baptist was literally the first messenger holding the good news of Jesus Christ. His message was not about himself, for we preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord; and led people into an awareness of their sin, repentance and salvation.  How much of our message in the church has changed today!   

‘I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’  Jesus to Paul in Acts 26:15-18.

Paul wrote to the church at Rome that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it was the power of God unto salvation.  How can they know unless someone tells them.  We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, committed with a word of reconciliation and charged with a ministry of reconciliation.  We, like the apostles in the upper room, have need of boldness to speak the word as we ought for signs and wonders to be done inHis name with all the glory unto Him. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the son of God, today continues with you and me.

Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way,

the voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight,’ ”

Mother's Day

He (Jesus) answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ Matthew 15:3-4

Culturally, we set aside this day to celebrate Mothers.  From God’s view there is an honour and respect we are to show Mothers daily. 

The first commandment we are given as children of our Heavenly Father (the one who has defined family and given it is place of order and value) is to Honour our parents in the Lord; Ephesians 6:1. This commandment comes with the promise “it will be well with you and you shall live long on the earth.”

Honor is something with give because of the role someone else holds in our life.  Respect is earned because of the way and quality a role is fulfilled.  The bible reminds us that while respect may at times be challenged, honour is the value we place on others in recognition of God’s creation.  ‘Everyone is to be honoured’ because all have value. ‘Fearfully and wonderfully made’ every individual is His workmanship. 

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honour to whom honour is owed. Rms 13:7

Maintaining honour does not seem to come naturally to us and so must be taught by precept and example.  As we learn God, we learn the value He has placed upon His creation. The first place we begin this learning is in our homes, watching our parents.  Watching the love, honour and respect displayed gives every child the safety and security needed for healthy and wholesome development.  Oneness, unity, in our home, flowing from the head commands the blessing of rest. 

Today, may we all take a breath, step back and align to the command that comes with a promise of well being and life and take time to honour what we have been given by God.  Everyone has been blessed with a Mother! 

“They also honoured us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.” Acts 28:10. 

Honour has a cost of investment.  Hugs, loves, words of affirmation and gifts, all go a long way to display the honour we hold for them. 

Peace that passes UNDERSTANDING

The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:5-7

It’s not only knowing something that helps us, it is the doing of what we know that puts us over.  Paul concluded his thoughts in these verses with ‘those things you have learned and received, heard and seen in me - do and the God of peace will be with you’. 

James wrote in his epistle being a hearer of the word only and not a doer leads one into deception. 

We aren't students of the word to hold only knowledge but to hold knowledge that instructs us in being and doing right.  The book of Joshua chapter one verse eight highlights the study for the purpose of being careful to do what has been written.  Jesus affirmed this with his words, if you love me you will keep my commandments. 

The word of God has addressed all things that hold us in a right place and position IF ONLY we would take it to heart and simply do what He has already said would give us life.  So, first we establish our hearts with the reminder that no matter what we are facing - the Lord is at hand.  We might live in this world but our affections and hearts are held looking for a homeland whose builder and maker is God. With an established heart we can lean into our union with the Holy Spirit who is the author of a sound and well ordered mind.  He will direct our thoughts into the word of life that when embraced will yield His peace that passes understanding.  

Paul’s admonition is aligned with the same word Jesus preached; ‘don’t be anxious for anything’.  The God solution for anxiety is to engage in a conversation with God, i.e. prayer. Not just prayer but prayer that holds thanksgiving because we know as we come to Him in this diligent search, He is a rewarder.  Whatever we are in the midst of - He will supply what He sees as needed.  

We know this throne of grace begins with the one who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.  He knows our issues and holds the answers. He gives peace that passes understanding.  This is a two edged sword.  Peace passes what I do understand and Peace that passes what I do NOT understand.    

HELPS WORD STUDIES ~ 5242 hyperéxō(from 5228/hypér, "beyond, above" and 2192/éxō, "have") – properly, "have beyond, i.e. be superior, excel, surpass" (A-S, exercising prominence, superiority).

The following is from Cambridges’ Commentary and worth the read ~ 

“Here is the true “Quietism” of the Scriptures.

• all understanding] “All mind,” “all thinking power.” Our truest reason recognizes that this peace exists, because God exists; our articulate reasoning cannot overtake its experiences; they are always above, below, beyond. Cp. Ephesians 3:19

• shall keep] Observe the definite promise; not merely an aspiration, or even an invocation. Cp. Isaiah 26:3

• R.V., shall guard. All the older English versions have “keep”, except the Genevan, which has “defend.” “Guard” (or “defend”) represents correctly the Greek verb, which is connected with nouns meaning “garrison,” “fort,”

• minds] Lit. and better, thoughts, acts of mind. The holy serenity of the believer’s spirit, in Christ Jesus, shall be the immediate means of shielding even the details of mental action from the tempter’s power.

When mens hearts are failing them, we can be those who are confident and secure, resting in His Peace.

We can do this church, all to the glory of God!

Grace and Peace

“John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ…”

Revelation 1:4-5

Verse seven from this chapter tells us “Behold, He is coming.”  In his first epistle, John was already writing in “the last hour”.  Now, once again, the message to  “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” is being proclaimed, for He is coming again.   

In these times, grace and peace are increasing needs for His body.  We know the word Jesus has left us regarding the events of the last days.  Love grows cold.  Men’s hearts fail.  Deception abounds.  Many fall away.  BUT he who endures to the end shall be saved! 

Working while it is light, we are not without enduring help and strength. He makes all grace abound to us that we having all sufficiency (for His grace is sufficient)  are able to abound to every good work.   We must work while it is light, and work by the grace that He supplies. 

 Grace is the enabling power of God in our lives.  In our set place (Acts 17:26; 1 Corinthians 12:18) where we are positioned for His purposes, we find great grace and peace necessary for the greater works extending His Kingdom.  Grace must personally be received as it is accessed by faith to stand.  As it abounds, it is sufficient for the ‘now’ moments we live in and enables us to abound towards every good work.   We  must faithfully respond both to the invitation and the way He has set for us to receive grace.  We must come to Him at His throne of Grace and receive. 

The greek definition for peace; eirḗnē; includes “one, peace, quietness, rest;(from eirō, "to join, tie together into a whole") – properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace.   

Grace enables us to do His purpose and peace is the fruit of our separation and obedience unto Him.  Peace is absent where there is no alignment to Him.  We were set at one with Him in our salvation but now our wrestling occurs over His Lordship - His right to direct our steps and order our paths.  Where we are at odds with Him, we lack the perfect peace of one whose mind is stayed on Him.  We lose out on its guarding power over our minds, Phil 4:8.

These two forces; grace and peace, come into our lives, firstly through the one who is, who was and who is to come, Almighty God: The Creator of all things.  Grace and peace come to us from the seven spirits before His throne.   Noting Isaiah 11:2-3, you find the seven spirits identified as wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord.  Wisdom is grace abounding.  Understanding is grace abounding.  Counsel is grace abounding. Might is grace abounding.  Knowledge is grace abounding. The fear of the Lord is grace abounding. As the Holy Spirit reveals the heart and mind of the Father; as He brings to mind the words Jesus has spoken, grace abounds and divine alignment produces peace.  The spiritual deposit impacts our natural realities.

Blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places, we are assured of overcoming as we continue to depend on grace.  Grace and truth come through Jesus, the faithful witness, and of his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.  

As the last season of the church unfolds, with Kingdoms clashing, it will be by His grace and peace, with all they provide, that enable us to be the light that shines in the darkness without the darkness overpowering us. 

He is Risen indeEd

“….saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.”

Luke 24:34  ~ ASV 1901

I felt I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the weekend of Passion and Resurrection celebrated by believers. Our verse today has become a traditional Easter greeting in the Western church and the exclamation “He is risen!” Is met with the traditional response “He is risen indeed!” 

As we gather to celebrate with family and friends, may we be mindful that there can be no resurrected life unless there is a death.  We are told, as the body of Christ, communion is the dynamic we use to remember all that Jesus has given to us through his death, burial and resurrection.  

The body prepared.  Jesus’ delight to do the Fathers will.  The agony of submission. The yielded humility that led him as a lamb before the slaughter.  His death and descent into Hell to satisfy the debt we could not pay.  The Spirit of Holiness that raised Him from the dark realms of the demonic Kingdom, are all the works that He suffered for us that we might be one with Him in His resurrected life. 

The Apostle Paul sets before us his one pursuit from Philippians chapter three beginning in verse seven with the admonition for all of us who are mature to think this way:

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. (8) Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (9) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith (10) that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (11) that if by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (12) Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (13) Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (14) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (15) Let those of us who are mature think this way.”

My prayer for this Resurrection weekend  is for each of us to hold a renewed, refreshed, revived, awareness of all that Jesus has provided.  May we fully embrace the examples He has set before us.  May we access His grace which enables us to die daily, thereby truly experiencing His resurrection power in every area of our Spirit, Soul and body.  May we be the voices in this hour that rise and proclaim, with all boldness, the word that sets the captives free. The Lord Has risen indeed!  

Grace and peace to you as you live a Resurrected life.

Remember

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you….

 Philippians 1:3

From one of the Apostle Pauls great prayers, we see how he prays for the saints in Philippi. But, my thought was remembering MY God and giving Him thanks.  

Remembrance is simply a “calling to mind” an awareness of (someone or something that one has seen, known, or experienced in the past).  While it may be easier to remember the painful experiences in life that impact our sense of security, we find Jeremiah’s Lamentations calling to mind the mercies and faithfulness of God to find hope.    

Peter wrote in his second epistle, chapter three, verses one and two ~

This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles….
 

You will notice from our verse today that Paul’s remembering creates his thankfulness.  Back in January 2021 we heard from the Holy Spirit to “guard thanksgiving”.  Thanksgiving is lost as we “forget” all the goodness God has and is extending to us.  Hosea reminds us Gods people perish when they forget.   
 

From the greatest salvation and redemption in Jesus Christ to the daily blessings, we must call to mind all that He is and all He provides.  The Psalmist wrote I would have fainted and lost heart if I had not believed I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living.  Calling to mind, giving thanks, actively stirs our faith and creates a peace that passes all understanding. 

Paul wrote in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and again from Ephesians 5:20 we are exhorted to be actively giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Psalm 105 is a rehearsal of Gods deliverance to the children of Israel.  Written down so it would be remembered. Remembered, to be rehearsed and celebrated, for all generations.  Surrounded with acknowledgment and praise, these verses are filled with the faithfulness of God. 

Each of us have stories that can recount the faithfulness of God; the way he has delivered and led us to this moment in time. We are kept by His power and love.  This I call to mind and have hope, He is faithful and his mercies are new today. 

Our strength, our hope, our joy, our peace, His love and mercy, are all enhanced in our hearts and minds as we remember what He has said, remember who He is, remember what He has done, and in the remembering say THANK YOU.  

Examination

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.  Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

2 Cor. 13:5

Can we stand the scrutiny?  Are we lovers of the truth, having received with meekness the engrafted word.   The Apostle Paul wrote “we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth”.  Are we holding only the truth as we enter into self examination?

I find it amazing how we are all capable of denying truth as it is presented to us.  Especially when it confronts something that requires change to align with God.  With that, we can better understand this scripture, “today if you hear his voice”.  There's always a ‘today’ and an ‘if’. 

There is a standard that has been set for all judgment,  Acts 17:31-

“inasmuch as he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”

There is one who will ultimately judge us in all purity and righteousness.  Where I don’t want to align to any aspect of His standard I begin to harden my heart to the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Bible calls it resisting and grieving the Holy Spirit. When we stop looking into the perfect law of liberty, the mirror of the word, we forget who we are and what we have been given.    

Thus we are instructed “examine yourself”.  This is Gods preference.  

If we would judge ourselves we would not be judged.  But when we are judged we are chastened by the Lord so that we would not be condemned with the world.    

2 Cor 11:31

We look into this perfect law of liberty that reflects His image and we can see how we are doing.  Where the Apostle Paul instructs the Corinthian church in communion, he highlights a failure to judge the body of Christ as the dynamic that leads to weak, sick, and members sleep (death). Not just a remembrance of Jesus’ body offered, his blood paying for our redemption, but an examination of heart and mind towards each and every individual member.  Things like honor, love, forgiveness, unity become areas that must always be guarded and kept.   Again, Paul reminds the church in Corinth, he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him and the body becomes the temple of the Holy Spirits dwelling. There is only one body, one spirit, and one Lord, to which we all find our place in.  

Holding these truths, and aligning our lifestyles to reflect His holiness, we find ourselves fleeing what the world savours.  Knowing we are in the world not of it, doesn’t make us immune to the temptations from the lust of our flesh, eyes and pride; but knowing Christ lives in us by the presence of His Holy Spirit, we discipline ourselves to yield to His leadership.  We learn to tell ourselves no without Him having to.  Thank God He will and He does, but knowing when to say no to yourself is a sure sign of spiritual maturity. 

So, we engage in this examination of self for alignment that produces righteousness from a heart that lives to please God. 

Hardened Hearts Test God

“For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness…When your Fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof though they had seen my work.”   

Psalm 95:7-9

When Jesus met his temptation in the wilderness to step into presumption he countered the temptation quoting scripture ~ “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”

We don’t test God, but God does test us.  All testing is an examination, a revealing.  A search me O God and know my heart.  Try me and know my ways.   We are either approved or shown where we are lacking; not for the purpose of condemnation, but for growth and ultimate approval. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

Our need and ultimate demands on God to prove Himself is something understood in a child.  It is the learning process. Every child must grow up.  Every lesson must be learned to provide the stable foundation of God’s faithfulness.  Each act is teaching us God can be trusted and when he instructs, we learn it is for our well being. 

As I said last week, there is a learning process for all revelation and while God is patient with us there comes a time where we are expected to know and believe what has been decreed and displayed.

As parents raising children, we all appreciate the seasons where we know, they should know.  The emotional dynamics that occur within correction and discipline is unpleasant.  Hebrews reminds us that discipline is a must and while it’s unpleasant it will, when submitted to, yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness….. thus there must be seeing, hearing and obeying without a need for God to prove Himself.  

“Today if you hear his voice, harden not your hearts….and put me to the test”

Hebrews chapter three and four reminds us of the spiritual implications of Psalm 95:   They heard.  They demanded proof.  They saw.  They did not obey.  They hardened their hearts.  All from an evil heart of unbelief which ultimately incurred the judgment of God. 

“…none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it.”   Numbers 14:22-23 

Where there is no revelation knowledge, Proverbs says, people cast off restraint.  Where there is an evil heart of unbelief people simply cannot inherit the promises of God.  Where we are unable to inherit the promises of God there can be no rest for our souls. 

“Today if you hear his voice harden not your hearts…..and put me to the test” 

We hear and then fear.  We hear and then obfuscate.  We hear but need another word. We see but want the confirmation.   In hearing, we are pressed to obey but without yielding we ultimately harden our hearts.  In seeing we are expect to believe.  Apparently ten times was enough for the children of Israel ~  These men saw His glory and His signs and yet put Him to the test ten times and did not obey His voice.  

As long as there is a willing heart to obey, God continuously reveals Himself.  He wants us to increase in the knowledge of Him.  Where I reject the workings of God, I delay the promise, delaying the promise carries the potential of never entering into His fullness.

There is only one right way and it’s His.  There is only one path that promises abundant life and it’s His.  What is left to us is our choice to believe.

“Today, if you hear his voice, harden not your hearts….and put me to the test.” 

The Lord Will Provide

Jehovah Jireh ~ The Lord will Provide 

Church culture today, typically highlights this name emphasizing financial benefit based primarily on Philippians 4:19.  To understand Jehovah Jireh as only a provider of finances is very limiting to the character and nature of God. 

As I’ve noted before, we are invited into the knowledge of God.  The Apostle Peter actually instructs believers to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God.  Since we are predestined to be conformed, God is working through His Spirit to reveal himself to us through and in every occurrence in life. The more we can see, understand and receive of Gods workings in the midst, the more we can align to His character and nature. There is the learning process of revelation and revelation occurs through the process of learning.  

We are going to look at Abrahams process of learning who Jehovah Jireh is and see how His revelation grew with every experience he had in God. We are going to discover the offering of Issac is actually a culmination, a fullness of revelation for Abraham and his unshakable confidence in Jehovah Jireh. 

Jehovah Jireh is a redemptive name and we see it’s ultimate fulfillment in the Father’s gift of Jesus.  A redemptive name simply reveals God’s desire and nature for our restoration. Redemption is defined as repurchase: to get or win back. 2 : to free from what distresses or harms: to free from captivity by payment of ransom: to extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental.

• ‘Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19

As we consider Abraham’s journey, we discover the process of his learning begins

in Genesis chapter twelve; called by God and given his initial promise. 

• Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Abraham moves out not knowing where he’s to go and comes to a land he learns the Lord will give to his offspring. His revelation builds upon this future promise of provision. With this revelation, Abraham builds an altar and worships the Lord.   He moves on, settles on the east of Bethel and builds another altar to the Lord.  Each time and place Abraham is seeing and increasing in the knowledge God and His provision.  

Abraham learns in Egypt, the God who provides blessing also provides affliction on those who dishonour Abraham (cf Gen12:3).  We find Pharaoh afflicted with great plagues and Abraham very rich in livestock, silver and gold. He’s learning the Lords provision is not just financial gain, but also divine judgment and deliverance.  

We see this again within his relationship with Lot. Abrahams willingness to yield the better land and his intercession for Lot shows his growing knowledge and deepening dependence on Jehovah Jireh to provide.  

Chapter fourteen we see Abraham expressing confidence in His God; ‘the most High, the possessor of Heaven and Earth’ and the one who provides for Him.  Affirmed by God in Chapter fifteen, Abraham asks what God will give him since he has no child. 

• After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Every time Abraham encounters the Lord, he is learning through the experience God is  Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides. His revelation eventually becomes the heart knowledge that is foundational to His willingness to offer Issac.  His learning process built the confidence for his trust in Jehovah Jireh so by the time He had gotten to this place He was firmly established in ‘the Lord will provide’. 

Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.”  Genesis 22:8

The altar Abraham built on this mount reveals a culmination of an established revelation which we also see as his unshakeable confidence expressed in Romans chapter four.

As we grow and increase in the knowledge of God, our personal revelations become the foundation that provide strength and stability for our times. From these, we truly do go from faith to faith, strength to strength and glory to glory. 

Always mindful of Romans 8:32 ~ 

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things.  

Adversity

If you faint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small…Proverbs 24:10

• If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! NIV

• If you show yourself lacking courage on the day of distress, Your strength is meagre. NASB

• If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small. NLT

The following are the variables for the word “faint” from the NAS EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE showing the use of the Hebrew word from Strongs #7503 raphah: sink, relax.   They paint a very clear picture. 

        abandon (1)  become helpless (1),  cease (2), collapses (1), discouraged* (2), discouraging* (1), dropped (2), fail (5), fall limp (2), feeble (1), forsake (1), hang limp. 

Helps Word Study identifies it as “withdrawing from pressure or resistance”.  

‘Helps’ defines strength from the Hebrew word ~ kōaḥ – properly, rock-wall strength (cf. Arabic cognate, kiḥ, "rock-wall") – i.e. "be a wall" to resistance; power to withstand assault – potent enough to maintain, as suits the challenge like a retaining rock-wall which provides full protection to achieve what is needed (cf. TWOT, 1,  437; cf. NT 1411/dynamis, "power").

We learn from Proverb 24:10 fainting in times of trouble is about strength. 

I’ve started a series  on our FB group based on the invite from Jesus to come and learn of Him. You can check it out here if you’d like ~ 

        https://www.facebook.com/groups/523946385153363/

The video from this week focused on Is. 42:4 concerning Jesus ~ He will not grow weak or be discouraged till He has established justice in the earth. We learn from Jesus this quality of faithful endurance.   We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring forth His character of faithful endurance as well. 

We are to keep our eyes on Jesus and consider him lest we grow weary or become fainthearted. We know Jesus said in the last days mens hearts would fail them and in another verse, asks if he will find faith on the earth when he returns. 

The Apostle Paul, in facing the adversities of his life beseeches God to remove them.  God’s response, “My grace is sufficient”.  This was enough for Paul to deal with his circumstances.  It’s no wonder his prayers in Ephesians are filled with a desire to be filled with a Spirit of wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of God.  

Most of our stumbling occurs in times we are being moved from our firm foundations.  The wait has been long, the way is hard and we begin to allow circumstances to realign our thoughts.  We begin to alter God realities by considering the things which are seen. 

We are strengthened by His enabling power at work in us so our wall of defence is rock solid. Our wall of defence is strengthened because He is our safe refuge and our strong tower.  We hide in Him and have no broken down places of entrance the enemy can access.  As Jesus said, Satan is coming and has nothing in me; let it be so for us.  

Colossians 1:11 reminds us we are strengthened with all dunamis ”might” according to his glorious kratos “exerted power” unto all endurance and patience with joy  (chara ~ joy because of grace).  Philippians 4:13 encourages us; I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

1743 endynamóō (from 1722/en "in," which intensifies 1412/dynamóō, "to share power-ability") – properly, impart ability (make able); empower(ed).  1743/endynamóō ("made able, empowered") refers to the Lord sharing His ability (power) to accomplish all He grants faith for.  Accordingly, 1743 (endynamóō) is directly associated with faith (4102/pístis, "God's inworked persuasion"). Ro 4:20: "Yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong (1743/endynamóō) in faith (4102/pístis), giving glory to God" (NASB).  

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.  Hebrews 11:32-24

It’s the hour to strengthen our hearts. To shore up that which is lacking so we may run and not be weary, walk and not faint.  With Him all things are possible.

It Depends on Faith...

It Depends on Faith

"That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed…” 

Romans 4:16

A couple of events occurred over the past week serving to remind me once again that life is a matter of faith.  It does depend on faith.  The just are to live by faith is an exhortation that occurs four times throughout the bible and we are all familiar with Hebrews 11:6;  without faith it is impossible to please God.  Note, it doesn’t say God won’t love us, it says, we can’t please Him without faith.  

 Everyone has stuff that they must face and overcome through their own dependency and trust in God.  Anyone could have reason to quit and give up at almost any time, but successes are found in perseverance and adherence to Him. It depends on faith. He who comes to God MUST believe He is a rewarder of those who are diligently seeking Him. 

Everything depends on faith in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed. 

Spiritual success is not firstly by works or human effort, it is through faith.  While we are then required to work out our faith, James’ epistle points this out in chapter two verse eighteen

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

So faith still requires obedience to the direction God gives.  We have to believe the instructions are God given.  If they are God given, obedience is required.  If they are God given, grace is available and the promise is guaranteed as faith accesses grace. Faith must rest on grace. The promise rests on our ability to stand in His grace.

As our surrounding culture shifts, deception grows.  As deception grows, disciplines become lax and unbelief invades.  We become double minded regarding the promises of God.  Unsure of His guarantees, we stop accessing the grace needed to achieve all He has ordained. 

There are heavenly seeds waiting to be sown so that the creation of God may occur here on this earth.  We must believe.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven requires faith accessing grace to do His will.   We must believe. 

Jesus reminds us from Luke seventeen, IF we have faith the size of a mustard seed we would say……. A mustard seed, as you know, is the smallest of all seeds. Every seed in God is big.  It holds destiny and must be sown to be seen.  Alignment and agreement with God’s promise sows the seed. We won’t sow what we discount.

It’s the declaration unto sowing.  

It’s the watering unto growth.

It’s the patience unto reaping. 

These days require us to be strengthened in faith like Abraham. Like Abraham, we make thanksgiving our sacrifice while we wait.  He did not weaken in faith when he looked around and considered his circumstances.  There was no wavering concerning God’s promise.  He was fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.  

That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed. 

MUST forgive

“You must forgive him”.

Luke 17:4

Forgiveness is something we all need.  We daily fall short of perfection.  We all speak when we should be silent.  We offend with words and actions.  We are just human. 

Jesus, teaching his disciples in Luke Seventeen, begins to address offence. Verses one through ten give the context. 

The admonition Jesus brings is to pay attention to yourselves! If someone sins against you, rebuke him and if he repents, forgive him.  (And p.s. we don’t keep count - you must forgive him.)  

The disciples, met with this new and living way, ask Jesus to increase their faith (I’m thinking because they know how hard it is to not be offended and how easy it is to not forgive).  Jesus tells them it’s not really a matter of faith.  Faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain. Then he tells a story about the servant and concludes with;  you don’t get praised for obeying (my translation). You must forgive. 

From Matthews gospel, we find our prayers for forgiveness are hinged on our forgiveness of others.  Ephesian’s chapter four instructs believers to forgive as God, in Christ, has forgiven us.  Jesus told his disciples; when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Jesus bypasses thoughts and feelings and simply sets before us - You must forgive.  As servants of our Lord, forgiveness is a duty. Lest we think no one has ever suffered the pain of injustice, may we pause to remember exactly what transpired for Jesus on the cross.  His response as he is dying is a prayer for forgiveness for all who’ve unjustly accused and are now killing him.  Jesus said, they know not what they do.  I would submit most times we have no understanding of what we are creating with our accusations and refusals to forgive.  It is just too too easy to justify our disobedience by justifying our feelings.  We must forgive.

If we could hold the awareness of spiritual happenings in the moments we are tempted to hold offence, we could better process and see the accusations assaulting our minds. The lust of our flesh feeding on tasty morsels of hurt feelings verses the leading of the Holy Spirit who leads us into love and victory, 

Jesus keeps setting this standard before us ~ ‘even as’.  Love even as I have loved you.  Forgive even as I have forgiven you.  Where we feel justified in holding on to our offences, we deny the grace that could be ours to overcome.  

We cannot deny the one single advantage we, as children of God, have been given: His supernatural ability at work within us.   We are strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man so are enabled to walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him.  We are able to do all things by and through His strength.  There is grace that abounds to the one who will come and find it.  Grace is not hiding.  It’s with God in the presence of His mercy.  Mercy, because none of us deserve forgiveness; yet, it has been freely given to each of us.  We did not work to get it.  It was freely provided.  

You and I cannot stand in the presence of God at His throne of grace and not come to terms with any unforgiveness that may lie in our hearts.   

Please consider all aspects of unforgiveness ~ 

• Ours toward God. He has failed me.

• Ours directed at ourselves. I’m a failure

• Ours directed at others. They’ve failed me.

As we position ourselves at this throne let us receive mercy and find the grace to help us forgive and love well.   For we MUST forgive.  

Do you Love me … more than

Do you love me…..more than these?

John 21:15

Without taking the time to walk through the fullness of this scene, I’d like to focus on the question Jesus asks Peter after he (and others) have decided to return to fishing.  

I believe this encounter once again shows the Father’s willing heart to prepare us for every season we must walk into and through.  Peter here is facing a spiritual crisis of calling. Scripture says - at the crossroads we find wisdom crying out and showing the right way.  It is narrow. It is hard.  It is inconvenient.  It is unknown (for the most part).  BUT JESUS is here to help Peter settle some issues.  

The word for love that Jesus uses in this first question is the Greek word agape.  I’m sure we are all familiar with the variations Greek gives for ‘love’ but let me emphasis that agape is a self sacrificial love expressed for the well being of another.  This is the love God has.   Peters reply was his love for Jesus was affection ~  phileo to be distinguished from agapao in this, that phileo more nearly represents tender affection.

Jesus’ question is comparative.  As the abundance of the provision of the miraculous catch of fish lays before him, Jesus asks, do you love me more than these?  “These” are the matters not of physical fish, but what the fish yield. Heart issues of control, security, provision that the abundance of fish might bring Peter.  

The apparent contradiction is that Peter fished all night, in his own strength, and caught nothing.  Jesus appears and in one declaration the catch is so large the boat is overflowing.   Now the question, Do you love me more than these.  So much is revealed in the examination of this provision.  

Peter is faced really with two questions here; what do you love and who do you love?  

Questions each of us must answer.  What do we hold in our hearts that we are willing to sacrificially give our lives for?  Our spouses?  Our children?  Our parents?  Others?  Agape is willing.  Agape is willing sacrifice; not only from a sense of duty, but delight.  Religion can be so insidious that the potential for rote performance removes any sense of heartfelt delight in our serving.  

This is the other factor that keeps coming to me by the Holy Spirit. Obedience is required, willingness is desired (not considered optional).  It is the will that is sovereign to man.  It is man’s will that God will not violate. 

The question remains. Do you love me more than these?  The examination of life reveals what we love and willingly sacrifice for.  We can examine our days.  Not just the intent of our hearts, but the reality of our giving, whether in duty or in delight. Sometimes we just have trouble sharing our fries. 

Jesus reminds us the love we are called into is a love that steps into family, into humanity, and loves ‘even as’.  We give ourselves up for the well being of another. If we set our affections on things above and yield to the workings of God we can find ourselves like Jesus, enduring our cross.  For the joy set before us, we can delight to do His will. 

You will notice the end of the conversation did not change Peters calling but rather searched the heart of a man to reveal the one thing that was lacking to help him move along.  

All you need is Love

“We love Him because He first loved us…..” 1 John 4:19

There is an entrance into Love that begins with the understanding of God as the creator of all things.  All things are created by Him, through Him, and for Him.  And since in His infinite wisdom He created us, He understands both the limitations of our flesh and the need of the surpassing greatness of His power to work in us. 

Love begins with Him.  He is the starting place and the very foundation of love. 

Without will or ability to receive and acknowledge that we are infinitely more valuable to Him than our daily doings, we are tempted to doubt this great truth. 

Without starting here; He loved us first, we will find ourselves challenged to respond to Him well.   Jesus said if you love me you WILL keep my commandments.  This intimate relationship has never designed to be a relationship of duty but rather delightful desire.  We can’t begin to love Him until we fully realize the length, depth, height and breadth he has gone to by bringing us into His family. 

We grow from knowing and receiving the Love he has for us, to the love we hold for Him, seen through our desire (not our perfection) to submit and obey.  A stony heart, a religious mind, can serve from duty but in that duty we hold certain expectations of what is owed us because we have performed our’s.  

 Knowing is one thing, receiving another and it is a necessary personal revelation for every believer.  A knowledge and receptivity that flows from hearts producing thankfulness with much joy.  A joy creating liberty that delights to do His will. 

A love that has been freely received is freely given.  So, we come to ~  by this shall all men know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.  The only debt we are told to hold from Romans, is to love.  Our standard given by Jesus is to love EVEN AS he has loved us.  You can see the process of love and begin to understand how this all starts with our ability to first receive His love.  

I think we can all can examine our lives, seeing the places we actually love, to the level and degree we believe we are loved.  Our judgment of God’s activity - His Love - towards us often defines my response to others.  

We are all well schooled in the knowledge of biblical love but living it out daily is the issue.

I want to close with this thought from 1 Thessalonians chapter three and verse twelve: 

“May the lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you  :15 so that he may establish (literally strengthen; give support to; make firm) your hearts blameless (free from fault or defect) in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”

A simply thought from the phrase so that.  Paul’s prayer for love increasing and abounding is so that our hearts would be blameless (without accusation, without guilt and shame) in holiness. It’s always about our hearts.  

I wonder how many problems would be resolved in our lives if we simply remained in His love. Perhaps our daily activities would be better suited if we began by being rooted and grounded in love.  

Selah. 

Approved, Tested, Entrusted.....

 1 Thessalonians 2:4 

English Standard Version

“.…but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”

Paul writes, beginning with verse two, “As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God. 3 For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.....BUT...."

Once again, we note the phrase “not to please man, but to please God”.  Paul wrote to the Galatians, “If were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”  A strong reminder for all who handle the preaching of His word.  

Lets us consider several words from our verse in Thessalonians; 

• approved,

• entrusted

• and test.

First please note the English words, approved and test are the same Greek word.  

From Helps word Study we learn ~ 

1381 dokimázō (from 1384/dókimos, "approved") – properly, to try (test) something to show it is acceptable (real, approved); put to the test to reveal what is good (genuine).  See 1384 (dókimos).

1381/dokimazō ("to approve by testing") demonstrates what is good, i.e. passes the necessary test.  1381 (dokimazō) does not focus on disproving something (i.e. to show it is bad).

1. 1381 (dokimazō) is commonly used in antiquity for testing metals (see also Prov 8:10, 17:3), i.e. "to test, try (prove)" – like when a precious metal is "proven" genuine (fit).

2. In sum, 1381 (dokimázō) refers to confirming ("proving") something is genuine, i.e. not overtly to disprove it. It shows something passes the necessary test (scrutiny, examination) – "to prove with a view to approve" (Vine, Unger, White, NT, 22). The Lord often tests people for the purpose of revealing what He approves, as He did with Job (Job 1,2). The Lord does this to make us . . . not break us!

The Father’s examining of our hearts is the testing that approves (or not) every motivation and qualifies us (or not) to be the aroma that speaks “out of God, before God, in Christ.” (2 Cor. 2:14-15) 

We know and believe that God’s word is living but does that mean that every word spoken by us is?  I am suggesting God’s approval is seen in a tangible way.  “This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.” Hebrews 2:4 

Entrusted is ~ 4100 pisteúō (from 4102/pístis, "faith," derived from 3982/peíthō, "persuade, be persuaded") – believe (affirm, have confidence).

Entrusting is what comes on the heels of His approval.  Having been tested (it is the trying of your faith that produces…) and found faithful you are then found approved and entrusted with speaking His word, on His behalf, in Christ.  

Once again, we are faced with our heart’s motivation.  I remember years ago being given a list of directives to check before I ministered, not solely on the what but with emphasis on the why.  What was the motivation of my heart for those I was standing before?  Who did I want to please?   I wish I could say it was always the Lord, but from times of insecurity and or fear, the focus was at times on me or others.   This is why testing and approving will always be with us.  We know God searches our hearts and minds, with the aligning work as unto His approval.  

Perfection is never the issue with God, but heart motivation always is. Entrusted with little yet found faithful brings increase.  Testing, approving, entrusting is the way of God for His child.  Opportunities given begin the approving, testing process and entrusting is further grace given, according to each man’s ability. 

If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.   1 Peter 4:11

Aroma

We are the aroma of Christ to God …

‘…..through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.  For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. ‘ 

2 Corinthians 2:14-15

Paul’s writings tell us there is a ‘smell’ about us.  It is both alarming and pleasant, dependent upon the individual smelling.  Back in the day, before wearing scents was frowned upon, there were some fragrances others wore that I found, personally, unpleasant enough that I avoided close contact. Spiritually we know, that to those who love their darkness, the light and fragrance that we emit is something that reminds them of sin and death.  To others, it is welcomed and life giving.  The first rejects, the second breathes in.  

Our purpose is to make sure the fragrance we emit is the aroma of Christ ascending to God.  A danger here is in the desire we all carry to be accepted.  Nobody likes rejection.  Yet our purpose is not to be people pleasers, saying and doing only what we think others want to hear.  The fear of man brings a snare.  But rather, to make sure our lives and words are the aroma of Christ unto God.  Jesus said, ‘I always do the things that are pleasing to my Father’.  Consequently, the Father never left him, John 8:29. 

Jesus preached messages that were right in God, but unpleasant enough to offend  crowds.  They left him, plotted and ultimately crucified Him to remove the pressure that His words and life produced.  Dead, cold, wrong hearts do not like pokey preachers. Those who seek ‘life’ welcome words that pierce their hearts and begin to allow the saving grace of God to work.  

Paul, from verse seventeen sets the standard for our speaking.  He was not like ‘so many’ (that’s a disturbing phrase), who peddle Gods word.  I had to take the time to look at peddlers from Helps Word Study ~ 

2585 kapēleúō – properly, to act as an unscrupulous merchant, i.e. "a huckster" who profits by "peddling the Word of God" for personal gain.  2585/kapēleúō ("peddler") is only used in 2 Cor 2:17 – of people "marketing the ministry" (the Word of God) for fast gain.

1. 2585 (kapēleuō) means "to traffic in dishonest trade (business)," like a petty-dealer who scams unsuspecting, naive "buyers." In 2 Cor 2:17, it refers to exploiting the Word of God (the Bible) by a religious phoney (charlatan).

Reflection: Some well-known (Christian) speakers still merchandise ("hawk") the Word of God to do their own kingdom-building.

[This unethical use of the media abuses the Gospel – "marketing Christ as a product" for the speaker to gain personal profit at God's expense.]

1. 2585/kapēleuō ("to swindle, hawk") comes "from kapēlos, a huckster or peddler; also a tavern-keeper. . . . The term . . . was especially applied to retailers of wine, with whom adulteration and short measure were matters of course" (WS, 813). These itinerant merchants swindled buyers (i.e. people they never expected to see again).

Paul reminded Timothy that godliness was not a means to gain and continues on in Second Corinthians comparing his motivation with the ‘peddlers’.  But as those, who hold pure inner motives, in sincerity.   We who are sent from God, speak in Christ, in the sight of God.  Literally from the Greek, it reads; ‘out of’ God, before God, in Christ we speak.  

That will create the fear of the Lord when you think about the what and the why of words we speak.  Do we hold pure inner motives?  Are we speaking before Him? Does it come out of him?  Is it in Christ?  Jesus help us.  

As ministers of reconciliation, holding words of reconciliation, beseeching others to be reconciled to Christ, our responsibility is to make sure we are first and foremost the aroma of Christ.  Speaking in Christ, in the sight of God, we are guaranteed to be aligned with Jesus doing those things that are pleasing to our Father.