I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ (John 1:33 ESV)
John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Luke 3:16 ESV)
I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:8 ESV)
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matthew 3:11 ESV)
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4, 5 ESV)
So we see that in all four gospels the statement John made about Jesus baptizing individuals WITH the Holy Spirit is included. This is significant as it is one of the very few things that all four gospels state, clearly the Holy Spirit when He inspired the scriptures wanted us to understand the importance of the event. Jesus then right before He ascends reinforces His purpose in coming (again read John's statement) that the Apostles and the church would receive the promise of the Father (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-21) which is the Baptism with the Spirit.
WITH the Spirit, not in the Spirit....
Now, Jesus equated the Baptism with the Spirit with that of the promise of the Father in Acts. Luke when he wrote his gospel, concluded it with this statement, apparently an equivalent statement made by Jesus concerning the same event, the promise of the Father coming....
And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49 ESV)
In this statement Jesus indeed says the promise of the Father will bring power to the Apostles. So we can draw the connection with the promise of the Father, aka the Baptism WITH the Spirit, with Jesus statement in Acts 1:8:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 ESV)
Power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you (Acts 1:8)... clothed with power (Luke 24:49)... promise of the Father (Acts 1:4; Luke 24:49)
Baptism with the Spirit....
Now here is where the question comes in:
What is the Baptism IN the Spirit?
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV)
Is being baptized IN the Spirit the same thing as being baptized WITH the Spirit. Both phrases use the greek proposition ev which means any number of things, but perhaps the connection can be made in context.
After Paul concludes his thorough teaching on the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, he goes into what the body of Christ is and how it should operate within itself. Before he can get to the meat and bones of the discussion (last half of 1 Corinthians 12) he needs to remind the Corinthians how they enter the body in the first place, Jews and Greeks, slaves and free, are all made a part of the body of Christ by being baptized IN the Holy Spirit. By this baptism in the Spirit, we identify with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5) Now Romans 6:3 says, "baptized into Christ..." this is significant because it draws a connection between the two experiences. Paul does make the connection in other letters between Jesus and the Holy Spirit (in the same letter and passage actually), Peter does too:
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (Romans 8:9 ESV)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV)
inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. (1 Peter 1:11 ESV)
There is a connection between Jesus being referred to as the Spirit. So Paul making the statement in Romans 6:3:
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3 ESV)
Baptized into Christ Jesus - he is saying the same thing as he does in 1 Cor 12:13 that we are all baptized in one Spirit....
So what I'm trying to say (perhaps somewhat unsuccessfully) is that:
The baptism IN the Holy Spirit is the event in which the individual comes to faith in Christ and identifies with His death, burial, and resurrection and enters the Church through faith. I'm talking about "the Church" the real Church, that only true believers are members of, the body of Christ, not the building down the street... Just to be clear on that.
The baptism WITH the Holy Spirit is an event where believers are given power to witness to Christ's resurrection. Given for ministry purposes. Gifts, boldness to speak, etc.... So when we see people who have no power, we should be right in asking, are you ministering? Are you going out into the highways and byways inviting people in? If not, this could explain the lack of power in the individual's life.
Now, the Baptism with the Spirit can occur many times in an individuals life, sort of as in the Old Testament where God would "clothe" individuals with the Holy Spirit for a specific purpose. Multiple times even if necessary. So there is biblical precedent. And this does not change the significance of the Baptism in the Spirit, as it is this event by which the Spirit enters us and we are born again, becoming children of God.
Showing posts with label how to seek God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how to seek God. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
What is the Holy Trinity?
"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of
the Holy Spirit be with you all." 2Co 13:14
The Trinity is a topic of extreme importance. It is not however easily understood. Not that I claim to know how God works within himself, but I felt inspired to attempt to explain so here it goes. My apologies in advance to those of you who are theology majors. (I'm not)
Perhaps the best place to start is:
"And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."" Mat 3:16-17
A clear distinction is made here. Jesus is being baptized, the Holy Spirit is descending, the Father is expressing joy in Jesus.
I want to attempt to explain this from the perspective of Jesus' relationship with the Father and Holy Spirit.
"In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God." Joh 1:1-2
"I and the Father are one."" Joh 10:30
"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation," Col 1:15
"For God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ," Col 1:19
Now Jesus is God. He was the visible manifestation of all the Father was and still is. I believe this is because Jesus obeyed the Father perfectly in every matter.
"In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him," Heb 5:7-9
"But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise." Joh 5:17-19
"So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me." Joh 7:16
"So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me." Joh 8:28
"Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The wordsher that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves." Joh 14:10-11
We can see that Jesus' relationship with the Father was based off His obedience to the Father's will. He obeyed completely in every matter presented before him. This was the basis of Jesus saying the Father was in him and he in the Father. This was made possible by the Holy Spirit.
So what about the Holy Spirit?
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV)
trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. (1 Peter 1:11 NIV)
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9 NIV)
Now the Apostles knew that the Lord and the Spirit were so closely knit together they were
"For He is sent by God. He speaks God's words, for God gives Him the Spirit without limit." Joh 3:34
virtually inseparable. Just as Peter said of the Holy Spirit and the Father in Acts 5. The Lord also had a working relationship with the Spirit:
"One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus Himself was baptized. As He was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on Him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, "You are My dearly loved Son, and You bring Me great joy. "" Luk 3:21-22
"Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness," Luk 4:1
"Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit's power. Reports about Him spread quickly through the whole region." Luk 4:14
Jesus was limitless in the Holy Spirit. God gave his Son the never ending flow of the Spirit. By this relationship with the Spirit, Jesus was able to carry out perfect obedience to the Father and perform completely every task set before him.
This I believe is the basis for Paul's teaching that Jesus was the exact representation of the Father on earth. The Father worked his works through Jesus as he willed. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were working together in perfect unison; the Father leading Jesus, the Spirit empowering Jesus, Jesus glorifying the Father through the Spirit. It was as if there were just one of them walking and talking on earth, even though there were three distinct personalities.
Now I'm sure I don't do this doctrine justice. I probably missed some scripture references, but I feel this short synapsis captures the essence of the Holy trinity. That three different and distinct persons can be so perfectly united in thought, deed, and will that it is as if there were only one person.
I also believe this model is meant for us too as believers, that Jesus gives us the Spirit to empower us to serve and grant us adoption into the family of God and we in turn take our marching orders from Jesus as revealed by the Spirit
The Trinity is a topic of extreme importance. It is not however easily understood. Not that I claim to know how God works within himself, but I felt inspired to attempt to explain so here it goes. My apologies in advance to those of you who are theology majors. (I'm not)
Perhaps the best place to start is:
"And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."" Mat 3:16-17
A clear distinction is made here. Jesus is being baptized, the Holy Spirit is descending, the Father is expressing joy in Jesus.
I want to attempt to explain this from the perspective of Jesus' relationship with the Father and Holy Spirit.
"In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God." Joh 1:1-2
"I and the Father are one."" Joh 10:30
"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation," Col 1:15
"For God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ," Col 1:19
Now Jesus is God. He was the visible manifestation of all the Father was and still is. I believe this is because Jesus obeyed the Father perfectly in every matter.
"In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him," Heb 5:7-9
"But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise." Joh 5:17-19
"So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me." Joh 7:16
"So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me." Joh 8:28
"Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The wordsher that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves." Joh 14:10-11
We can see that Jesus' relationship with the Father was based off His obedience to the Father's will. He obeyed completely in every matter presented before him. This was the basis of Jesus saying the Father was in him and he in the Father. This was made possible by the Holy Spirit.
So what about the Holy Spirit?
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV)
trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. (1 Peter 1:11 NIV)
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9 NIV)
Now the Apostles knew that the Lord and the Spirit were so closely knit together they were
"For He is sent by God. He speaks God's words, for God gives Him the Spirit without limit." Joh 3:34
virtually inseparable. Just as Peter said of the Holy Spirit and the Father in Acts 5. The Lord also had a working relationship with the Spirit:
"One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus Himself was baptized. As He was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on Him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, "You are My dearly loved Son, and You bring Me great joy. "" Luk 3:21-22
"Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness," Luk 4:1
"Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit's power. Reports about Him spread quickly through the whole region." Luk 4:14
Jesus was limitless in the Holy Spirit. God gave his Son the never ending flow of the Spirit. By this relationship with the Spirit, Jesus was able to carry out perfect obedience to the Father and perform completely every task set before him.
This I believe is the basis for Paul's teaching that Jesus was the exact representation of the Father on earth. The Father worked his works through Jesus as he willed. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were working together in perfect unison; the Father leading Jesus, the Spirit empowering Jesus, Jesus glorifying the Father through the Spirit. It was as if there were just one of them walking and talking on earth, even though there were three distinct personalities.
Now I'm sure I don't do this doctrine justice. I probably missed some scripture references, but I feel this short synapsis captures the essence of the Holy trinity. That three different and distinct persons can be so perfectly united in thought, deed, and will that it is as if there were only one person.
I also believe this model is meant for us too as believers, that Jesus gives us the Spirit to empower us to serve and grant us adoption into the family of God and we in turn take our marching orders from Jesus as revealed by the Spirit
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Where does guilt come from?
Where does the remembrance of sin along with guilt and shame come from?
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:10, 12 ESV)
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. (Zechariah 3:1 ESV)
Satan clearly is the one that accuses us and reminds us of our sin.
God said He would never remember our sins again, completely forgiven.
as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12 ESV)
Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back. (Isaiah 38:17 ESV)
“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25 ESV)
He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19 ESV)
When you are reminded of how sinful you are/were that is Satan coming at you... Not God making you feel bad for your past. God justified all who believe completely, set us free from our sins, imputed His righteousness to us in Jesus who lives in us. So we should not allow ourselves to dwell on our past and sin, but rather on our place in Christ. (Romans 8:5-8, 15-17; Col 3:1-3; Phil 4:8; 2 Cor 10:5)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:5, 6, 15-17 ESV)
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV)
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:10, 12 ESV)
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. (Zechariah 3:1 ESV)
Satan clearly is the one that accuses us and reminds us of our sin.
God said He would never remember our sins again, completely forgiven.
as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12 ESV)
Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back. (Isaiah 38:17 ESV)
“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25 ESV)
He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19 ESV)
When you are reminded of how sinful you are/were that is Satan coming at you... Not God making you feel bad for your past. God justified all who believe completely, set us free from our sins, imputed His righteousness to us in Jesus who lives in us. So we should not allow ourselves to dwell on our past and sin, but rather on our place in Christ. (Romans 8:5-8, 15-17; Col 3:1-3; Phil 4:8; 2 Cor 10:5)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:5, 6, 15-17 ESV)
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV)
Thursday, April 24, 2014
What are you thinking about (2)?
Roman 6:11 NIV In the same way, count [logizomai] yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
logizomai: to reckon, to consider
Original Word: λογίζομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: logizomai
Phonetic Spelling: (log-id'-zom-ahee)
Short Definition: I reckon, count, decide
Definition: I reckon, count, charge with; reason, decide, conclude; think, suppose.
HELPS Word-studies
3049 logízomai (the root of the English terms "logic, logical") – properly, compute, "take into account"; reckon (come to a "bottom-line"), i.e. reason to a logical conclusion (decision).
What you say is reckoning (taken from Romans 6:11) is the Greek word logizomai (Greek 3049), which as shown above is a verb (ACTION) meaning to reason to a logical conclusion. In other words it's a thought process in which one person considers all the possible solutions and comes to the logical conclusion.
Romans 8:5-8
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
Those who live in the flesh have their minds set on the flesh, those who live in the Spirit have their minds set on the Spirit and His desires.
Phil 4:8
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Romans 12:2
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Cor 10:5
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Look at how many times Paul talks about the Christian thought process and how important it is to the actions of the believer. It's fact that what we dwell on affects our actions. Paul even tells us WHY we should set our minds and thoughts upon heavenly, Spiritual things...
Colo 3:1-3
3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
For you died, died, as in past tense, already happened.... Hmmm now where does that sound familiar?
Romans 6:1-11
6 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count [reckon, logizomai] yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
When we decided to follow Jesus and believed, we died instantly with Him. No longer slaves to sin, that has already happened...
It's like a person with a million dollars in their bank account but not knowing about it. They are millionaires even though they don't know it. What they need is the knowledge of what they have. Telling them how poor and miserable they are isn't going to help them see they have vast riches stored away just waiting on them to get it. Telling them how to go down to the bank to get what's theirs will.
That's what I'm saying, Christ has ALREADY gave us the victory. He has already set us free. If we are slaves to sin, it is a mental thing only. Not a physical reality! Paul gives us the means by which to free those in such a state. Satan's last means by which to keep believers enslaved is to make them believe they are slaves still and worst yet, must work their way to complete their salvation. I believe the Galatians were falling for this lie, and perhaps some here teach this heresy.
It is not complicated, but again that's a CF norm, complicated theology that makes individuals seem knowledgable and religious.
You can keep it. God says dwell on Him and what He desires and He will set all things as they should be. Let His love, power, and grace flow through your heart to your mind and through you as a person in your actions and words.... That is the "means" by which people are to be freed... but wait, they already have been. You merely have to set your mind on it....
To simple to be true right?
logizomai: to reckon, to consider
Original Word: λογίζομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: logizomai
Phonetic Spelling: (log-id'-zom-ahee)
Short Definition: I reckon, count, decide
Definition: I reckon, count, charge with; reason, decide, conclude; think, suppose.
HELPS Word-studies
3049 logízomai (the root of the English terms "logic, logical") – properly, compute, "take into account"; reckon (come to a "bottom-line"), i.e. reason to a logical conclusion (decision).
What you say is reckoning (taken from Romans 6:11) is the Greek word logizomai (Greek 3049), which as shown above is a verb (ACTION) meaning to reason to a logical conclusion. In other words it's a thought process in which one person considers all the possible solutions and comes to the logical conclusion.
Romans 8:5-8
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
Those who live in the flesh have their minds set on the flesh, those who live in the Spirit have their minds set on the Spirit and His desires.
Phil 4:8
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Romans 12:2
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Cor 10:5
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Look at how many times Paul talks about the Christian thought process and how important it is to the actions of the believer. It's fact that what we dwell on affects our actions. Paul even tells us WHY we should set our minds and thoughts upon heavenly, Spiritual things...
Colo 3:1-3
3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
For you died, died, as in past tense, already happened.... Hmmm now where does that sound familiar?
Romans 6:1-11
6 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count [reckon, logizomai] yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
When we decided to follow Jesus and believed, we died instantly with Him. No longer slaves to sin, that has already happened...
It's like a person with a million dollars in their bank account but not knowing about it. They are millionaires even though they don't know it. What they need is the knowledge of what they have. Telling them how poor and miserable they are isn't going to help them see they have vast riches stored away just waiting on them to get it. Telling them how to go down to the bank to get what's theirs will.
That's what I'm saying, Christ has ALREADY gave us the victory. He has already set us free. If we are slaves to sin, it is a mental thing only. Not a physical reality! Paul gives us the means by which to free those in such a state. Satan's last means by which to keep believers enslaved is to make them believe they are slaves still and worst yet, must work their way to complete their salvation. I believe the Galatians were falling for this lie, and perhaps some here teach this heresy.
It is not complicated, but again that's a CF norm, complicated theology that makes individuals seem knowledgable and religious.
You can keep it. God says dwell on Him and what He desires and He will set all things as they should be. Let His love, power, and grace flow through your heart to your mind and through you as a person in your actions and words.... That is the "means" by which people are to be freed... but wait, they already have been. You merely have to set your mind on it....
To simple to be true right?
You are gods!
Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’? If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? (John 10:34-36 NIV)
Now the Son of God called the Jews "gods" because they had received the scriptures only, what is He talking about?
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11 NIV)
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-9, 11 NIV)
By the word of the Lord, the scriptures, comes a knowledge of righteousness and holiness. Don't misunderstand, these things do not come by the scriptures themselves only a knowledge of them. IOW, how we can be made holy and righteous.
So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, (Galatians 3:24-26 NIV)
Now we see Paul referring to the Law as a guardian that was designed to lead us to Christ who is himself our righteousness, means of holiness, and redeemer. (1 Cor 1:30) The law and scriptures were always designed to lead us to faith in God and His means of righteousness.
This is what Jesus is saying to us today; You are gods....
In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:17, 18 NIV)
“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” (John 10:33 NIV)
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, (Ephesians 1:13 NIV)
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:14-17 NIV)
Now scriptures are clear, all who believe in Jesus have the Spirit of adoption in them, making them children of God. If children then we too have the right to call God our Father and indeed we do and should for that's what He is. Like Jesus, if we claim God as our Father, then we too make ourselves equal to Him.
Indeed being "born again" we have the very Spirit and nature of God within us. That is why I say or rather repeat as Jesus did, you are gods. Because you are made in the very likeness of God your Father. Holy, Righteous, Redeemed....
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27 NIV)
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. (Romans 6:4, 6, 7, 18, 22 NIV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)
This new birth in the Holy Spirit, the spirit of adoption making us children of God leads us to the very nature of God. So when Jesus Himself says things like:
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12 NIV)
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. (Mark 11:22, 23 NIV)
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. (Matthew 10:8 NIV)
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:17, 18 NIV)
HE REALLY MEANT IT! If you as a believer, a child of God, have doubted the power within, step out full of grace and power through the Spirit and walk in the fullness of the life God gave you.
What will it look like? Ask the Spirit to reveal His work to you...
Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. By myself I can do nothing; (John 5:19, 20, 30 NIV)
Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. (John 7:16 NIV)
“But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. (John 8:26-28 NIV)
but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” (John 10:32 NIV)
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. (John 14:10 NIV)
for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13 NIV)
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV)
To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:29 NIV)
What the Father works in me will not be what He works in you. Stop asking Him to be like someone else and be who He created you in Christ Jesus to be!
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,(1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20 NIV)
According to 1 Corinthians 12, God places us exactly where He wants us and we each have a different calling, but no one has any less power or anointing than the other.
But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:18-20, 28, 29, 31 NIV)
This in fact is your reality as a child of God. He lives in you to work His purpose in you. If salvation began with Him and not you, and He revealed Jesus to you when He wanted to:
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. (Galatians 1:15, 16 NIV)
All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” (John 6:37, 39, 44, 65 NIV)
Then surely the work He created you for (Eph 2:10) must wait until He reveals it and works it in you. Wait on Him! Let Him work His purpose in you! Indeed that's all we can do, Jesus said without Him we could do nothing!
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4, 5 NIV)
For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. (Habakkuk 2:3 NIV)
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14 NIV)
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. (Psalm 40:1 NIV)
Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. (Psalm 38:15 NIV)
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. (Psalm 37:7-9, 34 ESV)
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3:24-26 NIV)
Oh Lord! I am yours and you are mine! I love you! I wait for you to fulfill your purpose in me! Thank you for putting your Spirit in me! For making me pure, holy, and righteousness! Not by my own works, but by your grace! I am nothing without you! Fulfill your good pleasure in me oh Lord!
Now the Son of God called the Jews "gods" because they had received the scriptures only, what is He talking about?
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11 NIV)
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-9, 11 NIV)
By the word of the Lord, the scriptures, comes a knowledge of righteousness and holiness. Don't misunderstand, these things do not come by the scriptures themselves only a knowledge of them. IOW, how we can be made holy and righteous.
So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, (Galatians 3:24-26 NIV)
Now we see Paul referring to the Law as a guardian that was designed to lead us to Christ who is himself our righteousness, means of holiness, and redeemer. (1 Cor 1:30) The law and scriptures were always designed to lead us to faith in God and His means of righteousness.
This is what Jesus is saying to us today; You are gods....
In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:17, 18 NIV)
“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” (John 10:33 NIV)
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, (Ephesians 1:13 NIV)
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:14-17 NIV)
Now scriptures are clear, all who believe in Jesus have the Spirit of adoption in them, making them children of God. If children then we too have the right to call God our Father and indeed we do and should for that's what He is. Like Jesus, if we claim God as our Father, then we too make ourselves equal to Him.
Indeed being "born again" we have the very Spirit and nature of God within us. That is why I say or rather repeat as Jesus did, you are gods. Because you are made in the very likeness of God your Father. Holy, Righteous, Redeemed....
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27 NIV)
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. (Romans 6:4, 6, 7, 18, 22 NIV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)
This new birth in the Holy Spirit, the spirit of adoption making us children of God leads us to the very nature of God. So when Jesus Himself says things like:
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12 NIV)
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. (Mark 11:22, 23 NIV)
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. (Matthew 10:8 NIV)
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:17, 18 NIV)
HE REALLY MEANT IT! If you as a believer, a child of God, have doubted the power within, step out full of grace and power through the Spirit and walk in the fullness of the life God gave you.
What will it look like? Ask the Spirit to reveal His work to you...
Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. By myself I can do nothing; (John 5:19, 20, 30 NIV)
Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. (John 7:16 NIV)
“But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. (John 8:26-28 NIV)
but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” (John 10:32 NIV)
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. (John 14:10 NIV)
for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13 NIV)
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV)
To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:29 NIV)
What the Father works in me will not be what He works in you. Stop asking Him to be like someone else and be who He created you in Christ Jesus to be!
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,(1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20 NIV)
According to 1 Corinthians 12, God places us exactly where He wants us and we each have a different calling, but no one has any less power or anointing than the other.
But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:18-20, 28, 29, 31 NIV)
This in fact is your reality as a child of God. He lives in you to work His purpose in you. If salvation began with Him and not you, and He revealed Jesus to you when He wanted to:
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. (Galatians 1:15, 16 NIV)
All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” (John 6:37, 39, 44, 65 NIV)
Then surely the work He created you for (Eph 2:10) must wait until He reveals it and works it in you. Wait on Him! Let Him work His purpose in you! Indeed that's all we can do, Jesus said without Him we could do nothing!
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4, 5 NIV)
For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. (Habakkuk 2:3 NIV)
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14 NIV)
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. (Psalm 40:1 NIV)
Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. (Psalm 38:15 NIV)
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. (Psalm 37:7-9, 34 ESV)
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3:24-26 NIV)
Oh Lord! I am yours and you are mine! I love you! I wait for you to fulfill your purpose in me! Thank you for putting your Spirit in me! For making me pure, holy, and righteousness! Not by my own works, but by your grace! I am nothing without you! Fulfill your good pleasure in me oh Lord!
Saturday, April 19, 2014
How to seek the Lord
In 2 Chronicles 20 we have a tremendous story that I have never heard a message
preached on (though I myself have brought a message from a "sister passage" of
Exodus 14):
I pray the Word of God is taught here in such a way that brings edification to the saints.
2 Chronicles 20:1-22 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar" (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 and said, "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 'If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you--for your name is in this house--and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.' 10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy-- 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." 13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you." 18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. 20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed." 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, "Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever." 22 And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.
We have here a MOST tremendous story! May we learn well from it.
Jehoshaphat was king in Judah, and was nearing the end of his godly reign, when he received some quite distressing news. A massive army was heading his way to destroy his kingdom and Jerusalem. Fear began to set in for our godly king, when he fell back on the One he knew could not fail him, Yahweh.
In verse 3 of our text we read, Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. The thing King Jehoshaphat did, the only logical thing to do, was to set his face to seek the Lord. I believe Jehoshaphat was well versed in the Psalms, as we read there "Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. (Ps 105:4)" and more specifically this Psalm of David, 27:
Psalms 27:1-14 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8 You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek." 9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in. 11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Seems David and Jehoshaphat were of the same heart and mind, when trouble rose, Yahweh could be depended upon for deliverance. They just needed to seek His face and be courageous as they waited for Him.
So we see 5 things from the text of 2 Chr 20 that are key to the principle of seeking the LORD continually:
1) Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast! (v3)
According to Isaiah 58:6-11, fasting according to the LORD's way will bring us answers to our prayers, healing, and satisfaction. Jesus said that as we fast in secret, our Father would reward us openly. Jehoshaphat knew this principle well and put it into practice as a key element in seeking the LORD.
2) Jehoshaphat and all Judah prayed! (vv5-12)
Prayer has always been one of the most, if not the most, essential elements to man's relationship with God. As Jehoshaphat decided to seek the face of Yahweh, he knew he had to bow to the earth before Yahweh and cry out from his heart before him. Great men and women of faith have always practiced this essential act of faith. Paul gave us one of the most profound teachings and statements on prayer in the Bible when he said to be anxious about nothing, but in all things with prayer and petition along with thanksgiving make our requests known to God and that His peace would guard our hearts and minds and that God is able to do above and beyond what we ask or even think! Jehoshaphat knew this principle well!
3) All Judah humbled themselves (v9, 12)
Jehoshaphat's statement in v12, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." would make most cringe if they heard their nation's leader(s) acknowledge this. Jehoshaphat though was more concerned with his heart attitude before Yahweh than about what some may have thought about his apparent ignorance to take care of the situation. He knew in his heart, way before Peter and James wrote, that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Unlike most of the monarchs of the divided kingdom he did not put his trust in horses and chariots, but his trust was in Yahweh, his God! (Ps 20:7)
4) As the king prayed, the entire assembly waited upon the Lord (v13)
"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. (Ps 27:14) "none who wait for you shall be put to shame (Ps 25:3)" "Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. (Ps 25:5) "Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. (Ps 25:20-21) Jehoshaphat was well versed in the Psalms and prayers of David his father! Indeed even before Isaiah, Jehoshaphat knew that those who "wait for the Lord will renew their strength and mount with wings as eagles! (Is 40:31) Notice that the entire nation who had assembled before the Lord was in silence before Him, waiting in anticipation for Him to answer! And He did! Wow did He ever!
5) Jehoshaphat and all Judah praised and worshipped their God and King (vv18-21)
As they received their answer, their hearts flooded with joy and thanksgiving! Can you imagine, in one second, being in death's grip because you know you have no strength to make it through the coming storm, and in the next second the Creator of all things tells you that the disaster meant for you will instead befall those who are coming against you? Wow! What a word by a lonely priest who is not heard from again. But if you had to give a word of prophecy by the Spirit, make it count right? Wow, the battle is not yours, but the LORD's! Then they all did the only reasonable thing remaining to do, they worshipped the God of Israel and praised His holy name! As they praised, the Lord then set an ambush against the assailants and they were routed!
I believe He says this to us all today, the battles you face are not yours, but His! You must not strive in them any longer! Turn to the Lord, using this wonderful story from 2 Chr 20 as your guide, let the Lord show you His wonders as you seek His face and strength continually! Be blessed and may the God of all creation rest upon you! Amen!
I pray the Word of God is taught here in such a way that brings edification to the saints.
2 Chronicles 20:1-22 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar" (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 and said, "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 'If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you--for your name is in this house--and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.' 10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy-- 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." 13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you." 18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. 20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed." 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, "Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever." 22 And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.
We have here a MOST tremendous story! May we learn well from it.
Jehoshaphat was king in Judah, and was nearing the end of his godly reign, when he received some quite distressing news. A massive army was heading his way to destroy his kingdom and Jerusalem. Fear began to set in for our godly king, when he fell back on the One he knew could not fail him, Yahweh.
In verse 3 of our text we read, Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. The thing King Jehoshaphat did, the only logical thing to do, was to set his face to seek the Lord. I believe Jehoshaphat was well versed in the Psalms, as we read there "Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. (Ps 105:4)" and more specifically this Psalm of David, 27:
Psalms 27:1-14 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8 You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek." 9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in. 11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Seems David and Jehoshaphat were of the same heart and mind, when trouble rose, Yahweh could be depended upon for deliverance. They just needed to seek His face and be courageous as they waited for Him.
So we see 5 things from the text of 2 Chr 20 that are key to the principle of seeking the LORD continually:
1) Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast! (v3)
According to Isaiah 58:6-11, fasting according to the LORD's way will bring us answers to our prayers, healing, and satisfaction. Jesus said that as we fast in secret, our Father would reward us openly. Jehoshaphat knew this principle well and put it into practice as a key element in seeking the LORD.
2) Jehoshaphat and all Judah prayed! (vv5-12)
Prayer has always been one of the most, if not the most, essential elements to man's relationship with God. As Jehoshaphat decided to seek the face of Yahweh, he knew he had to bow to the earth before Yahweh and cry out from his heart before him. Great men and women of faith have always practiced this essential act of faith. Paul gave us one of the most profound teachings and statements on prayer in the Bible when he said to be anxious about nothing, but in all things with prayer and petition along with thanksgiving make our requests known to God and that His peace would guard our hearts and minds and that God is able to do above and beyond what we ask or even think! Jehoshaphat knew this principle well!
3) All Judah humbled themselves (v9, 12)
Jehoshaphat's statement in v12, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." would make most cringe if they heard their nation's leader(s) acknowledge this. Jehoshaphat though was more concerned with his heart attitude before Yahweh than about what some may have thought about his apparent ignorance to take care of the situation. He knew in his heart, way before Peter and James wrote, that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Unlike most of the monarchs of the divided kingdom he did not put his trust in horses and chariots, but his trust was in Yahweh, his God! (Ps 20:7)
4) As the king prayed, the entire assembly waited upon the Lord (v13)
"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. (Ps 27:14) "none who wait for you shall be put to shame (Ps 25:3)" "Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. (Ps 25:5) "Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. (Ps 25:20-21) Jehoshaphat was well versed in the Psalms and prayers of David his father! Indeed even before Isaiah, Jehoshaphat knew that those who "wait for the Lord will renew their strength and mount with wings as eagles! (Is 40:31) Notice that the entire nation who had assembled before the Lord was in silence before Him, waiting in anticipation for Him to answer! And He did! Wow did He ever!
5) Jehoshaphat and all Judah praised and worshipped their God and King (vv18-21)
As they received their answer, their hearts flooded with joy and thanksgiving! Can you imagine, in one second, being in death's grip because you know you have no strength to make it through the coming storm, and in the next second the Creator of all things tells you that the disaster meant for you will instead befall those who are coming against you? Wow! What a word by a lonely priest who is not heard from again. But if you had to give a word of prophecy by the Spirit, make it count right? Wow, the battle is not yours, but the LORD's! Then they all did the only reasonable thing remaining to do, they worshipped the God of Israel and praised His holy name! As they praised, the Lord then set an ambush against the assailants and they were routed!
I believe He says this to us all today, the battles you face are not yours, but His! You must not strive in them any longer! Turn to the Lord, using this wonderful story from 2 Chr 20 as your guide, let the Lord show you His wonders as you seek His face and strength continually! Be blessed and may the God of all creation rest upon you! Amen!
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