Author: E. DeWayne Swann

Who Is Jesus? Part 1 of 3

1-5 of 10 points

From “Study and Obey”

Colossians 1:15-20 Sermon

Clearest Christological Passage in The Bible

Introduction –

Once a Sunday School teacher asked the class, “What is brown, furry, and has long ears?” A student responded, “It sounds like a dog, but it must be Jesus.” The student realized that in Sunday School answering “Jesus” to almost every question can be the right answer.

Our entire faith is about Jesus. We call ourselves Christians which means “followers of Christ.” But who is He? Who are we following? What is He like? What is His essence? What is His nature?

Today I have the privilege of sharing with you one of the deepest and most theologically rich passages in the entire Bible. It answers that question, “who is Jesus?” Knowing the profound weight and importance of the text I am sharing with you today is a very humbling thing.

Colossians 1:15-20 – He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

 

Many commentators believe this was a hymn or confession in the early church that Paul was quoting. Perhaps so. Either way, we are glad it’s here. It teaches us who Jesus is in crystal-clear clarity. It cannot be divided easily into a tidy 3-point sermon. Instead, we will go through one statement at a time and unpack them. In all, we will look at ten points about who is Jesus.

 

1. He is the image of the invisible God –

What does it mean that Jesus is the image of God?

The word used in Greek means “likeness,” statue, profile, or representation.

He is not just similar to God, but He is in fact God. They are of the same essence. He is the manifestation of God. Jesus reflects all that God is. He is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, immutable, just, loving, compassionate, holy, etc. God the Father does not have any qualities or abilities that Jesus the Son does not have.

Jesus made it clear in John 14:9 what that means –Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Those who saw Jesus, saw the Father (John 14:9). He is Immanuel, God with us.

Since we can’t see the Father, that results in many questions. What is God like? What would He do?

Jesus being the image of God answers those questions. He showed us God’s character, holiness, and wisdom.

This statement means that Jesus is divine. He is not just a good man or a good teacher. To put it simply, He is God. People could see God. Touch God.

When the disciples worshiped Jesus (Matthew 14:33), He received it, because He is God.

Hebrews 1 is one of the other beautiful Christological passages. And it teaches us the same point.

Hebrews 1:3 – He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

Who is Jesus? Jesus is God. Not a reflection or piece of God, but God Himself in the flesh.

 

2. He Is The firstborn of all Creation –

This phrase has confused many well-meaning Christians over the years. It has also been used by false teachers to spread the lie that Jesus is a created being.

But this passage and many others, confirm the doctrine of the incarnation, that at the incarnation the invisible God took on flesh and became a man, wholly man and wholly God.

John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

So what does “firstborn” mean here? In our culture, this means the one who is born first.

But in Middle Eastern culture, the firstborn does not always refer to the one born first, but is used as a title for the person who has priority or rank over the others. For example, when Jacob bought Esau’s birthright, the rank of the firstborn was transferred to him even though he was younger.

 

The Greek word used is “prototokos,” and can mean “first,” but it can also be used to emphasize one’s rank or priority.

Calling Jesus the “firstborn of creation” is emphasizing His sovereignty over creation. He is not part of it, but He does have rank and priority over it.

Another verse that shows this same concept is:

Psalms 89:27 – And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

This verse points to the Messiah, who will be given authority and rank over all the kings of the earth. Philippians 2 teaches us that after Jesus humbled Himself to the point of dying on the cross for our sins, the Father will exalt Him in front of peoples and nations. Every knee will bow to Him.

Who is Jesus? Jesus is higher than all of creation.

 

3. He is the Creator –

By Him all things are created – (John 1:1-4, Ephesians 3:9.)

In Genesis we learn that God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). Here we learn that Jesus did. Some verses ascribe Creation to the Father (Exodus 20:11, Psalm 33:6). Others ascribe it to the Son. The logical conclusion is that it was both.

We can see a glimpse of that in Genesis 1:26, God said, “Let us make man in our image.” Already in Genesis we see the concept of the Trinity taught.

John 1:1-3 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

He created everything that is not God.

When I was a teacher, I taught a class at 9:15 AM. Another teacher could also say she taught the class. Who taught it? Both of us did. We did it together. Both statements are accurate.

So who is Jesus? He is the Creator. His creation is ex-nihilo. That means that He created out of nothing. When people create things, we take something that already exists and reform it into something new. God is the only one who can create ex-nihilo.

And He created all things for Him.

These two little words are a very important addendum to this treatise on creation and Christ. From these words we know the reason the world was created. It was not created primarily for your enjoyment, although God does want us to enjoy it. It was not created primarily for your consumption, although you can consume some parts of it. It was not created primarily for people, although people are the highest of all God’s creation. It was created for Himself.

Christ created this world primarily for His own glory and His own pleasure. Psalm 19 says that the “heavens declare the glory of God.”

That means that you are not the center of the universe. He is. Turn to your neighbor and say, “it is not about you.” And reply, “It is about Him.”

If He was an evil master, that would be terrible news for us. But He is a good master. And He cares for us to the extent that He even laid down His life for His sheep (His creation).

Although God has created this world for Himself, He doesn’t forget us. He designed this world and us in such a way that we get maximum enjoyment and maximum benefit as we give him maximum glory. It’s a win-win situation!

Since the universe was made for Him, what is the application for us?

Application: Have you acknowledged in your heart of hearts that you were indeed created for serving God? Or do you resist this?

There is something in our sinful hearts that rebels against the idea that we were created for Him.

The very first sin was rebellion against God’s authority. They wanted to serve their own interests, rather than God’s. What they didn’t realize is that the two were perfectly aligned. What pleases God is also best for you.

Who is Jesus? Jesus is the Creator who made us. And he made us to serve Him.

Are you living your life in light of that truth? Which part of your life are you living for yourself? Think about that a moment. Confess that before the Lord this morning. And affirm your belief that you were created for Him.

4. He is Supreme –

Colossians 1:17 – He is before all things.

Jesus is superior to everything else in this world. He has the priority.

There will be many times in our lives when we need to make a decision between two choices.

What are your priorities?

For example, we may need to choose between career and family or mother and wife. When we face decisions like that, we will have to answer the question, “which one has the priority?” If you choose career over family, that won’t end well. If you choose mother over wife that also will not end well.

We will face the same type of decisions in regards to Christ. Career or Christ, pleasure or Christ, convenience or Christ? Comfort or Christ? Paul is telling us that Jesus IS before all things. He has the priority. He IS more important than these things. The question is, will we recognize this truth when we make these decisions?

I heard one preacher say that he laughs whenever he hears the phrase “make Christ Lord of your life.” Christ is already the Lord. The question is not if He is the Lord, but it is if we will treat Him as Lord.

Application: Is Christ the priority of your life? You can examine someone’s priorities by the choices they make. How they spend their money. What they make time for or what they are “too busy” for. Let our lives reflect the fact that Christ is before all things.

5. He is the Sustainer –

“In Him all things hold together”

In previous verses we learned that Jesus is the Creator. The whole world around us was created by Him. Yet His relationship with this universe didn’t end there. He didn’t start the process and then let human decisions and the natural laws he set up take over. Deists believe that.

In the 1700 and 1800s, many of the founding fathers of the US were deists. They believed that God created the world and then left it to its own devices. Their idea of God was like a clockmaker who makes a clock and then sets it aside to run on its own or someone who makes a little sailboat and then sets it adrift. Many still have an idea of a god like this. An impersonal force who leaves the world to itself.

Yet here we learn that in Him all things hold together. This tells us that He is still very much involved in what happens in this world. He keeps this world from descending into complete chaos and disorder. The molecules of the chairs you are sitting on are held together by Him. The waters of the sea are kept from overflowing by Him. The blazing hot core of the sun is held in check from becoming a supernova by Him. Your skin and flesh stay together because of Him. So does the flesh of the staunchest atheist. Every second of our lives, we are dependent on Him.

Without Him, chaos would reign and life itself could not be sustained. Without His sustaining power, you would fly into a million pieces.

Think back on the most amazing sights you have seen. What did you see that made you go “wow?” Perhaps, it was the aurora borealis? Or maybe Victoria Falls at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe? Mt. Everest? White Cliffs of Dover?

Well, the purpose of this passage today is to make us take a good look at Jesus and go, “wow!” The universe keeps running because of Him. He is powerful, beautiful, kind, and caring. He is our Sustainer. He is the one we should admire more than anything or anyone else. He is the one we should long to meet.

What is at the top of your bucket list of places to see? (Tell your neighbor.) That is nothing next to Jesus.

So what is our application? Exalt Him. Thank Him. Rely on Him.

Getting Caught in the Rough.

In early 1997, I was running the sound for my Church and our choir. We would often go on appointments to Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and all over metro Atlanta. I, as the “sound man,” was obligated to go and mix their sound.

We had a drummer, bass player, organist, and pianist. The drummer, Mark Drake, and I shared a room on most of those appointments.

He is a golfer and was watching a new young player named Tiger Woods playing in a tournament.  Mark told me I needed to watch this guy play because he was amazing. So, I sat down and watched, and finally they got back around to him teeing off.

 

Whhhhisssh.  He sliced the ball, and the ball went alright, straight into the rough. I burst out laughing and said, “Yep, he’s the one to watch alright.”

Then Mark said, “Wait.”

So, I waited and when he got down to the ball in the thick high grass I said, “Well, let’s see how he handles this.”

He lined up the ball with the flag, took a swing, and wow. The ball flew up and out of the rough, right onto the green and just inches from the hole. Tiger then walked up to the green and just tapped it in. Mark said something that day that has stayed with me all these years. He said,

 

“We all end up in the rough sometimes, but it’s how we handle it, that makes us what we are.”

 

Sometimes we are doing the best we can do, we are doing everything right, and it looks as if God is answering every prayer we pray for others and not hearing the ones for ourselves. Then we shank the ball and in the rough, we sit.

 

Paul told the Church in Corinth:

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, NKJV

 

Paul called it “light afflictions” check out Paul’s “light afflictions” in

2 Corinthians 11:22-29 “He said, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews 5 times he received 39 stripes, 3 times he was beaten with rods; 1 time he was stoned; 3 times he was shipwrecked; often he said in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness… and this is “light affliction” And then he added his responsibility that comes upon him daily: “my deep concern for all the churches”. He sounds like he was in the rough. However, he kept his eyes on what was important, so how did he handle it. Look at the next verse.

2 Corinthians 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. NKJV

 

It is not about what we get here but what we send there.

The things that are temporary are the things that we face here and now and Paul said do not let those things keep you pulled down but to look at the eternal things as he said in:

Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Or in other words, don’t let yesterday rob you of what you can do today, and as far as tomorrow goes keep your eyes on the goal (or flag on the green) and keep pressing toward that goal. The eternal things.

 

Sometimes we end up in the rough to be taught.

Peter put it this way:

1 Peter 4:12-14

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.  NKJV

 

We all end up in the rough sometimes, but it’s how we handle it, that makes us what we are. Don’t just stay there, knock that ball out, and if you don’t make it to the green, hit again, and again, and again, and again, whatever it takes. You just don’t give up.

 

Psalms 30:5b: …weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Joy is a coming, and it just may be sooner than you think. Please don’t give up on God, because I promise He hasn’t given up on you!

 

So how are YOU going to handle the rough?

“We all end up in the rough sometimes, but it’s how we handle it, that makes us what we are.”

Chapter 24 of my Book “Something to Ponder”

Legacy

Recently my Mother and I talked about how many children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren she had. She has 5 kids, 12 grand kids, and 27 great grand kids with a total 44 as the day of this writing. This is her legacy, among other things.

Do you see the progression, 5 kids, and with those kids she has 12 grand kids, and with them she has 27 great grand kids? The legacy gets larger with each generation.

A former pastor we had when I was a young teenager was named Brother Frank Holcomb, and he once said “If everyone won one and that one, won one and then that one, won one, before long there wouldn’t be one left to win”.

Now that takes me back to the last chapter. On October 19, 2017, as we sat at Tranquility Hospice Care, in Austell, Georgia with My Dad Elvin Swann, I noticed quite a few people were there to see my Dad. He was just hours away from his homecoming to be with our Heavenly Father.

I really don’t know how many people came through that day, with family and friends, I know there was a little crowd in his room, I was told that the waiting room across the hall had a few people and the break room was full of folks that came by to say their goodbyes.

As I surveyed the crowd, I had a thought, how many of these people came to accept Christ as a result of the man lying there in that room. My Dad accept Jesus as his Savior in October 1966. As result of his conversion, we had a number of family members come to know Jesus as their Lord shortly thereafter. He may not have been personally responsible for leading them to Lord but as a result of his life they had accepted Christ.

So, I started looking around and the best that I could tell there were only three people that came through that day that he didn’t have something to do with them coming to church and eventually accepting Jesus as their Savior. I am not saying that they wouldn’t have been Saved if he hadn’t made a change in his life, but we may never know for sure.

 

That brings me now to my Mother, she taught Sunday School for years, she taught summer Bible School year after year. She taught a youth small group that wasn’t called that then but that what it was. She had at times in my Aunt Irene Evans home 20 to 30 kids there. They were here to hear Bible stories, and to have some snacks, and a prize for 1 child each week. She worked at a Christian Children’s Home for a little over 28 years, and while there the kids would use her as a place to bring their disagreements, that they couldn’t share with anyone else. She would listen to them and sometimes that’s all that they needed was someone to listen. And then give Godly advice that they could be used and not in any way disagree with their Houseparent’s.

Out of the kids she taught over the years and the ones that my Dad got are responsible for coming to church I honestly believe that there are hundreds if not thousands that will be in heaven as a result of my Godly Parents.

I got this off the internet in which a preacher said:

“One of my favorites “minor characters” in American history is a man named Edward Kimball. There aren’t many people who could tell you the historical significance of Edward Kimball. After all, he is so un-famous that he doesn’t even have his own Wikipedia page. But through his simple service to God, he has had a worldwide impact.

In 1854, Kimball was a Sunday School teacher in Detroit, and one day he went to visit a 17-year-old boy who was in his Sunday School class who had little interest in God or religion. During his visit with this young man at his job in a shoe shop, he led the boy into a relationship with Christ. That young man was D.L. Moody, who went on to become one of the greatest evangelists in the world, sharing the gospel with 100 million people, as well as founding Moody Bible Institute and The Moody Church in Chicago.

But the story doesn’t end there. Through his ministry, Moody was responsible for a London pastor named F.B. Meyer coming to faith. Meyer was responsible for J. Wilbur Chapman coming to faith, and Chapman influenced Billy Sunday, another prominent evangelist of the 20th century. Billy Sunday was integral in a man named Mordecai Ham coming to faith. And Mordecai Ham was the preacher responsible for leading a young man named Billy Graham to Christ.

And that, my friends, is a spiritual legacy.

Some years ago, while talking with a preacher I stated that I have no legacy, I have no children and as a result no legacy, the preacher asked how many people have come to know the Lord Jesus as a result of my preaching? I said quite a few I think, he then went on to say how many people have you seen in the ministries that you worked with come to know Christ? I said hundreds. He then went on to say how many times have you prayed for pastors and preachers and seen souls saved? Again, I said plenty I’m sure. How many times have you worked an altar and talked with people out and about and seen them come to Christ? I again said I am not sure dozens I suppose. Out of all those that you helped come to the saving knowledge of The Lord Jesus Christ and the ones that they led to Him, and then those that they led to Him, they are your Legacy.

That takes me back to my Parents, just thinking about the ones that came to Church because of my Dad, He did a weekly visitation even at times all alone, but he went. And then the ones that my Dad and Mother ministered to over the years at the preachers and the teachers that are out there now as a result in them just being faithful to the call to go. I see a GREAT and MIGHTY LEGACY.

Now I leave you with this: What kind of legacy do you have, and are leaving?

It is your fault, so be careful what you are taught. Know that God is still working on you and is carrying you on His strong shoulders, and let Him. Because you can do all things through Christ if you let Him fill you with His Holy Spirit. Don’t cover your light, let it shine, when you are caught in the rough keep swinging till you get out and never give up. When fishing for souls make sure to use the right bait.  And know we all need some help sometimes. And never forget You Are His Favorite!

Please leave a great Godly Legacy.

Purposes God Has for Your Singleness

Why would God seemingly allow most people to get married or find romantic love and leave me single? I’ve asked this question along with several others like it. What is God’s reason for not answering this prayer? I don’t know why God has answered with a “no” or “not yet,” but He has answered, and I believe, whether you’ve been single for one year or fifty, the following are God’s purposes for your singleness (and mine):

 

1. To Make You More Like Christ

Jesus was single. Does that mean that those who are unmarried are more like Jesus? Aren’t married people also being sanctified and transformed into the image of Christ? Married or single, the end goal of the life of a believer is Christ-likeness.

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him …” (1 John 3:2).

Christ was singly focused on the will of God. The Apostle Paul wrote that it is easier to be singly focused on God’s will if you are unmarried like he was (1 Corinthians 7:32-33), and like Christ was. Singleness is not only a gift for as long as it lasts, it is a God-given opportunity to focus solely on Him! Paul also wrote these words: “For me, to live is Christ!” Talk about singly focused!

Jesus Himself declared, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (John 4:34). In other words, the physical needs of our human existence are secondary; God’s will is primary. If we want to be like Christ, that must be our perspective.

As Christ-followers, we need to see our singleness not as a problem to be solved but as an opportunity to be seized! “Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all for the glory of God.” Not many of us live with this kind of focus but we need to! Life on this earth is short and it’s about God, not us.

 

2. To Help You Point People to Christ

This should be the goal of every believer. There is a uniqueness in how single people can point others to Christ. It could be said that all of us possess unique qualities, attributes, abilities or challenges that afford us with unique platforms for sharing the gospel. An Olympic athlete has a platform most of us don’t, as does a celebrity, someone with cancer, a politician, a parent of multiples, someone who is blind, the list could go on and on. We have all been given a unique voice that speaks into certain spheres of influence.

An unmarried person, whether never married, widowed, or divorced can share Christ from that particular vantage point. We may see ourselves as single and let that define us, but just like every star in the night sky, we are not truly alone. Every star is part of a galaxy. We all function individually and collectively – every single one of us. The more brightly a star shines, the more it attracts our eyes to the heavens and to the Creator!

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech; they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4).

Hillsong’s worship song “So Will I” beautifully says “If the stars were made to worship so will I.” Stars shine “because they have huge fusion reactors in their cores releasing a tremendous amount of energy,” explains this article from Universe Today. Similarly, humans produce and release energy. This is only an analogy, but humans can put their energy into many causes or just a few, varying their luminosity or brilliance.

“An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs — how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world — how he can please his wife — and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world —  how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:32-35).

An unmarried person has the potential for undivided devotion, energy and focus on God. That potential, if lived out, will shine in a way that attracts the attention of many, causing them to reflect on and perhaps seek a God who can so fully satisfy the human heart!

“…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

If that person, however, is instead focused on disappointment, self-pity, and sadness, his or her light or radiance for Christ is significantly dimmed.

 

3. To Teach You to Live Out Today’s Calling, Not Tomorrow’s

Your purpose today is to thank and glorify God, not waste today longing for a different tomorrow. Tomorrow may indeed be different, but it may not. We must rejoice in today. It is fleeting, it is a gift, and it can be lived to the full, or lost.

“Let not our longings slay the appetite of our living.” (Elisabeth Elliot)

Don’t miss something that is because you’re focused on something that isn’t. Today has a purpose. In one single 24-hour period, we have the chance to: choose contentment and joy, learn, grow, bring glory to God, encourage someone, point someone to Christ, make a difference.

We will not get this day back. Live it for God! May God be primary and everything else secondary.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33).

 

4. To Enable You to Rely on the Sufficiency of God

God satisfies and He is sufficient.

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14).

If God’s love is unfailing (eternal, certain, steadfast, inexhaustible), it is not His love the Psalmist prayed for, but rather that we would find our satisfaction in it. Therein lies the problem: our theology. Despite what the Bible says, we do not believe He is sufficient. We believe, rather, that He is insufficient, and that we also need another human to complete us.

“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him’” (Genesis 2:18).

Adam needed Eve, you might think, which is why God created woman. We absolutely do need a helper, a companion; and those living without romantic love, without sexual fulfillment, are incomplete. Adam obviously could not have been okay with God alone.

That is not true. Eve was God’s grace in Adam’s life, God’s good gift to him. God’s grace is sufficient because God in His wisdom always gives what is good, what is best (not in our opinion, but in His). Without Eve, Adam would have walked with God in paradise, completely and utterly satisfied in God. God had already given Adam life and breath and placed him in utter paradise. Adam’s life was already better than any man to live after him.

And yet, God opened His hand and gave another gift, satisfying a desire Adam did not even realize he had. God’s grace is so sufficient that He provides for us and satisfies us in ways that surprise us. He doesn’t give us everything we ask for and believe will satisfy us; He gives us what he KNOWS will satisfy.

Adam would not have known to ask for Eve. God knew Eve would be suitable, a welcome help through life. He does not promise us all the same type of help, the same variety of grace. We are not guaranteed a human helpmate. But rest assured, that God will provide for you just as he did for Adam. His grace will be sufficient for you.

“You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does” (Psalm 145:16-17).

Imagine the difference our life would make, our testimony for Christ would make, if we truly lived that way: being satisfied with God’s unfailing love, believing that the Lord’s ways are always right and faithful!

The Apostle Paul learned about God’s sufficiency through hardship. After pleading with God three times to change his circumstances, he was given this answer:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9a).

“Therefore,” Paul went on to write, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9b-10).

Hardships and difficulties do not disprove the goodness of God; they are a showcase for His power, sufficiency, and grace!

Ironically, both marriage and singleness prove to us to the insufficiency of humans and the sufficiency of God! As good of a gift as Eve was, that iconic pair made a mess of things, paradise was lost, and mankind had to return to realizing just how right and sufficient God alone is, until ultimately that was revealed through Jesus Christ.

 

5. To Cause You to Trust Him

God desires to give us what will truly satisfy us, but He will not give it if it is not good. We must trust His definition of good. I want anything and everything God has for me, including my current singleness, because He is good and His plans and timing are for my good, my sanctification, and His glory. This is not always how I “feel,” but it is my true heart’s desire.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless” (Psalm 84:11).

Again, our theology is skewed. We trust in our own wisdom and timing and we doubt God’s. That’s messed up, dangerous theology. It means we wish we were God, seated on His throne.

God has already given us the one thing that can truly satisfy the needs and desires of our souls: Jesus.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

God’s gift of Jesus is proof that He is the Giver of all good things. We can trust Him.

from: “5 Beautiful Purposes God Has for Your Singleness” by Kristi Walker Author February 10, 2023

Kristi Walker has been a missionary in Berlin, Germany for over 15 years working with an international church as the Director of Student Ministries. She is the author of two books – Disappointment: A Subtle Path Away from Christ and Convinced. Applying Biblical Principles to Life’s Choices.

Sometimes God Says No.

Isn’t “No” an Answer?

Amy Carmichael

Just a tiny little child
Three years old,

And a mother with a heart

All of gold.

Often did that mother say,

Jesus hears us when we pray,

For He’s never far away
And He always answers.

Now, that tiny little child

Had brown eyes,

And she wanted blue instead

Like blue skies.

For her mother’s eyes were blue

Like forget-me-nots. She knew

All her mother said was true,

Jesus always answered.

So, she prayed for two blue eyes,

Said “Good night,”

Went to sleep in deep content

And delight.

Woke up early, climbed a chair

By a mirror. Where, O where

Could the blue eyes be? Not there;

Jesus hadn’t answered.

Hadn’t answered her at all;

Never more

Could she pray; her eyes were brown

As before.

Did a little soft wind blow?

Came a whisper soft and low,

“Jesus answered. He said, No;

Isn’t No an answer?”

 

The above poem, written by Amy Carmichael, was based on an incident that actually did occur in her life when she was three. It turned out to be in the providence of God for her to have brown eyes. She became a missionary to India in the late 1890s. At first, her ministry was primarily evangelistic. But along the way, she became aware that some parents in India sold their daughters to the temple, where they were used for immoral purposes. God led one such child to her, and through a series of events and a sense of the Lord’s leading, Amy took the child in. Then more stories of other girls (and later, boys) surfaced and more opportunities to rescue and provide homes for these children arose. Amy had to struggle with this because the Lord had seemed to be blessing her evangelistic work. Was it right to turn from that ministry to give herself to housing and raising children? She concluded that that was indeed God’s will for her life. The ministry grew exponentially and eventually became a whole compound, with housing for children of all ages, the workers who took care of them, and even their own hospital.

 

As Amy went “undercover” to find details of these children, she would stain her arms with coffee and wear Indian dress so that she could pass as an Indian woman and move freely in Indian society where she never could have as an Irish missionary. This she could not have done with blue eyes — her eyes would have given her away immediately. Neither she nor her mother could have ever known, all those years ago, the Lord’s purpose for her brown eyes, but the lesson of faith stayed with her all her life.

 

Sometimes No is the best answer for us, it’s just best to wait and see how God’s plan plays out.

 

Melchizedek Part 2

Jesus remains a priest forever; his priesthood will never end. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save everyone who comes to God through him. He lives forever to plead with God on their behalf. — Hebrews 7:24-25

If people only attend church at Christmas and Easter, it is quite possible that they will never get further than thinking about Jesus as a baby who was born in a stable and cradled in a manger, who grew up, was crucified and rose again, and more or less disappeared from the scene, leaving some very good teachings that should not be taken too seriously.

But many people who attend church on a regular basis—not just at Christmas and Easter—often miss out on another important dimension of the Savior’s ministry—that which is celebrated on Ascension Day. The full significance of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus cannot be grasped without a solid understanding of the continuing ministry of the risen Lord. His work did not end when he rose again from the dead. He returned to heaven where he continues his ministry to this day—and forever.

Drawing from the rich history of the Jewish people, the writer of Hebrews compared the work of the risen Lord with that of a human priest. One of the obvious disadvantages of a human priest is that he is susceptible to death, and when he succumbs, his priestly ministry is terminated. Jesus, however, is “a priest forever” (Heb. 7:17). His continuing priesthood is exercised in “the power of a life that cannot be destroyed” (7:16), and “his priesthood will never end” (7:24). In practical terms this means that he can save people “once and forever” (7:25), because his priesthood knows no end or interruption.

Those who have come to faith in the Lord Jesus can say with assurance that they have been saved. They know this as a past experience. But they need more than that. They must face life on a daily basis, and they will continually come up against things that will rob them of their joy and hinder them in their growth. They need to know what it is to be saved on an ongoing basis. They need not just a salvation in the past, but also an experience of spiritual deliverance in the present. To make this possible, Jesus “lives forever to plead with God on their behalf” (7:25), in order to apply the benefits of his death on a daily basis to those who believe in him.

Being aware that the Lord Jesus is, at any given moment, praying for him will alert a Christian man to the supply of divine resources available to him in response to Jesus’ intercession. Secure in this knowledge, he will be better equipped to live wisely and well on a daily basis. And he’ll enjoy the benefits of Christmas and Easter daily, not just annually.

Stuart Briscoe from Telling The Truth.

For further study: Hebrews 7:15-28

Melchizedek Part 1

Hebrews 7:1-14 (NKJV)
¹ For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” ³ without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. ⁴ Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. ⁵ And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; ⁶ but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. ⁷ Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. ⁸ Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. ⁹ Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, ¹⁰ for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
¹¹  Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? ¹² For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. ¹³ For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.
¹⁴  For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

 

Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized how great Melchizedek was by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle. — Hebrews 7:4

The relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament has been described as follows: “The New is in the Old concealed, the Old is in the New revealed.” There are good grounds for believing this is an accurate assessment of the relationship, as can readily be seen from the way Jesus “quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining what all the Scriptures said about himself” (Luke 24:27), and from the way Old Testament passages were interpreted in the New Testament to show that they held messages that would only be understood in New Testament times.

An example of the Old Testament being revealed in the New is found in the interpretation of the story of Melchizedek. This rather enigmatic figure appeared briefly in the biblical record when he encountered Abraham after Abraham’s famous victory over five kings (Genesis 14:17-20). Melchizedek was “king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High” (Heb. 7:1). He blessed Abraham for what he had done. Abraham, in turn, gave Melchizedek 10 percent of his spoils. There is no record of Melchizedek’s parentage or progeny, and his name means “king of justice.” “Salem,” the name of the city over which he reigned, means “peace.”

Those are the details, spoken and unspoken, which the writer of Hebrews applies to Christ. Because Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham and gave a blessing to Abraham, he was seen as superior to Abraham. And because there is no record of his parentage or progeny, he is seen typologically as living on. In addition, because Levi, the father of the Jewish priesthood, was, as it were, “in Abraham’s loins” (7:10), Levi’s, priesthood was inferior to the priesthood of Melchizedek, precisely because Abraham was inferior to Melchizedek!

It must be admitted that this interpretation is hard for Westerners to grasp. The application of this story by the writer of Hebrews uses typology, a method of interpreting Scripture that is not commonly used today, even though the method was common in the early days of the church. The point of all this in Hebrews was to show that the Jewish (Levitical) priesthood was incapable of offering the salvation which only the eternal priesthood of Jesus (Melchizedek) could provide. Therefore, the Jewish people who had been attracted to Christ but were in danger of drifting away from him should recognize that only Christ can offer salvation. Should they turn away from him, they would find hope in no other system. This is something that Jesus himself underlined when he insisted, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

By Stuart Briscoe “Telling The Truth.”

The Church Has Left the Building

During this time of uncertainty, as the day of this writing was November of 2020. We had several questions out there, how are we going to vote in person or by mail? Are we going to send our children back to school or home school? Can we go to the store and get the necessities of life without losing our life, not from a virus but from rioters? Do I wear a mask for their protection or am I wearing a mask for mine? Why can we go to the liquor store but not the Church. And on and on we go. But in the midst of all this stuff I saw a profound post that said;

The Church Has Left the Building

And my reply was and still is, it’s about time. I was raised being told how we measure our love for God is in how much time we spend in the local Church. You have to be there Sunday Morning Sunday School, Sunday Morning Worship, Sunday Night Training Union and Sunday Night Worship Service, and then Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting. And I’m sorry to say that’s not true. Before you get mad at me read on.

Please understand I am 100% for corporate worship, we as the Church need to be teaching new converts to do as the Word of God says, GO!

We were never commissioned to go to the church and fellowship, but we were told by Christ Himself in Red letters:

Mark 16:15-16 (NKJV) And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

The Promise Keepers put a post out recently that stated “With Church doors closing across the country, it’s time for us to show that the Church has never been about the building.”

There was a song that my home Church sang years ago called:

“We Are Still the Church”

“We are still the church, We will go forward

We will go on, Let’s forget about the things

which are behind us, We are still the church

keep pressing on, Now we started out for heaven’s shores

A long, long time ago, Jesus as the Captain of this boat

And the rock of ages holds us securely in his love

And though we’ve been through many storms,

praise God we are still afloat, We are still the church

We will go forward, We will go on

Let’s forget about the things, which are behind us

We are still the church, keep pressing on

Now this ship may bear some battle scars

We’ve been tossed from side to side

Still the waves of sin are raging high

But to God we serve His sovereign

He is still the King of kings,

And he will hold us steady until we reach the other side.

We are still the church, We will go forward

We will go on, Let’s forget about the things

which are behind us, We are still the church keep pressing on”

 

We were the Church, we are still the Church, and we will always be the Church!

It is not or has it ever been about the building, but it is most definitely about the Temple, Paul said it this way to the Assembly of people in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

When the letters were written to the different Churches in the Bible they did not go to a particular building or address, but to an assembly of people that were believers in that area. And thus, to the Assembly of Corinth, or Ephesus, or Philippi. Not a building, but to “The Way” of believers in that area.

We ARE the CHURCH not the building. Nowhere in the Holy Scripture does it state for us to “Go to Church” but it does say for the “Church” to go to the world. And as a side note the word Church should have been translated according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. As assembly. A group of people of same mind.

ek-klay-see’-a from a compound of (ek) and a derivative of (kaleo); a calling out, i.e. {concretely (in a definitive or conclusive way)} a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):

Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: church 115 assembly 3 [Total Count: 118]

But wait does the Bible not say;

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV) And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

And we have Tony Evans Bible Commentary saying:

“Tragically, some of this letter’s readers had started neglecting to gather together (10:25). They were avoiding the means God had provided to help them. Remember, when your “get-up-and-go” has gotten up and gone, you need someone who can lift you up. Furthermore, there’s someone ready to throw in the towel who needs you to walk alongside him or her. That’s why the writer of Hebrews says: Let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works (10:24). It can be hard to be a Christian. We need to be practicing the “one-another’s,” encouraging each other… As [we] see the day approaching (10:25).”

It’s not talking about going to a building but getting together and helping one another.

Please, PLEASE, don’t get me wrong, We NEED the Church as we have it now, but we have done it the same way we have done most things, and we let our way get in the way of God’s way. Over the years we let traditions get in the way of how the local Church is supposed to be. I know we need teaching and being ministered too regularly. I have to have that extra shot in the arm weekly myself. But nowhere and I mean nowhere does it say we have to go to a certain building, at a certain time, and a certain number of visits weekly, and dress a certain way, singing a certain song a certain way, and to do that proves that we love the Lord. It is not there.

In the television show The Big Bang Theory, the character Sheldon Cooper first met his future wife Amy Farrah Fowler, and their conversation went something like this, Amy said “I am only here because I have a deal with my mother to date one time each year”, and Sheldon’s response was “I have an agreement something like that with my mother, but it is to go to Church once a year”. And then Amy’s reply was and that’s what got me think about this the most and that was “I don’t have a problem with a deity, but I do have a problem with one that takes attendance”.

I have the same problem, God is with me everywhere I go, and I do not see him taking attendance. Again, don’t get me wrong, we need the local Church but more importantly the Church needs us. It needs us to get together to make sure we are doing what God wants the way God wants it. And we need to learning through God’s ministers how to reach the world, because face it, without the local Church I would say a majority of people would not know what the Bible says or more importantly, what the Bible means.

We need to get together, so we can be with more people of like mind. And that mind should be the mind of Christ Jesus. So, we can reach more people with our combined resources for the cause of Christ Jesus. I myself am limited with what I can accomplish, but with my local Assembly we can put our money together and our knowledge of the Word of God, and reach more people by Going into all the world and preaching the gospel to every person that I can’t reach on my own.

In the year of the Covid Pandemic 2020, the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Mission board stated that 750,000 people overseas heard The Gospel, up from 500,000 in 2019. Then 144,000 people professed repentance and faith in Jesus as Savior, up from 89,000 in 2019. A little over 86,000 were baptized, and that up from 49,000 in 2019. To top it all off, 18,000 Churches were started, and that was up from 12,000 in 2019. Don’t forget that the Church buildings were mostly closed for 9 months of year 2020.

How did that happen? The “Church” was doing what Christ commissioned, GOING INTO THE WORLD. Not setting on the pew!

After posting this on my Facebook account, I was met with mostly good comments, and then one not so praising. That one even said:

“I would caution that this message sends the idea that church is inessential.”

Nowhere in this chapter do you hear me saying to do away with Church or not to go to Church, what I am doing my best to say is some Churches are not doing their job of reaching the world. Again, we are called to evangelize the world, not to keep screaming at the same 10 to 30 people weeks after week telling them how sorry they are. He then used a few verses that were out of content talking about the “Assembly”

After preparing to publicly destroy him on Facebook, I was reminded of our last Journey Group that I teach weekly, the study was Andy Stanley’s study “Better Decisions Fewer Regrets” and the last question was “Question #5: The Relationship Question. What does love require of me?” and then after listening to Chuck Swindoll Sunday’s sermon where he had the opportunity to completely destroy someone, he was reminded that is not the way to show God’s LOVE. Everything I was seeing said don’t destroy this preacher on an open form such as Facebook.

So, I took my finger off the trigger put the safety on, and put it up for them to post another day. I hate it when my own teaching and things I have in my book convict me from doing things (“Something to Ponder” chapter “Things that are in that Noggin”)

“And remember; “Just because it’s rattling around in that noggin of yours doesn’t mean that it has to come out of that mouth”. Or posted on social media and “Not everything or every subject needs our opinion”.

So, sometimes we need to be careful not to tear down our brothers and sisters in Christ, for when we do, what does that show the rest of the world. Be kind to one another and be sure to show God’s love. There are things that need to be said and a time to say them, just make sure you pick your battles, but that’s another story for another day.

Somethings need to stay in that “Noggin”.”

We so need Corporate Worship; we so need teachers and preachers regularly making disciples out of people to reach more and more people. No one and I mean no one was saved to just be a number on a Church roll. We all are called to do something for the cause of Christ! I saw a post on social media that said something along the line of: If God allowed you to wake up today, He has something for you to do.

We need to make Disciples, so the question is:

What Makes Someone a Disciple?

Six times when Jesus said “This is what makes someone a Disciple “

A Disciple is = Usage Notes: 

English Words used in KJV: disciple 268 vr disciple 1
[Total Count: 269] from <G3129> (manthano); a learner, i.e. pupil :- disciple.

English Words used in KJV: learn 24 understand 1 [Total Count: 25]

prolonged from a primary verb, another form of which, matheo, is used as an alternate in certain tenses; to learn (in any way) :- learn, understand.

Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

Disciple Usage Number: A-1

Part Of Speech: Noun Strong’s Number: <G3101>

Original Word: μαθητής, mathētēs Usage Notes: lit., “a learner” (from manthanō, “to learn,” from a root math—, indicating thought accompanied by endeavor), in contrast to didaskalos, “a teacher;” hence it denotes “one who follows one’s teaching,” as the “disciples” of John, Matt. 9:14; of the Pharisees, Matt. 22:16; of Moses, John 9:28; it is used of the “disciples” of Jesus (a) in a wide sense, of Jews who became His adherents, John 6:66; Luke 6:17, some being secretly so, John 19:38; (b) especially of the twelve Apostles, Matt. 10:1; Luke 22:11, e.g.; (c) of all who manifest that they are His “disciples” by abiding in His Word, John 8:31; cp. John 13:35; John 15:8; (d) in the Acts, of those who believed upon Him and confessed Him, John 6:1, 2, 7; John 14:20, 22, 28; John 15:10; John 19:1, etc.

A “disciple” was not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher; cp. John 8:31; John 15:8.

Usage Number: A-2 Part Of Speech: Noun Strong’s Number: <G3102>

Original Word: μαθήτρια, mathētria

Usage Notes: “a female disciple,” is said of Tabitha, Acts 9:36.

Usage Number: A-3 Part Of Speech: Noun

Strong’s Number: <G4827> Original Word: συμμαθητής, symmathētēs

Usage Notes: means “a fellow disciple” (syn, with, and No. 1), John 11:16.

Note: In Acts 1:15, the RV translates the mss. which have adelphon, “brethren;” in Acts 20:7, RV, “we,” for AV, “disciples.”

Usage Number: B-1 Part Of Speech: Verb Strong’s Number: <G3100>

Original Word: μαθητεύω, mathēteuō Usage Notes: is used in the Active Voice, intransitively, in some mss., in Matt. 27:57, in the sense of being the “disciple” of a person; here, however, the best mss. have the Passive Voice, lit., “had been made a disciple,” as in Matt. 13:52, RV, “who hath been made a disciple.” It is used in this transitive sense in the Active Voice in Matt. 28:19; Acts 14:21.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words.

1).     John 8 “If you obey My teachings “

John 8:31-32 (NKJV) ³¹ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

2).     John 13 “If you love others disciples “

John 13:34-35 (NKJV) ³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

3).     John 15. “If you produce a lot of spiritual fruit “

John 15:7-8 (NKJV) ⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

4).     Luke 14:26 “can’t be unless you love God more than anything “

Luke 14:26 (NKJV) “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

5).     Luke 14:27. “Can’t unless you pick up your cross and follow Me.”

Luke 14:27 (NKJV) And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

He meant in the Roman context you must submit to the prevailing authority, who is that? God!

6).     Luke 14:33 Showing your love for God

Luke 14:33 (NKJV) So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

You need to be a disciple and you also need to help make disciples. As I have said in the past that My former Pastor Brother Frank Holcomb said many times: “If everyone one won one, and that one won one, and that one won one, and so on, before long there wouldn’t be one to win. And is that not what we are after?

So, you can say, But I’m not a preacher, I’m not a teacher, I’m not an evangelist, I don’t know how to talk to people about the Lord. And with excuses like this, it just proves to me that the Church you are attending is NOT doing their job.

1 Corinthians 12:4-31 (NLT2)
⁴ There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.
⁵ There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.
⁶ God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
⁷ A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
⁸ To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.
⁹ The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.
¹⁰ He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.
¹¹ It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
¹² The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.
¹³ Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
¹⁴ Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.
¹⁵ If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body.
¹⁶ And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body?
¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
¹⁸ But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.
¹⁹ How strange a body would be if it had only one part!
²⁰ Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.
²¹ The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
²² In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.
²³ And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen,
²⁴ while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.
²⁵ This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.
²⁶ If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
²⁷ All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
²⁸ Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.
²⁹ Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles?
³⁰ Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not!
³¹ So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

You need the Church to be the Church, and you need to leave the building and go into the world and proclaim the Word of God!

Pop the Top

Years ago, while visiting my Grandmother in Cobb Hospital, I watched her mentally and physically slowly leave us through Alzheimer’s over the years. One particular time as she was there and the news got out, we saw different family members gathered to visit her and comfort her through this one of many stays.

As I arrived, I saw that my Mother was already there with a number of cousins and other family members. My Grandmother was having a pretty good day, so as I entered the room, she looked at me and asked who I was. I replied DeWayne, and I could see the look of confusion on her face, so I added what most of my close and immediate family referred to me as and that was Dinky.  She then smiled and said you are one of Littlelynn’s boys, right? Littlelynn (Little-one) is what she called my mother, and that is another story for another day).  I told her she was right and just sat and listened as different people came and went that day.

As I observed the counteraction with different people, I saw that she was enjoying the attention and then someone asked her how she was doing. The answer was “I am doing great; I don’t understand why I am here I want to go home”. I asked her if she wanted to go fishing with me, and her reply was “Let’s go!” after a few moments of hearing how good she was doing my cousin Ricky came in and joined in on telling her we were going to get her up and take her with us to the lake. She was all for it, and she was as sprite and active as could be.

Then just like that, things changed, the Doctor walked in and said, “How are you doing today, Mrs. Jarrell’s?” and then her response was, in a weak sad voice, “I’m not doing good at all, I feel terrible.” As she laid back and closed her eyes as if she had no strength to even speak. And then me trying to encourage her and play with her I said, “Awe that’s not what you were saying a moment ago, you said you didn’t see any reason why you were in here and you felt good enough to go fishing with me and Rick.” That didn’t go over too well with her, she sat up in that bed and said in an angry voice, “You ain’t purdy (pretty) you ain’t purdy at all, if I could get out of this bed I would…,” and at that time my Mother said get out and get out now! Rick was laughing, and she didn’t seem to care for that either, so he said to hold up Cuz I’m going with you.

So, down we went to the break room.

After standing in a pulpit in a number of churches over 30 years, you get where you can detect conviction on people’s faces. I remember when I was in church as a child. Usually bored to tears and ready to go home or anywhere except sitting in that church. That the preacher would finely wind down and the song leader would come up and start the invitation. Sometimes I wanted out because I had other thing I rather be doing, and other times was because I was under so much conviction that I wanted out, and I wanted NOW!

When a preacher says let’s sing just one more verse, there is a reason, and usually an excellent reason, and that is that they see something that you don’t. What we see is someone standing there holding the seat in front of them so tight, until their knuckles are white. They are hoping to get out of that church, and to get out NOW. The Holy Spirit has come down and the spirit of conviction is on their face. We as preachers see this, and we want to give them every chance we can for them to move. This could be the last time for them to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. So, just one more verse. When you hear that, I ask you to please start praying for the ones hearing that invitation.

Back to the elevator ride down to the break room. I am extremely claustrophobic, and so when I get on an elevator and the doors close, I usually start talking, to get my mind off the fact that I am in a little room and the doors just closed and everyone is breathing up all my oxygen. The thing that I normally start talking about is the Bible and what Jesus means to me. That day was no different. It works as a fantastic evangelistic tool because the ones in there with you have nowhere to go, so you have only a few seconds to present the gospel.

This was one of those occasions, except the conviction I saw this day in that elevator was on my cousin’s face. Ricky was more like a brother to me than a cousin. Years ago, when his mother was pregnant with Rick’s little brother Steve, and he was born, they brought him home and showed him to Ricky, and said here is your little brother. Rick told him he didn’t want him; he wanted Dinky for a brother. As I said, we are close.

Now we have made it to the break room and Rick started asking questions about being “Saved.” So, I told him all he had to do was ask the Lord to come into his heart in the form of The Holy Spirit, Accept the forgiveness of his sins, and Believe that God has given him the gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ, who paid the price for the forgiveness of those sins. He said that he wasn’t sure about all this stuff. He like me, was raised in church, he has seen how some people are on fire one week and gone the next, and he said he didn’t want to be like that. I said I didn’t want him to be like that either. I wanted him to be like Jesus, not people. He then asked how do you do that? How do you accept salvation?

We were standing in front of a Coke machine and I had just dropped two quarters in and asked what he wanted. He said a Coke, I pressed the Coke button and down it came. And the Spirit of God did also. At that moment God gave me an example to share with Rick. I reached and got the Coke and said this is Salvation, this is a gift from me to you, I paid the price and it cost you nothing all you have to do is reach out and take it. I held it out to him, and he reached out and took the Coke from my hand. Then he said is that all there is to Salvation? Do I just have to take it?

He like most would think that I would have said yes and all would be well. But I didn’t, instead, I reached and snatched the can back from him and said, nope see I took it back, this is where God showed up, and I said a lot of people think just saying words get them Saved, but there is more to it than that. I then popped the top of the drink and handed it back to him and said now drink that. He took a few swallows and I said “That is Salvation”, you have to make Christ a part of you, you have to invite Him into your life.

When he was just holding the can of Coke, anyone could do as I did and take it away from him, but now that he drank the Coke it is now and forever a part of him and there is nothing I or anyone else could do to get that out of him. That is Salvation, Making Jesus Christ a part of you by Believing in the price that was paid by the Father, through the Son, by indwelling you with the Holy Spirit. That is “SALVATION.”

We need to do as Christ said for us to do, after feeding the thousands with a kid’s sack lunch of 2 pieces of fish and five little biscuits. And then miraculously walked on water, and then tells the ones that followed after for another meal that they have to take Him in them through the eating of His flesh and drinking His blood. Take His character, take His Love, take what he is holding out and giving to you freely, all you must do is accept it. It is not about asking for forgiveness it is about accepting the fact that you are already forgiven.

Feeding the Five Thousand

John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.

4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”  6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.

7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”

8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.”  13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” NKJV

Then we see Jesus Walks on the Sea and then He speaks about being The Bread from Heaven

John 6:22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone —  23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks —  24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”

26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'”

32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

But we saw in this story that Jesus is foretelling the last Supper and then we can see that in Matthew:

Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper

Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.  28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. NKJV

It is reemphasized in First Corinthians:

Institution of the Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”  25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.  NKJV

 

I believe that many of people that are sitting in the “Church” building today have taken the can and never popped the top. We the preachers and teachers sometimes do a poor job of letting them know that just saying words are not the same as having a draw of the Holy Spirit of God.

We sometimes just say to repeat after me, and they say words and there is no repentance and confession of being a sinner. We have a gift of salvation given to us but we must accept the gift of forgiveness. We do not have to ask for it, it is already ours all we must do is Believe!!! The Bible is clear that all sins were and are and are going to be forgiven. It is not about forgiveness, again it is about accepting that forgiveness, or popping the top and drinking it in.

We must take the Bread and eat, “His Body.” Taking the “Bread of Life” and let it nourish us;

John 6:35-59 (NKJV) And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst…
⁴⁰ And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”…
⁴⁷ Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
⁴⁸ I am the bread of life.
⁴⁹ Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
⁵⁰ This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.
⁵¹ I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
⁵² The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”
⁵³ Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
⁵⁴ Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
⁵⁵ For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
⁵⁶ He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
⁵⁷ As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
⁵⁸ This is the bread which came down from heaven–not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
⁵⁹ These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

 

We also see that Jesus said we must take the Cup and drink, “His Blood.” Take the “Cup” The Living Water and quench the everlasting thirst. As we see when Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, He said;

John 4:10 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”…John 4:14 (NKJV) “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

 

Accept that “Forgiveness” Like when I offered Ricky the Can of Coke is like saying the words, but when you pop the top and take it in you no one, and I mean no one can take it away from you then. That is accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. And then you will see that there is nowhere else to go as Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And if not then we see as the students of Jesus did;

 

Many Disciples Turn Away

John 6:60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”

61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you?  62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?  63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.  64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”  71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.   NKJV

I always find it amazing that our Lord lets those leave, he offered the can and all they had to do was pop the top, but they chose to leave, they chose to walk away, and He let them walk away and then He even asked His disciples if they too were going to leave. It was so freeing as a minister to see 1 out of the 12 that walked with Jesus knowing that he saw the same thing as the others but that one chose not to pop the top. It took me years to understand that you will not reach them all. The bottom line is the hearer’s choice to accept or walk away. And Jesus let him do just that, walk away, and even betray him.

Never does the scripture after the Death Burial and Resurrection, say that we must ask for forgiveness, it says that we need to accept His forgiveness.

Confession, admitting that we are sinners and need to accept forgiveness.

1 John 1:7-10 (NKJV)
⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

And then we need repentance, to turn from the way that we were living and follow Christ and Him crucified for the remission of our wrong doings, “sin”.

Luke 5:31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”  NKJV

Luke 24:47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. NKJV

Acts 26:20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. NKJV

 

2 Cor 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. NKJV

God is giving everyone more time to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. NKJV

Rick did later accepted Christ and even went on to be a minister of the same Gospel I tried to share with him that day. Because he not only took the can He popped the top, drank it down, and tried to get as many as he could to also “Pop the Top.”

 

The gift has been given. The can is in your hand.

All you must do is.

Pop the Top.

From my next book, “More to Ponder”

What Makes Someone a Disciple?

Six times when Jesus said “This is what makes someone a Disciple “

Disciple = Usage Notes: 

English Words used in KJV: disciple 268 vr disciple 1
[Total Count: 269] from <G3129> (manthano); a learner, i.e. pupil :- disciple.

English Words used in KJV: learn 24 understand 1 [Total Count: 25]

prolonged from a primary verb, another form of which, matheo, is used as an alternate in certain tenses; to learn (in any way) :- learn, understand.

Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

Disciple

Usage Number: A-1

Part Of Speech: Noun

Strong’s Number: <G3101>

Original Word: μαθητής, mathētēs

Usage Notes: lit., “a learner” (from manthanō, “to learn,” from a root math—, indicating thought accompanied by endeavor), in contrast to didaskalos, “a teacher;” hence it denotes “one who follows one’s teaching,” as the “disciples” of John, Matt. 9:14; of the Pharisees, Matt. 22:16; of Moses, John 9:28; it is used of the “disciples” of Jesus (a) in a wide sense, of Jews who became His adherents, John 6:66; Luke 6:17, some being secretly so, John 19:38; (b) especially of the twelve Apostles, Matt. 10:1; Luke 22:11, e.g.; (c) of all who manifest that they are His “disciples” by abiding in His Word, John 8:31; cp. John 13:35; John 15:8; (d) in the Acts, of those who believed upon Him and confessed Him, John 6:1, 2, 7; John 14:20, 22, 28; John 15:10; John 19:1, etc.

A “disciple” was not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher; cp. John 8:31; John 15:8.

Usage Number: A-2 Part Of Speech: Noun Strong’s Number: <G3102>

Original Word: μαθήτρια, mathētria

Usage Notes: “a female disciple,” is said of Tabitha, Acts 9:36.

 

Usage Number: A-3 Part Of Speech: Noun

Strong’s Number: <G4827> Original Word: συμμαθητής, symmathētēs

Usage Notes: means “a fellow disciple” (syn, with, and No. 1), John 11:16.

Note: In Acts 1:15, the RV translates the mss. which have adelphon, “brethren;” in Acts 20:7, RV, “we,” for AV, “disciples.”

 

Usage Number: B-1 Part Of Speech: Verb Strong’s Number: <G3100>

Original Word: μαθητεύω, mathēteuō

Usage Notes: is used in the Active Voice, intransitively, in some mss., in Matt. 27:57, in the sense of being the “disciple” of a person; here, however, the best mss. have the Passive Voice, lit., “had been made a disciple,” as in Matt. 13:52, RV, “who hath been made a disciple.” It is used in this transitive sense in the Active Voice in Matt. 28:19; Acts 14:21.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words.

 

1).     John 8 “If you obey My teachings “

John 8:31-32 (NKJV) ³¹ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

2).     John 13 “If you love other disciples “

John 13:34-35 (NKJV) ³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

3).     John 15. “If you produce a lot of spiritual fruit “

John 15:7-8 (NKJV) ⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

4).     Luke 14:26 “can’t be unless you love God more than anything “

Luke 14:26 (NKJV) “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

5).     Luke 14:27. “Can’t unless you pick up your cross and follow Me.”

Luke 14:27 (NKJV) And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

He meant in the Roman context you must submit to the prevailing authority, who is that? God!

6).     Luke 14:33 Showing your love for God

Luke 14:33 (NKJV) So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.