We are dust held together by the breath of God.
When we worship God we are simply returning to God what he breathed into us.
Light represents God's precense. We are meant to be light of the world. Reflecting God's precense.
We need to remove the false things, the expectations of others and return to the real person we are, not the artificial us.
Who are we, the person others want or the beloved of God. We need to remove the armour (saul) that others would place on us.
What is built from our lives depends not on our fears or even hopes others have put on us but on the word of God, that which is written. See our Jesus responded to the (if) testing of the devil.
We need to not listen to the chatter (lies) the enemy says to us.
The hebrew translation of filthy rags is excrement. See zechariah 3:5 he clothes us with the best robes and a turban of his promises.
To hear the river which runs deep we must be still and know that he is God. Psalm 46.
Love in hebrew is "longing for a home".
There are 4 layers of revelation in God's word. The literal, the general message, the hint and the mystery as per hebrew learning.
When Jesus said eat my flesh in hebrew it literally means to suckle at the breast as babies do, not some weird flesh feast.
Bethel is communion with God but ai represents confusion. Abram pitched his tent between the two and built an altar of sacrifice. The middle ground represents the reality.
We come to God like babies, just loved, not for what we have or do. God's nature is loved, and we are the beloved of God.
Focusing or being aware of God is to turn or give God our attention.
The cleft of the rock is a safe place. A place that we can be when that which destroy us passes by. A bit like a mother's womb.
Jesus became the mercy seat of God, and this is what Mary saw when the two angels stood at either end of where Jesus was laying in the tomb.
Psalm 91, a picture of the mercy seat is the shelter (shadow) of the most high. God in the most high can see everthing.
Being all powerful he can respond to our needs. God is a covenant keeping God who is creative (able).
Even when we can't see God he can see us. He sees and knows everything that is going on.
He is almighty, able to do everything. He has all the power and might.
God's personal name guarantees the covenant. It is his signature on the contract (covenant).
He is a creative God who knows the end from the beginning. He can do the miraculous.
The word for redemption in hebrew means to go full circle. Such as gilgo, whenever we read go such as golgotha is God's redemptive work.
Saturday, 30 June 2018
Tuesday, 19 June 2018
There is no Love in Fear
1John4:18 says "There is no love in fear, but perfect love casts out all fear."
When we read this text we understand that fear is the opposite of love, that when fear is present, love cannot be seen or felt or even for that matter be spoken of. Paul writing to the Romans in chapter 8:15 says that "you have not received a spirit of fear which leads to death, but a spirit of adoption, by which we cry Abba, Father" Therefore the work of the Holy Spirit in us is to bring us out of fear into everlasting and resurrected life in Christ as God's adopted sons and daughters.
Paul speaking to Timothy says "for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and sound mind." So when fear is absent in our lives, we should therefore be able to live out our lives in love, power and a sound mind.
I recently realised that I was reacting to fear in my life. This fear stemmed from my upbringing and a sense of rejection I felt when my parents divorced at nine. I remember growing up I had a fear of water, after nearly drowning on three different occasions. Yet when I was asked by my step father to join him in learning to scuba dive my fear of water vanished. This did not come easily and I remember the first time I had to do an open dive, that is into open water off the beach of Cronulla on the east coast of Australia. I remember vividly how I shook uncontrollably as I walked into the water off the beach into the dark unknown and realising what I felt was a watery grave.
Yet, despite my fear of water, I was able to fulfil my desire and overcome these insurmountable odds that I felt. Though I felt amazing almost immediately when I saw the fish and other beautiful aspects of this underwater world, it was not this which caused me to defeat my fear of water or drowning. But is was a fear of not being accepted by my stepfather which enable me to put to death this fear. Yet putting a fear of water to death only strengthened my fear of rejection and needing of acceptance.
So I traded one fear for another, yet neither of these fears lead to the freedom and desires that God has to release us His creation into perfect love. In realising my fear of rejection, I can now ask the Holy Spirit, the very spirit of Christ to work through this fear with His love and grace for my life.
2 Corinthians 10:5 says "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." I have learnt in recent years that I cannot trust my emotions and feelings. Indeed I feel that even the thoughts that I have must be measured against God's word and His promises for our lives. When we are under pressure, stressed or in the trials of life, it is then that we must truly examine our hearts, motives and every thought, knowing it is in these times that the works of the enemy, that is the devil, will be exposed in our lives.
Trials are truly, therefore, a real opportunity for God's everlasting fruit to be produced in our lives and the fruit of the enemy to be exposed and dealt with. What do we do with this bad fruit? We give it to God, we lay it down on the alter of our lives and allow God's Spirit to bring healing and restoration to our hearts. But it is in our willingness for righteousness to prevail and our desires for sanctification to complete it's work in us that makes this possible. As I am honest about the fruit of my life, only then can God's fruit be seen. When I am honest about my fears and allow God to expose them, only then can God's love be seen in me!
God Bless you on your journey with Christ and His Spirit
James
When we read this text we understand that fear is the opposite of love, that when fear is present, love cannot be seen or felt or even for that matter be spoken of. Paul writing to the Romans in chapter 8:15 says that "you have not received a spirit of fear which leads to death, but a spirit of adoption, by which we cry Abba, Father" Therefore the work of the Holy Spirit in us is to bring us out of fear into everlasting and resurrected life in Christ as God's adopted sons and daughters.
Paul speaking to Timothy says "for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and sound mind." So when fear is absent in our lives, we should therefore be able to live out our lives in love, power and a sound mind.
I recently realised that I was reacting to fear in my life. This fear stemmed from my upbringing and a sense of rejection I felt when my parents divorced at nine. I remember growing up I had a fear of water, after nearly drowning on three different occasions. Yet when I was asked by my step father to join him in learning to scuba dive my fear of water vanished. This did not come easily and I remember the first time I had to do an open dive, that is into open water off the beach of Cronulla on the east coast of Australia. I remember vividly how I shook uncontrollably as I walked into the water off the beach into the dark unknown and realising what I felt was a watery grave.
Yet, despite my fear of water, I was able to fulfil my desire and overcome these insurmountable odds that I felt. Though I felt amazing almost immediately when I saw the fish and other beautiful aspects of this underwater world, it was not this which caused me to defeat my fear of water or drowning. But is was a fear of not being accepted by my stepfather which enable me to put to death this fear. Yet putting a fear of water to death only strengthened my fear of rejection and needing of acceptance.
So I traded one fear for another, yet neither of these fears lead to the freedom and desires that God has to release us His creation into perfect love. In realising my fear of rejection, I can now ask the Holy Spirit, the very spirit of Christ to work through this fear with His love and grace for my life.
2 Corinthians 10:5 says "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." I have learnt in recent years that I cannot trust my emotions and feelings. Indeed I feel that even the thoughts that I have must be measured against God's word and His promises for our lives. When we are under pressure, stressed or in the trials of life, it is then that we must truly examine our hearts, motives and every thought, knowing it is in these times that the works of the enemy, that is the devil, will be exposed in our lives.
Trials are truly, therefore, a real opportunity for God's everlasting fruit to be produced in our lives and the fruit of the enemy to be exposed and dealt with. What do we do with this bad fruit? We give it to God, we lay it down on the alter of our lives and allow God's Spirit to bring healing and restoration to our hearts. But it is in our willingness for righteousness to prevail and our desires for sanctification to complete it's work in us that makes this possible. As I am honest about the fruit of my life, only then can God's fruit be seen. When I am honest about my fears and allow God to expose them, only then can God's love be seen in me!
God Bless you on your journey with Christ and His Spirit
James
Sunday, 17 June 2018
Faith, Hope & Love
Faith, hope and love is certainly a concept that most Christians will appreciate from the book of Corinthians written by the Apostle Paul. As a Christian of some 32 years, I would probably say that I understand this concept myself fairly well but am also aware that God by his Holy Spirit continues to download new understanding.
Recently, my wife discussed another concept from scripture which is not as clear cut as it does not come from one particular passage of scripture but is certainly an underlying concept throughout God's word. That concept is Love, Empathy & Freedom.
Whilst most will know that God is love and therefore true love can only ultimately come from God to us and therefore through us to those around us, it is also clear that true love stems from the understanding we have of how God manifests his love to us.
Throughout scripture God's love is written in the Greek as "agape" love, a love that is completely sacrificial and always has the recipient in mind. We often quote from the book of Romans, 5:8 which says "God demonstrates his love for us, that whilst we were still yet sinners Christ died for us." This scripture I believe brings amazing revelation that even though God had no guarantees of his love being reciprocated that he still carried out his plan of salvation for us.
It is difficult to imagine scenarios that we experience that reflect the emotion and feelings God has for us His creation. After all, we know through scripture that "nothing can separate us from the love of God". But there are certainly glimpses we have that help us to feel what God feels towards us, his beloved children. I as a father, have two beautiful teenage children and though there was always an expectation that they would one day spread their wings and explore the world for themselves, nothing can prepare us for when that begins, as it is with me right now.
Seeing my children grow and develop into amazing people and reflect for themselves the nature of God in makes me immensely proud of them. But not having them around as much as I would like is also immensely difficult. Yet this was expected and though it hard to except I also know this must take place and will do everything I can as a loving father to make this transition as joyous as possible for them.
What then, do we feel when those we don't expect leave us, when they feel they must for whatever reason and separate themselves from us? This might be a family member or a close friend, how do respond to this? This is exactly what Love, Empathy & Freedom is all about. For if we truly love as God loves, then we will also understand (empathise) how the other person feels, even when this might break our own hearts.
Whilst God extends his love to us, I know also that he truly understands how we feel, perhaps even better than ourselves. Though He calls us into relationship with him, he understands the limitations we might have within ourselves to express that relationships in precisely the way he desires. This can be seen in scripture like Romans & Corinthians which says that only God knows what's in the heart of man.
If God is love, and God truly understands (empathises) us, how does God give us freedom? Whilst man made religion will try to constrain us with expectations of how we must relate to God, God does not! He releases us in love to express in our own way the love we have for him. Though he calls, he is very patient and leaves us with the promise that "He will never leave us or forsake us" as we read in Matthew 28.
God's love is therefore permanent, powerful and perfect in all it's ways. It is this love that we truly need in our lives. As a human, living in this flesh, I accept that this is a difficult thing to grasp, yet also know that if I truly wish to express God's love through me to those around me is something that I must learn. Indeed something that we all must learn!
This might be summed up in the saying that "if we love someone, then let them go. If they love you, they will return".
God bless you on your journey of salvation,
James
Recently, my wife discussed another concept from scripture which is not as clear cut as it does not come from one particular passage of scripture but is certainly an underlying concept throughout God's word. That concept is Love, Empathy & Freedom.
Whilst most will know that God is love and therefore true love can only ultimately come from God to us and therefore through us to those around us, it is also clear that true love stems from the understanding we have of how God manifests his love to us.
Throughout scripture God's love is written in the Greek as "agape" love, a love that is completely sacrificial and always has the recipient in mind. We often quote from the book of Romans, 5:8 which says "God demonstrates his love for us, that whilst we were still yet sinners Christ died for us." This scripture I believe brings amazing revelation that even though God had no guarantees of his love being reciprocated that he still carried out his plan of salvation for us.
It is difficult to imagine scenarios that we experience that reflect the emotion and feelings God has for us His creation. After all, we know through scripture that "nothing can separate us from the love of God". But there are certainly glimpses we have that help us to feel what God feels towards us, his beloved children. I as a father, have two beautiful teenage children and though there was always an expectation that they would one day spread their wings and explore the world for themselves, nothing can prepare us for when that begins, as it is with me right now.
Seeing my children grow and develop into amazing people and reflect for themselves the nature of God in makes me immensely proud of them. But not having them around as much as I would like is also immensely difficult. Yet this was expected and though it hard to except I also know this must take place and will do everything I can as a loving father to make this transition as joyous as possible for them.
What then, do we feel when those we don't expect leave us, when they feel they must for whatever reason and separate themselves from us? This might be a family member or a close friend, how do respond to this? This is exactly what Love, Empathy & Freedom is all about. For if we truly love as God loves, then we will also understand (empathise) how the other person feels, even when this might break our own hearts.
Whilst God extends his love to us, I know also that he truly understands how we feel, perhaps even better than ourselves. Though He calls us into relationship with him, he understands the limitations we might have within ourselves to express that relationships in precisely the way he desires. This can be seen in scripture like Romans & Corinthians which says that only God knows what's in the heart of man.
If God is love, and God truly understands (empathises) us, how does God give us freedom? Whilst man made religion will try to constrain us with expectations of how we must relate to God, God does not! He releases us in love to express in our own way the love we have for him. Though he calls, he is very patient and leaves us with the promise that "He will never leave us or forsake us" as we read in Matthew 28.
God's love is therefore permanent, powerful and perfect in all it's ways. It is this love that we truly need in our lives. As a human, living in this flesh, I accept that this is a difficult thing to grasp, yet also know that if I truly wish to express God's love through me to those around me is something that I must learn. Indeed something that we all must learn!
This might be summed up in the saying that "if we love someone, then let them go. If they love you, they will return".
God bless you on your journey of salvation,
James
Wednesday, 30 May 2018
The Character & The Call of God
Genesis 1:26 tells us that God made man in His image and likeness. This verse has been disputed as to its true meaning, but as a bible believer and person who by faith has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, can only take as literal this scripture. This in no way is to say that I wish to limit this verse by my understanding but hope that by the Holy Spirit, the true depth of this scripture and others like it are revealed.
In saying this, I believe this scripture relates not merely to the outer aspects of man's image but to the inner and most importantly to the characteristics of our nature as sons and daughters of God. This scripture to me therefore speaks of being made in the character of God. It is therefore imperative that the character of a follower of Christ Jesus also reflect His character.
When we look to society and our present generation it is difficult to say that it reflects Christ's character. Though society wants us to believe we have evolved and therefore increased in knowledge and wisdom, the opposite I feel is more the truth. If standards and morals are a true reflection of a societies character than we must admit that man has drastically degraded over the past decades that I have walked the earth and from what I heard from my parents a great deal more since they were born. I feel every generation can say the same of the coming generations.
If then the character of a person should reflect who we are in Christ and in God, then what we do with our lives must also. This might be a chicken or egg saga, but if man was formed firstly from the image and likeness of God then we can say the character of man preceded that which man was called to do with his time on the earth.
This is reflected in Genesis when God saw all that He had made and said it was good. It was after this that God commanded Adam (man) to subdue the earth and multiply. God created man in His character and out of this character he was to subdue the earth and multiply.
Is this what we see in society today? I think not, as man pursues his goals and dreams without much if any consideration to his character and how he might do these things based on a character centred around God's own image and likeness.
Character must precede our call or works. As a pastor and leader within the Pentecostal church for many years, I often felt pressed into a performance based ministry. That is, I had to appear to have all the goods by how I talked and walked in my ministry. But recently have realised that this was not a true reflection of God's character. As pastors we had a jovial saying which was "fake it till you make it". Whilst I am fully aware that none of us are perfect, but are being made perfect by the empowering work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we must ensure our works, calling, actions are a reflection of the character of God within us and not merely a show of morality.
Whilst the gifts of God are irrevocable, the character of God must be worked in us everyday! Therefore if our gifts of the Holy Spirit are to reflect God's love for mankind we must everyday examine our motives and true character. This I believe is what Paul is referring to in Galatians 5 when speaking about the carnal nature of man versus the fruit of the Spirit. A person who is reflecting God's character will have the fruit of the Spirit evident in all he or she does. Jesus says in Matthew 7:15 that we will know them by their fruits.
What therefore comes first? The character of a Godly person must be seen before they are given positions of authority and leadership within the church and even in society. Who they are must precede what they do and everything they do must reflect this character. This is not to say that we should not love them when they fail but do as our heavenly Father does and gently restore them when they do fail as He does with all of us He loves!
God Bless
In saying this, I believe this scripture relates not merely to the outer aspects of man's image but to the inner and most importantly to the characteristics of our nature as sons and daughters of God. This scripture to me therefore speaks of being made in the character of God. It is therefore imperative that the character of a follower of Christ Jesus also reflect His character.
When we look to society and our present generation it is difficult to say that it reflects Christ's character. Though society wants us to believe we have evolved and therefore increased in knowledge and wisdom, the opposite I feel is more the truth. If standards and morals are a true reflection of a societies character than we must admit that man has drastically degraded over the past decades that I have walked the earth and from what I heard from my parents a great deal more since they were born. I feel every generation can say the same of the coming generations.
If then the character of a person should reflect who we are in Christ and in God, then what we do with our lives must also. This might be a chicken or egg saga, but if man was formed firstly from the image and likeness of God then we can say the character of man preceded that which man was called to do with his time on the earth.
This is reflected in Genesis when God saw all that He had made and said it was good. It was after this that God commanded Adam (man) to subdue the earth and multiply. God created man in His character and out of this character he was to subdue the earth and multiply.
Is this what we see in society today? I think not, as man pursues his goals and dreams without much if any consideration to his character and how he might do these things based on a character centred around God's own image and likeness.
Character must precede our call or works. As a pastor and leader within the Pentecostal church for many years, I often felt pressed into a performance based ministry. That is, I had to appear to have all the goods by how I talked and walked in my ministry. But recently have realised that this was not a true reflection of God's character. As pastors we had a jovial saying which was "fake it till you make it". Whilst I am fully aware that none of us are perfect, but are being made perfect by the empowering work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we must ensure our works, calling, actions are a reflection of the character of God within us and not merely a show of morality.
Whilst the gifts of God are irrevocable, the character of God must be worked in us everyday! Therefore if our gifts of the Holy Spirit are to reflect God's love for mankind we must everyday examine our motives and true character. This I believe is what Paul is referring to in Galatians 5 when speaking about the carnal nature of man versus the fruit of the Spirit. A person who is reflecting God's character will have the fruit of the Spirit evident in all he or she does. Jesus says in Matthew 7:15 that we will know them by their fruits.
What therefore comes first? The character of a Godly person must be seen before they are given positions of authority and leadership within the church and even in society. Who they are must precede what they do and everything they do must reflect this character. This is not to say that we should not love them when they fail but do as our heavenly Father does and gently restore them when they do fail as He does with all of us He loves!
God Bless
Tuesday, 17 April 2018
The Prodigal Son - The Position & Possessions of a Son of God (Luke 15:31)
The Position and
Possessions of a Son of God
Taken from John Sheasby's book "The Birthright"
Exercise: Think of
your heavenly Father
It’s probably fair to say that my image or understanding of
Father God was somewhat distorted by the images I had of my own Father. One who
was to be feared knowing that as soon as he came through the door each night
that our mother would immediately yell out our sins for the day so that our
earthly father could measure out his wrath upon us children. Growing up this
was the norm in our household and I became very good at placing blame upon
others for my own misgivings. Little did I know at the time that my mother
would do this to divert her own fears of our father and what he was capable of
doing when intoxicated?
Luke 15:31a the
Position of the Son
And he said to him, “Son,
you are always with me, and all that I have is yours”. In this verse Jesus
uses the noun “teknon” for the word son not the usual “huios” which spoke of
adopted sons.
‘Teknon emphasises
the son’s position not by behaviour but by birth right through the Father.
Our relationship with our heavenly Father is one not based on what we DO but who we ARE in him!
We are God’s children
not because of what WE have done but what HE has done for us! Whilst we
were still yet sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
We are born of
incorruptly seed (See 1Pet 1:23), not of human seed or blood but by God
(See John 1:12-13.
See John 3 Nicodemus
coming to Jesus by night...Jesus states we are born again by water and Spirit.
Vs.31 says “Son you
are always with me”. In the same way the Spirit is always with us as a seal
of the Father’s love and adoption of us. This position of intimacy is only for
his children, not strangers or hirelings or even neighbours.
See the parable of
the three loaves & the Baker in Luke 11:5-8.
The children of the baker know and feel the presence of
their father.
They know father is close and they can feel his warmth and
hear his voice. (Jesus said the sheep
know His voice in John 10:27)
The children need only whisper to ask of the father and the
father knows what they want because he is with them... (Matt 6:8).
The father is near to his children and they are dear
(precious) to him.
Jesus came into the
world to challenge and change our image of our heavenly Father. He did this by displaying the Fathers love in
his own life and ministry to others. He was accused of hanging out with
sinners, publican, prostitutes and tax collectors and in John 14:9 states “he
who has seen me has seen the Father.”
Luke 15:31 the
Possessions of the Son
“...and all that I have is yours.” The older son’s response
in grumbling about not have a skinny goat comes to light when really all along
he had full access to all that the Father has.
Mephibosheth
Jonathan’s Grandson Mephibosheth meaning from the mouth of
shame in Hebrew (2Sam9:7).
Mephibosheth was the heir of a covenant between Jonathan and
David due to their love for one another. Verse 7 speaks of restoration to
intimacy (presence) with the King
and his inheritance (possessions).
Just as the Father in Luke 15:31 states you are continually
with me and everything I have is yours. This
parallels so closely with the story of David and Mephibosheth.
Ziba (David’s servant) tried to usurp the land of
Mephibosheth and instead of declaring his rights as heir he relinquishes the land
to a servant. This happens over and over again as God’s children are usurped or
their rights by the devil.
The enemy comes but
to steal, kill and destroy... (John 10:10) “Resist him, steadfast in the faith
(1Pet 5:9)
Mephibosheth lived under the curse of his name believing he
was unworthy to take what the king had granted him, see 2Sam 19:30.
Everything that
Jesus had is now ours (See John 17:5-10)
What is it that he had? God words which are truth...
I Pet says we have “everything
pertaining to life and godliness” and Ephesians 3 says that we are “blessed in heavenly realms with every
spiritual blessing”.
This includes heirs of eternal life (Matt 19:29); salvation
(Heb 1:14); promise (Heb 6:17); Kingdom (James 2:5); grace of life (1Pet 3:7);
blessing (1Pet3:9); all things (Rev21:7); authority (Matt 28:18).
The estate of the
King of Kings has been willed to us, we are heirs of all that belongs to the
Father and by birthright, and every spiritual blessing is ours.
Conclusion
Gal 4:7 “Therefore
you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through
Christ.”
Position is about intimacy
whilst possessions are all about our inheritance.
But we must appropriate that which has been imputed to us! This is not just a
blab it and grab it gospel, but we must exercise our faith knowing who we are
in Christ and all that He has done for us! “Hold
fast the confession of our hope without wavering”. (Heb 10:23)
Thursday, 8 February 2018
Perfect Love drives out Fear - 1 John 4:18
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has to do with punishment. He that fears is not made perfect in love."
I have recently been pondering this scripture, one that I have read many times over the years as a Christian. But it was only today that I realised in my own life I was operating in fear rather than in love in how I raised my children.
As a child, I was fearful of what my own father was capable of doing and often did when it was time to punish me and my siblings for our poor behaviour. This is in no way saying that correcting those who have done wrong is incorrect, we all need to know that we have wronged in life. My own father was often very good at explaining why we were being smacked or punished for our behaviour, yet this did not stop me from becoming fearful and in the same way making my own children fearful when they misbehaved.
Being married to a Swedish woman who I have always respected for her ability to do things in a softer and gentler way than myself, we often took on the Swedish way of disciplining our children. One such thing was to place our children on a "naughty chair or step" for a short period of time to reflect on their behaviour and to apologise afterwards. It was truly amazing just how effective this practise was. I however wasn't always as patient as my wife in using this discipline and on many occasion used the angry look in the car mirror to stare down my children when they misbehaved when driving to and fro. Whilst this practise did work, causing our children to at least curb their behaviour for a short while, what I believed it also did was instil in them a sense of fear towards me their father rather than a sense of love.
I loved my father but was always fearful of what would happen if I displeased him in some way. This developed a belief and attitude in my own life towards my heavenly Father that he too was always waiting to correct me or discipline me for my own wrong doings.
It has only in recent years that I have felt a renewed sense of my heavenly Fathers love for me that has changed my belief and attitudes towards him. God the Father (Pappa) loves me and though at times I may need correcting, all that He does is grounded and comes from His great love for me.
In 2 Corinthians 13:14 Paul closes with these words "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen." I believe this is one of the most comprehensive scriptures which describe the work and relationship that the Lord Jesus, our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit desires for all of God's creation.
I now know that I have a heavenly Father that truly loves me and in the same way desires me to love Him and all of those I come in contact. This of cause begins at home, with my own beautiful children and amazing wife. I now pray that my future relationships with my children and others is based in love rather than in punishment.
I pray you also have this revelations!
God Bless
I have recently been pondering this scripture, one that I have read many times over the years as a Christian. But it was only today that I realised in my own life I was operating in fear rather than in love in how I raised my children.
As a child, I was fearful of what my own father was capable of doing and often did when it was time to punish me and my siblings for our poor behaviour. This is in no way saying that correcting those who have done wrong is incorrect, we all need to know that we have wronged in life. My own father was often very good at explaining why we were being smacked or punished for our behaviour, yet this did not stop me from becoming fearful and in the same way making my own children fearful when they misbehaved.
Being married to a Swedish woman who I have always respected for her ability to do things in a softer and gentler way than myself, we often took on the Swedish way of disciplining our children. One such thing was to place our children on a "naughty chair or step" for a short period of time to reflect on their behaviour and to apologise afterwards. It was truly amazing just how effective this practise was. I however wasn't always as patient as my wife in using this discipline and on many occasion used the angry look in the car mirror to stare down my children when they misbehaved when driving to and fro. Whilst this practise did work, causing our children to at least curb their behaviour for a short while, what I believed it also did was instil in them a sense of fear towards me their father rather than a sense of love.
I loved my father but was always fearful of what would happen if I displeased him in some way. This developed a belief and attitude in my own life towards my heavenly Father that he too was always waiting to correct me or discipline me for my own wrong doings.
It has only in recent years that I have felt a renewed sense of my heavenly Fathers love for me that has changed my belief and attitudes towards him. God the Father (Pappa) loves me and though at times I may need correcting, all that He does is grounded and comes from His great love for me.
In 2 Corinthians 13:14 Paul closes with these words "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen." I believe this is one of the most comprehensive scriptures which describe the work and relationship that the Lord Jesus, our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit desires for all of God's creation.
I now know that I have a heavenly Father that truly loves me and in the same way desires me to love Him and all of those I come in contact. This of cause begins at home, with my own beautiful children and amazing wife. I now pray that my future relationships with my children and others is based in love rather than in punishment.
I pray you also have this revelations!
God Bless
Tuesday, 6 February 2018
Romans 8:14 They who are led of the Spirit are the sons of God
Those who are Led by the Spirit are
the Sons of God
Taken from the book Birthright by
John Sheasby
Romans 8:14 – For
those who are led by the Spirit are the Sons of God.
Introduction
Throughout scripture we find many different verses which describe
the kind of people and therefore relationship that God desires with his
creation. From literally being called Creation, Son of Man; Servants; Children;
Child; Infants; Sons & Daughters; Friend; Temples of the Holy Spirit and
even The Church. All of which at various times are important to show the
progression in intimacy that our Heavenly Father wants with us.
When I first come to know the Lord at seventeen years of
age, just the privilege of knowing God existed was enough for me. But to later
understand that He also wanted to be a friend was not only foreign but also
immensely scary. To think that the God of the universe whom I had known as a
child as a angry old man with a stick that wanted to smack me for every wrong
doing made me quiver.
It’s probably fair to say that my image or understanding of
Father God was somewhat distorted by the images I had of my own Father. One who
was to be feared knowing that as soon as he came through the door each night
that our mother would immediately yell out our sins for the day so that our
earthly father could measure out his wrath upon us children. Growing up this
was the norm in our household and I became very good at placing blame upon
others for my own misgivings. Little did I know at the time that my mother
would do this to divert her own fears of our father and what he was capable of
doing when intoxicated?
A Spirit of
AdoptionMany of us, though born again bring into our relationship with our heavenly Father these kinds of distorted or disfigured views. The inner working of the Holy Spirit is an ongoing everyday work of God’s Spirit to bring us to that place and understanding of Sonship. Not just a concept or theory but an inner transformation from slavery which comes from the world into the outer workings of true Sons of God with all its privileges both in state and standing.
John 8:34-36 the
Motivation of the Servant
When we consider the very parable of the prodigal son, even
at this early stage there is one obvious difference with the returned son and
those who were servants in the household of the Father. They, the servants,
were only there to fulfil a role or job whilst the son was to abide forever.
This can also be seen in the differences from the old and the new testaments. Whilst the old was
a temporary solution to achieve the
redemption from sin for God’s people the way of the New Testament is all about permanency. The old was literally
redeeming slaves from their bondage whilst the new is all about the intimacy
and closeness God desires with those who are not just slaves but sons. The motivation of the son is Love, whilst
that of the servant is reward or payment
for services.
As sons however, we must also understand that God chastens those loves. He corrects
and prunes or lifts up those he loves so that they bear more fruit in their
lives. (See Hebrews 12:5-10)
Luke 15:29 the
Reward & Task Oriented Servant
When we hear the words of the older son in vs.29 we see
clearly his focus was not in love for the father but on the reward he felt he
should receive as servant or even a slave. The word the son uses for lamb in
this context means skinny goat, almost mocking the father.
Whilst the son’s
motivation was love, the servant’s
motivation is task oriented. Once his task is completed the servant expects
a reward or payment whilst the son know that everything he does benefits
himself in the long run as he will receive it as inheritance from his father in
due course. The son’s motivation in
doing his father’s will was motivated as a consequence of his relationship to
his father and not on the reward he would receive.
This reward focus
often comes from a distorted view of our own fathers. I saw God as someone
who wanted to punish me from my sins as this is exactly what my earthly father
did. This can also be seen in the example of Mary and Martha, one who wished to enjoy fellowship with Jesus as
opposed to the other who felt they needed to do things for him. (See Luke 10).
This parallels with the older sons words “All these years I’ve worked like a
slave for you. I’ve never disobeyed one of your commands.”
John 15:15 Jesus said
“But no longer do I call you servants...but I have called you friends, for
all things I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” And it was Jesus’ successor who would
continue to lead us and walk us through this journey. (See John 14:17)
Romans 8:15 the
Living Quarters of the Servant
“But you received a
Spirit of Adoption by whom we cry out “Abba, Father””. As sons we remain in
the Father’s house whilst the servants go home. Everything that Jesus has is
ours and indeed scripture tells us that Jesus himself has gone to prepare a
place for us. We see this also in Jewish custom of the Ketubah or betrovel ceremony.
As sons of God and brothers to Jesus we have access to
everything within the Father’s household and even his kingdom (See 1Pet).
Vs.16 says “the
Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God”. Just as we cry out Abba father so too does
the Spirit of God join with us in unison.
Hebrews 2:10 “You are
not a servant but a son! You are a daughter!
Romans 9:16 the
Mercy of the Father
“It does not,
therefore depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy”.
The people of Israel like the older son pursued
righteousness under the law through works. Whilst the gentiles found Mercy like
the younger son.
Gal 3:2-3 says “Did
you receive the Spirit by observing the law or by believing?
The attitude of the older son similar to the Israelites
under the law can be seen in his questioning of the Father “...you didn’t even
give me a skinny goat...”.
God (Jesus) loved to
be around sinners (Luke15:2),
not because they were righteous but most probably because they knew they were
not righteous. Their attitude was one of gratitude whilst the Israelites and
more particularly the Pharisees had a
pious or self righteous attitude because of their works.
Jesus said “It is the
sick not the healthy that need a physician”. I think this could also be
translated it is the sick who know they need healing were as the self righteous
feel they are fine. Zaccheus was a
classical example of this, an outcast in society who when was accepted by
Christ was transformed into this giving and loving person.
Luke 15:2 &
20-24 the Acceptance of the Father
“And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This man
receives sinners and eats with them.”
The prodigal son came
to his senses, meaning he realised how stupid he had been, he repented and literally turned for home. But it was the Father who was looking out for the son all this time. See vs.20-24.
In the same way when Adam
and Eve sinned in the garden, it was they who hid themselves from God and
it was God who was looking for them.
See Gen 3:9.
God’s response to Adam and Eve was similar to that of the
Father in the prodigal son, “who told
you that you were naked?” The Father almost ignores the son’s opportunity
to repent orders the servants to get the party going. The Father expected the
son to do nothing, simply receive all he had for him.
The robe, the ring,
the sandals and the fattened calf all speak of the restoration of relationship
and covenantal blessings which came from it. None more powerful than the slaughtering
of the fattened calf which was kept for special occasions and when covenants
were made. See blood covenants!
Jesus loved sinners
and they loved him for it, but Jesus is the very reflection of the Father!
Luke 7:34 the Joy
of the Father
“The Son of man came feasting and you say..., “Here is a
lover of food and wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.””
Is this the picture
we have of the Father, not me, yet it is the very picture they Jesus gives. Is
it therefore Jesus who had it wrong or is it me with my distorted figure of the
Father? I think the latter, Jesus came to change this distorted figure I had
into the real picture of “in the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy.”
The father even enjoys a good wending where there is good
wine despite what all us self righteous Christians might think. Jesus’ first
ever miracle of turning water to wine. (This is not advocating intoxication).
Jesus said that if
you have seen him, then you have seen the Father. See John 14:9
It was this very grumbling about Jesus by the Pharisees that
prompted the three parables of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son. Yet after each parable we see a similar
response, rejoice with me for finding my lost sheep, coin and my son who
was dead but now is alive.
The older son could
not understand the Father joy or the reason to celebrate. He was trapped in his
own legalistic and slave mentality.
This can also be seen in the church of Laodicea of
revelation 3! Jesus said “...you...wretched,
miserable, poor, blind and naked.”
Even John the Baptist
was confused about Jesus, asking if he was truly the one?
Luke 15:31a the
Position of the Son
And he said to him, “Son,
you are always with me, and all that I have is yours”. In this verse Jesus
uses the noun “teknon” for the word son not the usual “huios” which spoke of
adopted sons. ‘This is to emphasis the
son’s position not by behaviour but by birth right through the Father.
We are God’s children
not because of what we have done but what he has done for us!
We are born of
incorruptly seed (See 1Pet 1:23), not of human seed or blood but by God
(See John 1:12-13.
Vs.31 says “Son you
are always with me”. In the same way the Spirit is always with us as a seal
of the Father’s love and adoption of us. This position of intimacy is only for
his children, not strangers or hirelings or even neighbours. See the parable of the three loaves in Luke
11:5.
Luke 15:31 the
Possessions of the Son
“...and all that I have is yours.” The older son’s response
in grumbling about not have a skinny goat comes to light when really all along
he had full access to all that the Father has.
I Pet says we have “everything
pertaining to life and godliness” and Ephesians 3 says that we are “blessed in heavenly realms with every
spiritual blessing”.
This includes heirs of eternal life (Matt 19:29); salvation
(Heb 1:14); promise (Heb 6:17); Kingdom (James 2:5); grace of life (1Pet 3:7);
blessing (1Pet3:9); all things (Rev21:7).
The estate of the
King of Kings has been willed to us, we are heirs of all that belongs to the
Father and by birthright, and every spiritual blessing is ours.
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