Citizenship

 But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

who, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself, will [not only] transform [but completely refashion] our earthly bodies so that they will be like His glorious resurrected body.

Phillipians 3:20-21

The current election cycle, I admit, has my heart in angst. One candidate is a foul mouthed braggart, who appears not to have an ounce of humility. The other candidate for President has no new ideas, and could be just a continuation of the last four years, and those have not been good years. It looks like the first guy is winning. But who knows? I am still looking for an event that will bring something totally unexpected, like a landslide victory by whoever does win. 

Jesus tells me, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid", but the sad truth is, I am VERY afraid of what one candidate would do if she were elected. Why Dean? On the other hand, I would very much have hope if the other candidate won, but why? Am I not looking forward to that great and glorious day when, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our God, and of His Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever"? The outcome of this election has no affect on my true citizenship, which is in Heaven. Why should I be the very least concerned about what happens on Earth?

I am trying to be honest with myself. Just how much does the world still pull on my soul? Why would I lose my peace if one candidate prevailed, and why would I be happy if the other won? This world is not my home, so why would I care? If she wins, and begins to persecute the church in America, she is preparing us for the work of antichrist when he comes. The other guy might delay this four years, but the globalists will eventually prevail. So why all the angst? 

My goal between now and Election Day is to see that my heart is not reliant on the results for peace to come upon me. Slow down. Rest. Nothing is happening that surprises God. Be still, acknowledge that God is God, and I am not. 

 All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Mat 28:19-20

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. Prof 11:30

Jesus is commanding His disciples to make other disciples, but how exactly does He tell them to do it? The first thing I see is authority. Based on the fact that all power has been given to Christ, THEREFORE . . . . Go teach all nations, or people groups . . . THEREFORE baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit . . . THEREFORE ye shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost part of the earth. So it may be upon us to go, but it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we would be able to reach the world. I think it’s important to remember this. “Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the LORD”. Let us remember that victory has already been won, based on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The vail has been torn, and we are now, via His righteousness, able to enter the Holy of Holies, and there know and be with our God. In this we rest forever, amen.

 

Now the verse in Proverbs is something different. The two parts of this verse would seem, at first, to be two different teachings. Yes, indeed, the fruit of the righteous is a tree of Life, but what does that have to do with winning souls? Well, what is a tree of life? Or more specifically, WHO is the Tree of Life? Is it not Jesus Christ our Lord? What exactly is it that the lost are looking for? Are they not thirsty for the streams of water that proceed out from the throne of God, as seen in Revelation? “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, there was the Tree of Life, which bare 12 manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations”. Rev 21:1-2. 

The righteous, those who are abiding in the Lord, and whose character is formed by a life of abiding in Him, are bringing the very presence of Jesus Christ to a sin sick world. Sinners sin because, as it were, they have been programmed to sin. They don’t know any other way. But Jesus calls out to them, “Come unto me ALL ye who are weary, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28. Those who are abiding in Christ, who are being changed into his likeness “From glory to glory”, are, by their very presence in the world, offering His rest to those who are looking for a way to escape the burdens of their sins. 

So in conclusion, there are two teachings on winning souls here. First of all, in all our endeavors, whether we are on campuses passing out Bibles, or in our workplaces, or our homes, or anywhere else, it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that ANYONE would ever come to Christ. Secondly, we see that a life of relentless discipleship, being with Christ, so that we can become like Christ, results in the very Presence of Christ in our lives, and we begin to do the very work of Christ. This is the place of rest. This is a quiet confidence that He has already won the battle. We need only to rest in that place. Wait on the Lord. Be ready to share the hope that is in us. Amen. 

Being Like Our Lord

 "Beloved, now we are the sons of God, however, it does not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as He is pure". I John 3:2-3

I look back, I see this hope now. I am no longer defined by anything external to me. Beholding Jesus, I am being transformed into his image. How then to share this good news? Only by the power of the Holy Spirit. Look upon Christ, turn, see who He is. 

This is the discipline I must learn. If I am not looking to Him, interacting with Him through His Word, I am then not becoming like him. The world is not seeing Jesus in my eyes. But if I slow down, just linger for a moment in the garden, when the dew is still on the roses, then He is being formed in my heart. 

Mirror

"Therefore, get rid of all unclean thoughts, and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls. But demonstrate that you are doers of the Word, not just those who passively hear, and don't change, thus deceiving themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; but once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what he looks like. But the man who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and keeps on looking, not being one who looks and then forgets, but whose actions are changed, this man will be blessed in what he does" James 1:21-25

Recently there have been reports of pastors and teachers who have fallen away from the faith. These are men who have blessed so many souls, helping them understand what the Bible teaches, and giving direction on how we should live. But much to our surprise, when faced with temptation, so many times they fall away. How is this possible? Didn't they know what they were doing was wrong? 

I believe this is what James is teaching us in this passage. There is quite a difference between knowing the Word with our mind, and receiving the Word ingrafted into our hearts. I remember the testimony of a man who was a seminary professor. He had studied the Bible all his life, and could understand the original languages in which the Bible had been written. He had all the academic degrees a man could get, but he was not born again. He knew well what the Bible said, but he only knew this academically. But through a crisis in his life, he turned his heart to the Word, and he was saved. The next time he read the Bible, he said it was as if he had never read it before. The words on the pages became like fire, and his heart was never the same. 

James compares the Word to a mirror. I believe that everything God wants us to know about Him can be found there.  However, when we look into the mirror, we may only see the surface image, when there is so much more to see. This is only a quick glance. Very easy to forget what we just read. He encourages us instead to look intently. Stay awhile. Don't rush off. Let the Word speak to our heart. That is when we are changed from "Glory to Glory" as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians chapter 3. Having so meditated on the Word, it becomes ingrafted in our hearts, and we are no longer hearers only, but doers of the Word. 

DOOR

 "I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and our, and find pasture" John 10:7-8

Doors are access points. A locked door prevents access, but an open door permits entrance. How then is Jesus the door? I mean I could get it if He said, "I am the doorkeeper", but that is not what He said. If He were the doorkeeper, then He would be in the position of guarding against the wolf entrance while opening the door for the sheep. But again, He said, "I am the door". What does this mean?

A sheep, I have heard, is far from the most intelligent creature our Lord ever created. They really DO believe that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. As dumb as they are, however, they know the voice of their Shepherd. Many flocks could be coming back from pasture, belonging to various shepherds. At the sound of each shepherd's voice, however, they will split off into various herds. What then is Jesus telling us? There are many influences in our world, many identities we could choose. Occupation that we are engaged in. Social status, who we know. Talents we may have. When we hear these voices, do we jump to attention? 

Those in the Kingdom of God can transcend all this. They may be lawyers, rich or poor, great singers, etc. However, these are not the identities they respond to. Only the voice of their Shepherd. They go where there is an open door. They refrain when the door is shut. Thus are they guided by their Lord. 

The safe harbor

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: Not as the world gives, give I unto you, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" John 14:27

Turmoil, fear, trouble and angst are everywhere. So when Jesus promises us peace, who wouldn't jump at the chance? But as the song goes, "I never promised you a rose garden, along with the sunshine, there's got to be a little rain sometime". Jesus DID promise that "in this world you WILL have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Yet as I observe many prayer requests from Christians, nearly all of them are asking for relief from a bad situation, healing of their bodies, or some financial blessing. Don't get me wrong. God can, and does, answer some of those prayers. This peace the world can understand. Don't we all want to have our suffering alleviated? 

There is another place, however, and there alone is the peace of Christ found. Daniel's friends were asked to bow down to the king's god. They said plainly that their God could deliver them out of the kings hand, BUT even if He does not, they still would not be worshipping the king's god. Why? They knew the secret. The peace of God is found in knowing Him. The storms may blow, and the tempest may arise, and it may seem like God has forgotten us. Faith, however, shows us that this is not the case. God does NOT promise deliverance from the storm, but rather that He will be WITH us through it. 

When Jesus taught us to pray, He told us to ask what God is doing, and agree with it. "Come thy Kingdom, be done thy will, on earth, as it is in Heaven". We do not NATURALLY know just what God's will is, so "give us this day our daily bread", which is primarily the revelation by which we will live. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every WORD of God" Luke 4:4. Sometimes what He is doing will seem a mystery to us, but our understanding is not required. When we have entered His rest, we know that whether or not our storm is calmed, our Faith will remain. 

"Built on the Rock, the Church must stand, even when steeples are falling, Christ builds His church in every land, bells still are chiming and calling. Calling the young and old to rest, calling the souls of those distressed, longing for life everlasting". 

"Not in a temple made with hands, God the Almighty is dwelling. High in the Heavens his temple stands, all earthly temples excelling. Yet He who in dwells in Heaven above, chooses to live with us in love, making our body His temple."

"We are God's house of living stones, built for His own habitation. He fills our hearts, His humble throne, granting us life and salvation. Yet to this place, and earthly frame, we come with THANKS to praise His Name, God gives his people the blessing"

"Through all the passing years, O Lord, grant that when Church bells are ringing, many may come to hear God's Word, where He this promise is bringing. 'I know my own, and they know me, you, not the world, My face shall see, My peace I leave with you Amen.'"