51 ¶And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. Luke 9:51-56

Many today long to take on the mantle of the prophet Elijah. With the state of the world today: economic downturns, famine, catastrophic storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, wars, political unrest, terrorism, crime and immorality even in the pulpit, there is a sincere desire to see God set things straight right now. Since God tarries, we — in the name of God — set out to set things in order. The first fire that falls is the most destructive kind of all: cruel, merciless, inconsiderate, disrespectful, mean rhetoric. With this weapon of mass destruction called the tongue, we denounce and accuse. We lash out without regard to potential collateral damage. No one is too important, rich, poor, young, old, strong or helpless to withstand our verbal napalm. We vent our wrath on the President — even on his wife and children. We blast the liberals, the homosexuals, the atheists, the socialists, the Blacks, the immigrants and those shadowy New World Order figures who meet in secret groves to plot the future course of the planet.

Its all to no avail though. Elijah’s fire fell and consumed. Our fire only hardens and tempers hearts like steel in a blast furnace. Things go from bad to worse. Like Elijah, we retreat to a cave to weep, pray and fast that God would come and heal our land. Maybe we start to think like the prophets of Baal. We think its the fault of the church, so we slash away at one another. We find fault with each other. We demonize and pronounce curses upon those for whom Christ died. And we leave the church full of gaping. bleeding wounds that seldom heal and always scar.

Jesus draws a contrast between the His Spirit and the spirit of Elijah. In this dispensation, the era of Grace, God is looking to draw all people to Himself. Every barrier that stood between us and Him has been removed, except one — our hearts.

We covet the mantle of Elijah, but do we want the rest of the garment Elijah wore. Do we covet life under the Law? Are we so confident in our own righteousness that we can stand boldly before a Holy God and accuse, judge and condemn another?

If we received mercy, we should be quick to dispense it to others. If we are reconciled to God through Jesus, we should wish the same for others. The Spirit of Christ manifests love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

This should be our spirit as well. Jesus is our Saviour, not Elijah. Jesus died for us, not Elijah. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith, not Elijah. Jesus paid it all, not Elijah. Jesus is Lord, not Elijah. We are to be conformed to the image of Christ, not Elijah. We put on Christ, not Elijah. Christ is being formed in us, not Elijah. Who’s Spirit are ye of?

Jesus teaching: Sermon On The Mount

In the previous post, we mentioned Job’s wife’s response to Job’s suffering. Give her the benefit of the doubt: she may have only wanted Job’s suffering to end when she told him to curse God and die.

But we can’t really say the same about Job’s three friends of chapter 3 and beyond. They appear to be using Job’s fate as an opportunity for some get back. They seem to be gloating over his misfortunes.

Job’s three friends

• Eliphaz (probably meaning “God of gold”)
• Zophar “Chirping; rising early”
• Bildad: Hebrew, meaning Baal HAS LOVED

When these men speak up and address Job, they present 3 main arguments which are the same arguments we hear today when those who seem to be good, suffer.

Argument # 1: Calamities are from God are for your correction, the guiltless are protected from evil

Argument #2: A logical syllogism:

• God is holy and God must bring suffering on those who sin
• Job is being punished
• Job has sinned.

Argument #3: In order to end the suffering we must perform some act/work/ritual in order to appease God

Now let’s skip ahead to the end of the book. Remember in Job 42:7 God says

7And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

Or as the Message Bible translates it:

7-8 After God had finished addressing Job, he turned to Eliphaz the Temanite and said, “I’ve had it with you and your two friends. I’m fed up! You haven’t been honest either with me or about me—not the way my friend Job has. So here’s what you must do. Take seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my friend Job. Sacrifice a burnt offering on your own behalf. My friend Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer. He will ask me not to treat you as you deserve for talking nonsense about me, and for not being honest with me, as he has.”

So what ever these men say, we ned  to judge. We have to weigh them by other scripture and the Holy Spirit. Not every spirit is the Holy Spirit. The book of Job records truthfully what the 3 friend said but we can not assume that everything these 3 men said was the gospel truth.

I am not saying this: God said it. Look again at Job 42:7,8. These men are speaking some things out of human wisdom, traditions of men. We do it today as well.

Let’s look at the first friend, Eliphaz, His name in Hebrew probably means “God of gold”. He could stand for the word of faith or prosperity gospel of today. Right speech, right action and God is obligated by His word to bless us.

People with the Eliphaz spirit will say that the suffering you are undergoing is punishment from the hand of God. Do  right and God will bless you again.

Chapter 5: sums up this “human wisdom:” do evil, God will punish you. Do good, you will be blessed: you will escape the wrath of God that is poured on the lost.

5:11 he sends water on the countryside. The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.

again around verse 17 if chapter 5

“Blessed is the one whom God corrects;
so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.[a]
For he wounds, but he also binds up;
he injures, but his hands also heal.
From six calamities he will rescue you;
in seven no harm will touch you.
In famine he will deliver you from death,
and in battle from the stroke of the sword.
You will be protected from the lash of the tongue,
and need not fear when destruction comes.
You will laugh at destruction and famine,
and need not fear the wild animals.
For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field,
and the wild animals will be at peace with you.
You will know that your tent is secure;
you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.
You will know that your children will be many,
and your descendants like the grass of the earth.
You will come to the grave in full vigor,
like sheaves gathered in season.
“We have examined this, and it is true.
So hear it and apply it to yourself.”

The Eliphaz spirit affecting some Word of Faith preachers says that the calamities that fall on the lost won’t hurt us. The Flu pandemics won’t touch touch believers. Failing economies, job losses, home foreclosures, senseless violence, acts of terror, sickness and disease, accidents won’t touch the believer.

Come on! We know this is not true. We all have that mother, aunt, grandmother who was a god-fearing and faithful soul but died of a stroke, or cancer, or accident.   We know of innocent child who died early. But we — because we have heard it over and over say, affirm, and preach what is not true about God.

What is the source of Eliphaz’s revelation? Where does this Eliphaz spirit come from? Chapter 4, starting at verse 12 reads:

12 “A word was secretly brought to me,
my ears caught a whisper of it.
13 Amid disquieting dreams in the night,
when deep sleep falls on people,
14 fear and trembling seized me
and made all my bones shake.
15 A spirit glided past my face,
and the hair on my body stood on end.
16 It stopped,
but I could not tell what it was.
A form stood before my eyes,
and I heard a hushed voice:
17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?
Can even a strong man be more pure than his Maker?
18 If God places no trust in his servants,
if he charges his angels with error,
19 how much more those who live in houses of clay,
whose foundations are in the dust,
who are crushed more readily than a moth!
20 Between dawn and dusk they are broken to pieces;
unnoticed, they perish forever.
21 Are not the cords of their tent pulled up,
so that they die without wisdom?’

This sounds like a night terror. A demonic presence many of us have experienced. We wake up from sleep and sense a presence near us, just out of sight. We are paralyzed. We can move no matter how much effort we exert. Sometimes, we feel pressure upon our chests. We try to scream, but we can’t even open our mouth. Or if we do manage to open our mouth, nothing comes out. This thing only leaves if we cry out to God. The instant we do, it leaves.

This is the source of the Eliphaz spirit. It is demonic. It says, “if God judged us and kicked us out of heaven, he will do the same to you. You are nothing but a back of clay.”

Do we hear this today? Those claiming to be prophets, who see visions, or hear direct words from God about your particular situation. They claim to know why you are suffering and what you need to do to get out from under it. And this despite the fact their lives are in turmoil, they say God is speaking to them about you and your sin and God’s judgment on you and your sin.

What they say has a sound of truth and may contain some truth, but if they claim that God is punishing you for your sins, they are not speaking from the Holy Spirit.

Christ died for our sins 2,000 years ago. He became cursed of God, that we might become the righteousness of God. He took our strips that we might be healed of the sin of Adam, the sinful nature. He washed us, sanctified us, justified us and today intercedes for us. He corrects, chastens, but he does not punish us.

Now let’s look at the second of Job’s so-called friends, Bildad. We are introduced to him in chapter 8. The name, “Bildad,” probably means “the one who Baal loves.” Baal was the god of the Canaanites. Hear the words of the one who the false god loves:

2 “How long will you say such things?
Your words are a blustering wind.
3 Does God pervert justice?
Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 When your children sinned against him,
he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.
5 But if you will seek God earnestly
and plead with the Almighty,
6 if you are pure and upright,
even now he will rouse himself on your behalf
and restore you to your prosperous state.

We Christians say that God is a Holy God and He HAS to Judge Sin. He HAS to Judge the Wicked. The Lost have to burn in hell forever and ever and ever or else God is not a Holy God. We apply to God the same principles we work under in this world system. A deterministic view where God must always act according to Law as we understand it.

This view assumes we know what the law of God is. If we believe that he always punishes the wicked, then if we see the wick suffer, the God did it. But this is not the whole truth. As we know from scripture, and from the Holy Spirit. Here is what Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:15

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Or John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Or Isaiah 53:5

But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Or Romans 3:25

God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it’s now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness. The Message Bible

God is not subject to our law and sense of justice. We have none. God has exercised His right to be merciful to His creation. He has the right to forgive. We believers are counting on his mercy and grace.

Finally, we look at Zophar, “the chirper”, in chapter 11 starting at verse 13:

13 “Yet if you devote your heart to him
and stretch out your hands to him,
14 if you put away the sin that is in your hand
and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;
you will stand firm and without fear.
16 You will surely forget your trouble,
recalling it only as waters gone by.
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,
and darkness will become like morning.
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;
you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,
and many will court your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
and escape will elude them;
their hope will become a dying gasp.”

We all know those church folks who always have “a word,” for us. Like a bird chirping, they are continually quoting scripture or repeating something they heard some preacher say. They spout out words they don’t really understand or believe. They are just “fellowshipping”.

The Zophar spirit is also manifest in those who come with systems, methods, and steps to achieve, “Your best life now” or how to have a “Purposeful life”, 7 Steps to Prosperity. This is what we hear today. You are in mess. If would just follow these 3 steps, God will lift the curse and bless you.

They say:

• God wants to bless you, but you don’t tithe.
• God wants to bless you but you have generational curses and he can’t over come them so you must to a-z to get rid of curses/demons/familiar spirits/ etc.
• God want’s to bless you but you have this sin you cling to.
• God wants to bless you, but you won’t completely submit to church leadership

This has a veneer of truth. Surely, believers need to give. We need to get rid of soul-stealing relationships. And we must live holy.

But there is no plan we need to follow but to confess — live out in word and deed — that Jesus is Lord. We need only to believe and accept that He died for our sins according to scripture and that He forever intercedes on our behalf.

And — and here is the hard part — despite our circumstances, know that God will give us the ability and strength to rise above them all. We can say like Paul that

• We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed;
• we are perplexed by what is going on in our lives at this time, but not in despair;
• that we are persecuted and afflicted by Satan, but not forsaken by God
• that by appearances, we are struck down and they think we will never rise, but we are immortal, indestructible sons and daughters of God.

Amen!

Satan upset over Job

Despite the merciless attack of Satan upon Job’s children, servants, and property, Job’s faith in God and God’s sovereignty does not fail. Job’s famous quote in chapter 1 is:

20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.[c]
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised.”

22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

But it isn’t over. Satan is still angry at God over Job. We see another heavenly assembly. And as before, the sons of God and Satan present themselves before God. So God jabs at Satan: “What do you think about my man Job. Despite all I did to him, he still is blameless!”

Interesting thing here. We know from the text that it was Satan who struck at Job. God allowed it. But in chapter 2, verse 3, God says Satan moved Him to destroy or swallow up Job. As sovereign, God is responsible for everything going on in His domain. When we hurt, it pains Him. When we cry, he is moved. The Christ Jesus, he is intimately acquainted with our suffering. Just as a military commander is responsible for the actions of those under his command, God does not shirk his responsibility either.

Satan goes on to say,

Look. I took away possessions. I struck Job’s world but not the man himself. He maybe able to handle the loss of things, but put some physical pain on him and see what happens. Let me put my hands on him. Give me 5 minutes with him and I’ll have him cussin’ you to your face!”

A boil, maybe what Job had over his entire body

So God allows Satan to afflict Job physically, but warns him not to kill him. And does Satan work a number on Job. Boils from head to toe. If the boils Job had are like boils we have to day, he was in pain!

Boils are bumpy red, pus-filled lumps around a hair follicle that are tender, warm, and very painful. They range from pea-sized to golf ball-sized. A yellow or white point at the center of the lump can be seen when the boil is ready to drain or discharge pus. In a severe infection, an individual may experience fever, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue. Wikipedia entry for Boils.

Satan messed Job up! Job sat down and started scraping away the pus from his skin. A pitiful sight!

Job’s wife shows up but  it seems and we are usually taught that rather that try to comfort her husband, or clean and dress his sores, she berates him.

His wife said,

“Still holding on to your precious integrity, are you? Curse God and be done with it!” Job 2: 9, the Message Bible.

Now let’s be a bit charitable towards Job’s wife. Perhaps if we change the tone a bit, maybe she was in anguish along with her husband.

“Look Job, it looks like God is after you for something you did or our children did. He has kept you alive only because you haven’t done the unpardonable sin. You haven’t blasphemed him. This can’t go on. Worse things are going to come on you. You are going to beg to die but you won’t be able. End your suffering. Blaspheme God and end our pain.”

Here we have the response of some in the church in response to hard times. While things are going good, we are all too eager to praise the Lord and talk about His goodness. We love God because He is good to us. He have his blessings. We follow the plan: attend church, sing and worship, tithe and give offerings. And we are blessed. This is all the religion we ever had or ever need.

But the instant there is some trouble we start to question and get angry at God. Sickness hits us. Our spouse is caught cheating on us. The pastor or a church leader turns out to be gay, a thief, a whore-monger, a liar, a gossip, a backbiter, or all the above and we are ready to leave church and never come back. Who needs a religion or a God that allows this to happen. We can do bad all by ourselves — and save money!

Some of us don’t go so far as to curse God: we just wish Him away. We choose some other religion.  path of spirituality or truth. We regret that we ever had anything to do with that mythical, human-like being the Christians call God who allows such evil in the world.  What is the point of loving and worshiping a  god who  can be so unloving toward us?

And we lose our way because we really don’t know who God is.

God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good.

You have heard this a gazillion times. But do we really believe it? When we are tested with sickness, financial need, relationship problems, trouble at church, etc.  do we question what God is doing  and why? In our heart of hearts are we certain that God is good?

Job mocked by his wife: La Tour, Georges de

Of course God is good. But there some misunderstandings about the character of God fed by tradition, false teachings, and human experience which leave us double minded concerning this issue.

We say, “God is good….but.”  But God will strike us with a curse if we do this or fail to do that. Maybe like me you have heard religious leaders say that God  puts sickness or failure on someone to bring him closer to Him.

What is the truth? Let’s look at the premiere text on the question of human suffering and the culpability of God.

Here is the opening scene. Job is making a sacrifice, a preemptive move in case his children have done or are doing something sinful. At the same time, there there is an assembly in heaven with the sons of God and Satan presenting themselves before him. God knows that Satan has an agenda: he is all bothered by Job and his prosperity. God says to him:

The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”

Satan –whose name in Hebrew means the Adversary — says in effect:

“Sure Job is blameless and upright. He has everything given him. You protect him from evil. He has never been tested. Let me at him: Give 5 minutes with him an I will have him cussin’ you to your face!”

So God tells him, “Ok do your thing, but don’t touch the man himself- hear me? Don’t touch a hair on his body!”

So the Adversary does his thing. And what is his thing? Not bursts of fire from his fingertips or serpents streaming out of the ground. Satan doesn’t do the kind of things we see in the movies. He instigates the kind of things that are unfortunately all to common in this world.

• First a band of murdering thieves (Sabeans)  steal his oxen and donkeys and kill his servants
• Next, fire rains down from heaven and kills his sheep and their attendants. This could have been a meteor, or debris from a volcanic eruption.
• Then, more murdering thieves ( Chaldeans this time) come and take his camels and kill the servants
• Finally, a great wind — a hurricane or tornado — strikes the home where his children are partying. The building collapses on them and kills them.

These tragic events can be explained as par for the course in this fallen wars. There are people suffering in this way all over the world. And we blame God. We call floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados, and other natural disasters, “Acts of God.” When a child is senselessly killed by another human, we tell the grieving that “God Took Another Angel Home Today.”

We blame God for what the Adversary is doing.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11)

In the next post: we will continue our look at the question, “Is God good all the time?” by looking again to the book of Job and particularly the words Job’s 3 friends: Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.

Key to Wealth

Let’s affirm that 2011 will be the year that inpidually and as a nation, we will emerge from this economic miasma of lack, loss, and despair. In 2011 we will resolve to breathe, eat, drink, and revel in peace, hope, health, and prosperity.

God and Creator of all that is. There is no God but You. No other Power but You. You are the True Source: the Fount and Fountainhead.

As your child, I bask in the glow of Your blessing and Your love. I long to apprehend and absorb more and more of Your loving kindness. I am blessed and favored in ways far beyond my comprehension.

As You are a giver, I am a giver. As You bless me I will bless others as well. Expand the arena in which I might manifest the love and kindness of my God and Father. Increase my sphere of influence: place in my path the disheartened to encourage, the torn down to build up, those who mourn to comfort, the wounded to heal, and the rejected to love.

And I acknowlege that it is Your Spirit within by which I live move and have my being. You stir within me the will and the way to bless.

May the words I speak, the actions I perform, the things I create, and the impact I have on others be positive, of pure motive, non-judgmental, loving, and godly.

May the words, thoughts, and deeds honor You and uplift my fellow man. May I not bring shame on Your Name nor harm to my brethren.

Amen. And so it is.

(Read the full article by Allen here on examiner.com)

Open Your Gift NOw!

Some cults, Secret societies, Freemasonry etc. introduce you to truth by degrees. You have to prove your  worth before you advance in so-called illumination. In the true faith of God, you are given the Fullness of His Spirit. His Heart. His mind. You are given His word through the Scriptures. You are given His guidance, correction, encouragement, protection, and power.

You get the whole package at the new birth. Let me explain this by an analogy.Think of Christmas Day long ago. You went into the living room and saw the tree. You see your packages there. Some of the packages are labeled with your name. Under the tree are all the packages your parents intended for you to have. All you have to do is unwrap and begin to play.

It is likewise with the New and Living way we believers have. 2 Peter 1:3-4 says this:

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Given this divine power within, lets start unwrapping our package today.

• Open our faith package
• Unravel goodness
• Pull the wrapping off knowledge
• Cut the anti-theft packaging of self control
• Loose the bow on your perseverance
• Show off your godliness to everyone you meet
• Share brotherly kindness to those in need
• Take the lid off the biggest, bestest gift of all, your love.

If you unwrap and unleash the divine power within you: If you seek and discover and use this power more and day by day, here is what will happen:

• You will be a productive and effective Christian.
• You will do the works of Jesus.
• You will be a blessing to a hurting world.
• You will be about doing good.
• You will be a healer all that were oppressed of the devil because God is with you, in you working through you.

You say, “what about those weak and ineffective Christians?” Why are they living lives devoid of peace, power, and passion? Is it because they don’t go to church regularly? They don’t tithe? They don’t submit to so Pastor, Apostle, Guru, Life Coach?

No. Perhaps they have lost their vision. The are short sited and their memory has failed. Though God has lifted them out of the miry pit of sin and depredation, forgiven their sins, they go back to living as those who do not know their sins are forgiven. They return to a works based, reward and punishment religion with is the antithesis of the Gospel.

But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 2 Peter 2:22

Let’s end on a positive note. I can say it no better that Apostle Peter:

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Matthew seems to be directed towards a predominately Jewish audience. The
author presents quotes numerous Old Testament scriptures which Jesus
fulfilled.

The Gospel of Mark is an action-pack account of the doings of Jesus. Luke is
a careful documentary portrayal of Jesus and the early church. John seems to be
a book steeped in the Spirit. He speaks to the very heart of believers who long
for fellowship with God. John gives us a Jesus whose words are “Spirit
and Life.”

The four Gospels to tell us at least 3 things about who Jesus is in the
overall scheme of things.

1. Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy
2. Jesus is Preeminent
3. Jesus shows us the Father

First Jesus is the Fulfillment of Prophecy. There are hundreds of prophecies
in the Old Testament which foretell the coming of a savior. From Genesis to
Malachi. Genesis has the first prophetic word about a savior, one who will
defeat the serpent who tempted Adam and Eve.

And I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will
strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15

Fulfilled: Galatians 4:4-5. Hebrews 2:14-15

Genesis 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations
of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Fulfilled: Galatians 3:16-24.

Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from
Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him
shall the gathering of the people be.

Fulfilled: Galatians Luke 3:33.

An Intercessor: Job 16:21 O that one might plead
for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

Fulfilled: Hebrews 7:25, I Timothy 2:5

Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath
said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Fulfilled: Luke 1:35, Hebrews 1:5

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give
you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his
name Immanuel.

Fulfilled: Mathew 1:18-25

Next the Preeminence of Jesus

The book of Hebrews opens up with these words:

1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through
the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has
spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom
he made the universe

Colossians 1:15-20 further establishes the pre-eminence of Jesus

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in
heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers
or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is
before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head
of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the
dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased
to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to
himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making
peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

“For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are
all things: to Whom be glory for ever.” (Romans 11:36)

“And hath put all things under His feet, and
gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the
fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22-23)

Jesus Himself said these things about himself:

The queen of the south shall rise up in the
judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the ends
of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon
is here. [ASV] Matthew 12:42

Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the
Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? 6I
tell you that one greater than the temple is here . Matthew 12:5,6

The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment
with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching
of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here [ASV] Matthew 12:41

But the witness which I have is greater than that
of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very
works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. [ASV] John
5:36

John the Baptist, himself, said “I must decrease that he might
increase.”

Jesus also is preeminent in terms of the the Law. Moses was the Law bringer,
but there is a new dispensation. Jesus does not do away with the Law, but he
fulfills it. He does not change the law but he gives us the spiritual meaning
behind it. He shows us that the law is not just work of the flesh, but the very
intent of the heart.

Here is an example from “Sermon on the Mount,” where Jesus shows
us the Laws spiritual implications.

On Anger

Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and
whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you,
that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the
judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of
the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell
of fire.

On Adultery

27“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do
not commit adultery.’e 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman
lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right
eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to
lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is
better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go
into hell.

On Divorce

31“It has been said, ‘Anyone who
divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’f 32But I tell
you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness,
causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman
commits adultery.

On Oaths

33“Again, you have heard that it was said to
the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have
made to the Lord.’ 34But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by
heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35or by the earth, for it is his
footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36And do not
swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37Simply
let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’
‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

On Vengence

38“You have heard that it was said,
‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’g 39But I tell you, Do not
resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him
the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him
have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him
two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one
who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

43“You have heard that it was said,
‘Love your neighborh and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you: Love
your enemiesi and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of
your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and
sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

The Law of Moses is replaced by the Law of Christ — the very one who
gave the Law to Moses. He summed up all 613 or so laws of the Torah with just
two:

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment
in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is
the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two
commandments” (Matthew 22:36-40).

And we are bidden to keep his command.

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my
love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his
love. John 15:10

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he
it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I
will love him, and will manifest myself unto him. John 14:21

Jesus shows us the Father

17For the law was given through Moses; grace and
truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One
and Only,e,f who is at the Father’s side, has made him known. John
1:17

The Greek word translated, “made him known” is
exegeomai. Strongs 1834. The is the word from the term exegesis comes from.
Just like a pastor will exegete the word of God, exploring the meaning and
significance of the text, likewise Jesus exegetes the Father.

If we want to understand what God is like, we look to Jesus. If we want to
know the Father’s heart towards us we look to Jesus. If we are weak and
weary, burdened and cast down and we think that God has forsaken us, we need
only look to Jesus to see that God has never left.

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and
that will be enough for us.”

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me,
Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen
me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?
The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in
me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and
the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles
themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I
have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going
to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may
bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will
do it.

Face of Jesus

In the crucified and exchanged life, we die to ourselves live for Christ. We decrease that He might increase. We exchange ego (the great I) for for a total new identity in Christ. But just who is this Jesus? Who is He to us and in us?

There are 3 Phases in the life of Jesus

• Pre-incarnate Jesus
• Incarnate Jesus
• Post Resurrection Jesus

I won’t get into the pre-incarnate Jesus beyond stating what scripture states:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17

We will talk more today about the incarnate Jesus:  son of Joseph, son of Mary.

Of his childhood we know very little though there is much speculation by those inside and outside the body of Christ. We know that he was the child of Mary who was betrothed to Joseph. The the marriage had not consummated. Mary was still a virgin. Luke 1:26-38 tells us of Gabriel announcement of the plan of God to bring the Savior into the world through her.

Luke and Mathew tell us of the circumstances of Jesus humble birth. The threats upon his life by Herod. The relocation to Egypt. The return of the family eventually to Nazareth of Galilee.

There is much speculation of Jesus’ childhood. What kind of child was he? Was he a normal kid? Did he perform miracles? The first look at the child Jesus comes from Luke 2:40 where it is written:

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him

This is evident in the next scene (Luke 2:41-52),  where Jesus goes with his family to Jerusalem for the Passover feast.  After the feast, the family returns home. Unbeknownst to Mary and Joseph, Jesus is not with them. They traveled a full day before the noticed him missing.

They returned to Jerusalem to find in the Temple listening to the teachers and asking them questions.

And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. Lk 2:57

When upbraided by his parents, Jesus answered,

49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

How had He gotten to this level of knowledge and maturity? Was he taught by Mary and Joseph about the prophecies concerning who he was and what his role would be? Was he groomed to be a rabbi the way Hannah prepared young Samuel? Hannah turned Samuel over to Eli for training.  She sewed him a priestly garment to wear that he might be clothed in his destined role?

We next see Jesus attending the meetings of His cousin, John who was teaching and baptizing at the Jordan. Jesus is baptized by John.

Next  we see the scene of Jesus being tempted by Satan in the desert. Jesus fasted for 40 days and then Satan came to test him. In Hebrew,  satan, is a  verb meaning primarily to, “obstruct, oppose,” Traditionally, In Judaism, the one named  Ha Satan is the accuser, or the adversary. The instigator we would say in slang today.

Satan’s first test for Jesus is to use his power to feed himself. Satan, knowing full well who he was dealing with says, ” IF you are the son of God…… command these stones to become bread.”

This is a temptation we all  face. You know about the “Secret”  book and DVD which tried to teach how to manifest what the things  desire by positive thinking.  The Law of Attraction. “Your thoughts and your feelings create your life.”   If we want money, food, careers, love to manifest, all it takes is belief.  The Universe will submit to the will of a made up mind.
Jesus answers Satan:

“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God

This is quote from Deuteronomy 8:3. In fact Deuteronomy 8 should be read repeatedly and meditated upon. It is God who provides for us. He gives US the power to get wealth. He is the source. It is not our power or some force within the human mind. An impersonal universe is not at our beck and call. God desires that we have our daily bread.

Temptation 2 was to prove his Sonship by jumping off the temple wall. Would not  God  save him because he was His son?  Do we tempt of test God in this way? Do we say God, “you promised to give me the desires of my heart. I desire this car, or this house or this woman or man. I am going to make the down payment. I am going to marry him or her.”

Or maybe we step out in to ministry. We go out on mission trips to foreign lands assuming we have the blessing of God upon our enterprise. We are doing God’s work no? He will bless His word and perform it. We step out on a limb and expect God to keep us.

And if He doesn’t? How many have had their faith ship wrecked because of presumption? How many angry and bitter believers out their who  struggled or are still struggling in the flesh to accomplish or have something that God never intended for them to do or to have?

And finally Satan tested Christ by offering to give him all that it was thought the Messiah would have and accomplish — instantly… if only He would worship him– Satan — rather than God.

We compromise in like manner. We say the “end justifies the means.”  If we come across a scheme to help us get what we want quickly and without cost, we are tempted to try it. We take short cuts. We step on some toes if they are in the way of us getting what we desire. We focus on the Prosperity side of the Gospel because it helps us get what we want.

Can we like Jesus say that  we worship only God. We listen only to His voice. We obey only him. We do things His way. We move when he tells us. We sit still and wait for Him to direct our paths. We know that if he promised something, he will do it.

How did Jesus get to his level of personal and spiritual maturity. How did He become perfect? Hebrews says this in Chapter 3:  14

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[f] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

In Hebrews Chapter 5 it says

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus learned to put on the Full Armour of God Ephesians Chapter 6. This is a hard thing to wrap our heads around. Jesus was God yes? But he had to learn obedience through suffering.

The writer of Hebrews concedes that folks are having trouble grasping this. But this is central to the New Life.

There is a processes. There is period of development and growth in every believer. The time when we go from babes to fully mature sons and daughters of God. We learn to resist the devil. We learn to rightly divide the word of God. We learn to discern spirits. Our faith develops. Our patience grows. Our love for our fellowman becomes a consuming fire.

This is the meat and not the milk of the Word. This is the food of the growing Christian.

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:14