John 16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (ESV)
The Ryken's refer to the Holy Spirit as Jesus' "successor after his departure" (Literary Study Bible, p. 1611). As Jesus declared the word that He received from the Father, so the Holy Spirit declares the word of Jesus to us. So we are dependent on the Holy Spirit who reveals truth (to us) with power as we go out into the world proclaiming the word (v. 20) and work (v. 24) of Jesus [proclaiming and doing the works of the kingdom of God] (Luke 8:1).
Holy Spirit, revealer of truth, may my ears be attentive to Your word, my spirit sensitive to Your leading. Have mercy on me O God, a sinner. Lord Jesus that I might teach others Your word. Come in power - for apart from You I can do nothing (15:5).
In Jesus' name - Amen,
Son
Showing posts with label word of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label word of God. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Friday, December 27, 2013
An Exposition of the Kingdom
Luke 8:10 He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to to others I speak in parables, so that,
“ 'though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.' (NIV-2011)
What we have here in Luke chapter 8 is an exposition on the Kingdom of God - what does it look like when Jesus goes about "proclaiming and bringing the kingdom of God"? Remember, He is training the twelve (Lk. 8:1, ESV) as He is about to send them out on their own to 'drive out all demons, cure diseases, proclaim the kingdom of God and heal the sick' (Lk. 9:1-2). True followers of Jesus put His words into practice (v. 21). Faith is required to see the kingdom come (v. 25, 48, 50). Testimony is the proper response when you encounter the kingdom - testimony which glorifies God (v. 39).
Some will reject our message. Some will appear zealous at first and then fade away (v. 13). Some will receive our message but never mature due to entanglement with worldly concerns (v. 14). Some will grow and produce fruit - it's an issue of the heart (v. 15). We should not be dismayed or dissuaded/distracted when this happens. Jesus told us ahead of time that this would be so. Brad, proclaim the message of the kingdom (Jesus is King and therefore everything is new) and do the works of the kingdom. It starts with obedience to His word(s) in your own life, "put it into practice" (v. 21) - obedience, simple obedience. Build your life on the rock of His (Jesus') teaching (6:46-48). Faith is a critical element - you're going to have to step out in faith and just trust Him. Testimony, telling others what he has done for you, is the disciple's response when He comes through, when that prayer is answered, when you find your trust was not in vain: "you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8)! Obedience, faith, and testimony to His faithfulness - that's it.
God may I be obedient, a man of faith - faithful and full of faith. Brad: "go and tell" (v. 39, 7:22). Holy Spirit build, grow in me a thirst, a longing for obedience - to do what is pleasing in Your eyes Lord and thus be glorified. Be glorified, Lord Jesus. Be glorified in me. Holy Spirit grant me strength and faith to not forget this moment, this conviction. God my Father, create in me a clean heart, a new heart that I might serve You. Bring Your kingdom.
In Jesus' name - Amen,
Son
“ 'though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.' (NIV-2011)
What we have here in Luke chapter 8 is an exposition on the Kingdom of God - what does it look like when Jesus goes about "proclaiming and bringing the kingdom of God"? Remember, He is training the twelve (Lk. 8:1, ESV) as He is about to send them out on their own to 'drive out all demons, cure diseases, proclaim the kingdom of God and heal the sick' (Lk. 9:1-2). True followers of Jesus put His words into practice (v. 21). Faith is required to see the kingdom come (v. 25, 48, 50). Testimony is the proper response when you encounter the kingdom - testimony which glorifies God (v. 39).
Some will reject our message. Some will appear zealous at first and then fade away (v. 13). Some will receive our message but never mature due to entanglement with worldly concerns (v. 14). Some will grow and produce fruit - it's an issue of the heart (v. 15). We should not be dismayed or dissuaded/distracted when this happens. Jesus told us ahead of time that this would be so. Brad, proclaim the message of the kingdom (Jesus is King and therefore everything is new) and do the works of the kingdom. It starts with obedience to His word(s) in your own life, "put it into practice" (v. 21) - obedience, simple obedience. Build your life on the rock of His (Jesus') teaching (6:46-48). Faith is a critical element - you're going to have to step out in faith and just trust Him. Testimony, telling others what he has done for you, is the disciple's response when He comes through, when that prayer is answered, when you find your trust was not in vain: "you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8)! Obedience, faith, and testimony to His faithfulness - that's it.
God may I be obedient, a man of faith - faithful and full of faith. Brad: "go and tell" (v. 39, 7:22). Holy Spirit build, grow in me a thirst, a longing for obedience - to do what is pleasing in Your eyes Lord and thus be glorified. Be glorified, Lord Jesus. Be glorified in me. Holy Spirit grant me strength and faith to not forget this moment, this conviction. God my Father, create in me a clean heart, a new heart that I might serve You. Bring Your kingdom.
In Jesus' name - Amen,
Son
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
A Word to Preachers and Teachers
Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found liar. (ESV)
We like to talk a lot. We've all spent a lot of time reading and studying so we have an abundance of opinions on a multitude of issues - Be careful! Be very careful!!
"Not many of you should become teachers my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness" (Js. 3:1).
Brad, when you stand up to teach the word of God be very, very careful. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31). You can serve as His mouthpiece, but don't ever think that you can add anything of value to what God has already said by your cleverness, your smarts, or by diligent hard work. Your opinion is just that - your opinion! But "the word of God is living and active... discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb 4:12). The word of God is transformational by it's very nature. My words are, well, just that, my words.
We are his ambassadors! "God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20).
God I present myself as a living sacrifice. I'm not much, but You are great. You are good and Your mercy endures forever. And it is not Your will that any of these little ones should perish (Mt. 18:14, cf. 2 Pt. 3:9). So Lord Jesus, I am Yours, Your vessel, for Your glory, a clay pot to be formed as You see fit... that in us, all the nations of the earth might be blessed. Come Holy Spirit.
In Jesus' name - Amen,
Son
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found liar. (ESV)
We like to talk a lot. We've all spent a lot of time reading and studying so we have an abundance of opinions on a multitude of issues - Be careful! Be very careful!!
"Not many of you should become teachers my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness" (Js. 3:1).
Brad, when you stand up to teach the word of God be very, very careful. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31). You can serve as His mouthpiece, but don't ever think that you can add anything of value to what God has already said by your cleverness, your smarts, or by diligent hard work. Your opinion is just that - your opinion! But "the word of God is living and active... discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb 4:12). The word of God is transformational by it's very nature. My words are, well, just that, my words.
We are his ambassadors! "God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20).
God I present myself as a living sacrifice. I'm not much, but You are great. You are good and Your mercy endures forever. And it is not Your will that any of these little ones should perish (Mt. 18:14, cf. 2 Pt. 3:9). So Lord Jesus, I am Yours, Your vessel, for Your glory, a clay pot to be formed as You see fit... that in us, all the nations of the earth might be blessed. Come Holy Spirit.
In Jesus' name - Amen,
Son
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Do Not Give Up!
Psalm 126:6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him. (ESV)
There is a time for sowing and a time for reaping. When it is time to sow, you must go out and sow (Prov. 20:4) whether you feel like it or not (v. 5). Here the Psalmist recalls a time of great rejoicing (v. 2), when the Lord had brought a great deliverance/victory to His people (v. 1, 3). But now the people find themselves in need of God's restoring again (v. 4). But they must "sow in tears" if they are to "reap with shouts of joy" (v. 5).
I always say that we must continue to cling to & trust in God through the trials if we want to come out of it with a stronger faith on the other end. If we abandon God during our trial we will be blind to His work in delivering us as well as the work in our hearts in the midst of it. We must continue to do the acts of faith, continue to live the life of a follower of Jesus even when it seems like God does not hear us, doesn't care, will never deliver us. Pray, continue in fellowship, worship the King, receive solid Biblical teaching, allow others to bear your burdens, continue in devotions, meditation, fasting.
Brad, you must continue to sow if you want to see the harvest. Do not give up. You will not be like the sluggard who seeks at harvest and has nothing because he failed to plow in autumn (Prov. 20:4).
"Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is time to seek the LORD,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you." (Hos. 10:12)
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him. (ESV)
There is a time for sowing and a time for reaping. When it is time to sow, you must go out and sow (Prov. 20:4) whether you feel like it or not (v. 5). Here the Psalmist recalls a time of great rejoicing (v. 2), when the Lord had brought a great deliverance/victory to His people (v. 1, 3). But now the people find themselves in need of God's restoring again (v. 4). But they must "sow in tears" if they are to "reap with shouts of joy" (v. 5).
I always say that we must continue to cling to & trust in God through the trials if we want to come out of it with a stronger faith on the other end. If we abandon God during our trial we will be blind to His work in delivering us as well as the work in our hearts in the midst of it. We must continue to do the acts of faith, continue to live the life of a follower of Jesus even when it seems like God does not hear us, doesn't care, will never deliver us. Pray, continue in fellowship, worship the King, receive solid Biblical teaching, allow others to bear your burdens, continue in devotions, meditation, fasting.
Brad, you must continue to sow if you want to see the harvest. Do not give up. You will not be like the sluggard who seeks at harvest and has nothing because he failed to plow in autumn (Prov. 20:4).
"Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is time to seek the LORD,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you." (Hos. 10:12)
Lord Jesus, have mercy on me,
help me, strengthen me to be faithful when its hard. Holy Spirit grant me a gift of faith - for this is hard for me. Lord Jesus pour out Your righteousness upon me. "Dear God, perform Your work in me. Do Your work through me."* I am desperately in need of Your strength, Your grace!
In Jesus' name - Amen,
Son
*from Love & Respect, by Emerson Eggerichs
Friday, March 4, 2011
People vs. Religion
Matthew 15:5-6 But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, "What you have gained from me is given to God," he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. (ESV)
It is interesting that God's command valued people (the parents) whereas the Pharisee's tradition valued religion above people. So much so that if one made a religious vow they were accordingly allowed to ignore/violate one of the 10 Commandments. Thus Jesus' indictment that they valued their tradition more than the word of God. To be sure, our allegiance to God ought to exceed our allegiance to men (humans - Luke 14:26), but 6 of the 10 Commandments are concerned with horizontal relationships (i.e. with our fellow man/human).
Brad, there are things that God does require of you. But don't let the word of God become void to you in respect to what He requires of you in human relationships so that you can fulfill religious duty or obligations.
God help me to see. You make relationship a priority. So ought I. Let my time spent with You flow out into blessing for others I encounter. God grant me disciples, if even I am worthy of such.
In Jesus' name - Amen,
Son
It is interesting that God's command valued people (the parents) whereas the Pharisee's tradition valued religion above people. So much so that if one made a religious vow they were accordingly allowed to ignore/violate one of the 10 Commandments. Thus Jesus' indictment that they valued their tradition more than the word of God. To be sure, our allegiance to God ought to exceed our allegiance to men (humans - Luke 14:26), but 6 of the 10 Commandments are concerned with horizontal relationships (i.e. with our fellow man/human).
Brad, there are things that God does require of you. But don't let the word of God become void to you in respect to what He requires of you in human relationships so that you can fulfill religious duty or obligations.
God help me to see. You make relationship a priority. So ought I. Let my time spent with You flow out into blessing for others I encounter. God grant me disciples, if even I am worthy of such.
In Jesus' name - Amen,
Son
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