Sonsofthesea.org

"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Category: Destiny! (Page 5 of 5)

The Invitation. Revelation 19:9

January 7, 2018 /

  “Then the angel said to me, “Write,[Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me [further], “These are the true and exact words of God.”

 The wedding invitation. At one time or another we’ve all received one. Often, they arrive enveloped in vellum coverings etched by a calligrapher’s skillful hand. They hold within themselves a promise. The promise of our witnessing declarations of mutual love, fidelity, and a vow of eternal commitment exchanged between a groom and his bride.  However, those who receive this invitation are receiving so much more than mere paper tucked inside of paper. They’re being offered an exclusive opportunity at witnessing the spilling over of sheer joy. Of love. A joy born from the expectancy of the long-awaited fulfillment of a promise. A promise made long before the finely labeled invitation ever arrived…

As it is on earth, so it is in Heaven…

Yet, what that invitation doesn’t contain—doesn’t share, is the couple’s history. Everything that has led up to their nuptials. How did they first meet? How long had they been together before they knew—this is the one; my forever friend and lover?

Love is born out of relationship, out of friendship.

But then, being friends of the betrothed, the recipient of the invitation most likely knows those answers. After all, they’re friends. And friends are privy to information strangers are not…

Neither are strangers invited to witness such sacred moments—the eternal union of two souls. Invitations to weddings are reserved for family, friends—for loved ones only. Those with whom history is shared—those we have a relationship with, whether new or long-standing.

Again, as it is on earth, so it is in Heaven…

Only those that welcome God’s invitation here, today, are welcomed into Heaven to celebrate with Him eternally.

Two thousand plus years ago Jesus was crucified. Scripture tells us that when He breathed His last the veil in the Temple—the one that separated man from God, was torn. “But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.”—Matthew27:50-51. This is the same veil that only moments before the high priest alone entered through to gain access into the Holy of Holies. Into the very presence of God. It was torn now, from a single rip, top to bottom. And this tearing signified that the sin barrier that had separated God from man had been destroyed—was eternally removed, in the solitary act of loving obedience. Through Jesus’s death on the Cross. His perfect act of love—the Sinless taking onto Himself the sin of the whole world satisfied God’s just wrath caused by His hatred of sin. Thus, allowing us to stop from continually having to offer a blood sacrifice to demonstrate our repentance of sin.

Jesus’s death on the Cross, His shed Blood, did that for us—once, for all.

Yet, Jesus knew long before He was hung on that tree, those who would accept His invitation and those who would not. Judas can testify to that. So can the 11 other Apostles. Still, despite their marked differences, Jesus loved them equally—both the loyal, and the one who would betray Him. He died for each of them, regardless. And not just for them, but for the whole world. Yes, even for those who hated Him. Hate Him still. Rejected Him. And reject Him still. We hear evidence of this in some of His final Words spoken from His Cross. Listen to what Jesus says concerning those who had cried out, “crucify Him, crucify Him”, and concerning those who had falsely, maliciously, sentenced Him to die. For the ones also, who had driven nails into His innocent flesh. “Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him.” … Luke 23:34-35.

Yet, in that very moment, in a seemingly unlikely, Blood soaked, brutal moment, a most precious paradox occurred. As life was leaving Jesus’s Body, an undeserved invitation into eternal life had graciously been extended to all who would…

However, like any invitation sent by dear friends or family—the invitation sent to all from God, through His Son Jesus Christ, must also not only be received, but opened—and, more, both accepted and responded to. Otherwise, it simply remains just another piece of paper. Another unanswered invitation that too many today have received, yet carelessly tossed aside. Buried it somewhere in a draw. Forgotten…

Their invitation from Love left unopened. Thus, it remains one-sided. Having no more value to the one who possesses it than any other shiny scrape of fine vellum…

Yet, most of us wouldn’t treat something so valuable, sent with such hope and care, such love—so carelessly…

No, we too would take care to open it, to fill it out, sending it off in a timely fashion. And, then, as a reminder to ourselves of the wonderful event it was sent to mark—we’d circle the day on our calendars as a reminder of something joyous to look forward to!

To celebrate…

Now, with that in mind, here’s my question…

If we would take such great care with human invitations sent to us, why are we so neglectful of those divinely, personally, sent us by God?  “Abide in Me, and I in you” –John 15:4. This God’s invitation to stay with Him, live with Him, walk hand in hand with Him, eternally…

More exactly, it’s the invitation that cost Jesus His very life. One that invites us to enjoy friendship with Him now, thus being assured of life eternal life with Him at the moment of our earthly deaths. Also, unlike the wedding invitation sent out by family or friends that bids us to come and share in a day of their lives, Jesus invites us to be with Him always. To walk with Him daily. To share His bountiful table, to enjoy friendship with Him, and, to stay, to abide with Him eternally. To be the recipients of His great and unending love. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.” –Matthew 13:44-46

Friend I urge you, if God has sent you an invitation to His marriage supper, run, open it, and prepare yourself! If you’ve foolishly tossed it in the junk draw of life, if it’s gotten buried under the weight of carrying a load you were never meant to —lost in the sea of the relentless daily grind, go, now, repent, and find it again!

Cry out to God in thanksgiving that what was once lost is now found!

Blessed one, dance for joy that this most sacred invitation has made it safely into your hands…

Put it in the place of prominence it so rightly deserves! And Remember, strangers aren’t invited to witness such sacred moments—the eternal union of two souls. Invitations to weddings are reserved for family—for loved ones only. Those with whom history is shared—those we have a relationship with, whether new or long-standing.

You have been chosen to attend—your presence requested!

And, as it is on earth, so it is in Heaven—

“No longer do I call you servants … but I have called you friends” (John 15:15).

Friend, if you haven’t asked Jesus into your heart today, do it now. Then, check your mailbox. Surely your invitation awaits you. Welcome!

“Are You Mephibosheth, Pt. 1?” 2 Samuel 9

October 15, 2017 /

 “And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house (family) of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 There was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, so they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “I am your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there no longer anyone left of the house (family) of Saul to whom I may show the goodness and graciousness of God?” Ziba replied to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan, [one] whose feet are crippled.” 4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba replied to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent word and had him brought from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. 6 Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David and fell face down and lay himself down [in respect]. David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he answered, “Here is your servant!” 7 David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will certainly show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall always eat at my table.” 8 Again Mephibosheth lay himself face down and said, “What is your servant, that you would be concerned for a dead dog like me?”

Mephibosheth thought himself a sure enemy of David’s—this new king.

You see custom dictated that when a new king was installed—each of the former king’s family members were to be put to death. The thought was, if any relatives were left alive—contrary to age, they may one day get it in their head’s to attempt to retake the throne from the new reigning king. So, doing away with any vestiges of the former king’s family was the only sure way to stave off a future wanna-be from executing a coup. But not so with this King David. He was gracious and kind. Even though the former king—King Saul, had lost his mind and attempted, on numerous occasions, to kill him, David nevertheless remembered his oath—the promise he had made, to King Saul’s son—his dearest friend, one like a brother, Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:14-16).

And, it is because of this oath, that Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, is called out of hiding from Lo Debar and brought before the king. An obscure dwelling place Lo Dabar was—a place of lack, and of barrenness—there was nothing green or growing there. There was little hope…

We first hear of this man with the tongue-twister of a name in 2 Samuel 4:4, listen: “Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth. He was five years old when the news came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan had been killed. The woman who cared for Mephibosheth picked him up and ran away. But while running away, she dropped the boy, and he became crippled in both feet.”

And now his hiding place— this Lo Debar, ascetic as it may have been, has been exposed by an old family servant of Mephibosheth’s grandfather (vs.4).  When he’d heard the news that he was to be brought before King David surely his first thought was that his death was imminent—that these were certainly his last hours on earth (vs.7)! Imagine the fear in this man who had once been in line to be a King himself? You can almost see his face growing pale with panic! Now too, imagine his shame? Being  crippled from such a young age, Mephibosheth undoubtedly grew up being bombarded with cruel and demeaning insults. We see evidence of his scars in his reply to David’s offer of unfathomable grace and restoration. Of restored dignity…

“What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me” (2 Samuel 9:8; emphasis my own)? It’s impossible to miss Mephibosheth’s deep wells of fear and insecurity. Those wounds left by cutting name calling and lashing insults, by isolation. Yet, despite all he has endured, we witness this great display of humility coming from Mephibosheth.  He, in a display of reverence, lays prostrate and utterly vulnerable at the king’s feet (vs.6).

In many middle-eastern communities of ages past, and some yet today, dogs were thought of as, ‘a vile and contemptible animal’, ‘the most ignoble and contemptible of animals’, despised and generally wretched.’ So, if being called a dog, more—a useless dead dog, was just one of the wicked slurs—the barbed, verbal lashes that assailed Mephibosheth as a young child—is it any wonder he cringed in fear and shame before this illustrious, ruddy King?

For years Mephibosheth lived in anonymity. His physical disability, paired with his equally crippling fallacious beliefs kept him bound—separated from the slightest possibility, from any hope of—wholeness and restoration. He had yielded to, been taken under by, the prevailing weight of reality—as he understood it. The weight of separation, lack, disfigurement—brokenness.

And now, the very man He recognizes as having the power of life and death over him tells him he will not die but live! And, as if allowing him to live were not blessing enough, not an unfathomable demonstration of grace and mercy, everything that he had been in line to receive as the child of Jonathan will also be restored to him—and, there’s nothing he must do to earn this! No strings attached. A place was set for him at the King’s table—unlimited provision, he is now accepted, fully restored to son-ship. And, in yet a further act of mercy, this king assigns servants to work the land that’s been restored to him. David knew Mephibosheth’s limitations. And so, without Mephibosheth’s even having to ask, he graciously, practically, made provision for his every need. David knew that this blessing would require laborers to help Mephibosheth do what he wasn’t able on his own (Matthew 6:8). There was no need for Mephibosheth to have to ask David for help. By virtue of his sonship having been restored, David brought others alongside him to provide the help he’d need to care for all that this king had blessed him with..

David was a kind and gracious king. A king who remembered the vow he’d made to his beloved Jonathan. And he ensured it was carried out, even unto the least of those left to be blessed. More, David remembered the favor of the Lord in his own life. He remembered the mercy, kindness, grace, and, undeserved favor and David’s heart, his great desire, was to give nothing less than he’d once been given in return…

Join us next week as we’ll delve a bit deeper into the story of David and Mephibosheth. We’ll witness Jesus, and transfor, you wmaive power of love, you won’t want to miss it! Who’s to say you won’t see your story peeking through the cracks of Mephibosheth’s? Perhaps there’s a blessing of restoration coming to you! Join us on 10/22 and find out…!

 

“The Everyday Wait” James 5:7-8

October 1, 2017 /

“So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits [expectantly] for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near…”

We are living in a day and time, seemingly like no other. Yet, I would venture to guess that if the Apostles of old were among us today, if Paul were present, each might shed some light on just how similar, in many ways, the days in which we live run parallel to the lives they lived.

Civil unrest, wars and rumors of war, persecutions of every kind, unjust laws, unfair taxation, false gods at the forefront of their culture, ‘the rich getting richer while the poor get poorer’. Sounds like the front page of any major newspaper—or the information, being stated as fact, that comes from most news commentators today.

And it is…

But so it was too, this murky shadow of our home, for Peter, James, and John— for Paul as well. Each had tasted of the Lord, of The Promise of His Fullness—as some have today. They’d each uniquely experienced a pure drink, straight from the hose, if you will—undiluted by the thoughts and opinions of others—or had they? Even these pillars of the faith, each martyred for what they knew to be The Truth—had moments when they grew impatient, stepped out in their own timing, not in the Lords. And not in the way they’d heard Him teach that one who follows Him ought…

Is any man capable, save Jesus, of purity? Of a pure heart and hands? Pure intentions? Of not having so much as a sliver of his own agenda attached to his prayer—well intended as it may be? No. not even these stalwarts of the faith.

Each man’s soul is an unplumbed depth…( Ezekiel 22:29-30).

Rich and powerful oppressors surrounded them—people of high station whose word became law, just or not, threatened to destroy all they held sacred. James refers to them as: …rich and arrogant people who oppress others with injustice and immorality. Sound familiar? So how did they, how do we, wait patiently on the Lord to fulfill His promises amidst all of this? How do we wait for the dreams He’s placed in our bellies to manifest? How do wait when we don’t even understand the what and why of God’s plans for us— of His timing? To say nothing of the self-doubt we may feel at even feeling fit to carry them out, to partner with God!

What is God doing to us, through us, in the course of our ‘everyday’ wait?

He’s maturing us. Just as He did with our brethren before us. Through patient endurance our faith is being tested—strengthened, matured, made ready for His use…( 1 Peter 1: 6-8).

I use the term everyday as a thread—a means of uniting everyone who is waiting. It’s intended as a common denominator—but in no way intended to diminish any one individuals struggle nor pain, while they’re braving, by the grace of God, their wait. Those closest to Him walked with Him for three plus years, yet didn’t fully understand who He was or why He had come—and gone, the way He had—until well past the time He was no longer physically with them (Deuteronomy 31:6). Waiting means standing firm in what you believe—in faith believing for, white-knuckle holding fast to, what you do not yet see simply because—God put that thing, that dream, that Word, that knowledge, The Truth, that vision, ministry, deep down in your belly (Romans 8:24-25).

You’ve been chosen. Made pregnant by God…

And now you must wait.

Waiting is the labor room of growing-up in the patient endurance that James is speaking to us about—and maturity is the child that emerges from it. “Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).

Ask any person who has spent time in the waiting room carving circles in the carpet as they paced expecting, what did you learn during your wait?

And, as with Peter, James, John, Paul, and any other believer that has ever gone before you—each went in it—entered into it, with their own set of expectations, hopes, dreams and desires. Yet, each came out joy-filled and praising God for the healthy promise that now lay in their arms. Contrary to the pain, contrary to whether it had red hair—not brown, or black. Was fair skinned—and not coffee-colored. A girl, and not the long waited for boy…

Each emerged—after their fiery trial, after the dross had been burned off in the furnace of patience endurance, after the waiting—hours, days, weeks, months, even years, and years having passed them by—finally holding the promise God had planted in their bellies. While others still needed to be fired once, twice, three times more, in that hot, uncomfortable, trying, furnace before they would see their promise.

Don’t grumble… Just ask the Israelite’s about the delay grumbling can cause. What should have taken them days took forty years! Let him who has ears hear…

Beloved, contrary to what is going on around us, what the social and political climate may be, contrary to wickedness’s—the wars and rumors of wars, the scandals, to kneel or stand, the immorality—those who call wrong right and right wrong. Don’t jump the line, don’t run ahead of God. there’s purpose in the delay. Your reward, like Peter’s and James’ , John’s—like Paul’s, is at the door. “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken and will He not make it good and fulfill it” (Numbers 23:19)?

Beloved, I’ll leave you with this: While you’re waiting, I’m waiting, we, as a Body, are waiting—for whatever it may be the Lord has you waiting for, take heart. Be encouraged. Consider our brother Paul’s words, and keep close to your heart the strength and comfort afforded you from such a great cloud of witnesses. These Saints who waited too. Waited, before their hopes were fulfilled, before their patient endurance produced the fruit of the promise… “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart…

If you’ve never asked Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior, now is the time. Don’t wait friend, He’s waiting just for you. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3;15). Jesus loves you…

Blessings Beloved…

“Rescued from the Wrath” Romans 5:9-10

August 20, 2017 /

 “Therefore, since we have now been justified [declared free of the guilt of sin] by His blood, [how much more certain is it that] we will be saved from the ]wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today].” 

If you want to know the love of God, know the work of Christ. —John Piper

From the moment John spoke the words that forever changed the world—forever altered, shifted human history, and with it—every man’s destiny: “Behold The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”,  we were—we are still, being introduce to Redemption, to Life. In the blink of an eye the man that everyone was pushing past to get to John the Baptist—takes center stage. He has stepped across time and donned a body made of flesh just to be with us. He once was wrapped in milk rags and put to bed in a manger—an animal hotel. He left The Throne of Heaven, left the Father’s presence, to step into the sin-stained world He spoke into existence. One that would cry out for His Very Blood—and they’d get it.

One that had the to freedom to denounce Him—and it did. And it does, still…

Yet the last time we’d heard anything about Him—this Jesus, he was about 12 years old. His parents were desperate with fright—searching everywhere for this Lamb—their son, Mary’s, and Joseph’s—God’s own. They’d thought they’d lost Him—little did they know He could never be lost. That’s our choice, man’s, to go on being lost that is— not God’s, ever. Our Scripture verse today bears witness to that Truth. Because of God’s unfathomable, unplumbed, love He chose to give—gave to the world, the whole world, in the form of His only Son, a way back to Himself. So that whomsoever would believe in Him would have life eternal—reconciliation, a relationship, with God.

That’s the heart of God for all of humanity—for you. Believe it, or not…

Because you, we deserve it? No. Despite, regardless of, contrary to, everything, anything, and I do mean anything, you and I may have done—might have been through, God loves us, loves you, personally. Right this minute, just as you are. And, He has a plan and a purpose for your life—for your reading this message at this exact moment. As sin-stained and guilty as you may be—however dirty, or unworthy you may feel, contrary to anything that may have been inflicted upon you, done to violate you, whether you know Him or have yet to meet Him. You are loved by God.

He knows you—and more, He loves you deeply…

See while Jesus was hanging on His Cross dying for you, dying for me, the very Cross He willingly went to so that you might escape eternal death—escape a life, this life, separated from Him—from the Father, from His very best for you, both now, and in the world to come, He did so knowing if you’d respond to Him, to His great love for you, or not.He knew if you’d say yes to Him or, if you’d turn away as many standing there did that fateful day did. Our society, this world, has done a bang-up job, and I say this loosely and with intended irony, of stressing one of God’s greatest character traits—His great love for us. And, while this is true, the God’s great love part, it is also equally true that there are times His love is used as a blanket to cover over our sins, our bad habits, and actions. And that love—His love, biblically based love, has or had nothing to do with. No part of…

 

As I write this, the deplorable, hate-filled, evil, events that recently took place in Charlottesville that did their level best to recreate a racial divide paralleled to that of the pre-civil rights era, come to mind as one such example of just how man will attempt to turn, bend, reshape, the love of God for all mankind, into a sanctimonious, weak-as-water, far from holy, version of its most base nature. Its lowest version of itself. And yet, somehow equate that nature, those actions, to the will and intentions of a holy, loving, God…

Which leads me into the oft forgotten counterpart of God’s great love—His wrath. You can’t fully grasp one without having, at one point, known the other. We as a people choose to skip over the wrath part of God when we see it written somewhere, hear it preached from Sunday morning pulpit’s. But denying God’s wrath does not negate it, nor the effect it has on a person’s life. I started off this teaching with a quote from renowned bible scholar, John Piper. And it’s to him that we’ll turn now for a slice of his teaching on Romans 5:9-10. Listen as he explained how the love of God and His wrath—are inextricably linked: The Bible makes it plain that God will one day pour out the full measure of his wrath on the sinful unbelieving world, and the unrepentant will be cast into what John calls the “lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” And Revelation 14:10 describes it like this: They will “be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever.” It is like fire. It is torment. It is forever and ever with no end. This is terrifying. If enmity ever had meaning, this is it. If this is not having an enemy, then there is no such thing as having an enemy. God will one day pour out his enmity – his wrath – on the whole world of humankind who have ever lived and not trusted him. The question is: Who can rescue us from this wrath of God? The clear answer of this text – and the whole New Testament – is this:

Only God can rescue us from the wrath of God…

 

Where can we see this? Verse 9: “having now been justified, shall we be saved.” Verse 10: “If while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” In all those actions, we are being acted upon. Who is acting? Who is doing this justifying, reconciling, saving? The answer is God the Father. How do we know that? Because in verse 10 it says, “we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son.” But if the Son was doing the reconciling, it wouldn’t say he did it “through the Son.” You wouldn’t say. “The Son of God reconciled us to God through his Son.” No. The Father, himself, loves us.

That was the clear point of verse 8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Here’s the good news: the love of God rescues us from the the wrath of God against sinners. Don’t try to defend the love of God for us by denying the wrath of God against sinners. If you do, you will undermine the love of God. Because the greatest demonstration of the love of God is the way it rescues us from the wrath of God. If you deny wrath to defend love, you lose love. God the Father himself works to rescue us from his wrath. And the point is that he has done this in the past, and he will do it in the future. This is the way both verse 9 and 10 are built. Verse 9: “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood [that’s the past work of God – “blood” referring to the death of his Son whom he sent], we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him [that’s the future work of God].” Then verse 10: “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son [the past work of God in history], much more, having been reconciled [in the past], we shall be saved by His life [the work of God in the future].”

Friends, whether you’ve met Him yet, or not. And whether you believe in Him yet, or not, does not negate—will never negate, the fact, the Truth, that God so loves you that He sent Jesus to restore you to Himself, to have a relationship with you, and to save you, rescue you, as in the days of Noah, from His certain wrath…

 “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He[even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life” John 3:16

Won’t you say yes to Him, to His hand extended toward you in love—while it still today?

 

 

 

 

“A Paradigm Shift” Mark 10:49-50

August 13, 2017 /

 “And Jesus stopped and said, Call him. And they called the blind man, telling him, Take courage! Get up! He is calling you. And throwing off his outer garment, he leaped up and came to Jesus.”

Simply put, a paradigm shift occurs when we see things one way—then experience a shift, a change, that modifies, changes, that seeing, our thinking, our beliefs, our lives…

A shift which then results in our seeing—and experiencing life differently—changed, new. Sounds new-agey right, maybe ungrounded, perhaps too esoteric—too ‘out-their’ for your conservative taste? Have no fear. It’s quite traditional—far more commonplace than you might think. Yet it never loses its awe inspiring, transformational impact. We see evidence of paradigm shifts throughout the Bible; yes, unbelievably, paradigm shifts are found in Scripture! In both the Old and New Testaments.

Elisha experienced it, as did Abraham, Moses, and Joseph…

But Perhaps one of the more powerful and familiar accounts of a paradigm shift that occurs in Scripture is that of Saul’s conversion. He went from one who sought to destroy the church, to a believer called by God to minister and deliver the gospel message to the gentile world. We first witness Saul oozing utter evil, lending approval to,—pouring out the darkness in his heart as an eyewitness to the stoning of Stephen—a man filled with God’s grace and power.  Next, we hear of Saul quite literally dragging Christians out of their homes and into prison—some perhaps to their deaths. All of this done in the hopes of destroying the church.

And then He meets Jesus…

And it is there on that dusty Damascus road, while hunting Christians, that we witness his powerful—life-changing, paradigm shift. Not only is Saul saved—additionally, life, as he has known it, shifted intensely. No longer does He seek to kill those who serve the Lord but He now becomes the Lord’s servant! And, his conversion resulted in part to his penning almost 2/3’s of the New Testament we read today! But a part of Paul’s shift, a part of what he left behind, his Hebrew name, is often overlooked—misunderstood.  You see it wasn’t Jesus who changed Saul’s name, as He did with Peter (Matthew 16:16-18), we see Saul referred to as Paul for the first time in Acts 13:9. Long after his conversion and well into his ministry.

But why?

Here is the crux of this teaching, what it is the Holy Spirit showed me. That just as Bartimaeus left behind those things that no longer served him once he had encountered Jesus—so too did Paul.

A paradigm shift had occurred in each mans life. If you’re familiar with Scripture you’ll remember that from the account of the proconsul’s conversion found in Acts 13: 6-12 forward, we then hear Saul referred to as Paul throughout Scripture. Paul choose, for whatever his reasons, to leave behind that vestige of his Hebrew roots and elected to be identified by his second name—Paul, which readily identified him with his Roman citizenship as well as to the gentile nations…

But what about our main character? What did Bartimaeus leave behind? And just how did his paradigm shift occur?

Similarly to Paul, Bartimaeus also encountered Jesus on a dusty road. If you read the account of his story found in Mark 10: 46-52 you’ll see that as Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples this blind beggar begins to holler out to Him, listen: “Jesus, Son of David, have pity and mercy on me now!” (vs. 47). Verse 48 goes on to inform us that those standing around this blind man kept telling him to quiet down—basically, to shut up, and stop his calling out to Jesus! But he didn’t take their advice. He continued to shout out, pleadingly, in the hopes of getting Jesus to come and lay his hands on him—to heal his blindness. And it worked. Jesus took pity on Bartimaeus and had him brought over to himself. And it’s here that we witness what it is Bartimaeus left behind—those possessions that represented the life he would now leave behind…

Scripture is clear that Bartimaeus jumped up leaving his cloak—his outer garment, behind. This cloak was likely the most valuable item that Bartimaeus, being a beggar, owned. It’s what offered him warmth and protection from the elements. It was likely his sole possession. And yet before he could toss it off, this garment that represented safety and comfort, he had to put down, threw to the side—leave behind, whatever he held out in his hand to those passing by. He also had to rid himself of his beggars cup.  His lively hood. His security. His only source of provision. And he did, he left it all behind, that He might run to Jesus…

So, let’s recap. On a dusty Damascus road, a man bent on imprisoning Christians and ending anything to do with what he considered to be this travesty being committed against the good name of Judaism, this personal affront against his God—his heritage, encounters Jesus while warring against this supposed ‘counterfeit’ cause that had sprung up in opposition of the religious traditions he grew up with, was steeped in—held close to his heart. It is this same Saul who experiences a transformational paradigm shift.  And then there’s Bartimaeus. He wants nothing more than to be healed by Jesus. He’s likely heard the stories told about others that had been healed—some of them blind too. He is willing to cast everything he has aside, all his worldly possessions, his livelihood, his pride—everything, for a chance to get the attention of Jesus.

And he does. And in that one second—in that blink of an eye moment, his shift occurs, his life, like Paul’s, is radically transformed. Bartimaeus’ world has just been upended in the best—most miraculous way! Jesus has healed him and told him to go on his way. Yet scripture tells us that Bartimaeus did just the opposite—He didn’t go away, he, again like Paul, drew closer to Jesus. Scripture also tells us that Bartimaeus followed after Jesus. Funny thing is, that’s exactly what happened to Saul after his encounter with Jesus. He too left all that he had known, accumulated, in a worldly sense, and spent the rest of his days following The One who had upended his world in the blink of an eye! Two ordinary men—two very different stories. Yet both encountered the same God. Both experienced an equally life changing paradigm shift in their lives—in an instant, life as they had known it was forever changed and would never be the same…

This could easily be your story if you’ve not yet met Jesus. In the blink of an eye—with a simple, heartfelt ‘yes’ your world could be upended in the best, most miraculous, way too! And if you’re already His, get ready—because you never know when He may be passing by…

“Thus Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, because of what God had prepared for the people, for it was done suddenly” (2 Chronicles 29:36).

“Faith, Love, and Aloha” 1 Cor. 13:13

April 23, 2017 /

“And so faith, hope, love abide [faith—conviction and belief respecting man’s relation to God and divine things; hope—joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love—true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13 AMPC).

 “Aloha” means Love in Hawaiian. Love is defined in many ways. When most people hear the word “Aloha” they interpret its meaning as a mere greeting, a casual hello, but it is so much more than that. I love the way Makanacharters.com explains the true meaning of the spirit of aloha: “The real meaning of Aloha in Hawaiian is that of Love, Peace, and Compassion. It’s the guidelines of how to live a life of Aloha is when the heart is so full it is overflowing with the ability to influence others around you with your spirit.”

 God’s word also gives us the meaning of the word, Aloha. Aloha may sound so simple, yet it is filled with a deeper meaning.

Let’s read: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

This Scripture captures the essence of the “aloha spirit.”

I must be honest and say there are times I don’t always display a true spirit of Aloha. Especially to the ones who are closest to me. We all can agree, just by reading the newspapers or watching the news, that as a society, we have the capacity to be, ‘an impatient people.’ Those who are easily irritated, quick-tempered, quick to anger—and speak, but not quick to listen or pay attention to the ones we love…

And I too am guilty.

And, living with the feeling that time is running out, we’ve become a society fueled by instant gratification—being patient has been left in the proverbial dust…

I know I forget mine there too often! patients that is…

Have you ever noticed that nowhere within the verses of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 does it say that Love is happiness and feeling wonderful? Or that it’s getting what you feel that you deserve? Or, that you must be number one. That your needs should be placed above all others. No, Love requires sacrifice. It requires us to walk in the ways outlined within this Scripture—being patient, kind, loving, etc…

And it must start with me—you, us. This Aloha. This giving of love—of giving our all. It’s a ‘them-first” then me thing. It is my responsibility to first be filled with love so that I may then have love to share. How? Through my relationship with Jesus. The same type of unconditional love that flows from my Heavenly Father. Please, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying to place yourself at the bottom—to never look after yourself. Quite the contrary. What I am saying however, is that before you can give love, you must both know and be known by love.

It is this self-less love that is at the core of true love. True Aloha…

I believe that’s what’s at the heart of this proverb—what is meant in God’s Word; that we should watch over—guard, our heart’s.

“Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23 , AMP).

Let’s be a people who displays God’s Aloha…

We are all brought to Jesus in one of the 3 ways mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:13. Through Faith, in Hope, and with Aloha. No matter where you are in your walk with Jesus, you possess the ability to leave others seeing what we here on the Hawaiian Islands know and live— “The Spirit of Aloha!”

I had been given an assignment by my Life Coach. She asked  that I write my obituary. The reason, she said, was that I might know now, while alive, might call to mind—see, some of the “results” of my life. By creating a word-picture of how it is I might ‘look’ to others after I’ve passed away…

What would I like people to remember about me?

Before I leave you, I want to challenge you to do some homework. Write your own obituary. Read it to yourself—a friend, someone close, and see how accurate it is, and then…ponder. Ask yourself if you are—or have, come close to being the person you want to be remembered as—now? Ask yourself if your close, and if you aren’t, what must you do to get there— while it’s still today? And with whatever remaining today’s you may have left. Work backwards to accomplish what you feel is your purpose, your call in this life, and do it well.

Do it with the Spirit of Aloha…

We don’t all have to preach that others may come to Jesus. All we have to do is Love as He loves. Unconditionally, and with abandoned. I pray that you will be blessed by reading my obituary, but more, that through the writing of your own you grow in love. So, in that spirit, I’ll go first, here goes…

But, the greatest is Love…

“As I have left this earth to step into the true light of my every existence, I say Three things are more important than my passing. Faith, Hope, and Aloha! To those who knew me, I Love You. I, Angelica Janice-Pua Mohala Kauhako went to be with the one who created me; so, don’t be too sad; live like there’s no tomorrow. I loved and enjoyed being a woman, wife, mother, grandmother, mama, aunty, cousin, sissy, and servant.

Thank you all for allowing me to enjoy the time with you that no one will ever be able to duplicate.

I’ve held Certifications, Diplomas, Acronyms, and Titles; BUT none of that mattered to me considering who I wanted to be for Jesus and to all of you. As I am now in Heaven with my Heavenly Father I’d like to be remembered as one who loved you all well when I did get a chance to spend time with you; some more than others, some just briefly…But nonetheless, time is time. Remind yourself daily that you are valued and loved in this fleeting world. May the Joy of the Lord be your strength during this time of loss, now, and forever.

To those whom God trusted in my care and gave me as my 5%. remember Our Heavenly Father is your greatest asset in this life, and this life is brief compared to the eternal. Smile and remember that Jesus is the giver of dancing giggles. Nothing in this life can compare to being in Gods will. Some days, months, and even some years may seem hard, dark, lonely, never-ending, painful—but if we hang on to Jesus and wait, He promises us to bring us through it. Don’t try to avoid it. Take chances when it comes to loving others, its hard work, it takes risks, sometimes pain, and always commitment. But it’s all worth it, so very worth it. I can only hope that I succeeded in showing you all this before I departed this world. When you feel, you need me or miss me just close your eyes and let the light shine on your face and know that it is Him you need and not me, and that although you may miss me, I am dancing with my Father in Heaven waiting for you to arrive someday.

1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now these three remain: Faith, Hope, and Love but the greatest is Love.”

I Love You, But Jesus Loves you more…

Aloha!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Even the Tree Had A Purpose” Luke 19:4-6

March 19, 2017 /

“So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.  When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly” (Luke 19:4-6).

Only in Luke’s Gospel accounts do we find the Parables of the “lost things.” The coin, the sheep, and, the son. Luke’s lost theme points us towards the reason Jesus has come to Jericho on this particular day.

It was not accidental…

There is nothing random about God. He both can and will use anything, any circumstance, to reach us.

Luke directs our focus. He Causes us to realize why it was Jesus had stepped down across time and eternity to donned a suit of flesh. He has come to find that which is lost. “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

And He knows exactly where to go to find it…

Even the tree in Luke’s account had a purpose. Why? It was a place of gain. A predetermined location, a portal of sorts, where the Divine would meet a man and from that meeting the will of God would be born—again. A sign in our narrative of what was about to take place. Now it was Zacchaeus who would climb the tree to see Jesus. Soon however, it would be Jesus being lifted-up on a tree for all men to see. No longer would man’s view of His Savior be obstructed. Jesus would make certain of that…

It’s why He came, first into the world, but today, specifically, into Jericho.

Zacchaeus, a wealthy man by all accounts—and a chief tax collector, was about to gain the greatest gift he would ever own. One worth giving up—surrendering, turning over to, everything that he had known, accumulated—and clung to. Zacchaeus had heard of Jesus, perhaps he had even seen Him—as a passerby, or one standing in the many crowds that had followed Jesus. Certainly, he had heard tell of Him and of His power to do miracles—to restore to life that which was dead. To make those that were blind see. To bring healing and restoration to dead, useless limbs.

But, as a Jew, there was something else that caught Zacchaeus attention. He had heard the whispers…

Could this be the Messiah? The One he and his people had been waiting for? The One foretold by the Prophets of old? Spoken of by the elders? Or was He just another rabble-rouser? After all, there had been so many that had come claiming to be the one who would deliver his people.

Yet there was something about this one—something that caused Zacchaeus to get excited—more, hopeful, that perhaps, just maybe, He truly was the Messiah. The Son of the Living God. And he was not the only one to share this curiosity. The streets were filling up quickly, like when the people prepared for a festival. There was a great sense of expectancy and excitement in the air…

Why did I have to be born so short? I’ll never be able to see Him now, and I just must, I must! That tree, that’s it!! It’s perfect—it’s solid enough to support me, yet short enough for me to climb up; and yet tall enough for me to get just high enough so as not to miss Him as He passes by!

Perfect tree…

Jesus knew exactly where Zacchaeus was. He had seen across time and eternity that on this very day, at this very hour, Zacchaeus would climb this very tree—and more, God knew why he’d do it. Zacchaeus wanted more. And he was willing to do whatever it took to make sure he got it. Little did Zacchaeus know as he was climbing that tree that Jesus had seen him doing so before the very foundations of the world had been laid. And today—at this hour, was the exact moment Jesus had chosen to show Himself to Zacchaeus—for all Eternity…

Zacchaeus couldn’t have known that this simple tree he was climbing to better see this Jesus had been planted just for him, just for this reason—it was its purpose, to lift Him higher. To elevate Him above those that had come out of a “carnival curiosity.”

Zacchaeus had no idea, as he was climbing to catch a glimpse of this maybe Messiah, that he was actually on a bridge that God had constructed to bring the natural man and the Divine together.

One in a tree, another on the road below. Yet both on their respective paths to destiny. To the fulfillment of their Divine purposes…

And the rest of Luke’s account attest to the fact that this one tree had not been created in vain. Rather, in being the conduit that facilitated this supernatural encounter, it had fulfilled its purpose in being created…

And in Zacchaeus, we see the Spirit of Jesus’s Words found in Luke 18:14: coming to life; “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

So here’s the question that God has put before me; and so I’ll ask it of you too. “What does your tree look like? What has He put before you that you would choose to climb up in to go higher—solely that you may see Jesus more clearly?”

Or is your tree something that God is asking you to walk away from—leave behind, let go of perhaps?

Will you, like Zacchaeus, drop everything so that you too may better see God?

“So he ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Him, since Jesus was about to pass that way. When Jesus came to that place, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today” So Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully.… (Luke 19:4-6; emphasis my own).

 

 

 

 

Newer posts »

© 2024 Sonsofthesea.org

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑