Knowing God

by

THE END OF THE AGE – Part 2

(Matthew 24:9-13) “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

In this passage, Jesus continues telling his disciples of the end times.  It doesn’t sound like a time when I’d want to be around.  However, I know that most of Jesus’ disciples were put to death and often tortured, so they experienced what Jesus was saying to them. 

The reality of many turning away from the faith, betraying, and hating each other brings a deep sadness to my heart.  Just think what that will be like.  Some of those we worship and fellowship with will turn their backs on Jesus and will become people who hate and betray us.  And can you imagine a world where wickedness has become so prevalent that the love of many will grow cold.  What an image of horror that brings.

Fortunately, there is an Exception Clause, “But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”  I love what the Apostle Peter said when Jesus asked the twelve disciples if they also wanted to leave (see John 6:67&68). Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.”  Eleven of the twelve stood firm until their end came, and multitudes of others have done the same through the years.  So, no matter what may come our way, let’s remember that only Jesus has the words of eternal life.

by

THE END OF THE AGE

(Matthew 24:3-8) As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, The disciples came to him privately.  “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen [the destruction of the temple], and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the messiah,’ and will deceive many.  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.  Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains.”

Like the Disciples, we are all very curious about the end times and how this age will end.  Unlike the Disciples, we have the evening news to keep us informed about worldwide events, and as Jesus said, there are wars, earthquakes, and famines happening continuously throughout the earth. *These events are routine history in our fallen world and not signs of the end.  That is why Jesus tells us to not be alarmed.  As long as this age continues, manmade, and natural disasters will continue.

Jesus gives more details to his disciples throughout the rest of Matthew chapter 24; but in his parables about his return, he stresses being prepared for the end.  I believe that God will still be taking care of his children through it all. We won’t have to worry about his provision.  Our preparation then is to stay faithful to God, no matter what may come our way.  Jesus warns that many will fall away.  For us, staying with God is the only sure way to endure the end of the age. 

*(see Matthew 24:4-8 MSG)

by

THE SEVENTH DAY

(Exodus 34:21) Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.

(Galatians 5:1) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

I chose these two scriptures for contrast.  From Exodus God says you shall rest on the seventh day.  In Galatians, the Apostle Paul tells us that we have been set free in Christ.  So, do we have to rest on the seventh day?

My answer to this question is: It’s no longer a “have to”; It’s a “get to”.  What I mean by that is the Law was a way to identify disobedience; we now live by faith.  In faith, I trust that God loves me.  His ways are now my desire.  I trust that when he says take a rest, it is advantageous for me.

The benefit of a seventh day rest is the opportunity to get closer to God and closer to our brothers and sisters.  There are many ways to get closer to God and our fellow believers.  Church is an obvious choice, but how about a walk in the park or down a country road with Jesus.  Maybe a cookout with friends and neighbors for fellowship.  The important goal of a seventh day rest is to first honor our creator.  He alone deserves our worship, and he alone loves us enough to die for us.  The other important purpose is to clear away the stresses and exhaustion of the other six days.

Observing the seventh day is not always possible, but it is always helpful.  I’m remembering that Jesus said the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.  God established six days of work and a seventh day for rest because he designed us and knew exactly what we would need. Mainly, he knew that we needed him.  He set aside a day of rest for us, so we could have the time to be nearer to him.

by

GOD’S AMAZING GRACE

(Ephesians 2:3-5) All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.  Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.

God is merciful, and he loves us; but he is also a just and a perfect being in whose presence sin cannot be tolerated. Jesus took it upon himself to pay the debt of our sins. the punishment of all the sins that mankind would ever merit were upon his shoulders.  His sacrifice on the cross cleared the way for grace. With the debt of sin covered by the blood of Jesus, grace was now possible.  God could offer grace to all of mankind, so they might receive the gift of redemption and eternal life.  His grace is available for all who will believe.

The words of this passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians clearly explains the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus paid for our sins; God’s grace applies this great gift of salvation to those who humble themselves and receive it.  We, his children, have been given the mission to share this great news.

Now is the time of salvation! The harvest fields are ripe.

Help us, oh Father, to not shy away from the opportunities to share this amazing message.  Make us aware when the time for sharing is before us.

by

WISDOM

(Proverbs 1:7) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

(Proverbs 2:1-7 NLT) My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands.  Tune your ears to wisdom and concentrate on understanding.  Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.  Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasure.  Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.  For the Lord grants wisdom!  From his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.  He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.  He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.

In my youthful years, I ignored so many wise instructions.   Many foolish and destructive decisions flowed from my young mind.  Since the Lord guided me out of my pursuit of a dark and destructive existence, I have often longed for a chance to redo those wasted years – wishing that I had turned to the Lord much sooner. I could have been a blessing to so many had I focused on the needs of others.

A fool can be defined as someone who is missing out on God and his ways.  We can ignore God, deny that he exists, or simply rebel against him, but without him we are missing out on the joy of knowing the love of our creator and the great value of living in the wisdom of his ways.  Jesus made the way for us, and he invites us to live in the light of his wisdom which dispels the darkness of foolishness.

In Ecclesiastes Solomon, the man of wisdom, gives these words of advice, “Be generous: Invest in acts of charity.  Charity yields high returns. Don’t hoard your goods; spread them around.  Be a blessing to others…” *   God wants us to know the way of love and service that Jesus came to teach us.  This is just one aspect of the treasure chest of wisdom that can be ours.

God is the only true source of wisdom.  When we seek him, we will be granted access to his wisdom.

*Ecclesiastes 11:1&2 MSG

by

OUR LIFE COACH

(John 14:25&26) All this I have spoken while I was still with you.  But the Advocate, The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Jesus died on the cross to be an atonement for the sins of the world.  This includes all sins past, present, and future.  I became a recipient of his great sacrifice when I surrendered to him and put my trust in him.  At that moment, The Father forgave all my sins: past, present, and future; and He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell me and become my teacher.

Since that beautiful experience of salvation, the Holy Spirit has led me on the path of righteousness.  When I falter, he corrects me; and I repent.  There were times when I resisted, but he never gave up on me.  He was training me to become more like Jesus.  I will still be in training till my last breath.

Justification means that our sins are forgiven. That happens when we receive salvation.  Sanctification is the training that happens throughout the rest of our time here in this world.  The Holy Spirit seals us to identify us as God’s children, and he then takes on the task of our sanctification.  You might say he is our life coach.

There have been times when the Holy Spirit has tasked me with going to someone I have sinned against and asked for their forgiveness.  Difficult as that was, It always produced good fruit for them and me.  Over the years, the Holy Spirit has trained me in what to do when I faulter.  I have learned to first go to the Father and repent and then ask the offended person or persons for forgiveness.  

I believe complete righteousness happens after we leave our physical body.  Until then, we will wrestle with our sinful nature and the temptation from the devil.  God loves us, and he has provided us with the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us through this life till we go home to him.

by

THE PROPHECIES THAT PREDICTED OUR REDEMPTION

(Isaiah 42:6-9) “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand.  I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the gentiles, to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.  I am the Lord; that is my name!  I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.  See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”

Isaiah wrote around the years 740-700BC.  The accuracy of his prophecies has been proven time and time again, and he is considered to be the greatest of the Old Testament prophets.  Here in this passage, he quotes the words of the Father about the coming of Jesus his Son.  Our Easter celebration is about the fulfillment of the Father’s plan of redemption. 

As Isaiah predicted, Jesus brought to us the new covenant for the people.  He brought light to us who live in this sinful world, and he has set the captives free.  We have been released from the dungeon of darkness.  All this has been offered to the whole world.  And we are celebrating with our whole hearts.   

Jesus carried the sins of the world to the cross.  He died for our sins, and on the third day, the Father raised him to life in victory over death.  I can’t think of anything more worthy of celebration than this.  May our gratitude overflow as we celebrate our Savior, Christ Jesus – the Son of God.

by

KNOWING THE DEPTH OFGOD’S LOVE FOR US

(John 17:20-26) “My prayer is not for them alone (his disciples).  I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.  May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity.  Then the world will know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.  Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.  Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.  I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Shortly before he went to his death on the cross, Jesus prayed this beautiful prayer for those of us who believe in him.  In this prayer to his Father, he expresses his love for us, and his desire that we would be with him.  This is why he was willing to surrender his life on the cross – because he loves us and wants to be with us. 

In his prayer, Jesus talks about the unity of believers.  He wants us to be brought to complete unity.  I’m not clear what that might mean or when that might happen.  Perhaps, we believers should also pray about our unity.  Why is the unity of believers important?  Jesus says, “Then the world will know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Jesus concludes by praying that the love the Father has for him might be in us. I believe that this shows the depth of Jesus’ love for us and clarifies our true worth to our God. We are about to celebrate all that Jesus did for us.  Let us take time to reflect on how deeply he and the Father love us.

by

GOD CAN USE ALL THINGS FOR HIS PURPOSES

(Genesis 45:4&5) Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”  When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!  And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”

At our Bible study we are coming to the end of our study in the book of Genesis.  Today we were in chapter 45 where Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. His brothers sold him into slavery when he was seventeen years old.  After 13 years as an Egyptian slave, he rose to become the most powerful man in all of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh.  During a famine, his brothers traveled to Egypt to buy food for their families.  When they arrived, They did not recognize their brother Joseph, he looked like an Egyptian and used an interpreter to speak to them.  On their second trip, he finally revealed himself to them in a very emotional interchange. 

Genesis is full of great stories that reveal the character of our God, and how he is continually involved in his creation.  Here in the story of Joseph, we see that the tragedy of brothers selling one of their own into slavery is used by God to bring about the saving not only Joseph’s family but all of Egypt and the regions surrounding Egypt. 

When Joseph’s brothers were still afraid that he was going to take revenge on them, Joesph stated clearly, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  So then, don’t be afraid.  I will provide for you and your children.”  And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them (Genesis 50:20&21).

Through it all Joseph learned to forgive his brothers, his brothers learned humility and repentance, and God moved Abraham’s children into Egypt where they spent four hundred and thirty years before God returned them to the promised land.  As the Israelites went about their daily lives, God used their choices to continue his plan for his chosen people.   As we go about our daily lives, God is still incorporating our choices in his plan for creation.  We are part of the continuing story.

by

BEING AWARE OF THE SCHEMES OF THE ENEMY

(2Corinthians 2:10&11) Anyone you forgive, I also forgive.  And what I have forgiven – if there was anything to forgive – I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us.  For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Why is there so much hostility in the world even among God’s children?  The answer is twofold: humans have a sinful nature, and the lies of a scheming enemy. It is our sinful nature that the enemy uses to taunt us – seeking to lead us into evil.  How do we fight against this?

 Jesus taught us how to overcome our sinful nature and the lies of the enemy.  Being humble before our God is the way to start.  When we recognize that without Jesus, we can do nothing; it sets us in that humble place.  We were created to be in close relationship with our creator. We were not created to stand alone.  God is for us, not against us.  In this, we humbly surrender our pride to access the tools God has given us.

One of the most important lesson Jesus taught us is to forgive one another. He has forgiven us; he, therefore, instructs us to be forgiving, as he is forgiving. If we truly forgive each other, the enemy has nothing to use to keep us at odds.  Taking the humble position, not holding on to an offence, and rebuking the enemy when he tries to remind us of the offence, gives us a victory over our sinful nature and the enemy’s schemes. 

Forgiving and forgetting an offence is not easy.  We can’t do it alone; We need Jesus and the Holy Spirit to help us. Think about it.  Isn’t this how we walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh?  The victory is ours if we humbly trust Jesus and do what he taught us to do.