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

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)

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

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 Adoption
Many 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.

The Ultimate Husband

I have been viewing, reading and listening to the material found at http://ultimatehusband.com/

I can't recommend more the great insight and understanding I have received from this website, it underpins a lot of the truths which I have read from John Gottman's books on marriage but ultimate husband comes from a biblical point of view.

I think gaining an understanding and being able to feel what our spouses feel has to be the most powerful source to change in our lives. As a husband to the most amazing woman in the world, I am committed to changing my behaviours which don't respect my wife's feelings and emotions.

Though I have been married 26 years, this is very much a new experience for me and only now in my late forties am starting to truly recognise how insufficient I have been towards my own wife.

I pray that the latter half of my life be greater than the former as I pray yours also may be!!!
James

Collateral Beauty

Can beauty come from grief or loss or even death? In the midst of our loss this is hard to imagine, yet this is precisely what Jesus was saying when he said for something to be born it must first fall to the ground. It must die in order to bring forth the life which is within it. 1 Peter says that within each of us is an incorruptible seed. This is the very seed of Jesus who first laid down his life for us and as Romans says became the "first born of many brothers". When we die to self and our own will we give that seed in us the opportunity to bring forth new life.
At the core of empathy is being able to feel as others feel. To feel what others feel however requires that we are able to put the feelings of others first or at least at the forefront of our own feelings. When I stood at the altar almost 27 years ago and pledged my true love to my wife, I was putting her in front or above me, and she in turn said she would do the same for me. At what point do we cease to do this? At what point does God cease to do this for us? God's love today has not and will not cease for His creation, the power of the cross and all it represents continues to remind us of God's unwavering and unfailing love for us.
So, can beauty come from grief? Yes it can as we choose God's will over our own. By putting others first we are choosing the way of the cross and God's own will and desire for creation. I believe if we are able to demonstrate this to everyone around us then we will truly know the will of God. I know there have been times in my life that I have not done this, when I was focused on my own circumstances instead of those around me. This I think is the carnal or corrupted man trying to reveal itself again. Whilst I am alive I choose to learn, I choose to be a disciple of Christ!
God Bless you

The Birthright by John Sheasby and Ken Gire

Taken from the Prodigal Son

Recently I have been reading this book by John Sheasby and Ken Gire called the Birthright. I have to admit this last couple of years I have been carrying around a lot of shame due to feelings of failure. I have to admit that I have failed in some areas of my life, whether be as a Son and Child of God and not feeling I have been able to do and be all I felt expected of me and as a husband who did not love my wife as Christ loves the church. Though I have failed, I am not a failure to God but simply a work in progress that He continues to lavish with his love.

This book has made me see again just how much God loves us that even when we feel we are the scum of the earth that He still continues to search us out and desires to bestow His gifts of covenant relationship upon us. Even though in our eyes we are filthy and smelly and don't deserve his love, because of the Grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus and all that He has finished on the cross in dealing with our sins God so desire to embrace us and cover us with His robe of righteousness.

He places his signet ring upon on us and declares we belong to him, knowing that what belongs to God is now also ours. Including all that Jesus has we also have access to, or as Paul the apostle says everything pertaining to life and godliness". Every spiritual blessing in heaven and earth are ours as we read in Ephesians. He has left nothing undone for us!

In addition he gives us shoes which are shod with the gospel, declaring each day that we are sons and remind us each day of God's goodness towards us and how we can share that goodness with others. these shoes also prepare us as bringers of God's peace, not the kind of peace that man can provide but true peace that sets sinners free from their bondage.

Finally, God celebrates the restoration of this covenant relationship by killing the fattened calf which was being prepared and left for the most important celebrations. This covenant calf and it's now shed blood reminds us of who we are to God and how important we are to Him. Just as Jesus is our Lamb of God slain for all mankind so that all of God's creation, including those that hate God, have access to Him through the shed blood of Jesus.

How truly amazing and wonderful is our God that even in the midst of our own sin and shame God continues to search us our to bring us again into glorious relationship with Him.

I love you Father, I thank you Jesus for your Grace and am so grateful Holy Spirit for leading me into this wonderful fellowship!