THE WONDER OF YOU

Baker Knight

1959

Recorded by Elvis Presley and released in 1970

This version remastered and released Oct. 2016

You may be wondering ‘why is he putting a secular song on a Christian blog?  Years ago I would’ve wondered the same.

Correlation between ‘secular’ and ‘Christian’ or gospel music has always been strained at best.  Christians aren’t supposed to listen to secular music because it’s all evil.  Yet with the rise of the ‘Jesus Freaks’ (those converts who sprang from the Jesus (charismatic) movement of the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, it became evident that the Pentecostals weren’t the only ones who could have music with a little rhythm.  That era gave opportunity for innovation to come into the gospel/Christian music scene as people came to realize that the ‘standard’ hymns weren’t the only music God appreciated. That era spawned musicians like Honeytree, Don Francisco and Carmen, to name just a few.

So, with the doors being opened up, when we listen to music we have to ask “what does it generate within in me, in my soul, my spirit?”  Whatever God created is good (Gen. 1:24-25) and then He created man to have dominion over what He had just created (Gen.1:28).  Everything created was good, but when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, He put enmity (conflict) between the serpent and man (Gen. 3:13-15).  Man was separated from eternal life at that time and his disobedience generated a lifetime of hardships (Gen.3:16-24) leading to the first murder (Gen. 4:1-16) and so forth.  Because Adam disobeyed God by eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, that rebellion resulted in Satan’s dominion in the earth.  We have confirmation of the transfer of this power When Jesus says “Now, the judgment of this world, now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (John12:31).  Prince means ruler.  Paul says that the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the eyes of unbelievers (2 Corinth. 4:4).  And we know that God keeps His children from the wicked one (Satan) but the whole (rest of) world lies in wickedness (1 John 5:18-19).  So man is responsible for how things have warped out of the shape and from which God originally put them.

So, even though everything was good in the beginning, it isn’t necessarily so, anymore.  (Thank you Adam) 

Consider that music generates feelings and emotions within us.  That is what is designed to do.  Think not? Consider the movies you’ve watched over the years or even the TV shows.  When Dwayne Johnson gets into a battle scene with his enemy, what kind of music is playing?  Braham’s Lullabye?   I think not. The background music is intense, exciting, exhilarating.  It’s designed to get the blood pumping so we can feel the action.  And in that tender love scene, are they playing the sound track from the chase scene in ‘Bullit or a ZZ Top soundtrack’?  Hardly.  The music is intended to help set the tone for that tender moment, the mood soft, maybe even enticing a cuddly feeling.  And that’s what the music is intended to do.  Consider ‘church music’.   Tunes used to praise the Lord are alive and vibrant (or at least they should be) and when we settle down to a more worshipful attitude, the temp slows and helps us to focus more on our Lord and Savior (as well as it should).       

Now, even though, Rock and Roll spawned from blues, country with a tinge of jazz tossed in for good measure, it also has a solid foundation in (primarily black) gospel music.  So it shouldn’t be too surprising that many of those early love songs could easily be converted into gospel tracts with little or no adjustments to the lyrics to adoring God.  A song which exemplifies this idea is “I Will Follow Him” originally recoded and released becoming a top hit for Little Peggy Marsh in 1963 and was effectively incorporated into the movie “Sister Act” with Whoopi Goldberg in 1992.  Little was changed in the lyrics from 1963 to 1992, but the direction changed from Peggy’s following her man to the nuns following Jesus and the extent to which they are willing to do so.

Father has helped me convert some of those old songs (lyrics) into a Christian theme and much to my surprise I’ve checked around and have seen examples where He has done the same with other people.  It’s a pretty cool idea if you like to revive some of those old R&R tunes, but revive them to glorify Jesus.

With the “Wonder of You”, other than the songs he wrote and those who recorded them, I couldn’t get much background on writer Baker Knight.  The song, apparently about a guy who just can’t imagine why his girlfriend or wife loves him so much, but if we look at the lyrics, I had to wonder why God loves me so much.  I’m just thankful that He does.  Hmmmm, I have to wonder if Baker Knight really knew what he had?

Here are the lyrics to the original song, “The Wonder of You”, and then with scriptural support how the lyrics may be used can glorify God.  Just as they stand, no changes.

When no-one else can understand me
When everything I do is wrong
You give me hope and consolation
You give me strength to carry on
And you're always there to lend a hand
In everything I do
That's the wonder
The wonder of you

And when you smile the world is brighter
You touch my hand and I'm a king
Your kiss to me is worth a fortune
Your love for me is everything
I'll guess I'll never know the reason why
You love me like you do
That's the wonder
The wonder of you

When no-one else can understand me

When no one else truly understand us, who does? Shall not God search this, for He knows the secrets of the heart (Psalms22:21) and it is He (the Holy Ghost) that searches the hearts for He knows the mind of the Spirit and intercedes for us with groaning which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:27)

When everything I do is wrong 

Behold, I was shaped in iniquity and my mother conceived me in sin (Psalms 51:5) and I am the vine and you (us) are the branches, he who abides in Me brings forth much fruit for without me you can do nothing (John 15:5)

You give me hope and consolation

My soul waits only upon God for my expectations are in Him (Psalms 61:5) and I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (1 John 5:13-14)

You give me strength to carry on

The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him and I am helped therefore my heart greatly rejoices and I will praise Him with my song (Psalms 28:7) and I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me (Phil. 4:13).

And you're always there to lend a hand

Be strong and of good courage, don’t fear, for the Lord, your God, goes with you  and He will neither fail you nor forsake you (Deut. 31:6) and Don’t speak of things coveting them and be content with what you have for He has said I will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5).

In everything I do

Don’t be afraid, for I (God) am with you … (Isaiah 41:10) and … I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (Matt. 28:20).

That's the wonder
The wonder of you

The Lord said to me “I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you and I will build you, O virgin of Israel,  and you shall be adorned with tabarets (fine silk garments) and dance and make merry (Jer. 31:3).  And for God so loved he world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever should believe on Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16)

And when you smile the world is brighter

The light of the eyes rejoices the heart (Prov. 15:30) and the light of the body is the eye, therefore if the eye is single, the whole body shall be full of light (Matt. 6:22).

You touch my hand and I'm a king

And Jesus touched him with His hand and said “I will.  Be clean.” (Matt. 8:3) and Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness … has made us kings and priests unto God … (Rev. 1:5-6).

Your kiss to me is worth a fortune

Greet the brothers with a holy kiss (1 Thess. 5:26) and God is able to make all grace abound towards you that you should be sufficient in all things so you can abound to every good work (2 Corinth. 9:8).

Your love for me is everything

You shall have no other gods before Me … for the I, the Lord, am a jealous God (Exod. 20:3-5) and you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, this is the first commandment (Mark 12:30).

I'll guess I'll never know the reason why

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9) and The natural man doesn’t receive the things of the Spirit of God … for who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?  But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinth. 214-16)

You love me like you do

No man can express a greater love than to lay his life down for his friends (John 15:13) and Grace and peace to you from God, the Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present, evil world, according to the will of God, our Father (Gal. 1:3-4).  

That's the wonder
The wonder of you (Jesus)

When no one seems to understand me and everything I do is wrong (been there, done that). Jesus gives me hope and is my strength to carry on.  He’s always there in all that I do.  When I see Him working in my life, He makes me feel like a am somebody.  And, remember God orders our steps and delights as we follow Him and though we may fall, we will not be utterly cast down for He holds us up with His hand (Psalms 37:23-24).  And for the love of me, I don’t understand why He loves me so much.  I’m just thankful that He does.

Amen?

3-4-2017  Intercessory Prayer

 Basically, what does the bible say intercessory prayer is?

The Hebrew word used for intercessor or intercession is paga (Strong's 6293) which includes the connotation of entreat, pray or meet together,

The Greek uses two words: huperentugchano (Strongs' 5241) and enteuxis (Strongs' 1783).  huperentugchano is the verb (the act) to intercede or pray for and  enteuxis is the noun - prayer or supplication.

 Webster’s defines intercession as:  Act of interceding, prayer, petition, entreat in favor for another

So what is intercessory prayer?  Coming before God on someone else’s behalf or a situation to effect a resolution from God for that individual or particular situation.

Reasons/Importance of intercession

Jesus intercedes for Himself and us

John 17:1-8                  Jesus spoke these words as He lifted His eyes up to heaven and said “Father, the hour is come, glorify Your Son that Your Son may also glorify you.”  (Jesus goes on to expound the task Father has given Him and how He has succeeded and all that He testified of the Father.)

Luke 22:31-32             (Jesus had just set His disciples straight on who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God, then He turned to Peter)  “Simon, Simon, Satan has desired you that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that you don’t fail and when you are converted, strengthen the brothers.”

John 17:20                   Neither do I pray for these alone (His disciples) but for all those who would believe on Me through their word.

Paul ask for intercession

Ephesians 6:19-20       ‘Pray’ for me that I may speak the mystery of the gospel boldly because I am an ambassador in bonds (to Jesus) and that I speak boldly those things I need to speak.

We see that intercession can be made for ourselves as well as others. We intercede for others 
so that God might act on their behalf, that it would be well with them. 

That He might give them strength to get through a situation, for healing, for encouragement 

and so forth.  And yes, even for ourselves. 

 

Fruit (results) of intercession

Daniel 2:1-49              King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream which his court ministers could not interpret.  The king then ordered all his court magicians, astrologers, etc. executed and when they came to get Daniel and his companions, Daniel sought the presence of the king and said that he (Daniel) could bring the king the interpretation.  Daniel went back to Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah and sought God for the answer (v17-19).  God responded and Daniel praised God saying “Blessed be the name of God for wisdom and might are His.  He changes the times and the seasons, sets up kings and removes them, wisdom to the wise and knowledge for understanding.  He reveals the deep and secret things and knows what is in the darkness and light dwells with Him.  I thank you and praise you O God of my fathers, for you have given me wisdom and might for You have shown me what was desired of you, making known, the king’s matter.”  
                                    He then returned to Nebuchadnezzar with the interpretation and as a result the king appointed Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego chief governors.

The fruit of that intercession is when we see the answer to that prayer and whatever rewards 
that may bring.  And we always give God the thanksgiving, praise and glory for bringing the 
request to pass, not only once we see the results, but even upon making that request.  (read 
the entire account in Daniel)

   

Examples of intercession

            Scripture

            Daniel 2:1-49              Again

            Personal - some things that I do

I pray continually for my pastor that Father give her wisdom and discernment for her personal life and the life of our fellowship.  I also pray for boldness, courage and strength to apply what Father shows her into her personal life and that of our fellowship and for her continuing obedience in His word and will.  Father has shown me her growth over the few years that I've known, both as a person and as a pastor.  And I DO give Him the praise and glory for He has shown me (as well as with others).

A number of times I have lifted my son and his family up before the Lord dealing with his situations.  Father has kept him afloat through many avenues: loans, gifts, providing things at the ‘right price’, at the right time.  I could go on, but those are his testimonies.  Father has just allowed me to see the fruit of the intercession.  However, I will mention how Father has continually shown me answer to prayers in changed lives – my son’s spiritual growth, my daughter-in-law’s spiritual growth, where my three grandsons have unknowingly enjoyed God’s protection in their lives.  I will mention one here:  two years ago (I lose track of time very easily anymore) my middle grandson was in the play yard at school.  He was not yet siting down at the top of the slide and was accidentally  bumped over the side, six or seven feet to the ground landing squarely on his head.  As soon as I was notified what had happened I asked the Lord for protection over my grandson.  Later I received the news that there was no concussion or any other result from the fall.  He was (double) A-OK!  (PTL).   

I learned another thing from that incident.  I had gotten busy doing other things that morning so I was negligent with my normal morning prayer time where I always pray for family – first, but not that morning.  Even though most mornings my only prayer for family (and for many others) is simply “Thank you Lord for your love, grace and mercy abiding in the lives of my family that it is well with them today.".  Up until that morning, I felt that this simple, insignificant prayer wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.  But Father showed me that even though He healed my grandson, that simple prayer would have prevented the fall to begin with.  ‘Insignificant’ prayer keeps angels around about my grandchildren (and others).

Testimonies

Can we think of any examples in our personal lives where God has answered our prayers for others?  

(put on your thinking caps and give God the glory for those answered prayers)

Qualities of an intercessor

 John Charles Ryle aspired to be a politician but when family finances took a tumble he pursued the clergy becoming a bishop in the church, pastor, writer and evangelist.  He supported evangelical efforts while being a critic of ritualism.  He died in 1900 after more than sixty years service in the church.  Among those things accredited to him is the following list for a "Right Heart Before God":

              

1 A right heart is a NEW heart Ezek. 36:26, 2 Cor. 5:17

2 A right heart is a BROKEN and CONTRITE heart Psalm 51:17. 2 Kings 22:19

3 A right heart is a heart which BELIEVES ON CHRIST ALONE for salvation, and in which Christ      dwells by faith Rom. 10:10; Eph. 3:17, Heb. 10:22

4 A right heart is a PURIFIED heart Acts 15:9; Matt. 5:8, 2 Cor. 7:1, Psalm 119:11

5 A right heart is a PRAYING heart Rom. 8:15, Psalm 27:8

6 A right heart is a heart that FEELS CONFLICT within it Gal. 5:17, Rom. 7:23

7 A right heart is HONEST, UNDIVIDED and TRUE Luke 8:15; 1 Chron. 12:33; Heb. 10:22


From this list, we can draw that an intercessor must clear the air and have a right spiritual attitude (I have to be right with God – praise & worship before petition)

Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes but the Lord ponders the heart
No distractions (am I serious about this prayer?)

Matt. 6:6 But when you pray, enter your closet and shut the door and pray to your Father in secret and your Father who sees you in secret shall reward you openly.
To the point (know exactly what I’m praying for/about – be specific)

Matt. 6:7-8 When you pray, don’t use vain repetitions, as the heathen do, for they think they will be heard for the much saying so don’t be like them for your Father knows what you need, even before you ask Him.

Take authority (as warranted) (not every intercessory prayer is casting out devils, rebuking spirits, etc. It could be for wisdom, direction, strength, etc.)

John 15:7 If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done to you.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, when you pray for those things which you desire, believe that you receive them and you shall have them.

Again, what is intercessory prayer? Coming before God on someone else’s behalf or a situation to effect a resolution from God for that individual or a particular situation. Approaching the heavenly throne (of God) in truth, honesty and sincerity, having effectively cleansed our own hearts (as we pray) so as not to hinder God's work and so Father can effectively work on the heart of the individual or situation bringing it to His resolution. When we pray, get to the point.  So as we live in Christ Jesus we can believe God will grant us our desire – and he will. (Luke 5:12-13 – You can heal me if you will and Jesus says “I will”)

I’ve watched Doug Addison’s March 2017 prophetic video and he speaks of the “Wind of Change Angel” (check it out www.dougaddison,com).   He also mentions the ‘billion soul revival’ Bob Jones prophesied years ago.

 Intercessory prayer becomes very necessary for this to occur whether on a global level or a local level (that little sphere around our individual existence). Father has shared with me that there is a revival coming that will make any and all other revivals pale in comparison, not to belittle what has already happened (everything has its time, place and purpose), but this will be awesome. Father is preparing hearts within His children so that not only the world may be evangelized, but the church as well.  So, what do you think?  Will intercessory prayer play a role in this event?   I suspect so!
Amen

2-18-2017 WHOSE APPROVAL DO WE SEEK?

Everybody likes to be accepted by others.  All of us like to be accepted and appreciated.  We all (if we admit it) desire to ‘be a part of’ things.  Part of the ‘in’ crowd, at least, included in the activities of those around us.  People become loners because society (as a whole) has rejected them, or for whatever the reason just don’t want to associate with them.

What we need to come to realize is that society is a product of itself.  What I mean is that it establishes its own requirements, qualities, characteristics, demeanors, and so forth.  Think I’m just blowin’ smoke?  When I was growing up the ‘Barbie’ doll and the ‘G.I. Joe’ became the prime role model toys for boys and girls.  All the girls wanted to be pretty like Barbie and have that perfect figure.  The guys, G.I. Joe was a ‘real man’, not afraid of anything, the type of guy you wanted to grow up to be, like Captain America and Superman, fighting for truth, justice and the American way.  And Barbie became the desire of every ‘Joe’s’ heart (sorry Ken).  Two toys became role models for an awful lot of kids and not many (if any) truly reached their ideals.  This doesn’t count all the guys who wanted to be the next “Elvis”, James Dean or even an Olympic champion or the girls who dreamed of being the next Miss America or Miss Universe or Hollywood megastar.  Not for lack of trying but reality does have a tendency to set in.  

And you know, today the only thing that has changed are the names of our heroes, Justin Beiber, Lady Gaga and so on.  We fall in love with an image that is projected by society.  Of course, in the case of celebrities in all venues of the arts, those images are press releases and publicity stunts to get attention, but society gobbles it up and follows trying to emulate their ‘heroes’.  However, businesses project a desired image so the public will buy their product.  The public obliges.  There’s a desire to know what’s going on with “the product” (we have a tendency to be nosy). So, I dare say, today (and for a long time) our heroes, those whom we desire to emulate, are merely products of someone else’s imagination. 

But you say what about ‘real’ people?  What are ‘real’ people?  What we watch and listen to the news?  TV, newspapers, magazines are all products of an industry that tells us what will ‘sell’ their product.  TV and radio want ratings to prove that viewers and listeners are tuning in. Newspapers and magazines rate by sales.  You may get some truth in a story, but it most likely that story will have a spin.  That is it will relate what product the promoter wants you to see/hear thereby molding your tastes and opinions.  So to get a clearer picture of what’s really going on, you need to check out multiple sources, compare the different spins, then make a judgment.  Unfortunately, we learn to like or dislike according to what we see and hear in the media.

We are a product of our society.

  So, in order to be accepted into society we are ready to adapt to its standards.  Those who don’t adapt get left by the wayside.  This goes for people in general, but also those in the ‘church’.

THE CHURCH?(!)  Yes, even the church.

When we aren’t saved, we feel a tug on our heart so we start attending a local church, hoping to get either consolation or revelation.  To feel good or get saved so we can fit in.  Without revelation, consolation may or may not come but revelations comes when we hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and receive Him into our heart (get saved).  We continue attending that church and start existing under the standards by which that church functions.  This is not necessarily bad, but in today’s church it is not necessarily give us a complete picture, either.  God’s desire that we have the fullest picture of issues so we can properly deal with life in this world.  The hope, though, is that the church not only ‘preaches’ the gospel of Jesus Christ, but also ‘lives’ by it and teaches us to do the same.  Why? So we can grow and learn how to live for and in Jesus for ourselves.  The bible tells us to work out our own salvation (Phil. 2:12).  So what does this really mean?

What it does not mean is “how do I see my accessing eternal heaven” or “what do I have to do to influence God to let me into heaven” or even “I’ve led a pretty good life, I’m good to go, right?”  Our own concepts and standards don’t ‘cut the mustard’.  We have to learn what God’s standards are, then meet them.

To begin with, the only way into heaven is through our faith in Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, the Holy One, the Anointed One. 

Jesus IS the Word of God.  God created all that exists by speaking His Word, then the Holy Ghost carried that Word into action thus creating everything that exists.  So Jesus was with God in the beginning and was God (John 1:1).

God (Father) made His Word flesh (John 1:14), walking in our world as one of us so He could cleanse us from our sin (nature) and sins (acts) thereby bringing us back into God’s righteousness and fellowship (1 John 1:7).  So, Jesus became the final sacrificial lamb shedding His blood for our redemption (John 1:29, Ephesians 1:7), for without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22).  The only thing we can do is accept this and believe it with all our heart and then to accept and believe that Jesus rose from the grave and the dead on the third day, walked with His disciples (alive and well) for forty days then ascended back into heaven from whence He came and is seated at the right hand of the Father until He returns for us (John 20:31, Matt. 28:6, Acts 1:9-11, Colossians 3:1).  This is the salvation message for all man, and understand that we all have fallen short of God’s expectations for us (sinned) (Romans 3:23) and need an intercessor to bring us back into fellowship (salvation) with God, the Father (Romans 8:34) so we can come back into alignment with His will, as demonstrated by living (yielding our lives) to Him, the rest of our days, here in this world (Romans 6:13).  And, of course, Jesus is that intercessor.  In so doing, Jesus (as His Father did in the Old Testament) promises us health, prosperity and protection (Prov. 3:1-2) (He will never leave us nor forsake us Hebrews 13:5).  All until He returns to bring us into eternal existence with Him.  This is the gospel of Jesus Christ (in a nutshell).  All the rest is learning HOW to abide in His will as we await fulfillment of His promises for this world and the next.  So, in the meantime, we watch and wait (Matt.24:42).  Watching means always being ready and ready means living for Him, moment by moment.

Man wants to be accepted.  And whether he admits it or not, that’s in this world as well as the next.  Without acceptance, or at least the hope thereof, man faces despair and despair leads to death, spiritual and or natural.

So man continues to look for ways to be accepted, even in the church.  It may mean building his own world where only he exists.  When man can’t believe his life has some worth or value (acceptance by others), his rationale for existence diminishes. 

The orphan spirit builds private, little worlds, for an individual so a man can, at least, accept himself, but, in truth, he needs more than that.  His own little world is usually devoid of God and God made us communal creatures, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18), but this just doesn’t apply to the wife God would create for Adam.  As we read in Genesis, man has collected, and worked together, from the beginning.  Consider the tower of Babel where man collected and worked together to achieve his own ‘selfish’ desire (Gen. 11:1-9) and had to face God’s judgment.  Also, in today’s church God tells us not to forsake fellowshipping together (Hebrews 10:25) so we can encourage each other.  We find support and encouragement in community.  Or at least, we should.

Finding acceptance means garnering the approval of those around us so we can be a ‘part of the crowd’ and that has been true today as well as throughout history.

We look forward to family outings, especially where members of the extended family attend.  We like to be a part of the family.

 We get involved in social activities to meet people.  We like to connect with others.

 We get involved in sports to be a part of a team or an organization.  We get that sense of belonging.

We join clubs to fellowship with other people.  Nobody really likes being alone.

We go to church because we hear God turns no one away and hopefully we can ‘fit in’ in a church.  

Too often when nothing else works we turn to the church so we can be a part of being around other people.  Sometimes, even that doesn’t work.

We all want to be accepted so we seek to discover what it takes to be approved by others so we can be accepted by them, whether it be in the world or the church.

Unfortunately, acceptance today, is gauged too much by world standards, though they may originally have been biblically based, those standards have morphed, or should I say warped into what man wants to be able to do.   Man changes things so he can do what he wants to rather than what he should do so as to relieve himself of any responsibility.  Fellowship with no commitment (relationships take commitment).  So acceptance by the ‘world’ standards draws us away from God.  God’s standards promote a ‘holy’ (apart from the world’s wickedness) life and promises acceptance by our heavenly Father into eternal existence.  We receive worldly acceptance because it usually is a quick fix and meets our desires NOW.  Fewer, or no, responsibility.  Church should bring us into a responsible lifestyle, but unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.  Too many church members soon forget where they came from and quickly distance themselves from ‘sinners’ who try to come into their holy circle or church members may fall back into old habits and excuse their slide from God’s grace as still being under God’s grace.  Paul warns us about using God’s grace to sin (Romans 6:1-9)

So, far too many people seek the world’s acceptance, or approval because God’s people have forgotten His basic commandment “to love”.  The world will accept people where they are, at least for a while, but then later, they may cast them aside.  Too late for the individual.  Unfortunately, because people are ‘tainted’ they may not really be accepted by the church either, especially if they cannot bring come sort of glory or benefit to the church.  Even when accepted, if a soul doesn’t fit into the church ‘culture’, and they may find themselves in a similar position as with the world, the church may eventually cast those souls aside.

GOD IS LOVE (1 John 4:8)!  And Jesus commands us to love, as He has loved us.  No greater love has a man than to lay his life down for his friends (John 15:13).  Jesus died on the cross for you and me (us) (1 Peter 2:24), but by the grace and to the glory of God, He rose on the third day giving us that promise of eternal life, as we believe and accept Him (Jesus).  Laying our lives down for our friends is considering their needs before our own, seeking and doing what edifies them rather than demanding ‘my way or the highway’.  Do we deny our own needs?  Of course not!  But God calls us to consider others before ourselves (John 15:13, Phil. 2:3, 1 Corinth. 14:26).

Our acceptance into eternity is living our lives for and in Jesus Christ, for we can do nothing without Him (John 15:5) but we can do all things in Him (Phil. 4:13).  Glory to God.  Living our lives for Jesus brings on the approval of our Father in heaven (Col. 1:10), which brings on the promise of eternal life because we have yielded ourselves to Him (Father through the Son) (Romans 6:13).

The world’s approval is temporary, at best, because that acceptance doesn’t normally last long (it sure doesn’t lead to the type of eternity we would like).  Think, how many entertainers can you name, who have been at the top for more than just a few years and have then faded away – many into oblivion.  Yes, there are some who hang around for a life time but people’s likes and dislikes change, the world changes and those most of whom the world had approved of cease to exist at an noteworthy level, anymore.  Such is the world’s approval.  When their value is gone, they are cast aside.  And they ride off into the sunset.

Yes, God does give us some criteria, that is to live our lives for Him, but as we ‘stay the course’ (23 Tim. 2:10) we find ourselves “APPROVED” right into eternity with the Father through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.  Eternal acceptance, never turned away for once we are in God’s hand, nothing can take us out and God won’t throw us out (John 10:29).  Only we can jump off on our own accord (Hebrews 10:23-31) and then the question rises “Once having known the true love of God and His goodness, how can we turn away?” (Heb. 5:4-6)  Why would we turn away? 

So whose approval do we seek?  The world’s?  or God’s?  Which, do you suppose, will last longer?

The church is not perfect, so we turn our eyes upon Jesus.  We read the bible so we can learn His standards then use those standards as our guide and abide in them and try to find a church, in which to fellowship which approximates those biblical standards.  For where God’s love dwells, we can find acceptance and approval.

Yet with our heavenly Father, our approval truly comes from our relationship with Him (1 John 3:24) and not man, even in the church.  Any successful relationship begins with our knowledge of God (Proverbs 1:7).  Our relationship with Father reflects in our relationship with those around us and God takes how we treat those around us personally, especially those in the body of Christ (Matt. 25:40, 45)

When we have a relationship with those around us, our acceptance (approval) is determined by that relationship.  We have a distant relationship with people whom we ‘casually’ know.  We acknowledge each other, speak with them on occasion but there is no real depth in the relationship.  It is superficial.  We know them, but we really don’t know them.  We just now about them.

Family and friends bring on a closer relationship, greater communication and a closer bond.  Because we ‘grow up’ with our immediate family, that bond and relationship grows even closer and stronger (he’s my brother, you mess with him, you mess with me).  We know family member’s strength and weaknesses.  We don’t just know things about family members, but we also know many of the ‘whys’ or the ’hows’.

God tires of long distance relationships and desires that close, family, bond with each one of us and that’s when we start to truly realize our acceptance with/in Him.  Again, John 3:24 says “He who keeps HIS commandments, dwells in Him and He in him.  This is how we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He has given us.”  God wants to dwell in us, to be such a part of our lives, that we become like Jesus, a true reflection of the Father (John 15:9-10)

We are accepted (approved) of God because we live in His love (doing it) and walk with Him (abiding in His will) – daily.  If living in us isn’t approval, then I ask what is?

Amen.

2/4/2017  Disobedience/rebellion/witchcraft/denial 

                  

1 Sam. 15:23   For rebellion, the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness, iniquity and idolatry.  Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you from king.

Jeremiah 1:16-19        I will utter My judgements against them concerning all their wickedness, those who have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods and worshipped the works of their own hands.

Therefore, gird your loins, arise and speak to them everything that I command you and don’t be dismayed at their faces unless I confound you before them.

Behold, this day I have made you a defensed city, an iron pillar and a brass wall against the whole land, the kings of Judah and its princes and against the people of the land.

And they will fight against you but they shall not prevail against you for I am with you, sys the Lord, to deliver you.

God speaks to the prophet He is preparing to send before Israel in both of these passages, but these two passages also apply to today for He is preparing messengers to prepare His church, His body for revival. 

Read the entirety of these following two New Testament passages. But for time and space, in each case,I only bring out portions of each:

Matt. 7:13-23             Here, Jesus begins by encouraging us to enter at the straight gate and warns us of false prophets.  He tells us that good plants bring forth good fruit and bad plants, bad.   People will claim spirituality but Jesus denies their claim.  See verse 21 “not everyone who says to Me ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter into the kingdom of God, but only those who do the will of My Father which is in heaven.”

Matt. 25:1-46             I’m not going to write out the whole chapter but here we see the parables of the ten virgins (vs1-13), the good man giving three servants charge over his ‘talents’ (business) (v14-30) and the sheep and the goats (v31-46). 

Each of the ten virgins started on the same level, but only five kept their oil (lives-relationship with God) up to ‘snuff’ while the other five got lazy and became lax in their relationship with the Lord and in the end were denied entrance into the groom’s abode the groom (Jesus) didn’t know them (v11-12).  Jesus expects us to always be ready for His return (Matt. 24:42 & Luke 12:40).

In the second example, three servants received goods form their master to take care of while he was away.  Two invested what they were given so they could gain interest, increasing their master’s goods while the third hid what he was given.   Fearing loss, he failed to invest what he had been given.   Though he returned his portion to his master, the unprofitable servant was relieved of what he did have and cast out into the outer darkness (v30).  God gives us talents and abilities and He expects us to use them for His kingdom, to glorify Him for He is glorified when we bear fruit (John 15:8).

The third parable are the sheep and he goats.  When Jesus sits on His throne in glory, all the nations shall be brought before Him.  He will separate them into two groups.   Notice that he gathered them all together, then He separated them.  They all were expecting to head for the same end but what happened?  He commended the sheep for demonstrating His love to the world around them, but condemned the goats for NOT doing the same.  The sheep were welcomed into everlasting life while goats were cast into everlasting punishment (v46).

           

Even though it is God’s desire that all be saved (1 Tim. 2:3-4), there were those who walked away even from Jesus (John 6:66).  Note the chapter and verse here.  Six is the number of man and here,  man does ‘his own’ thing?  Isn’t it interesting how the verse works out for this particular passage?  Because of man’s pride, God knows that not everyone will receive His free gift of love.

Jesus came to create His body (1 Corinth. 12:25-27) and today, has and is working through ministers to bring his body back together (the way it should be) (Ezek. 37:13-14).

But before the body can be solidified, unified, it must first be IN the kingdom of God. 

The Old Testament gives us the ‘law’ which gives us guidelines on how we should be living. 

Jesus came to fulfill the law (Matt. 5:17) and replaced it with stricter standards, other than just doing certain works but rather we live them from our heart.  Show me your faith without works and I’ll show you my faith through what I do (James 2:18).  We should desire to do God’s will,  not ‘perform’ because we are supposed to.

The parables in Matthew chapter 25 show us that not all who think they are headed into heaven will make it.

One cannot start constructing the building until it is first set on a solid foundation and that foundation is a true and real relationship with and through Jesus Christ, the rock.

Our entire life is a growing process as we continually yield parts of our life over to Father through Jesus Christ.  We may make leaps and bounds at times, but make no mistake, we will not achieve perfection until we are with Him in eternity.  This is why Paul says ‘run the race as if you expect to win the incorruptible crown (1 Corinth. 9:24-27).  Whether we cross the finish first, or not, we ALL WIN this race.  Abiding with Jesus throughout eternity!

Refusal to believe God brings on denial of Him (Jer. 6:16).

Denial of His existence brings on disobedience to Him and His Word (Isaiah 66:4).

Disobedience (not accepting His reality) brings on rebellion (Proverbs 17:11).

Rebellion (taking a stand against Him) brings on and is witchcraft (1 Sam. 15:23).

Witchcraft is ‘hobnobbing with demonic (or at least ‘familiar’) spirits and NOT God, that is allowing them to operate not only in us but through us.  And because men no longer seek after God, He turns them over to a reprobate mind doing those things they ought not to do (Romans 1:28).

And when man refuses to retain God in his knowledge, it will ultimately lead to spiritual and eternal death (Proverbs 10:21).

Now, I come back to Ezekiel chapter 37.  Read all four verses, but I’m going to paraphrase it and give it a modern twist, applicable for today.

These bones are the whole house of the New Testament church and they cry out ‘ we are dried, our hope is lost and we are torn apart.

And God says: My people, I will open you graves and bring you up out of them and return you to that which you once knew.

And you will know that I am the Lord when I have brought you up out of those graves.

And I will put My Spirit in you and you will live, then you will now that it was I who said it and performed it.  Says the Lord

God is (and has been) reviving His church and is breathing His Spirit into our lives, afresh.  His people will come to know that He is indeed the Lord and HE IS ALL that He said He is. 

Those who have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and believed God indeed raised Him from the dead, who have been baptized with water indicating the cleansing of our hearts, know that He IS seated at the right hand of the Father and is waiting to come back for us, of course have salvation.  Coming with that salvation comes living a life, holy and sanctified (set apart from the world) as we live for God each passing day, growing in and expressing His love through our lives and lifestyle.

The world knows that we await the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, because of our love one for another (John 13:35).

The bible teaches us how to express that love (2 Tim. 2:15).

We communicate with God, always (Colossians 4:2)

And don’t waver in our commitment to God, encouraging others in the same and hang around other Christians as much as possible (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Let us all decide to seek God with all our heart,  (Luke 10:26-28)

In Jesus’ name.  Amen

1/21/2017    Walking with God

                                      

                     

          Climbing the ladder         Power of God

I can never say too much about our walk with God.  Ezekiel chapter 37 not only talks about the dry bones (dead church) but gives insight as to what Father is planning on and is already (to some degree) doing.

After showing Ezekiel the valley of dry bones, God goes on to tell Ezekiel 37:12-14:

Therefore prophesy and tell them ‘Thus says the Lord, behold, My people I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves and bring you into the land of Israel.

And you know that I AM the Lord when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up out of your graves.

And (I) shall put My Spirit in you and you shall live and I shall place you in your own land, then you shall now that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it.  Thus says the Lord.”

Even though God is speaking to Ezekiel about Israel, this passage also applies to today’s church.  In the passage, God is promising Israel that it shall be free of bondage and shall return home (Israel, the country).  Today, He is promising today’s church, not  a land which it was once promised but to a realm the church once knew and that it shall (will) free from the bondage of doubt and denial and return to that which the early apostles and disciples experienced in the church, the power of Almighty God being expressed to and through His people.

To understand, a little better, what Peter, John, Paul and the rest of the early disciples experienced we have to let the Holy Ghost lead us through the book of Acts, and all the letters, epistles that Paul and other apostles wrote. 

Of course, Acts relates how those men established the early church, over 2000 years ago by being obedient to the Holy Ghost and allowing God to demonstrate His power through them. They were not only obedient to His word but to His will.  Also as they established leadership in those churches, the apostles confirmed those leaders in God’s doctrine of love. 

The letters deal with the problems the early church struggled with in trying to adhere to God’s doctrine of love and how the apostles dealt with those issues reaffirming how we (today) should also 

be.

For over a millennia (1000 years) the church continued to struggle with those issues. However, as the teaching and influence of the apostles faded into history, the church eventually started to drift away from those original doctrines.  As time passed and after the persecution was basically over, the church started becoming comfortable with ‘just’ assembling (Heb. 10:25) and living by what the scriptures said and soon forgetting what they meant, the heart of God’s Word.  Today’s church is dangerously stepping around and in what God told Jeremiah about Israel: 

The enemy is at your gates and will surround you and my judgement will come touching against all their (Israelites) wickedness, those who have forsaken Me, burned incense to other gods and worshipped the works of their own hands (Jeremiah 1:15-16). 

In another scripture we see where Father gives people over to their own devices (Romans 1:28). 

As I said, the church has drifted away from God, doing its own thing and interpreting scripture as ‘man’ sees fit and not necessarily as directed by the Holy Ghost.  The more it Leaned on man’s understanding (not God’s), Father has let the church go its own way.  Now, understand, where Jesus is lifted up as the Son of God, that God come into this world in the flesh (in the person of Jesus) (John 1:1-14), through Jesus ministered to us (Matt. 4:23), died on the cross for our sins (1 Peter 2:24), rose from the dead (1 Corinth. 15:3-8) and is seated at the right hand of the Father (Acts 7:55-56) as He waits to come back for us (1 Thess. 4:13-18), the churches which believe these things are in God’s hands (Romans 8:38-39).  But, as a whole, it (the church) has still drifted.

That is until God started to reawaken His children in the 1300 & 1400’s.  God’s servants were creating a bible to give the common man so he wouldn’t have to rely just on what clergy said, but actually could read it for himself (Acts 17:10-11). 

For six centuries God has carried us through a growing process from those first common language bibles through the Protestant Reformation, the Holiness Movement, the Pentecostal Movement, leading us up to today where He is now again speaking to His church, His children.  If one counts centuries, we are in the seventh century since those early bibles were presented, or if you will, the seventh ‘season’ from that time.

If you look at Christianity’s meaning of numbers (I use Biblenumbersforlife.com), seven is the Father’s perfection, resurrection or spiritual completeness.  Think about it.  We are in the seventh season since Father started rousing His church out of its slumber.  We are in a season of many things starting to happen.  Father is bringing His church to spiritual completeness (maturity) because He has resurrected us.  As in Ezekiel, He is bringing us up out of our graves, resurrecting us, so we can accomplish His will in this world.  Again, if you will, He is re-awakening an apostolic age, not to the establish the church all over again (it already has been established), but to work as in the epistles and bring it back to the power He shared with the early church. – and not just in concept but in fact and reality.

 The early church believed, with all their heart, they were living in the last days as they awaited Jesus’ return.  And so they were.  But, so are we, but many more things are true, events taking place and all the things happening today that weren’t all true then, nor been true through the ages.

The earth, all creation, is travailing (Romans 8:19-23) awaiting Jesus’ return.  In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives us a glimpse of what to expect before He comes back for His bride:

false claims to Messiahship, wars, rumors of wars, nation fighting against nation, famines, plagues and earthquakes (in weird places).  There will again be persecution and there will be betrayal, hatred and false prophets and the love of many shall turn cold (Matt. 24:3-13).   

Paul writes to the Thessalonians in 2 Thessalonians 1:3,

“I beg you brothers, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto Him,

Don’t be soon shaken in mind or troubled neither by spirit, nor word nor letter as (which seems to come) from us as that day of Christ is at hand (approaching). 

Don’t let any man deceive you by any means (pertaining to this), because (this won’t happen) until there is first a falling away (the church) and the man of sin be revealed, (that is) the son of perdition.

We’ve had the falling away, from shortly after the early church until something over six  hundred years ago.

 In January 2015 Doug Addison (a prophet of God in California) prophesied God was bringing seven years of blessings and restitution for God’s people which began at that time. 

During these seven years, Father is bringing His children up out of their graves and we will (and are even now) coming to know that He is Lord.  And, as we realize and acknowledge that He is working a work in our hearts, we will come to truly glorify Him (1 Corinth. 10:31) as the only true and living God who has created the heavens and the earth and all that is therein (Psalms 146:5-6).  We will not only come to understand His love but we shall walk in His love (John 15:10).  We will come to realize that we can do nothing without Him (Jesus) (John 15:5) but we can do all things in (through) Him (Phil. 4:13).  The church shall revive and we shall see functions and operations just as the apostles did in the early church.  Not because a handful of disciples are doing them, but because a massive army of Christians is trusting Father and allowing the Holy Ghost to not only work ’in’ us, but ‘through’ us as well.  Don’t quench the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19) but rather yield to Him (Gal. 5:25) so we can lead full, productive lives in serving Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Make no mistake, as I share these things, don’t assume that I have attained the pinnacle of which we are speaking (far from it).  But, Father is showing me these things to encourage me on and so I pass it on to you.  Our walk with God is a continually growing experience as we yield different parts of our lives over to Him.  It is a lifelong growth process.

There is a ladder with a hundred rungs.  When we first give our hearts to Jesus we are stepping onto the first rung (obviously).  The pinnacle is when we have our back foot on rung 100 getting ready to push off of it and what will be into eternity with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, living in the literal presence of God, our Father.  The 98 rungs in between are our growth, yielding to Him, learning to live in his love, maturing in His Holy Spirit.  We can climb that ladder as quickly as we dare or take as long as we need (God knows).  We can be stuck on the lower rungs of the ladder or anxiously anticipating and reach for to that final step from the higher rungs.  We should run the race as if we expect to win (1 Corinth. 9:24).  Winning is knowing that Father would that we all would be at the top rungs awaiting His call so we can be with Him in the clouds, meeting Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), expecting to enter eternity with Him. 

But understand, God can use us at any level.  He knows our hearts, He knows what we are capable of and He will use us to accomplish His will when He deems us ready (Jeremiah 17:10). 

All we have to do is be available, like Simon the Cyrenian (Luke 23:26), be willing like Samuel (1 Sam. 3:10) and to be obedient (Jeremiah 7:23).

Of course, Simon carried Jesus’ cross to Calvary (Golgotha).

Samuel learned to hear God’s voice, then offer himself into service.

Jeremiah encourages us to be obedient to God’s word.

Question is “Are we willing to walk with God?”

  

1-712017  The Prodigal Son

                 

Luke 15:11-24 (a paraphrase)

The younger of two sons asked his father for his inheritance so his father divided his goods and gave his son his due.  Shortly after that, the young son gathered all his possessions and traveled to a far country and while there lived a free and wild lifestyle spending all his money.  After a while, a famine came upon that country and the young man couldn’t afford what he needed so he hired himself out to a citizen of that country who set him to work in the fields and the pig sties.  To keep from starving, all he had to eat were the same husks the pigs ate for no one shared with him, all his friends were gone.

One day, he began thinking about how well off his father’s servants were, especially compared to his current situation and decided to return home apologizing for being so head strong and going out on his own.  Perhaps his father would bring him on as a hired servant, which was certainly better than what he was experiencing.  So he repented in his heart and returned to his father’s house.

His father saw him coming at a distance and had compassion for his son and ran down to greet him 

and hugged him and kissed him. 

The son said “Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and in your sight and am not worthy to be called your son.”

But his father commanded his servants to bring the best robe for his body, a ring for his finger and shoes for his feet and that they should kill the fatted calf and have a party because his son who was once dead, is alive, who was lost but is now found.  And they all rejoiced at the son’s return.

This story is considered to represent a sinner who has come into the kingdom of God, but how many of us have really thought about what this parable really?   It truly represents the story of a Christian who has strayed from God, repented and come back into the kingdom, he was in his father’s house, left, then came back.

We can draw five realities from this story: 

1                     A Christian, someone who has expressed belief in Jesus Christ and who is awaiting reuniting with Christ in eternity as he abides in God’s kingdom in this world.

2                     We see a person who becomes head strong, self-sufficient, deciding he really doesn’t need God so he sets out to do his own thing, in his own strength.

3                     We see one who suffers the consequences of his decision.

4                     But (by the grace of God), he realizes the error of his decision, again repents his sins and comes back into the kingdom of God.

5                     Upon ‘true’ repentance, how was he received back into the kingdom of God?  With open arms and rejoicing.

Let’s briefly, but hopefully thoroughly, examine each point of these five points.

1                     We’re talking about a ‘Born’ again believer, one who has confessed his sins, repented, received Jesus by speaking the words (Romans 10:9) and been baptized in water for repentance (Matt. 4:11).  And maybe this person has also been baptized in the power of the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:5-8). 

This is a soul who prayed the ‘sinner’s prayer’ and believed. Perhaps he lives, somewhat, for Jesus, doing the right things, honoring God, ministering to those in need and in general, not sinning (not lying stealing killing, etc.), attends church regularly, and, my goodness, maybe he even tithes ( a true ten percent!)   Maybe this soul was doing all the right things, but he wasn’t truly walking with God.  He does right but has no real relationship with our Creator. At best he has a surface relationship, serving God from a distance but not one with any depth, closeness or real meaning.  Whether he realizes it or not.

2                     Without a close walk with the Lord, we (Christians) may become self-confident, maybe even thinking that’s “It’ all me, “I” can do it all – by myself” because we have become ‘comfortable’ with where God has us.  God starts to become a lesser part of our lives and we begin wandering out there in our own strength.  How far do we wander?  That varies from person to person.  Nonetheless, we find ourselves relying on God less and less, maybe even stop attending church.  Perhaps our prayer life dwindles - to nothing.  God becomes an afterthought because we believe “I can do it all!”  So we set out on our own, doing our own thing irrespective of God’s will for us.  And we eventually find ourselves in trouble (Hosea 13:6-9, Psalms 81:11-13).

3                     Apart from God, doing as WE wish, we will reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7), bad decisions bring bad results as we find ourselves totally out of God’s will.  Once we’ve walked away from God, the enemy may back off from us, letting us wallow in our own muck (Gen. 3:1-6, Gen. 3:16-24), as our decisions gradually start bringing us down.  Like the prodigal son, maybe we lose all our money and our friends becoming destitute and lonely.  Maybe not, but our life is clearly not what it used to be, or should be and times are definitely not the greatest. 

4                     When we are truly broken and can take no more we may come to true repentance.  Maybe we get so low all things seem hopeless, but God will not leave us out there (2 Peter 3:9, Romans 8:34) unless our minds become reprobate (Romans 1:28) and absolutely refuse God’s attempts to bring us back into His kingdom.  Our redemption comes when we realize that if we repent, maybe we can come back into the grace of God (Luke 15:17-19) and be received, even as the lowest of servants.  We become humble (Micah 6:8) in our spirits and our actions, true repentance.  As used here, ‘humbly’ is the Hebrew word tsuna (Strong’s 6800), to humiliate, humble, be lowly.  We have to become broken.  We come to actually realize who God is, who we are and swallow our pride and realize that we are truly nothing in the sight and presence of God, our Savior.  Then we come with true repentance before God, expressing our heartfelt sorrow (for our ways) determining to turn from our ways and come back to God (2 Chron. 7:14, change ‘land’ to ‘life’).  We also have King David’s relationship with Bathsheba is an example to encourage us (2 Sam. 11:1-17, 2 Sam. 11:27-2:1-23) where David committed adultery with his general’s (Uriah) wife (Bathsheba) who from the union bore a son to David.  The child became sick so David repented and prayed God may have mercy on the child.  God didn’t.  Upon realizing this, David cleaned himself up and went back about his business.  Even so, God called David a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22) because even though he (David) erred, he would come back, seeking God’s heart (will).  If you remember what happened, after all the repentance, God blessed David and Bathsheba, later, with another son – Solomon (2 Sam. 12:24)

5                      Rewards of returning into God’s grace, fellowship with Father.  This is what humbling ourselves in true repentance before God is all about because then all heaven rejoices (Luke 15:7 & 10) and not only sinners, but Christians who repent and come back into proper alignment with Jesus (Romans 12:1-2).  AS in our passage here, the reward of coming back into God’s will is a feast, a celebration, a party like none before because we are back in God’s will.  Father WILL lift us up (1 Peter 5:6) as we humble ourselves before Him.

Even though we may be ‘born again’ believers, we can stray from God.  We can take our inheritance and run, avoid God’s will for us like Jonah (Jonah 1:1-3).  Paul tells us we wrestle daily with our flesh as our spirit tries to do the right thing (Romans 7:14-25).  We wrestle constantly but unless we become truly reprobate we can always repent our sins and come back into the kingdom of God (1 John 1:9, John speaks to Christians, not the world).  A true reprobate is one who is totally and completely morally corrupt.  His heart will never turn back to God.  When does one reach this point?  I can’t say.  Only god knows for He alone knows our heart (Luke 16:15) for one may seem to be reprobate but not be.  Whom do we listen to?  God or mammon?  Father or the world?  We can’t serve both (Matt. 6:24). 

But when we acknowledge that we have been out of God’s will and determine to come back to our Father’s house (His will), He will receive us with open arms.  And as brothers and sisters, we should do the same.  If god forgives a child, the church should also receive that soul back into the fellowship – no strings attached.

We come back into God’s fellowship, into “New Beginnings”.

January is the first month of the new year. 

On the first day of creation, God began creating all that is and each successive day He added new details. 

One is ‘new beginnings’.  Expect something new, new blessings, new situations, new tasks, new start in life, old things carried to a new level.  This is a time to rise to fulfill the expectations we have and/or to rise the new levels as God reveals His expectations for us. 

That covers the month of January but let’s expand this and cover the year.  This is 2017, Father says take this in two steps: ‘20’ and ’17. 

Twenty is redemption, the perfect waiting period

Seventeen is ‘victory’.

The waiting period is over and God is bringing redemption throughout the year 2017 – to His church! 

We are entering into a new beginning of our lives, our relationship with God, Almighty.  The things we can expect is our complete redemption into God’s presence.  How can I be ‘redeemed’ into God’s presence?  As we yield our lives over to Him, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, we are redeemed from those ‘old’ things still in our lives and brought closer into the presence of our Lord and Savior.  As we draw closer to Jesus/Father, God’s victory (for us) will be manifested into our lives, in this world and with the anticipation of being with the Father, through Jesus, in His kingdom.  In this world AND the next.  Father wants His kingdom manifested here and now, in this world AND He wants it to be a reflection of His kingdom to come.  New blessings, new situations, new tasks are on their way as we yield ourselves to Father, through Jesus, by the power of the Holy Ghost, Who lives within us and 

Father WILL show us His victory. 

This applies to us as individuals but as we (individually) grow, what else will happen?  Each fellowship that we are a part of will also grow, because we grow.  As each fellowship grows the church, the body of Christ, grows - in relationship and strength we grow closer go Father through Jesus Christ our Lord because the Holy Ghost is alive and well in our hearts.

The Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12).  Father knows our hearts.

He clearly sees who we are and knows where He wants to take us (Heb. 4:13)

So let us hold fast to our faith knowing that Jesus has walked a mile (or two) in our shoes staying true to Father (Heb. 4:14-15).

So we can come boldly before the throne to obtain mercy and grace (Heb. 4:16)

Whether we are a prodigal son or not, these are times of new beginnings.  Let’s pursue the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and spirit  (Matt. 6:33, Luke 10:27).

Amen!