Love Endures

Love endures all things ..1 Corinthians 13: 7

In our conversations around the word endure, we have looked at and considered Jesus from Hebrews chapter twelve; this week we want to consider our verse from Corinthians.  

I want to remind you, from Helps Word Studies, the Greek on endurance ~ 

“5281 hypomonē ““(from 5259/hypó, "under" and 3306/ménō, "remain, endure") – properly, remaining under, i.e. endurance; steadfastness, especially of God enabling believers to "remain (endure) under" the challenges He allots for them.”“

For the believer, 5281 (hypomonē) is "Christ-empowered endurance" which enables them to get from "God's point A" to "God's point B."

Examples:

Hebrews 12:1,2,Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance (5281/hypomonē) the race that is set before us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (NASB).

James 1:3: "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (5281/hypomonē)" (NASB).

Life is about moving from God’s point A to God’s point B facing every circumstance  through His grace providing every thing we need, and perhaps love, since it is who God is, is the foundation for all enduring. “

Love must be the soil we are rooted and grounded in; His love for us and our love for Him. This love is not a feeling, but a determination, a choice to engage with the Holy Spirit and allow the love He pours into our hearts to reign in and through every situation we find ourselves facing.    

From  Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words

“In respect of agapao  (love) as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant “love” and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential “love” in them towards the Giver, and a practical “love” towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver.”

Endurance, by necessity, will always involve a struggle to resist sin. Life is a series of choices to be faced; my way versus His way, my will versus His will.  We find our endurance is only as great as our obedience.  Just as Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered, we too must be found in a place of willing obedience to a loving Father. This requires a humility and submission that knows and believes in His love for us.  

Love endures because it is rooted in trust. We have an assured reliance on the character, the truth and the strength of God. Trust can only be learned through our experiences. Every experience we face can teach and reveal to us the nature of our Father.  Seeing Him rightly, knowing Him righteously, enables us to endure.

It is a wise child who understands the Father does not remove pressure and hardships from his life but faithfully watches over him enduring the growth process….consider Jesus. 

It is for discipline that you must endure.  God is treating you as sons.  For what son is there whom his father does not discipline…..Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of Spirits and live…He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.  Hebrews 12:7-10

We are able to endure all things, as long as we can keep our eyes on Jesus and are mindful of our Fathers love.  Alongside the temptation, He also makes the way of escape. He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to endure.

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound in any and every circumstance.   I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, and abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  Phil. 4:11-13

Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief but His having borne them for us does not mean our lives are left untouched by grief and sorrow.  It means that Jesus has become our way of escaping the snare set before us.  Our confidence must always be rooted in His love for us, then our submission will enable us to rightly endure.

These days require a purposeful diligence from each of us. A stedfast gaze. A focused heart and mind.  An undivided devotion, because only in this position are we continually aware of His love to us, then through our love for Him are enabled to endure whatever we may find along our path of life.  

Consider Him who Endured

“…consider HIM who endured”…..

Hebrews 12:3

Helps Word Study: consider 

357 analogízomai (from 303/aná, "up, completing a process" intensifying 3049/logízomai, "reckon, reason") – properly, reasoning up to a conclusion, i.e. moving through the needed thought-process (analysis) to "add things up" – reckoning from "premise to conclusion" especially by repeated (nuanced) reflection (advancing up the "levels of truth").

357 (analogizomai) only occurs in Heb 12:3 (as a command, Gk aorist imperative) which literally calls us to "reason from down to up" about what Christ went through at the cross – which by comparison keeps us from growing weary (weak)!

Hebrews chapter twelve sets before us our course for endurance.  Last week we saw how looking to Jesus keeps our perspective in order.  Today, we find as we ‘consider’ Him who endured, our strength, to do the same, endure.      

Endurance again simply means to ‘remain under’ rather that there is a right way to endure effectively and righteously.  Can we position ourselves in humble submission and patiently wait upon the Lord to work in His timing without being moved, or do we find ourselves frustrated and striving to take control?   These would be the fruit of growing weary: impatience and wavering.

We all carry expectations about how our personal environment should look.  We have promises from God and we paint our picture.  As we move forward with the seed of promises sown, we know Satan comes immediately to steal the word sown.  Adversity arrives, storms come, obstacles show up and we are TEMPTED to yield to their voices.  Jesus’ greatest endured hostility came from his interaction with people.  

No matter who or what the conditions are, IF we consider HIM, we do not grow weary or faint in our souls (literal Greek).  Jesus said, ‘he who endures to the end....  he who carries it to completion,  full production..  shall be saved’.  The word sown is designed to bring forth its fruit, in its time, to the glory of God; IF we do not faint in doing right.

For the one who sows to his own flesh will, from the flesh, reap corruption but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:9 

From Revelation chapter 14, we have this one little verse that is a call for endurance of the saints, for those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.  

This call for endurance is to be a mark of every true believer.  A placement of our lives into the hands and timing of God while we trust He is at work, perfecting all things that concern us is truth that must be embraced.   We have learned how to be still and wait through our practiced spiritual disciplines and while in their midst, we are to look to Jesus. 

Consider HIM ~ Tempted as we are, yet without sin, able to be touched with the feeling of our weaknesses. 

Consider Him. ~ who endured hostility. 

Consider Him ~ who had no form or beauty that man was naturally drawn to him.  

Consider Him ~ rejected by family, church and community, betrayed, wrongfully accused, denied and finally deserted by all.

Consider Him ~ a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.

Consider Him ~ who endured lest we become weary and faint in our souls. 

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens Jesus, the son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

And finally, Hebrews reminds us of this one, great, undeniable truth ~ we have not yet resisted sin, to the point of shedding our blood.  Let us be found faithful and resolute to endure to the end so that in all things Jesus holds our affection and attention.    

JOYFUL Endurance

“...For the joy set before him endured...”

Hebrews 12.2

The instructions from Hebrews 12:1-3 offer strength and encouragement to sustain us through days which demand endurance.  Chapter eleven rehearses circumstances and choices made by others, who now offer their witness as a source of encouragement in our race.

Jesus, when talking about end times, asks will the son of man find faith on the earth when he returns and He says the one who endures to the end shall be saved.  Our life, as you know, is made up of daily choices that either move us along this path of growth or side line us and our futures. 

These first three verses found in Hebrews chapter twelve set our course for running well and enduring. We find practical instructions …….. 

• lay aside every weight

• and the easily entangling sin

• Look to Jesus

• Find the jouy

• Endure our cross

• Despise the shame

• Consider Him

Endurance is key to our daily walk.  Cambridge Commentary states, “Endurance was one of the most needful Christian virtues in times of waiting and of trial.”  Endurance can only be kept as we ‘look to Jesus’ and ‘consider Him’.  How easy it is to quit when life gets hard.  Endurance remains stedfast having committed our lives to the one who judges righteously.  Submitted to His will and timing we are able to, by love, endure all things and endure with joy.  Endurance holds a joyful and confident expectation, knowing God is at work and all things work together for good! 

Reflection from Helps Word Study: While temporal happiness is external and fleeting, true joy is internal and eternal.  Biblical joy will even thrive in suffering.

Joy (5479/xará) is completely grace-dependent and therefore circumstance-independent; earthly happiness however is circumstance-dependent.  "Happiness" depends on favorable circumstances ("happenings"); joy depends only on knowing God's favor (grace).

Our salvation experience should be one of joy unspeakable and full of glory. 

1 Peter 2:8 Weymouth Translation ~ 

Him you love, though your eyes have never looked on him.  In Him, though at present you cannot see him, you nevertheless trust, and triumphant with a joy which is unspeakable and is crowned with glory, while you are securing as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.   

Joyful endurance requires ‘looking’ at something above and beyond our circumstances.  We must hear and see from a heavenly perspective.  We are invited to come up higher to see things that must take place and we are promised the Holy Spirit will show us things to come. If we lack wisdom, we are instructed to ASK GOD, who gives to all men liberally without scolding or accusing.  

Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. Colossians 3.2 Amplified

Seeing Him who is invisible fills us with joy and enables us to endure. 

Next week we shall consider Him... 

ENDURANCE

It is for discipline that you have to endure. 

Hebrews 12:7

Helps Word Study on Endure ~ 

5281 hypomonē ““(from 5259/hypó, "under" and 3306/ménō, "remain, endure") – properly, remaining under, i.e. endurance; steadfastness, especially of God enabling believers to "remain (endure) under" the challenges He allots for them.”“

For the believer, 5281 (hypomonē) is "Christ-empowered endurance" which enables them to get from "God's point A" to "God's point B."

Examples:

Hebrews 12:1,2,Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance (5281/hypomonē) the race that is set before us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (NASB).

James 1:3: "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (5281/hypomonē)" (NASB).

[Note also Rev 3:10, "The word of My endurance (5281/hypomonē)" bringing Christ's direction in the believer – revealing the how, what, and when of faith.]

Sometimes we feel like discipline is just a bad word, yet without this being a practical part of our lives we will not engage faithfully in our circumstances. Enduring requires discipline.  As James wrote, we can not grow up and be made perfect, complete, lacking nothing, without endurance.  Left to the dictates of our flesh, we would eat too much, sleep too much, whine too much, talk too much; you get the idea ~ the casting off of restraints.  

The writer of Hebrews tells us if we are left without discipline we are not true sons.  The purpose of all discipline is to learn how to discipline ourselves.  The ability to set boundaries and keep within them is part of what we consider mature behaviour.  Hebrews continues when we have been trained through disciplines, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

So, we must learn how to “endure” the uncomfortable situations of life.  In every circumstance favourable or unfavourable, God is at work.  There are lessons to be learned and character to be forged.  Without disciplining ourselves to “remain in and under” the direction of the Holy Spirit, yielded to the Father, we will try to escape.  You know, “the problem with a living sacrifice is that it’s always trying to slip off the altar”.  

Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered.  An unwillingness to engage in the tough stuff will not grow us up.  We are to learn how to count it all joy, rejoice in our sufferings; knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character…. because we are leaning into a dependency of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome.  We have committed ourselves to Him who judges righteously.  We are assured that with the temptation, God has made the way of escape that we may bear it. 

These will be the days that call for the endurance of the saints.  2020 might be over but the season we are in isn’t.  God has realigned His church with purpose for this hour.  It isn’t a sleeping giant, rather a well toned solider knowing how to endure hardness. His church is alive, ready, willing and engaged, seizing every moment to extend His Kingdom and show forth His glory. 

Onward, Christian Soldiers…..

GOD IS LOVE

“...God is love ...”  1 john 4:16 

While we are all so very familiar with this scripture, we can always find a greater place for its expression to us and through us.  Christmas brings many memories for all and the one that should be highlighted first and foremost is ~ How great is His love for us in that he has given us his only begotten son and with Him freely gives us all things. 

This entrance into family, the privilege of calling Him Father God, gives us a whole new Kingdom to explore.  It is filled with New.  We begin our exploration with a heightened expectation of great change, old things passed away, all things become new and now, they are of GOD, who IS Love.  We enter with wide eyed wonder, as we begin to experience new ideals and new ways.  Mesmerized by the beauty we behold, we are overwhelmed by the love and value extended to us.  We don’t know much at the beginning, but our hearts are impacted by this vast sense of acceptance.  There is now no condemnation.  I found myself praying this last season, “may I know the fullness of love before I know judgment.”

His abundant wealth and gifts are set before us to freely receive.  Best Christmas ever!  To become a partaken of this divine nature, to become so deeply rooted and grounded in Him that we are perfectly one, yields such a freedom of heart and soul, we sing, O come let us Adore Him.  How unfathomable the length, the depth, the height, the breadth of His love.  What can I bring Him? Hearts swell and knees bow, as we confess His Lordship and Mastery over our yielded lives.

My prayer for us this season, is to come to know and experience the security of His love enabling us to freely give as we have freely received.  

May this be a Christmas that once again fills you with the wonder of Jesus, the joy of family and the peace that holds your heart and mind. 

Merry Christmas with much love,

Jeanne...

 until the New Year......

A CHILD IS BORN

Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given...”

Isaiah 9:6

As a young girl growing up in the Lutheran church we celebrated Advent.  Once again, in this Christmas Season, the Advent celebration has come to my attention. Originally Advent focused on two truths : 

It celebrated Jesus having come as a gift to redeem mankind and Jesus’ soon, coming again.

On the foundation of these two truths, Advent celebrates God’s attributes that come to us in His gift, Jesus Christ.  They are, Peace, Hope, Joy and Love.  

Christmas and our traditions should always draw our attention to the ONE it is all about.  How great God’s desire for us to know Him is seen in the gift and the revealing of His son.  Jesus is THE hope of glory, THE joy unspeakable, THE peace that passes all understanding and THE love that never fails or forsakes us.  They all begin with the personal reception of His gift. 

“Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given”

An invitation to believe and receive has been extended to all men that they might know Him, the Author and Giver of life.  To know the Father, the only true God, and His son, Jesus Christ is eternal life.  The Father is unwilling for any to perish, yet many do because they refuse to accept the gift He has given.  

“Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.”

God proves His love for us in the life and death of Jesus Christ.  God so loved that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Salvation is freely given when the gift is received. 

“Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given”

As we make preparations for Christmas, in the midst of all our world sets before us, may we be mindful to lift up our heads and gaze upon THE ONE who has richly blessed us and give Him thanks for the precious gift of His son, Jesus Christ.  For, unto us a child is born and unto us a son has been given. 

Learn of me

Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart...”

Matthew 11:29

HELPS WORD STUDY ~ “gentle”

4236 praótēs– properly, temperance achieved by displaying the right blend of force and reserve (gentleness).  4236/praótēs ("strength in gentleness") avoids unnecessary harshness – yet without compromising, or being slow to use necessary force.

4236/praotēs ("Spirit-balanced gentleness") upholds the true spirit (purpose) of a situation, and hence is not petty nor vindictive.  4236 (praotēs) often requires laying aside "personal rights."  Accordingly, Paul entreats the Corinthians "by the meekness (4236/praótēs) and gentleness (1932/epieíkeia) given by Christ" (2 Cor 10:1).

Note: In classical Greek, this root (pra-) denotes people with "a calm and soothing disposition" with a "submission to reason (De cohib. ira 1.453 b-c), moderation of the passions (praotēs pathōn, De prof. in virt. 83 e; cf. 78 b; 80 b-c), and self-mastery (Fab. 17.7).  In the NT 4239 (praýs) specifically expresses equanimity according to God's revelation and empowerment (WS, 29).  It exemplifies true moderation (Aristotle, Eth. Nic. 1125 b) and therefore easily reconciles" (Chilon, in Stobaeus 4.7.24; vol. 4, 255)

Summary:

4236/praotēs ("gentle-force") refers to temperate behavior – divinely-balanced (regulated by the Lord) which avoids two problems: negative (personal) anger, and the sin of angerlessness.

(praotēs) includes showing necessary force – at the right time for what is "right" before God.  This "power under control" then acts by the Lord's power, under His direction. (praotēs) avoids the sin of lacking righteous-anger (cf. Eph 4:26), and over-acting. /praotēs ("meekness") is not weakness (timidity) but rather strength exercised under God's control!  It insists on only what is necessary.

My greatest conflicts in life are the wrestling’s that occur where I am unwilling to align with God.  They create all manner of ‘unrest’ within and left unchecked, that disharmony of spirit and soul  ultimately impacts the physical man.  Yet, Jesus tells us, it is in this place of meekness and humility that we find the rest for our souls.    

How can we contend with God and win?  Only by yielding.  Yielding many times seems like a loss but is truly the way to life.  Death yields resurrection.  Paul’s desire, in the book of Philippians to know Christ, came with his willingness to share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death that by any means possible he could attain unto the resurrection from the dead.  

Oh, how we long to bypass this process!  We want to live in the power of resurrected life but there can never be resurrection without first a death. Paul chose to die daily.  I choose to die occasionally, as it suits me.  I don’t think it’s what Jesus had in mind.  Moses is described as the meekest man in all the earth with Hebrews chapter eleven telling us of the choices he had to make to become that man.

Humility shows the condition of heart and mind that reflects acknowledgement of our need for God.  An inner lowliness that displays absolute dependency upon God.  Does meekness then becomes the action that accords with humility?  Jesus, only doing and saying that which the Father had directed; living his life in such a position that first he submitted, heard, then obeyed.  He was quick to hear, slow to speak, and when He did speak and act, achieved the very purposes of God.  It was his humility and meekness that cleansed a temple in one instance and then stood before Pilate and answered not a word in another.  In both scenes, expressing the characters of humility and meekness.  

As God moves in this next season releasing voices and displaying His acts, may we ever be mindful of these two qualities and characters that must be learned to display His righteousness.  It is only in our pride that we form opinions that bring forth judgments, words and actions which run contrary to His purposes. 

To everything under the sun there is a purpose, so while God works, may we hold steady, come to him, learn of HIM meekness and humility and find rest for our souls.

Eager to maintain

“......eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace...” 

Ephesians 4:2

HELPS WORD STUDY -  “eager”

Cognate: 4704 spoudázō – properly, be swift (go fast, speedy); (figuratively) move speedily, showing full diligence (fully applying oneself); "do your best" (concentrate on, give priority to).  See 4710 (spoudē).

1. 4704/spoudazō ("act with full diligence") conveys fervency ("speedy commitment") to accomplish all God assigns through faith

2. spoudazō) means being "eager to do something, with the implication of readiness to expend energy and effort – 'to be eager, eagerness, devotion'" "to do something with intense effort and motivation".

2 Pet 3:14: "Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be speedily diligent (4704/spoudázō) to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless" (NASB).

4704/spoudazō ("act with zeal") is accomplishing what God deems "best" and doing so quickly which speedily elevates the better over the good ("mediocre").

Reflection: 4704/spoudázō ("carefully attend to duty") shows intense desire to do "our utmost for His highest."  

To keep Paul’s letter in context, he has just put forth the prayer for the church to be strengthen with might through the Holy Spirit infused into our inner being SO THAT Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. Infused with strength, rooted and grounded in love, filled with the fullness of God, Paul exhorts the church to ‘a walk worthy of our calling, being found eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit’.

Do you see how prayer from chapter three leads into this ability to maintain unity? Unity flows from a heart filled with love and honour.  Paul goes on in chapter four to remind us there is just one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one God AND CHRIST IS NOT DIVIDED.  May I remind all of us, that Jesus himself said a kingdom divided cannot stand.  Without the love and honour, we tend to bite and devour.  

We must be diligent on our part individually to eagerly maintain, be diligent to preserve, the place of unity in our midst.  Paul wrote, it is with humility, gentleness, patience, in love, that we are capable of holding unity in the bond of peace.  Where I value my opinion, my judgments above another’s, I must be careful not to allow my heart to shift from Jesus’ place of Lordship and despise another.   

Graciousness flows from standing in the grace of God and as we are strengthened with dunamis: miracle working power, (which is miraculous when I don’t want to obey) through the Holy Spirit I allow His fruit to manifest through my life.  We will never maintain a place of unity if we continually focus on, and hold to our differences and dismiss others.

These are days of great distractions, highlighted by the wiles and deception of the evil one. We  could be drawn away from looking at the one who is to hold our heart and gaze.  May we, as His church be filled with such a spirit of wisdom and understanding that we are not drawn away into narratives that bring UNRIGHTEOUS divisions holding fast to the head able to walk in a manner worthy of our calling.  

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  For there is only one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

A MATTER OF FAITH

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.

Philippians 4:4

I want to use as the basis of this “good word” the notes taken from the Helps Word Studies and integrate my thoughts throughout.  I’ve italicized the remarks from Helps to differentiate my thoughts.  As well, I’ve added a link at the end to a limited offer that Discovery Bible (creators of Helps word Study) is offering).  This does not benefit me, but I thought some of you may enjoy the resource.  

On to our thought for the day ~

From Helps Word Study - ‘Rejoice’

5463 xaírō (from the root xar-, "favorably disposed, leaning towards" and cognate with 5485/xáris, "grace") – properly, to delight in God's grace ("rejoice") – literally, to experience God's grace (favor), be conscious (glad) for His grace.

The Apostle Paul writes from Romans, ‘it is by faith we access this grace in which we stand and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that...but we rejoice in our sufferings..’ I think as you study this out, you will find, like myself, that a lack of rejoicing frustrates the grace that could be ours.  Every situation we face comes down to a matter of faith.  He who comes to God MUST BELIEVE.  Jesus, in Mark chapter nine rebukes the disciples, the crowd, and a father over the unbelief calling them a ‘faithless generation’.  The correction Jesus brought into that circumstance was ‘If you can believe!  All things are possible to Him who believes...’  

We find from Romans 5 this grace must be accessed by faith and by faith we must ‘stand’ in it.  Paul went on to write in this same chapter ~ where sin abounds grace does much more abound.  Can you see why Paul exhorts ‘not to receive the grace in vain’?  We all must, like Paul, face the hardship and endure the sufferings to experience grace; for His grace is sufficient.  When I am weak, then is He strong.  Rejoicing leans into the grace and as you follow the exhortation in this portion of Philippians, it is the rejoicing, the leaning into grace, that brings the dismembered, separated, anxious thoughts back into His wholeness (peace). What is prayer, but our communication and realignment to the thoughts and will of our Father.  Rejoicing puts us in remembrance of Him, His ways and His will.  

5463/xairō ("glad by grace") has a direct "etymological connection with xaris (grace)" (DNTT, 2, 356).  S. Zodhiates (Dict, 1467) likewise comments that 5479/xará ("joy") and 5485/xáris ("grace") are cognates of 5463/xaírō ("to rejoice") – i.e. all share the same root and therefore the same core (fundamental) meaning.

1. 5463/xairō ("rejoice") is also cognate with 2168/euxaristéō ("give thanks for grace").  Both literally mean "grateful."  ("Grateful" is an old English term, derived from the even older term, "grace-ful" – which literally means "fullness of grace.")

3.  The core-idea of "rejoice" (5463/xaírō, "grateful") in its NT sense is "personally knowing God's grace at work."  5463/xaírō ("glad for God's grace") conveys rejoicing because knowing Him – affirming the Lord's grace is working out His eternal purpose regardless of circumstances.

Phil 4:4: "Continuously rejoice (5463/xaírō) always!  Again I will say, continuously rejoice (5463/xaírō)!"

1 Thes 5:16,17: "16Continuously rejoice (5463/xaírō) always!  [3842/pántote, i.e. "no matter what comes next"].  17Continuously pray! – without ceasing (letting up)."

"Happiness" requires things going "our way."  Rejoicing (5463/xaírō, "grace gladness") is simply being conscious of Christ's triumph and His unbounding grace.  Accordingly, biblical rejoicing (5463/xaírō) is circumstance-independent – a continuous "defiant, 'nevertheless'" (K. Barth, The Epistle to the Philippians, 1962, 120; cf. Phil 2:17, 4:4).

1. Wanting more than we should brings discontentment, which overlooks rejoicing (5463/xaírō, "grace gladness").  True rejoicing however affirms the "slice" (scene) of life God has apportioned – embracing His way out (of the difficult circumstances).  This strategy is defined only by the Lord's impartation of faith which brings His victory – regardless of the earthly outcome (cf. 1 Jn 5:4, Gk text).

Working it out . .The four terms derived from the xar- ("divine favor") enable the believer to always live in God's victory – who has already won the day!

5479/xara/"joy" ("conscious of God's grace") is the basis of 5463/xaírō ("delighted through grace").  The joy of knowing God's grace includes giving thanks (2168/euxaristéō) for it.  All four terms form one essential semantic-unit, as all share the same root idea (xar-, i.e. God's favor, grace).

5463 (xairō) is the activity of acknowledging God's grace; 2168/euxaristéō ("giving thanks") is more reflective, looking back at what God's grace has done "good"; 5479/xará ("joy") is simply being "conscious of God's grace."

All these definitions bring new understanding and thoughts to the idea of joy and rejoicing.  They bring a whole new meaning to “do all things without murmuring and complaining”. Don’t you think the fussing we do frustrates the grace that could be ours, or could the Father see it as despising  the Spirit of grace?  Count the number of times Paul has used these words throughout this book. It was the murmurs and complainers that God overthrew in the wilderness. If the “joy” of the Lord is our strength we so need to get this beyond, I know, and let it be our very nature to do!   

At the beginning of 2020 we had an exhortation by the spirit of God to “guard thankfulness”.  As we have progressed through this year, we had found many opportunities to guard that instruction.  As we live in the world, we find much darkness and chaos, and I continually find myself searching the scriptures daily to know how to live in the midst of all the fear, confusion, unrest, mental anxieties, doubt and unbelief and, I believe, a personal discipline of ‘rejoicing’ is key.  We can’t always change what goes on around us, but we can control what is happening within us.  

The promised link:

https://thediscoverybible.com/landing-pages/thanksgiving-2020/

Do Good

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”  

Galatians 6:10

Helps Word Studies “opportunity”

2540 kairós – time viewed as opportunity.  2540/kairós ("opportune time") derives from kara ("head") which refers to things "coming to a head" (to take full-advantage).  "2540 (kairos) is the suitable time, the right moment (e.g. Soph., El. 1292), a favorable moment" (DNTT, 3, 833). Kairos expresses time in terms of its eternal potential – qualitatively, rather than quantitatively (as with 5550/xrónos).  Indeed, every scene of life then is a "karios moment" (eternal opportunity) because the Lord has arranged all of them (Eph 1:11; Ps 118:24, Heb text).

I like the phrase HELPS use “expressing time in terms of its eternal potential”.  If we view our moments eternally how much more would we live with open hearts that extend open hands.  

To see our brother in need and close our heart to him... how does the love of God abide in Him?  The Kairos is lost and the moment which has been given for eternity, gone. 

Eph 5:16: "Making the most of your time (2540/kairós), because the days are evil" (NASB).

Because we do live in the midst of evil, we have so many kairos moments to make the most of.  Our exhortation from Galatians today is to do good to all.  Here in Victoria, you can not be out on the streets without coming into contact with our vast homeless population.  A closed heart refuses to see.  Where we refuse to see, we cannot sow for eternity.  Luke’s story of Jesus going to Zacchaeus’ house, tells us Jesus came to seek and to save what was lost.  The word ‘seek’ is highlighted in my mind today.  How often do we go live with that awareness?  Seeking that opportunity which may be ripe for sowing? 

We are to consider our life here and now as seed, unless a seed falls into the ground and dies, it remains just a single seed.    We spend and are spent for the benefit of others.  This is why Paul said, let us not grow weary in well doing, while you have the opportunity do good!  To grow weary is an evil we can not afford.  I’m continually reminded in these days of the question the Lord poses to Jeremiah in chapter twelve, if you’ve run with the footmen and they’ve wearied you, how then can you contend with the horses? And if in the land of peace, wherein you trusted, they wearied you! Then how will you do in the swelling of Jordan?

If doing good is a burden to us now, and helping others wearies us, how could we ever endure true hardships and times of trouble, that will eventually present the greatest needs of mankind, ever.

Col 4:5: "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity (2540/kairós)" (NASB).

David and I have always lived with the awareness that if we see it- it is our kairos moment.  Not to be passed off to another, not to be ignored, but to hold the wisdom of God in ourselves, to meet it righteously.  The man laid daily at the temple, in the book of Acts, begging alms, is met by Peter and John.  He asks for money, Peter and John, have none but give him what they do have, “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Rise up and walk.”  We always have the name to use and bring life to another.

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”  

Representing Jesus

But if you can do anything have compassion on us and help us.

Mark 9:23

Most will be familiar with this story from Marks’s Gospel.  The disciples have found themselves with a Father and son who they have been unable to help.  Jesus comes down from the ‘mount of transfiguration’ to a crowd surrounding this scene.  This father is desperately seeking deliverance for his son and the nine disciples are unable to cast out the demon, so as he meets Jesus, he seems both hopeful and unsure..

We see this expressed in the words, but... and if....

My thought today revolves around the awesome responsibility we have been given to accurately and faithfully represent Jesus.  

These disciples were not born again, not baptized with the Holy Spirit, but given the authority to preach, heal, and cast out devils in the name of Jesus (representing Jesus). This always gives me pause to consider my personal activities and judge my work extending the Kingdom as a Spirit filled believer.   

My thought doesn’t focus on the unbelief of the father, or of Jesus saying “if you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes”, or even the crowd as the “faithless and perverse generation” but rather the inability of the nine to do the assigned works.

Privately, Jesus addresses their question of why they could not cast him out.  It wasn’t for their lack of obedience, rather a need for growth and development of spiritual capacity which could only be developed through prayer and fasting ~

‘This kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting’.

When John’s disciples asked Jesus the reason of His disciples lack of prayer and fasting, Jesus answered basically, this isn’t the time or season for fasting. 

Jesus answered, “how can the guest of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast.”  Mt. 9:16

With greater works assigned to the church and the command from Mark 16, how much more today, should his disciples exercise a discipline of prayer and fasting?.  The flesh and its desires must be kept in subjection in order for faith to dominate. There must be a real sense of dependence on God of which prayer is the continual expression.  

I don’t want to be found lacking, unable to righteously express Him in any facet of need I may meet, when I preach Jesus, the need for my dependence upon God grows daily in this hour.

JUDGMENT

Justice is turned back and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannnot enter.  Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. 15) The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.   16) He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm  brought  him salvation and his righteousness upheld him. 17) He put on righteousness as a breastplate and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. 18) According to their deeds, so he will repay wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands, he will render repayment. 19) So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream which the wind of the Lord drives.  20) And a redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from their transgressions, declares the Lord.      

Isaiah 59:14....

I’d like to consider with you these verses with Jesus in view. Isaiah prophesied for approximately 50 years under the reign of four Judean kings to a people whose sin had separated them from God and brought judgment.

While we live in what is commonly considered among dispensationalist, the age of grace, there is a fixed day coming where “God will judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom he has destined and appointed for that task, and He has made this credible and given conviction and assurance and evidence to everyone by raising him from the dead”, Acts 17:31AMPC

I believe these are days the Holy Spirit is pressing upon the church a greater alignment to become a bride without spot, wrinkle or blemish, looking and waiting for the return of Jesus. I believe these are days where, like John the Baptist, there is a cry coming forth to prepare the way for the return of the Lord through a message of repentance. I believe we have been in a season of great pruning where we are seeing the long suffering of God giving space for repentance and now I’m beginning to hear and sense words regarding judgment. 

Judgment begins at the house of God. 

For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?  1 Peter 4:1

Now I want to remind you although you once fully knew it, that Jesus,who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day - Jude 5,6

I’m surely thankful there is a place of communion with the Lord, that if we will exercise righteous judgment upon our own life, mind, words, actions, and heart, we will not be judged with the world but find the place of forgiveness and cleansing by the blood of Jesus.  Jesus himself said you are cleansed by the word I have spoken, meaning once again, this word that we feed upon will continually wash our mind and heart to walk in ways that are pleasing to him as we deny ourselves to follow Him.  

I believe, as we see Jesus from these verses in Isaiah, so we are seeing the gathering of His church, “He put on righteousness as a breastplate and a helmet of salvation on his head, he put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.”

Living from the zeal of the Lord consuming the church, a passion for righteousness will find us like Phinehas, who turned back the wrath of God from the people of Israel in that he was “jealous with my jealousy” and stayed the plague. Keeping ourselves in the love of God, will find us exercising mercy with fear, upon those who doubt, compassion, in hopes of the goodness of God leading them to repentance, others pulled from the fire, we will offer His salvation, while holding fast to hating the effects of sin. 

His church will value purity above the pleasures of sin, distinction marked by personal consecration and by his love all men will know we are his disciples.   

Now unto him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. 

In these last days

• Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.....” Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV

  Facing a generation wrestling with the validity of the Bible, we must be diligent to hold ourselves accountable to the standard of the word as never before.  With “truth” being tagged relative, it becomes easy to dismiss what potentially challenges ones personal beliefs.  

  John 1:1 (ESV): In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us....

  We learn from scriptures that you cannot separate Jesus the man from Jesus the word. Both are the truth.  

  John 14:6. “I am the way, the truth .......”

  John 17:17 “....your word is truth..”

  John 8:31–32 “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

   “HE HAS SPOKEN TO US BY HIS SON” 

  As Christians, we believe Jesus was and is “the truth” presented to the world by the Father and stewarded by His church.   I’ve been so strongly impressed  by the Holy Spirit in these past months with  “attend to my word”, Strong impression - “do not let it depart from your eyes”.

  We can be so inundated with information from so many sources these days that if we do not take care to wash our minds with the word, our minds become polluted with the world.  

    The number one way God speaks to us today is through this word that has been written, that we might feed upon it daily allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate our hearts and minds. The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus through this written word.  They are one, united in thought and purpose and instructions.

  Hebrews 4:12 (ESV): the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

  “HE HAS SPOKEN TO US BY HIS SON”

  Jesus called his disciples friends, and as such, told them all things the Father had showed him.  These things have been written down so that you and I might believe.  Sometimes I find myself wanting some kind of “proof” and I remind myself Jesus said it was an evil and adulterous generation that demanded signs.  This was the way the Children of Israel tested God in the wilderness...their refusal to believe what God had spoken.  

  His word was spoken, that it might be written, so we could believe.  

  To maintain the integrity of the church, believers must be abiding in the word.  Preachers must preach the word, so believers are impacted by the truth that the Holy Spirit can bear witness to.  

  The church is built on the revelation of Jesus being the Christ. In these last days, God has spoken to us by His son.  Jesus, the word made flesh, is the revealed will and truth of God.  His church is a pillar and buttress of the truth.  

Count it all Joy

“I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my Name”

Acts 9:16

Acts 9 records Paul, following his encounter with the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus, being three days without sight, fasting, and having a vision of a man named Ananias coming to him, laying his hands on him and regaining his sight.

At the same time we learn this man, Ananias, is having a vision too. The Lord instructs Ananias to go to Paul, assuring Ananias Paul is chosen and will carry the name of Jesus to the Gentiles, Kings and Jews and “showing Him how much he must suffer for my Names sake”.

I think most of us would love to have a supernatural encounter with the Lord Jesus, yet I dare say, we don’t take the time to consider the cost involved in them...

 “how much we will suffer for the sake of my name”.   

I know when I gave my life to the Lord, this was the furtherest thing from my consideration.  We all have these great words and wonderful promises but somehow, in between the start and finish, we miss the processing of being tested and shaped through suffering obedience.  

Jesus was a man of sorrow acquainted with grief. Paul knew a life of suffering and persecution and we too are told that these very things await the disciple of Christ.  If we truly want to serve the Lord and extend His Kingdom, we must be aware we too will suffer.

Phil 1:29: "For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake" 

2 Thes 1:5: "This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.”

Let’s look at this word suffer from the Helps word study.

3958 pásxō (a primitive verb) – properly, to feel heavy emotion, especially suffering; affected by experiencing deep, penetrating feeling – literally "sensible" (i.e. "sensed-experience"); "the feeling of the mind, emotion, passion" (J. Thayer).

[3958/pasxō ("experiencing strong feeling") is the root of: 3804/páthēma ("passions, sufferings"), 3805/pathētós ("suffering") and 3806/páthos ("strong feeling, passion").

 Christ suffered once for sins, but we know that his body the church still undergoes continual “suffering” and hardships which Paul says he rejoices in the opportunity to fill up what may be lacking. 

Colossians 1:24 I rejoice at what I am suffering for your sake, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s affections for the sake of his body which is the church. 

I don’t know that I’m always willing to engage in the emotional anguish that comes with relationships and service in ministry much less rejoice in it.  Yet James tells us without this place of counting it all joy there is no growth in us, no fruit through us and the Kingdom is not extended by our work. 

This is certainly a day to reevaluate opportunities and choices so that we do not fail to bring up what is lacking.  Charles Spurgeon said, "I am certain that I never did grow in grace one-half so much anywhere as I have upon the bed of pain.l

In conclusion there are things I’m sure the Lord is quite willing to reveal, I guess the real question would be my willingness to hear or see them ~

1 Pet 3:13-16: "Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?  14But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed.  and do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behaviour in Christ will be put to shame.”

Boetheo

Boetheo 

997 boēthéō(from 995/boē, "intense exclamation" and theō, "run") – properly, run to meet an urgent distress-call (cry for help); deliver help by quickly responding to an urgent need (intense distress).

997/boētheō ("supply urgently needed help") means to give immediate aid – in time for a pressing need, i.e. "to run, on a call to help" (TDNT, 1:628).    HELPS WORD STUDY 

I LOVE THIS WORD!  I found this words definition years ago when David and I were facing a huge financial need to close on the purchase of our home. I was mediating on Hebrews 13:5/6 from the Amplified Classic - 

Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God]Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not,[I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?

This verse brought such comfort and rest to my heart and mind. I was able to commit the circumstance to God and just walk out the events with my eyes on him.  The end is a Glory to God story.  The morning of our closing date we were still lacking $7000 plus. I won’t lie, the war raged in my head, but I held on to the this word - Boetheo.  Fifteen minutes before we had to walk into the notary office, we get a phone call. Help arrived and we had all we needed. 

As we celebrate our Canadian thanksgiving, let’s call to mind all the times God Has been our very present help in our time of need and be purposeful to give Him thanks.  

“GOD IS our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear,......”

Psalm 46:1-2

EPHESIANS

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.....

Ephesians 1:3

Paul’s letter to the Saints in Ephesus begins with praise and acknowledgement of grace and peace (verse two) being some of the very spiritual blessings he mentions in verse three.  

We should note here, we have nothing in our lives as believers that has not come to us by the goodness of God.

  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

Paul writes ALL spiritual blessings come from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The awareness that Paul makes mention of our Father as God demands we hold this reality of His nature and character.  God, the one who is everlasting, eternal, without beginning and without end.  When we say Almighty God, we recognize and acknowledge the power and ability of our God.  The one who is the creator of all things. The one who declares nothing is impossible to Him.  We hold Him in reverential awe.

When we consider grace comes from him, is it any wonder Paul wrote, our God is able to make HIS grace abound to us so that we having all sufficiency, in all things, at all times, are able to abound to every good work. 

Paul then acknowledges, Almighty God is our Father! The one whom all family in heaven and on earth derives it’s name and nature.  Paul is highlighting another perspective in our relationship. Family!  Right Fatherhood!  Our Father, who has freely given us all things because of His great love, while we were yet sinners, chose and adopted us, made us accepted, holy and without blame before him. We cry Abba Father, for His lovingkindness, His goodness, and watchful care over us.  

I’ll remind you that this word grace: 5485/xáris ("grace, divine favor") is the basis of every blessing as the Lord ever extends Himself to us and comes unlimitedly to us through Christ.

It was interesting to note that verses three through fourteen in Ephesians one are just one long verse.  While many translations offer sentences, the original Greek contains one continuous statement of Paul’s praise and acknowledgement.

When Paul begins with “Blessed” in verse three, I want you to see what he is actually saying ~

HELPS WORD STUDIES on BLESSED  ~

eulogētós (the root of the English terms, "eulogize, eulogy," see 2127/eulogéō) – properly, "speak well of"; to celebrate by praising.

2128/eulogētos ("blessed") is only used of God the Father and Christ (God the Son), i.e. how the Godhead is worthy of all our commitment (worship).  Only God is inherently praiseworthy, deserving every "good acknowledgment"!

   "To bless" someone is different than praising them.  A blesser gives something away (a part of themselves) to confer benefit through a personal commitment.  In contrast, praise means to acknowledge (give recognition)

1. In sum, "blessing God" means consecrating ourselves to the Lord in true commitment, "offering ourselves up" because God is worthy of all our surrender ("sweet abandon") – i.e. "giving ourselves away."

The position we hold "IN Christ'' provides us with such a rich and vast treasure of spiritual realities this natural mind can not begin to comprehend, thus Paul’s prayer for “the spirit of wisdom and revelation” to understand and know Him who we have been divinely placed into.  

“In Christ” is the position every believer must live from.  It is in the first fourteen verses of chapter one, we find that IN CHRIST  we have been

• BLESSED

• CHOSEN

• SANCTIFIED

• ADOPTED

• ACCEPTED

• REDEEMED

• FORGIVEN 

• ENLIGHTENED

• GIVEN AND INHERITANCE

• SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

No wonder Paul writes “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”.  The awareness of this treasure can’t help but cause us to fall upon our faces and yield to the glories of His grace that are seen in Christ.  

My prayer is the one who holds all wisdom will impart to each of us a greater revelation of our place and provision in Christ for the purpose of righteous living here and fulfilling all His will.  

LORDSHIP of jesus

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

Matthew 7:21 KJV

LORD ~ 2962 kýrios – properly, a person exercising absolute ownership rights; lord (Lord).

[In the papyri, 2962 (kýrios) likewise denotes an owner (master) exercising full rights.]

2962 (kyrios) is used supremely of Christ the Lord, the sovereign over all creation who is the Creator (cf. Jn 1:3; Col 1:16,17).  2962/kýrios ("Lord") in the NT is also applied to the triune God (Yahweh).

The Gospels use 2962 (kýrios) of the tri-personal Godhead, and for Christ in particular – the God-man, supremely manifesting the Godhead.  See Mt 1:20,22; 2:13; cf. also Mt 3:3; 7:21; 8:2. 
Helps Word Studies. 

I don’t know that we have all come to terms with the concept and demand of lordship.  David uses the phrase “cultural christianity” to express the idea of theory without the personal fellowship with Lord God Almighty, our Heavenly Father, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the HOLY Spirit. We find a good explanation of this from Paul’s writings to Timothy regarding the difficulties facing the church in the last days.  Paul’s summation..... 

“They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly”.

 2 Timothy 3:5 NLT

“They profess to know God, but they deny him, by their works...” Titus 1:16 ESV

Salvation is unto the one who “shall confess with their mouth the ‘Lord’ Jesus”.  It is those who call upon the name of the “Lord” that are saved. Having been set free from sin we have become servants to God, we now have the fruit of our lives displaying holiness, with the end being everlasting life.  

If we can come to terms with these huge thoughts today  ~

You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“...Every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour”

1 Thessalonians 4:3

..we just might begin to see some worldly things lose their allure and pull. 

It doesn’t help to live in a culture that continually feeds and encourages the development of self.  Every social institution promotes the right to be uniquely YOU and actively works to sell you ways of becoming a better you.  It is certainly right to be uniquely you BECAUSE in GOD, we are each fearfully and wonderfully made, created individually to fit His purpose.   

The guarantee of adapting to the world to find our expression of self, is the temptation it brings to not submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.   

The Christian identity is found only IN CHRIST.  It is in the conforming to HIM as we grow in the knowledge of HIM, continually beholding him, that brings transformation of all parts of our being, spirit, soul and body.

The world, it’s practices and beliefs, grows darker daily and a love for the world simply holds the appetites and desires found within all worldly systems.  BUT as Christians we are not “of the world”, in it, but not of it.  It’s not how close we can live to the edge without falling in, it’s how close will I live in communion with Him, that I might be “as He is”, now in this world.  

Jesus’ prayer for his disciples from John chapter seventeen ~

“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one.  They are not of the world just as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them in the truth.  Your word is truth.”

May we always live with the awareness that the assurance we have before the Father in these last days, is our ability to acknowledge our complete surrender to His rule and reign as our sovereign, affirming that allegiance daily.  

In these lAst days.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our Fathers by the prophets,  in these last days he has spoken to us by his son, whom he has appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.  He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.  

Hebrews 1:1-3

The advantage of age is wisdom (hopefully).  Wisdom that realizes you don’t know everything and there is always much more to learn.  I can’t think of this being more true than in my own personal relationship with my Heavenly Father, His son, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit.  

In the introduction to the book of Hebrews we find an expression of the Father and Son, that while we may know what the words say, the question we must ask is ~ how have these truths shaped me; spirit (heart), soul (thinking, choices) and body (disciplines)?  What personal revelation do I hold from these words that have conformed me to Him. 

“He has in these last days spoken to us by His son”

The word became flesh and dwelt among us....

The words I speak, they are spirit and life...

“Appointed heir of all things”

As the heir of all things, he has inherited me. 

Radiance of His glory, Express image of the father. 

As The sun gives off its benefits, so through Jesus we see the splendour of the Father. 

The world created by God through Jesus (spoken word)

And God said....

Jesus upholds the universe by the word of his power. 

His word holds all things in order, establishing their boundaries.  By refusing any portion of this word, our lives default into chaos and confusion.  

Jesus said eternal life was the fruit of knowing him and the Father and this must be our one daily pursuit; an ever increasing knowledge which transforms and conforms our lives. 

Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.     

From G. H. Lang’s Epistle to the Hebrews, Lang writes, “It is upon the Person, offices, glories and supremeness of the Son that the writer now enlarges.  The uplifted Son is God’s centre of attraction for all creation...”

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. 

John 12:32

To yield to that attraction is to be withdrawn from all that is not of God.  This is salvation. To see Him as exalted is to overcome the world....to see him as the man in heaven is to have the heart detached from the earth and attached to heaven as its native, its eternal realm.  Christ is Gods Saviour for us, His supply for every need, His reservoir of every blessing.  All is in Him, nothing is apart from Him.  To Him, the Writer (of Hebrews) points.  Really to know Him will deliver the reader from every danger, and therefore he (the writer of Hebrews) expatiates upon the glories of the Son of God.”

It is these glories that we must come to know, to allow them entrance and preeminence in every sphere of our being so that we too might become a partaker of His divine nature, for we are to be found IN HIM, growing up in every way into HIM.

John wrote in his first epistle,

“Beloved, now are we children of God, and what we shall be has not yet been manifested; we know that if it is manifested we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”  Darby’s  translation 

This thought is two fold; the press to become, is now limited to our perceptions and knowledge and then, when He is revealed, we see him as He actually is.” 

Paul on the road to Damascus had no frame of reference for the Jesus He was to encounter. Was he Jesus the son of man, or was He Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father.  The answer could be either, but the presentation, the revelation, in the moment was designed and suited for Paul’s need. While Paul didn’t then hold a full knowledge he held enough to move him forward, seeking and separated. 

Even so, our knowledge of Him and consequently our behaviour is shaped by what we know.  To fulfill our destiny this side of heaven demands an ever increasing knowledge.  As we feed upon the word, we must be mindful of always allowing Him to shape the reality of those words, knowing that we are limited by our own personal perceptions and knowledge. He holds an ever increasing revelation of Himself for those who pursue Him. 

As I consider these few verses from Hebrews, I’m aware of what I do know, but I want to see what it is that is beyond my current knowledge and understanding, to be able to come up higher and see Him as He is. 

May our hearts continually hunger to see and hear all He desires to reveal to us in these last days through His son.   

GRACE TO YOU

“.......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, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth ......”

Revelation 1:4-5

The Apostle John is writing to the seven churches in Asia from the isle of Patmos.  I am struck by his opening greeting, as he decrees grace and peace to each church.  I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed through the epistles how much this phrase, ‘grace and peace’ is used in the openings or closings.

HELPS WORD STUDIES notes ~

1. Next to "life" (2222/zōē), GRACE: 5485 (xáris) is perhaps the broadest (most inclusive) theological term used in relation to God in Scripture.  5485/xáris ("grace, divine favor") is the basis of every blessing as the Lord ever extends Himself to us.  God's grace comes to us unlimitedly  through Christ – "the way, the truth and the life" (Jn 14:6, Gk text).

I believe grace and peace must have been a foundational revelation that the early church was built upon.  

Here in Revelation, John reminds us just who these precious gifts come from and when he wrote 2 JOHN he added that they always come to us in truth and love. From Revelation, John describes our Heavenly Father as the one who is, reminding us that our Father is ever present.  God dwells in now.  Everything with God is a right now moment. As the one who was, John highlights, He was with us in the every moment of our past and as the one who is to come, He will be with us in the present moment in our future.  In other words, we are never, ever, without God’s help.   

Psalm  46:1.  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

AMPLIFIED Hebrews 13:5-6 “.....for He [God] ]Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! ]Assuredly not!] 6. So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?”

God comes with His grace and peace. There are also seven spirits before the throne who release grace and peace.  Isaiah chapter eleven lists these Seven spirits and if we focused on those we would see how each one is powerful in its own right and would yield grace and peace when those specifics are needed. It is the Spirit Himself who strengthens us with might in the inner man and causes us to be strong in grace.  Then finally, John writes, grace and peace  come to us from Jesus Christ.

I guess my overwhelming thought in and with these powerful assurances, is why do we so often stumble in the midst of our crisis?  

I’d like to share with you the definition of GRACE from the Helps Word Studies ~

Xaris (another feminine noun from xar-, "favor, disposed to, inclined, favorable toward, leaning toward to share benefit") – properly, grace.  5485 (xaris) is preeminently used of the Lord's favor, freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He "ever leans toward them").

Key quotes

• R. Trench, "Aristotle, defining 5485 (xáris), lays the whole stress on this very point, that it is conferred freely, with no expectation of return, and finding its only motive in the bounty and free-heartedness of the giver (Rhetoric. 2.7). . . . 5485 (xaris) is unearned and unmerited..”

Grace is the presence of God coming to us in the fullness of all He is, leaning towards us to share His unlimited benefits.  Moses understood this when he prayed in Exodus chapter 33....

                    “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.”

How much better would we be if our day started with this same cry, with His assurance given to us as it was to Moses.  

“My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.

As I write this, my heart is strengthened and assured, we have no situation in life that we are not able to face and overcome because of His grace.  His very presence is ever leaning towards us with all He is.  WE HAVE HELP and all things are possible with God. 

Patient endurance

  I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 

Revelation 1:9

TRIBULATION - 2347 thlípsis – properly, pressure (what constricts, rubs together in a narrow place that "hems in"); tribulation, focusing on internal pressure that causes one to feel confined (restricted, "without options")./thlipsis brings the challenge of also coping with the internal pressure caused by the tribulation, especially feeling there is "no way of escape" because "hemmed in." HELPS WORD STUDIES

Two thoughts I’d liked to address from this verse are “partner in tribulation” and “patient endurance”.  

I’m finding these are days that are demanding “patient endurance” with a greater dependency on the Holy Spirit work to produce His wisdom and His fruit in and through our lives. 

I find it interesting that John writes about the partnership he has with others who are “in tribulation” and reminds them first, that this is common in “the kingdom” they share.   

The kingdom of God suffers violence .... thus the need to endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ Jesus.

Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom, strengthened and encouraged as disciples, to enter in through faith...Acts 14:22.  Not seeing, yet believing, we consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed in us.  We continue to hope for the unseen, and wait for it with patience....(Romans 5.19-25)

The Apostle John reminds us that he too was a partner in tribulations that we all experience in life and from Jesus ~

“.....in me you may have peace, in the world you will have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world”.  John 16:33

The proper response to the tribulation is patient endurance, not an effort to avoid.  While we would all love to never suffer hardships and pain, there are things we never learn or develop in our lives without the conflict of pressure.  

Ellicott’s commentary notes that this patience brings experience because it is in Jesus.   It is not patience that is looking and waiting for Jesus. It is not the patience of Jesus but patience that draws its life and energy of endurance from Him.  

The apostle Paul wrote in Php 4:  ~ 

     11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content :12  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need :13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Literally ~ infuses strength into my inner man”. 

Romans 5:3 Paul’s reminds us “but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance” and we are exhorted from Romans 12:12. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 

If Jesus had to learn obedience from the things he suffered don’t you image there are things that we too will learn and develop while going through our own particular adversities? 

I love Johns greeting to the churches in Revelation 1:4 where he writes ~

“ 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, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of Kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priest to his God and father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold he is coming with the clouds…”

A good reminder to live with the awareness of our need for patient endurance through these days.