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

Category: Revelation (Page 2 of 5)

Reset, Refocus.

January 14, 2023 /
Kendra Santilli

Entering a new year always comes with “the thrill of hope!” Yes! Just like in the Christmas carol.

It is only fitting as we just came out of the season of rejoicing in the advent of Jesus Christ and all that comes with it: joy, peace, love, and hope. The spirit of the season leaves us ripe with the hope of a fresh start. I mean, the natural succession of the Christmas season is the anticipation of new beginnings. They’re what Jesus came to do, after all. He came to give us a new name, a new start. He came to rewrite humanity’s story so that we could, once again, have a relationship with our Creator God, finally free from the spiritual bondage of sin.

At the beginning of every year, our church prepares for corporate fasting and prayer like many other churches worldwide. I felt at a standstill this time as I approached the fast, praying and searching for direction on what to pray. I felt the Spirit of God whisper to my heart, “get to know me.” It was a call to focus, once again, on Jesus. It was the gentle hand of the Father turning my head back toward Himself, knowing that I have all that I could ever need with Him.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. – Colossians 3:1-4

Following Jesus is the furthest thing from a passive lifestyle. It is an active choice to live by faith in Jesus. Not only for our spiritual freedom but also for the freedom of others.

Yet somehow, it is easy to get comfortable with our freedom. We slip into autopilot when we realize that what we have feels good. The result is a slow leak of faith. We move from seeking God’s heart to fitting His heart into our agendas. We become so consumed with the cares of this life- work, school, home life, family, volunteer work- that we forget to leave space for the One who is the very source of that life. Even when we are doing things for Him, our God-given purpose can turn our worship and affection toward our “calling” or “purpose” rather than God Himself.

As a believer, do you worship, worship, or worship the One you should be worshipping? For the one who is searching. Do you worship your accomplishments, or have you encountered the One who gifted you with those things?

 Throughout the Bible, a consistent re-invitation is offered to find fulfillment by following the Lord. Still, as human nature has it, we revert to our comfortable rhythms and patterns. Yet one of the very defining characteristics of a believer is the death to self. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! — 2 Corinthians 5:17

 But instead of living with eyes of faith that come with new life in Christ, we keep wearing blinders of complacency—doing what makes sense to our minds without ever considering His plan.

 Keeping our minds consumed with the things on earth shifts our hearts from heaven-focused to self-focused. Set your minds on things that are above. This is a daily discipline. How often do you think about the things of Heaven? Does God enter your thoughts regularly, or is He only considered after everything has taken place in your day, week, or month? 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. —Romans 12:2.

We renew our minds by meditating on the Word of God and by checking our thoughts regularly. Yet reading and remembering are two different things. We must read and digest, digest and remember, remember and meditate. That is the practice of mindfulness. It is living on purpose, not passively. This year, would you join me in resetting your focus on Jesus? Let us turn our gaze from trivial things that rob us of our affection for Jesus and shift our focus back to Him! As we do, He refines us, making us new over and over again. This year, I invite you to find your renewed identity and purpose as you seek the Lord.

If you don’t know Jesus, ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He will renew your innermost being as you surrender your life to Him.

All In God’s Timing.

January 7, 2023 /
MaryEllen Montville

In God’s timing, Majesty was born in a manger. Jesus’s Divinity, hidden behind milk rags, revealed now, Emmanuel, God with us. The Pure and Perfect Light of God’s Bright Morning Star has pierced men’s hearts – “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” –Revelation 22:16.

It was God the shepherds beheld, lying in His manger.

A revelation so overwhelming and weighty it created a chasm in their hearts, life-altering. The old seeped away from them as they glanced upon a reality too great for their finite minds to take in fully; Living water was poured in its place, filling them afresh—old things made new! “Do not be afraid!” That’s what the angel Gabriel spoke to those shepherds while they stood in the field—bewildered, transfixed. Wise counsel when you think how an ordinary man might respond when a messenger of the Lord is sent to him with a Word from God. Awe and holy fear—reverence, cementing their feet to the very earth on which they stood.

The Prophet Isaiah describes a similar moment. He once beheld the Bright Morning Star dawning in his own heart while angels at the ready surrounded the Living God. Not in a manger, but in heaven. Isaiah saw God seated on His Throne. And he plainly details the flood of awe and reverence, the overwhelming emotions which overtook him as he beheld the Lord of All Creation, the Great I Am, Majesty, seated on High. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty. –Isaiah 6:5.

The shepherds keeping watch in the fields on the night Christ was born likely experienced comparable emotions. Holy awe and revelation running hand-in-hand through their hearts and minds when the angel Gabriel suddenly appeared to them from behind the night’s black curtain—brilliant, white light! And on his heels, a whole host of equally bright angels singing, Glory to God on high!

Shepherds, a man with a promise, and God’s divine timing. In other circles, this could be the opening line of a not-so-funny joke, but spoken here, it’s anything but. Instead, the shepherds and the man with a promise are recipients—central characters in today’s teaching.

If you open your Bible or bible app to the Gospel of Luke, Chapter Two, it will be far easier for you to follow their story. A story of revelation, of a long-awaited promise, fulfilled each in God’s perfect timing. A story stitched together with watchfulness, obedience, patience, and faithfulness – being at the right place at the right time.

What man calls coincidence are actual circumstances or details determined by God in eternity past being revealed now, in time as we understand it. Moments and events stitched together seamlessly, some needed piece of God’s way too big plan for our lives showing up just as God Himself does—right on time.

That’s how it was with the shepherds in the field the night God’s star appeared.

Those shepherds who tended the sheep and lambs used as living sacrifices and offered up for the people’s sins—the revelation from Gabriel, their having witnessed God’s Spotless Lamb as He lay wrapped in His manger, each, no coincidence. Each determined in eternity past, evidencing itself at the precise moment in time God had intended. And while these lowliest of men were tending these sheep, suddenly, that night sky was torn asunder, and a blazing heavenly light shone around them—the glory of the Lord arrested them. They would never be the same again. Sure, they may have remained lowly shepherds their whole lives, but now, because of this divine revelation. Because of this Babe, they’d leave their livelihoods behind to chase after something so much more valuable than sheep.

Now, in addition to whatever else they may have done or become, they’d spend their lives under the watchful care of the Great Shepherd Himself—Jesus, the Christ.

The shepherds are behind us now, their story told. Next in line is the man with a promise. His name, Simeon. Scripture gives us no historical details concerning Simeon—not his tribe, age, vocation, or marital status. But it does plainly inform us that the Holy Spirit led Simeon to the temple courts on the exact day of Jesus’s circumcision—just in time to see the Babe in the arms of His mother as she and her husband were leaving the temple. The simple fact that the Holy Spirit led Simeon there tells us that Simeon had a close relationship with God. He’d been watching, waiting, looking out for, desiring the arrival of Israel’s Messiah. We would do well to follow Simeon’s lead—watching, anticipating, longing for Jesus to return.

That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” –Matthew 24:40-42.

Scripture also tells us that Simeon was a righteous and devout man. He longed for the Lord, and he lived to please him. And God promised him he would not die before he saw—laid eyes on “the consolation of Israel” –its long-awaited Messiah. Scripture also suggests that Simeon was an old man when he’d finally laid eyes on Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—indicating that Simeon had been watching and waiting for most, if not all, of his life for his Messiah. So again, we would be wise to follow Simeon’s example of faithfulness, perseverance, patient endurance, and watchfulness. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. –Galatians 6:9.

And as far as we know, Simeon didn’t live long enough to hear Jesus speak prophetically of His second coming. Still, the Lord had fulfilled the promise He’d made Simeon. God ensured he was among the privileged few who, at Jesus’ first coming, recognized Him as Israel’s long-awaited Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” –Luke 2:27-32.

Not only did Simeon hear from the Lord more, Simeon was compliant with His leading. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple court. Many Christians profess to hear from the Lord. God has given them a specific Word or promise, yet if it does not happen within a particular time frame—theirs, not God’s, unlike Simeon, they give up on it. Tarrying, watching, waiting, believing God despite the wait—taking God at His Word—trusting Him, regardless. Simeon did this. So did David, Joseph, Mary, Moses, and Abraham. Paul and Peter as well. How about you, friend? How long will you watch and wait for the Lord?

Before I close, in addition to all Simeon’s faithfulness teaches us, I would be remiss if I did not highlight his unwavering obedience. Simeon trusted God, taking Him at His Word. He believed he’d see the Messiah in the land of the living—just as God promised. Coupled with his obedience, Simeon was also sensitive to the move of the Holy Spirit. Thus, he was in the right place at the exact time he needed to be to experience the fulfillment of the promise God had made him—Simeon did see Jesus, the Messiah, more; he held Jesus in his arms.

A promise fulfilled in God’s timing, one that originated in eternity past. What man calls coincidence are actual circumstances or details determined by God in eternity past being revealed now, in time as we understand it. Moments and events stitched together seamlessly, some needed piece of God’s way too big plan for our lives showing up just as God Himself does—right on time.

Dear friend, this Truth applies to you as well. It’s no coincidence you’re here. It’s been ordained by God, mind-blowing, right? Still, it’s true. Perhaps you’ve been questioning God? Whether He’s real? Does He hear you, know or care about you? Yes, yes, yes, and absolutely! God loves you. So much that He sent Jesus, that Babe in the manger, the One the shepherds worshiped, the One Simeon waited and prayed for, the same Jesus who will return, soon and very soon. But will you be ready when He does? Have you invited Jesus into your life as Lord? I promise if you do and you mean it, He’ll come. God always keeps His promises—Simeon is living proof. And so am I.

Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me. –Revelation 3:20.

The Compassion of Jesus

October 8, 2022 /
Kendra Santilli

What does it mean to be compassionate? Compassion is the ability to share in the sorrows of another. It is a mixed passion, composed of both love and sorrow. It starts with God the Father, and it also ends with Him. God’s reputation of mercy is reiterated several times by the Psalmists. “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness” – Psalm 103:8. It was also spoken of in Exodus after God had freed His people from their captors. The prophets Jeremiah, Hosea, and Isaiah also reference God’s compassion. It continues into the New Testament at the advent of Jesus and into the early church.

Scripture tells of God’s compassion from the beginning of time, but through Jesus, who was God incarnate, we witness the manifestation of God’s kindness. Jesus is the greatest physical example of compassion we will ever know.

Certain seasons of life can render us weak, left to our own sorrow. These agonizing times are often the best teachers of what it means to rely on something or someone greater than us; for the believer, that someone is Jesus. When we can’t make any sense of a situation or feel God’s presence with us, God often uses those moments as opportunities for the promise of His Omnipresence to be felt and experienced in very real and tangible ways. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” –Psalm 46:1-3.

In John Eleven, we read an account of the resurrection of Lazarus. Lazarus and his sisters were dear friends of Jesus, so when Lazarus died, Jesus felt the weight of their grief. Taking time to weep with Lazarus’ sisters, Jesus shared in their sorrow. He also felt the sting of losing a loved one. Everyone knew that if Jesus had intervened earlier, Lazarus wouldn’t have died. “Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You”…. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” – John 11:21-22, 25.

Those gathered at Lazarus’ graveside were yet to realize they were standing face to face with Resurrection Himself.

Jesus, in obedience to the Father’s will, raised Lazarus from the dead. He did this not just for his friend’s gain but to display the Glory of God. God had a plan, and Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead was part of that plan. At that moment, Mary and Martha’s faith in Jesus, the Son of God, met God’s perfect will, and Jesus, so moved by compassion towards His friends, called Lazarus from his grave.

And throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus performing miracles for a twofold purpose; He moved in obedience to God and had compassion for the people He served, whether deserving or not. Jesus performed miracles so people could believe in the One True God.

We see this again in Matthew 9:36. Jesus was moved with compassion toward the crowd. Walking among them, He was healing every sickness and disease. Still, when He paused to look at the crowd, the Bible says, “When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd” – Matthew 9:36. Jesus was the Good Shepherd the people had long awaited, whether they realized it or not. He knew that He was their deepest need. Time and time again, the scriptures describe Jesus’ acts as acts of compassion towards mankind.

I remember a time when I felt incredibly lonely, as if loneliness itself was my only companion. My car’s dashboard had a front-row seat to my sorrow. A moment alone meant a moment to release my anxieties and sadness through tears as I sat with loneliness in my passenger seat. I couldn’t see, hear, or understand where God was in the midst of my pain. Loneliness would respond to my beckoning cries with more profound sorrow and reminders of my inadequacies.

I had to read His Word when I couldn’t “hear” God. I could think of nothing else to do. After all, these Words are His penned message to us! By washing my mind with His word, I began to feel the presence of Jesus once again. The Jesus that had compassion on my sick mental condition. He started getting into my passenger’s seat first, so loneliness had to find another ride. Over time, Jesus healed my mind. He was moved with compassion toward me, personally.

So, whatever you may be going through today, Jesus’ compassion for you has not run out. He prayed for you right before He went to the cross for you. “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” – John 17:20. Jesus, being fully God and fully man, shared in your same sufferings, and He knows your very human struggle. He understands them. Jesus once experienced them in His humanity as deeply as we do now. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” –Hebrews 4:14-16.

Whether you’re weeping or rejoicing, Jesus has promised never to leave nor forsake those who believe in Him. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” – Matthew 17:20. So even if you don’t have much faith right now, I invite you to ask Jesus to guide you as you navigate difficult seasons of life. “Lord, I pray I would experience your compassion and grace even when it doesn’t make sense. Help me to look to you as I walk through this life, and give me a compassionate heart, just as you have. Amen.”

Fading Out

September 8, 2022 /
Kendra Santilli

“He must increase, but I must decrease” –John 3:30.

The cycle of living can feel so exhausting. Wake up, eat, work, take care of the house, sleep, repeat. I think we can agree that at one time or another, we have all understood, related to this reference from Ecclesiastes 1:2 “Utterly meaningless, everything is meaningless.”

We try our best to be good people. Yet leaving a mark on the world feels like a futile effort many days. In the Gospel of John, we are presented with an example that exemplifies a counterintuitive approach to fulfillment. John the Baptist (not to be mistaken with John the apostle who penned the Gospel of John) is introduced in John 1. “There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the light [Jesus] so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light” – John 1:6-8.

John was Jesus’s cousin, a prophet who lived in the wilderness. John wore clothes made from camel hair and ate wild honey and locusts. Since his ministry was to prepare the way of the Lord, he would come to the people telling them to repent, to water-baptize them, and to declare there was one to follow after him (Jesus). You can read all about this in Mark 1:1-9.

I imagine John the Baptist would have been perceived as an odd man, but then again, God often moves through those we’d least expect Him to use. For John the Baptist, his ministry was fulfilled by the coming of Jesus.

And John’s purpose? Pointing everyone to Jesus Christ.

In New Testament Scripture, John’s ministry is our first example of a person testifying of the person of Jesus. The Bible says of Jesus, “He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” –John 1:10-11. And while the rest of the world didn’t recognize Jesus, John recognized Him instantly.

God was using John to prepare the hearts of those who did not know Jesus. Although the Old Testament is full of prophecies of Jesus and the entirety of the Bible points to Jesus, John is perhaps one of the first to see Jesus—physically. John gave his whole life to tell the world about the person of Jesus.

There is a great lesson we can learn from John the Baptist about pointing the world to Jesus.

John the Baptist was selfless. While the world teaches us to focus on ourselves, God’s Word teaches us to love others even when they do us wrong. The culture of this world is one of selfishness. It looks inward for its fulfillment instead of allowing its Creator to fill and fulfill its every need, including its unseen needs. The world is centered on self-gratification instead of loving thy neighbor. And as more of society has welcomed the idea of self-centeredness, it has also drifted away from the One who can deliver them from the mental prisons that hold them bound. The result? A society that has increasingly accepted depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation as normal. And while taking care of yourself is essential, it shouldn’t be our sole focus. We were created to love and exist in fellowship. Loving and serving God and one another.

Throughout the Gospels, we don’t read of John focusing on himself. There is no evidence in the scriptures of John focusing attention on himself. Instead, he readily released his disciples when they wanted to follow Jesus. When John saw Jesus passing by, he quickly said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus” – John 1:36-37. John didn’t get offended that his disciples went to Jesus, no. His attitude was one of rejoicing. “My joy is complete” – John 3:29.

Is Jesus enough to make your joy complete? Or is your joy made whole by your job, family, or ministry? While each gives us a sense of well-being, Jesus must be first. Everything else is just extra. Our prayer and deepest desire should be that Jesus fills us more than we thought possible. And, for that to be enough.

John the Baptist baptized with water, but the Bible says that Jesus baptizes (present tense intentional) with the Holy Spirit. – John 1:33.

It is impossible to live a life of faith without the help of the Holy Spirit. And Jesus gives us His Holy Spirit without measure. “The man whom God has sent speaks God’s message. After all, God gives him the Spirit without limit” – John 3:34.

Our human nature is bent on us taking care of ourselves first. So, it is counterintuitive to put others before yourself, including Jesus. The work of the Holy Spirit in us gives us the grace to manifest His love supernaturally. So, I’m not talking about us manifesting love by our own power. The True Source of supernatural love is Jesus Christ, manifest and evidenced by the Holy Spirit at work in us.

The Holy Spirit does not make us do anything or possess us to do anything, however. But He does lead us. Scripture clarifies, “If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” – Romans 8:13-14. The choice is yours.

If we belong to Jesus—have professed Him as our Lord and Savior, His Spirit leads us. Yet, given that Jesus has also afforded us free will, we are allowed to obey or disobey His Holy Spirit’s leading us. Even though the Holy Spirit will always lead us in the way of Truth in Christ Jesus, to abundant life. Not only eternally but also on this side of eternity.

I pray that you invite the Holy Spirit to lead you in living a selfless life that points to Jesus and loves others unconditionally. If you don’t know Jesus, invite Him to your heart today and ask Him to help you live with purpose and fulfillment as He makes your joy complete.

Perspective.

August 6, 2022 /
MaryEllen Montville

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,” –Philippians 3:20.

“To wait is to learn the spiritual grace of detachment, the freedom of desire. Not the absence of desire, but desire at rest. Waiting does not diminish us any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy”–John Eldredge.

I read somewhere that having and maintaining a proper perspective in this life will help us reflect on the importance of our priorities. As Christians, Jesus should be our priority, loving Him, firstly and wholeheartedly, passionately—with abandonment. Expecting at any moment, we’ll see Him. Right now, today! Our brothers, the Apostles, lived with this level of expectancy. We ought to be praising God, worshipping Him with all that is in us—throwing off all pretense, any thought of how mere men may perceive us, our worship. I’m talking about the type of abandonment King David once demonstrated for us. “Then David came dancing before the LORD with abandon, girt with a linen ephod, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.” –2 Samuel 6:14-15.

David had little concern for the thoughts of men. His heart was bent on pleasing and honoring God. We would do well to take note of David’s example.

Yet how easy it is for us to be deceived, for me to be deceived. Forgetting, even momentarily, there is a world just beyond the veil, our true home. Easy to be lulled into believing that what we see, taste, and touch, those we can wrap our arms around, looking into their eyes, is all that there is. Now, being all there is. The firm earth we stand upon and the four walls that enclose us, our home. But that is a lie—a delusion. “For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come” –Hebrews13:14.

This world is not your home, Beloved Sojourner. “For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven” –Hebrews 13:14.

I am here to remind you of Jesus’ promise to you, child of God. “In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am” –John 14:2-3.

We forget, temporarily, I pray, that though we serve a God we’ve yet to see face to face, save in the eyes and smiles, in the expressions of those we love. Those whom God permits to walk a while with us, that we might be afforded some fleeting glimpse of His beauty or fairness, His passion or the peace left in His wake. This God we’ve yet to touch, wrap our arms around, look into His eyes; this withstanding, Jesus is more real than the most real thing before us! Realer still than your spouse’s hand in yours or that beloved child, snuggled up against your side, warm.

God, more perfect than any precious newborn babe or the most magnificent sunset or seascape ever witnessed, more beautiful and majestic than any mountain or rolling green plain. More regal than the Lion He created. Holy, Perfect, more precious than silver or gold, nearer to us than our next breath or heartbeat, this, in some small part, is our God. “O Lord our God, the majesty and glory of your name fills all the earth and overflows the heavens. You have taught the little children to praise you perfectly. May their example shame and silence your enemies! When I look up into the night skies and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have made— I cannot understand how you can bother with mere puny man, to pay any attention to him!” –Psalm 8:1-4.

So let me ask you this. When was the last time you just laid back on some sunny day or still, star-filled night and just let your eyes drift upward or out? Even if you were sitting in your car, in traffic instead, staring out through some rain-soaked windshield?

When did you last intentionally contemplate spending your eternity with Jesus?

When was the last time you purposefully shifted your perspective from this world to the next—your real and true home, and thought about what it will be like the second you’re afforded the unfathomable privilege of looking into Jesus’ eyes? Or of hearing His voice for the first time? Or even the feeling that might overtake you when His hand touches yours—reaching for you, His Bride? Such thoughts equally blow my mind and make me giddy—simultaneously! Leaving me with that feeling in the pit of my gut one gets from the first major drop on a rollercoaster or when you witness something so profoundly beautiful that the awe of it robs you of your breath, stopping you in your proverbial tracks! And this, in the natural. How much more the supernatural!

How about when the Holy Spirit so stirs within you that it’s no great leap to understand another person has taken up residence there? Yet, in that second of eternal birth, rapturous, our finally seeing Jesus face to face will far exceed any vivid description any one of us might come up with. Any beauty wildly imagined. Indeed, our every hope and longing will be realized in that instant. Every heartache, all questioning, washed away. Was I good enough, did I do enough, put to death, finally, in the One who gave it all for you and me?

We will be like Him, scripture says. Transformed, living eternally in the very presence of our God. Oh, glorious day! Maranatha! “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is” –1 John 3:2.

Consider this your reminder, dear sister, brother, and new friend. A reminder that what you see and touch and hold dear now—is quickly fading away. Conversely, God is, quite literally, drawing nearer and nearer daily. So I encourage you to shift your perspective. To fix your eyes and hope, to, quite literally, bet your life on Jesus. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” –1 John 2:15-17.

Friend, if your eyes and thoughts have been so fixed on the things of this world that you have not considered the next, I pray that you’ll do that today. Please, don’t let another day pass without asking Jesus to open your eyes to the Truth. He is Truth. “Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” –John 14: 5-6.

Night Vision

July 23, 2022 /
MaryEllen Montville

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters” –2 Samuel 22:17.

It had always been God’s own Spirit at work in David. Wooing, shaping, molding, chiseling away, enabling David to see His God clearly, affording David a relational understanding of Himself few men possessed. It was God who had empowered David to press on amid unjust treatment, persecution, and betrayal.

David’s natural eyes failed him, as every man’s will—think Bathsheba here. Only God’s Spirit at work in David could enable him to see beyond the lusts of his own flesh and into the Spirit realm, discerning God’s will. It was God’s Spirit, His power and ability from which David drew strength, saw clearly, was given direction—enabling him to live by faith, not by sight, feelings, or faulty human judgment.

God’s Holy Spirit gave David something he did not possess in and of himself—night vision.

That ability afforded God’s children, by the power of His Holy Spirit, to see beyond their natural ability. David had it. And, if God’s Holy Spirit resides in you, so do you.

From youth through old age, David praised the faithfulness of his God. I say his God because David’s relationship with God was nothing if not personal, intimate even. Reading through the Psalms, First and Second Samuel, and various other Scriptures, makes this truth plain.

While tending his Father’s sheep, David spent days and nights serenading God with songs of love and adoration. David extolled God, glorifying God’s goodness, love, mercy, kindness, and power. He sang of God’s protection and tender care for him. David exalted God’s creative abilities and awesomeness.

David was a man who lived in awe of his God! There is much we can learn from David.

Whether we have been walking with the Lord for one year or fifty, our learning and determining to keep the flame of our love for God ablaze should be our primary focus, our number one goal in life. “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” Deuteronomy 6:5. David took God’s first command to heart, and God took notice of David’s heart. “After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will'” –Acts 13:22.

Yet nothing David accomplished for the Lord, not one thing, was done his own power, no. Hear the Word of God on this Truth: “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” –Zechariah 4:6.

It is impossible to carry out God’s plan and will in our own power. The Lord has made this abundantly clear throughout Scripture.

David was not a perfect man by any means—none of us are, save Jesus. “You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin” –1 John 3:5.

Yet, despite his many sins and shortcomings, God favored, protected, loved, and inclined His heart and ear towards David. God alone pulled David out of deep waters—and David knew it. He loved God for it. For saving him from his adversaries, those too powerful for David to overcome. And why did God do this for David? Love.

Yes, David undoubtedly loved God unashamedly, but never forget that it was God who first loved David. God who chose Him, anointed him, empowered David to do the work He had planned for him before the foundation of the world—and, as it was with David, so too with you and me. God has chosen us in Christ Jesus for His good pleasure, plan, and purpose—pulling us, pulling you, specifically, out from deep waters.

This mystery is far too great for this finite mind to take in fully! And yet, having been chosen in Christ, saved by Him, I am literally, eternally grateful to God. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you” –John 15:16.

Friends, David was God’s choice long before one song of praise or word of love had ever formed on David’s lips. “Now the Lord said to Samuel, “…Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons. Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward” –1 Samuel 16:1; 13.

And, as it was with David, so too with you and I, Beloved of God.

Like David, we too have been afforded the high honor of having been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, sealed, eternally, in Jesus. His Spirit alive, at work in us, assures us of this Truth. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people” –Hebrews 2:14-17.

Having purchased us with the unplumbed price of His shed Blood, He is jealous of us, His Bride, wanting our love, undivided devotion, praise, ardent worship, and adoration; just as God wanted David’s. Any devoted husband rightfully expects his wife’s undivided love and affection. How much more than does our faithful Husband desire for all of us to want all of Him?

So let me ask you, friend, when is the last time you spent time just lavishing the Lord with love? When did you last set time aside to spend with God alone?

Now I’m not talking about an hour spent in route or rushed morning devotions. I’m talking about going for a walk or drive together, speaking and listening, admiring God, His creative ability in nature, and giving Him praise for it? When was the last time your heart was so filled with love for God that you had no choice but to cry? Not in sadness, in awe. In gratitude. How about the last time you spontaneously praised God? Just sang or danced before Him, worshipped simply because He is God and deserves your praise?

Now hear me, child of God. I don’t ask these questions to shame or chide you. Know that I ask them of myself before posing them to you. Confessing firstly, I am guilty of falling far short of the above. I am sure that is why, in part, God has placed this teaching in my own heart.

Instead, I ask these questions that we might course correct, returning wholeheartedly to our first Love—seeking out our Beloved, wooing Him.

God isn’t asking us to spend our days doing more and more for Him, family. He’s asked, asks still, that we love Him fervently. Not circumcised in the flesh only, hearers of His Word, but in our hearts, being doers of God’s Word. “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first” –Revelation 2:2-4.

Have you asked Jesus into your heart? Welcomed Him into your life as Lord and Saviour? Have you asked God to pull you out of the deep waters threatening to pull you under? If not, friend, why wait any longer? Call out to Jesus right now!

Vantage Points.

June 18, 2022 /
MaryEllen Montville

“So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!” –2 Corinthians 5:16.

So many factors shape your understanding of the world around you. The highs and lows of life, your ethnicity, where and how you grew up, your level of education—or lack of, and economics, to name a few. Did two loving parents raise you in a peace-filled home? Or were you raised in a single-parent household by a mom or dad who did what they knew to do to provide for you, whether peacefully or not?

As witnessed in the life of the Apostle Paul—and our own; faith, or its absence, directly shapes how we perceive the world and those in it.

The Apostle Paul raised Saul from Tarsus, a city in Cilicia in the Province of Asia Minor, was a Greek-speaking Jew born around the time of, or just after, Jesus. Saul of Tarsus was no average Hebrew boy. Clearly, he displayed above-average intelligence and nimbleness of mind. Though he did not hail from a wealthy, aristocratic family, Saul’s ability to read and retain Hebrew Scriptures afforded him an encyclopedic knowledge of the Torah. Saul’s intellectual prowess and unswerving belief in nonbiblical traditions positioned him to become a student of the renowned Rabban Gamaliel eventually. “I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers” –Galatians 1:14.

Saul spent much of his early years living as a resolute Pharisee, yet we know that Saul was also a tent maker, skilled with his hands (1 Cor.4:12; Acts 18:3; Acts 20:34). This tidbit of knowledge allows us to know with certainty that Saul did not come from an affluent background—he was not economically privileged. Little is known about Saul’s parentage or early childhood. Still, it’s not a stretch to imagine that Saul was raised in a traditional two-parent Jewish household by devote, God-fearing parents who regularly went to the Temple.

Now you may be asking yourself, “why are you telling me all about Saul’s life, and what does he have to do with today’s Scripture verse or your opening sentences, for that matter?”

My answer? Telling you about Saul’s life has everything to do with today’s Scripture and my opening verses. How? As I said earlier, so many factors shape your understanding of the world around you. Faith, or its absence, directly shapes how you perceive the world and those in it. And Saul was no exception. So the way Saul was raised, what he was raised to believe in, more his eventually life-changing encounter with Jesus directly affected not only his life and ministry but so many countless thousands of other Christian lives and ministries.

Saul of Tarsus became Paul, The Apostle, this fervent, dedicated lover of the same Christ and His followers he once despised, persecuted unto death. No longer interested in rites and rituals. Now Paul’s focus was on saving souls, sharing the Gospel message, and seeing men freed from the death-like grip of their sins. Having once seen God as little more than a means to a religious end, now, Jesus lived and burned vibrant and alive in Paul’s heart. And this because Paul’s vantage point was changed in a flash—of God’s Pure Light, that is. Perhaps that’s why in today’s passage, Paul encourages you to see people in your day-to-day life differently. He is challenging you to see them and the world around you anew, through spiritual eyes—through a different lens, maybe, than what you grew up wearing?

Here Paul acknowledges that, like many of us, he, too, once viewed the world through dogmatic “earthly lenses.” Perhaps, like so many of us that have been given new sight—spiritual eyes, Paul was reflecting on his once profound blindness as he stood, lending his reflexive consent, his zealous approval of Stephen’s stoning? As Paul penned this verse, I wonder if he thought back to being blinded by the Pure brilliance of the Lord? Knocked clear from his proverbial “high-horse,” humbled. His sight temporarily taken so that he might gain a new vision?

“If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ” –Philippians 3:4-8.

Whether directly or indirectly, knowingly or unawares, so much of what we’ve been taught, have perceived—whether real or imagined, shaped our willingness to welcome God into our hearts and lives. Or, conversely, it closed Him out.

What we were taught about faith in God, if anything at all, helped determine if we’d view God as a loving, merciful Father or as just some guy who exists “out there somewhere” who threatens and challenges our worldview. Or, perhaps, it led us to question whether God even exists? We see this plainly in Saul’s life. His learned, rigid, legalistic view of God made it virtually impossible for him to experience God outside the fixed rules and rites that governed and protected his faith. Saul’s “this is how God is and moves” stance prohibited him from experiencing God relationally, beyond the ritual that had become his religious default—that is, until his life-changing encounter with Jesus on a dusty Damascus road.

Saul’s Damascus Road encounter with Christ became the birthplace of Paul, the Apostle.

That’s what happens when God “calls us out of darkness and into His wonderful Light” –1 Peter 2:9.

We are transformed, made new. Blind eyes, seeing clearly. We’re given a new vantage point from which to view the world and those in it. Yes, it was Saul who fell to the ground. Saul, whom God blinded. And it was Saul who, inspired by the Holy Spirit, fasted for three days, seeing Ananias in a vision. But it would be Paul, God’s Apostle, having had an encounter with the Living God, who would leave that room on Straight Street with new sight.

Surely, what our parents teach us, influences us. Our culture, education, and socioeconomic means each play a role in shaping our thinking concerning our faith or belief in God. But, as with Saul, none of these external influences will ever have the power to stay the hand or will of the Most High God, King of the Universe, Sovereign Lord. Somewhere in eternity past, God had written Saul’s name in The Lamb’s Book of Life, and no earthy circumstance, no rite or ritual, no religion, or conviction would ever be powerful enough to change that.

Take comfort in that fact, friend. If God has chosen you for Himself, nothing and no one can keep Him from you.

No religion, lack of education, abusive parents, being raised poor or in the hood, or even your addiction or self-loathing can keep God away. As with Saul, God knows the exact moment He has destined to remove the scales from your eyes, enabling you to see beyond the confines of this world, changing your vantage point forever more. No longer seeing Him or those, He’s created with the same tired eyes—Jesus makes all things new, starting with you.

Friend, you can have a personal relationship with Jesus now if you choose to. It’s so simple a child can do it. You just need to repent of your sins, tell God you’re genuinely sorry for all you’ve done—no matter what it is, and ask Him to come into your life as Lord and Savior, and He will. And just like Saul and countless others, you too will be given eyes to see beyond the confines of this world; eyes that will see and recognize the Truth—Christ Jesus. “Yeshua said to him, “I AM THE LIVING GOD, The Way and The Truth and The Life; no man comes to my Father but by me alone” –John 14:6.

He’ll Make a Warrior Out of You.

April 9, 2022 /
Kendra Santilli

“Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it” – Judges 8:4.

Today, we will follow the story of an unlikely hero in the Old Testament who restored his nation with God’s help. This story can’t just be cherry-picked, one verse and call it a day, so we are going on a bit of a storytelling journey. But trust me, it’s a good one! Judges six introduces us to a timid young man from the least of his tribe. He was also the youngest child in his family.

From the beginning of this story, it is evident that Gideon was far from strong and courageous.

We read many Bible stories of brave, valiant men and women who trusted God with all confidence, yet God’s choice of Gideon highlights someone who may not be a “typical hero.” Gideon was a fearful person, probably a bit anxious if I were to guess. Yet the beauty of his story is that God’s mercy sees past Gideon’s current circumstance and speaks into his destiny. One small blog post is not enough to cover Gideon’s whole story, yet there is much we can learn about what it means to walk in our God-given purpose, nevertheless.

 “The weakest tribe.” “The youngest in his family.”

You and I know these terms of inadequacy; there’s really nothing new under the sun. These terms of inadequacy were the exact words used to describe one of the greatest warriors of old. Often, we know what our end goal needs to be, yet we also have the sense we somehow don’t have what it takes to fill the shoes to make things happen.

Whether it’s our career, ministry, personal, or family-related, everyone knows the feeling of inadequacy. Thankfully, our Creator is not surprised by our self-perceived shortcomings. He anticipates them.

God knows exactly how we see ourselves. He also knows how to extract the absolute best from us—through His Holy Spirit at work in us. The Lord approached Gideon, He said, “the Lord is with you mighty warrior” – v. 12. Gideon’s response to being called a mighty warrior was riddled with fearful doubt, not faith. Gideon failed, initially, to recognize God was trying to inspire him by calling him a mighty warrior. “Pardon me, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” – Judges 6:15. Gideon affirmed two things in questioning God the way he did: his insignificance and lack of faith. He had heard of the God who delivered his people from Egypt years ago, but he didn’t believe the same God was still with them. Gideon felt helpless and abandoned. He didn’t realize that Israel’s Savior had come to lift Israel’s heads—yet again.

Gideon’s response sounded awfully familiar to me. I’ve heard many people respond in this same fashion. “If God is with me, why do I still not have a house?” ‘If God is with me, why am I still sick?’ “If God is with me, why don’t I have my dream job?” “If God is with me, why am I not married yet?”

If-then statements affirm our fears and doubts rather than decree God’s faithfulness.

God was trying to teach Gideon a lesson in steadfastness—and through him, us as well. You have to understand the background of this story to appreciate Gideon’s response to God. Moses had led the Israelites out of being enslaved people in Egypt just a few generations before. They were a free people now, but they had turned away from God, worshipping idols instead. They explicitly broke the command given them by God, to have “no other gods before the one true God- Yahweh”—Exodus 20:3. And because of their spiritual adultery, God allowed the Israelites to fall into the hands of their enemies, yet again. The Bible says the Midianites were like locusts, ravaging the land of the Israelites –Judges 6:5. The Israelites were afraid of Midianites after succumbing to the deception of giving their hearts to the pagan God, Baal. This makes Gideon’s fearful response to God’s sudden appearance make sense.

If Gideon were to re-establish Yahweh as Israel’s one true God, he knew he’d be doing so in opposition to the people around him. He’d be in the minority. The Israelites crafted false gods with their hands; today, many people hold their god in their hands—their phones. Remember, gods can come in the form of family members, significant others, nature, entertainment, possessions, careers—anything can become a god if we allow it. And while it may feel right at that moment, giving our hearts to other gods has long-term, devastating effects on our spirits. We were created to thrive when our heart, mind, soul, and strength are fixed on the one true God. “Jesus declared, ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” –Matthew 22:37-38.

If our hearts are not purposefully committed to serving Jesus only, losing them to another god is easy.

Back to Gideon. He lived in a culture that had given its heart to idols and was oppressed by pagans. Then God shows up and calls Gideon a mighty warrior – Judges 6:12. Gideon could not see his worth because God was calling Gideon by his potential.

God has a way of showing us who He’s created us to be.

When God showed up, Gideon was by no means a mighty warrior; he was the timid, youngest child of his tribe, threshing wheat in a winepress—Judges 6:11. Little did Gideon know, God was about to make him one of His greatest warriors. To help accomplish this, the Lord selects a three-hundred-man army to fight alongside Gideon. Yet, for them to come away victorious from this battle with the Midianites would require a trained army of some tens of thousands! Surely, they were in for an impossible fight. Yet here they were, this unlikely army of just three hundred men hand-picked by the Lord. Their number, part of God’s plan. God jealously wanted the glory in freeing His people from their captors, and He still does.

So, if you feel like you’re in an impossible situation, you are in the prime position for a miraculous victory, which can only happen by the hand of God! Let the Spirit of God remind you who He is and who you are in Him. Even when you’ve walked away from the Lord, He sees you, still. He is still pursuing you, just as He did the Israelites, repeatedly. Jesus never fails to remind us of who He’s been in our lives, even when we didn’t realize it. When the time finally comes to fight for the vision in your heart, it may be scary, but you must remember that the Lord has already been working on your behalf behind the scenes. We see the Truth of this in Gideons’ story.

Gideon had gone through a series of events leading up to this battle, yet he still wasn’t the mighty warrior he would become. But the Lord wasn’t surprised by this. He expected Gideon to be afraid. Moments before this battle, the Lord leaks some intel to Gideon, telling him that he should eavesdrop on what his enemies are saying if he is still afraid. Sure enough, the princes of Midian were discussing a dream.

“This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.'”… While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords” – Judges 7:14-18; 21-22.

God went ahead of Gideon, weakening the hearts of his enemy. But I want us to pay attention to Gideon’s response to God’s actions. He bowed down and worshiped. Too many today receive their blessing and get up prideful, rather than humble—boastful, instead of praising the Lord, remembering the blessing came by His hand alone. God loves a humble heart and will continue to bless it—Proverbs 3:34.

But the story isn’t over yet. Gideon had one more battle to fight; they couldn’t give up just yet. In the middle of this passage, we read that Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it. – Judges 8:4. They were exhausted but continued their pursuit.

I don’t know about you, but I deeply feel this verse. I get so tired of fighting sometimes I just want to stop and relax, taking some time for myself.

But God did not create us to live in comfort; He created us to live in Him, operate in His strength when we feel weak. To be bold and courageous. And our having such courage sometimes requires being uncomfortable. It requires faith and perseverance. “Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon…” –Judges 6:34. Gideon defied the ungodly culture he lived amongst by the power of God’s Spirit at work in him. By his choosing to obey and follow after the one true God.

When culture tells us to do what feels good, the Bible tells us to step out in faith even when it feels uncomfortable.

Like Gideon, I believe the Lord wants to make a mighty warrior out of you. Wherever you are in life, I pray you to have the courage to obey the Lord in everything. God knows what’s going on, whether in your work, family, or personal life. If you are willing to listen, He is ready to lead you. And as He leads you, trust that He is working behind the scenes in ways you could never imagine. You may be afraid and anxious, but Gideon’s story should inspire hope, ensuring that God is not afraid of your shortcomings. He expects them and prepares us, despite them. Keep fighting. Keep trusting the Lord. He moves in ways that you could never think or imagine. And when you see your victory, respond in worship. Not in pride.

If you don’t know the Lord who fights for you, I promise that He is available to you right here and now if you would humble yourself and pray to Him. If you seek Jesus with all your heart, He will meet you exactly where you are. Your need is not too small nor too big. Ask Jesus into your heart today. He will strengthen you to walk through this life in victory!

It’s Personal

February 19, 2022 /
MaryEllen Montville

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you]” –John 16:7

While speaking to His disciples, Jesus said the above. His point? Not even death will keep Him from being with those the Father has given Him—His Beloved Bride. His disciples. You and me. “…And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” –Matthew 28:20. He is the eternal One: The Alpha and Omega, God’s Logos. Bound by no-thing, nor anybody. He is our Promise Keeper—All-Seeing and All-Knowing. Time cannot constrain God, nor can flesh and bone, angel nor demon hide anything from Him who stands outside of the very time He created. Nothing is hidden from He who imagined and fashioned the flesh and bone, blood, cells, and sinew that uphold us. “You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.”–Psalm 139.1-4.

This Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent God exists at once, within all His children.

Jesus had to look His beloved friends square in the eye and tell them; He would soon be leaving them, physically, that is. Have you ever stopped to consider how Jesus’s disciples felt hearing such news? Jesus knew His return to the Father would bless His friends. Being fully God and fully man, He knew the pain His words brought to His friends. I can only imagine that Jesus took some measure of comfort in knowing it was for their betterment. But sitting there in what indeed may have been a moment of slack-jawed silence, fear, and pain, Jesus’ disciples, had not one clue that soon and very soon, His Holy Spirit would be living within them, always.

In my anemic imaginings, I can almost feel the leaded gut-punch of Jesus’ statement landing squarely against His disciple’s defenseless hearts, lacerating them. And while pausing to imagine my brothers’ emotional states, I was reminded of yet another brother who had experienced similar pain, King David. I was reminded of his desperate anguish before the Lord. David had an illicit affair with Bathsheba then ordered Uriah, her husband, to be sent into a fierce battle, ensuring he would die there on the front line. David’s sin was great, and God had temporarily withdrawn His spirit from David. So, in a desperate, heartrending plea, David cried out to God r forgiveness, not to take His Holy Spirit from him—remember that? Unrelated to Jesus’ disciples, but akin in similar emotion; the fear of losing God.

I can empathize, can’t you? In allowing myself to imagine my life without God’s Holy Spirit living in me, at the helm of my life, a desperate panic grips my heart.

How could I live without the Holy Spirit’s comforting? His Ever-present-ness? His leading and guiding, opening, closing, correcting, and realigning, without His whisperings? His merciful, unmerited kindness? Without His friendship and unfathomable love? Even allowing myself to examine these vain imaginings is unnerving. Losing God’s Holy Spirit is as inconceivable to me as losing some piece of me; a leg, arm, or eye—being struck mute suddenly or going blind. Yet far more piercing even than any of these. I could live minus anyone of them. I would be the walking dead minus God’s Holy Spirit alive in me. And I experientially know this because I was the walking dead in my not-so-distant past.

Yet despite the pain I know Jesus’ disciples experienced, I, for one, thank Him for His unswerving obedience to our Father. For His physically coming into this world and physically leaving it as well. If you are God’s child, His Holy Spirit alive in you, then I am sure you are thank-full as well. We, my true brothers and sisters and I, scattered across the globe, millions each united as one now in Christ, by His Holy Spirit alive in us. Jesus loved us enough to leave us—bodily, that is.“…And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” –Matthew 28:20.

As our Great High Priest, Jesus accomplished His work here on earth through His sacrificial death and resurrection. The Blood of God’s Perfect, Spotless Lamb, shed for the sins of the whole world. Having resurrected, He is our Great High Priest forever, seated now at the Father’s Right hand, as Intercessor He pleads our cause and presents our offerings before God. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” –Hebrews 4:14-15.

Back now, to Jesus and His disciples. We will continue looking at John, Chapter Sixteen, digging a bit deeper. But before we do, to recap: Jesus had just told His disciples He was leaving. It was time for Him to return to the Father. Not leaving them hopeless, Jesus promised them He would send a “Helper” His Holy Spirit. Jesus knew the work the Father had sent Him to do was nearing completion—His Cross before Him now.

In John Sixteen, starting in verse Eight, Jesus begins to unfold “why” the Holy Spirit is coming.

In part, He is sent into this world to convict it—of its sin and God’s righteous judgment, also, of the coming judgment. And in verse thirteen, Jesus reveals even more of the “why.” He goes on to say that when the “Spirit of Truth” comes, He will guide us, you, me, every Blood-bought believer in Jesus Christ, into all Truth. Seemingly, and in part, this Truth is the “so much more” Jesus spoke of in verse twelve? While in verses thirteen and fourteen, Jesus assures His friends that when the Holy Spirit begins to reveal future events to them, they can trust His voice—His leading, counsel, His revelation. Why? Because the wisdom of the One to come flows directly from Him. Jesus is His Source. Remember, up to this point, Jesus’ disciples have only known, trusted, relied on Him, Jesus’ voice, His teaching. So Jesus assures his friends that the Holy Spirit only speaks what He has received from Him, and that Jesus speaks only from what He receives from God. Triune Unity. “I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it” –John 12:49.

Perhaps penning the Revelation from Jesus while exiled on the Isle of Patmos, John remembered Jesus having spoken these very Words? But I stray.

In verse fifteen, we witness Jesus make plain the greatest mystery ever shared with humanity: The mystery of The Trinity. Here, Jesus makes plain yet deepens the Truth He has been speaking to his disciples from the beginning, He and the Father are One. Jesus now broadens their understanding of this marvelous mystery by including the Holy Spirit in this Oneness.

For the past three and a half years, His friends have solely depended on Jesus. Relied on Him to reveal, teach, expound on, point the way toward the Truth. Towards God and His Kingdom plan. They have witnessed Jesus’ miracles, healing the sick, lame, and blind, bringing the dead to life. Yet the disciple’s pain and disbelief, coupled with their yet limited spiritual understanding, momentarily prevents them from fully understanding that Jesus is not deserting them. Instead, He is passing the proverbial baton to the Holy Spirit. The One who will be with them now, living in them, always. They yet to understand that the work of the Holy Spirit is, in part, to point them, and all those who will come to belong to Jesus, “into all Truth.”

That He will spread God’s Truth globally, by revealing Christ, God’s Logos, person by person; the work of the Holy Spirit is nothing if not personal. And being one of those to whom He has revealed Christ, I thank God for my very personal encounter with the Holy Spirit. I thank God for the engagement ring Jesus slipped on my finger in the person of His Holy Spirit alive in me. Christ’s assurance He will fulfill the promise He made me, returning to bring me to where He is, eternally. And so, I wait. We wait, family. Assured and hope full—we are never alone. “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given to Me [as Your gift to Me], may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, because You loved Me before the foundation of the world” –John 17:24.

Friend, Jesus died that you might have eternal life, live each day with His Holy Spirit alive in you. Leading and guiding and strengthening you—regardless of sins you may have committed. Won’t you ask Jesus to be Lord of your life today? Confess your sins and be saved!

Now I know, You…

February 5, 2022 /
MaryEllen Montville

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.” –Job 42:5-6.

Count how many friends you have across each of your social media platforms. Go ahead; I’ll wait. Now, of the total number of “friends” tallied, how many of those people do you know, relationally? How many do you regularly have coffee or dinner with, get together with to hang out, just because? Do you know their birthdays? Their kid’s birthdays? Their mom and dad’s name. Their favorite color or food? How many do you talk with regularly? Have you been in their home, and they in yours? Have you ever had to place the full weight of your trust in any of them? How did that turn out? By now, I’m sure you figured out where I’m going with this strange request for you to friend count?

Knowing, as in knowing someone, can mean vastly different things to us.

Yet the knowing Job was referring to in today’s scripture verse—is universally understood. How? All born-again believers in Jesus Christ know God—more are known by Him. Though our degrees of understanding, spending time with, surrendering to, and seeking after Himmay differ, our knowing Him is collective. If we are Blood bought believers, we know and are known by God. Scripture clarifies that when we accept Jesus, God’s Holy Spirit takes up residence within us. “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” –Acts 2:38.

Nowhere in Scripture have I read where God gives more of His Spirit to one child than He does to another.

So, when we talk about knowing a person, what does that mean? What does it look like to you and me? I’m sure how we define “knowing a person” will vary widely depending upon our definitions of the term knowing. Yet our knowledge of a person is where I want us to focus today. Specifically, I want us to examine, dissect, really think about knowing Christ.

Do you know Jesus intimately? Is He “The Person without whom you cannot live? Do you communicate with Him throughout your day?” Or do you know Him like you know some of your “friends” on social media, in name only? Is Jesus on your radar at all?

So, we’re all on the same page as we move forward now; we’ll be using the following two Greek terms/definitions of “knowing, having knowledge of” as our cornerstone.

Oida. This Greek verb implies common/universal experiential knowledge: Examples: Oida denotes having basic knowledge of facts concerning a person, place, or thing. We see this word used some 318 times throughout Scripture. Examples of this common knowledge are: All humans are born infants. Water can be liquid, solid, or vaporous in form. 2+2 will always equal 4—dogs bark, cows moo, and pig’s squeal.

One example of this Oida knowledge, spoken of in Scripture, jumps to mind; it’s found in John’s Gospel, Chapter 6.

By miraculously multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus fed a great multitude, some five thousand men, not counting the women and children—and, there were leftovers. We’ll pick up the following day; this same crowd wakes to notice Jesus and His disciples are gone. So, they piled into borrowed boats and went across to Capernaum, searching for Him. But Jesus knew their hearts. He knew they came seeking more food—to witness another miracle. They hadn’t come because they wanted to be with Jesus—they were merely curious about Him. “Who is this guy? What is He all about?” They weren’t so much interested in getting to know Jesus, His heart, and ways, nor to understand what it is they might do for Him, no. These came in search of head knowledge—what they might witness, experience Jesus do in their midst—for them. We know this because Scripture states that soon after Jesus lays out for them the only way to have a genuine relationship with Him—to get to know Him, everyone, save His chosen twelve, abandoned Him. They went off looking for the next best thing—moving on to the next “friend.” They had only wanted Oida knowledge of Jesus. And once they got what they wanted, they were out. –John 6:22-66.

The second type of knowledge we’ll look at today is, Ginōskō. And though Oida and Ginōskō both imply, are translated “to know,” Ginōskō refers to having a more intimate knowledge of.

Now, going back to the beginning of this teaching, I asked some questions concerning friends across your social media platforms. How well do you know them—if at all?

Undoubtedly, most of us have “friends” that are family members. Others, family by choice, others still, brothers and sisters in Christ—family, one-in-all. And then there is your husband or wife. And it is within the context of this sacred relationship, we best witness the living definition of Ginōskō. Allow me to explain.

In Genesis 4:1-2, we read the following: “Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived, gave birth to Cain and said, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” Then she gave birth again to his brother Abel.” The intimate knowledge spoken of here is Ginōskō knowing. It far surpasses even the parent-child, sibling, or life-long friend, knowledge of another. It is a profoundly personal, wholly transparent, intimately immersed in, sacred, set apart, exclusive oneness. In John 10:14-15, Jesus spoke of this same intimate knowing existing between Himself and His Bride, listen: “I am that good shepherd, and know mine, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep.” Underlining added for emphasis.

The disciples knew Jesus’—more Jesus knew His disciples. And it’s this level of knowing Job professed to gain in today’s Scripture verse. This outcry of, “then I knew of you, Lord, but now, I know You.” This sudden realization that the Sovereign God of the universe has singled him out—wants to be one with him. More is in him, and He wants to show Himself Mighty to Save. This intimate knowing Job has acquired of God has him on his face before His Lord. Genuine, heartfelt repentance is a beautiful thing.

Returning now, to John Six, to that moment when Jesus instructs the crowd that had crossed over on boats that to indeed find Him, for them to genuinely be His—One with Him, to Ginōskō Him, they must eat His Body and drink His Life-giving Blood. It’s within a few moments of Jesus’ saying this when everyone but His disciples bailed. The others weren’t ready to receive that kind of friend request. They wanted no part of what Jesus had just told them needed to happen.

But not Jesus’ disciples. They wanted so much more than mere Oida knowing; like Job, they wanted the Truth, they wanted a Ginōskō knowing. Listen to Peter’s response to Jesus’ question: “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Did you catch that? The “and to know, Ginōskō, that you are the Holy One of God? Peter knew Jesus.

Yet, in Matthew’s Gospel, we witness the Apostle Peter’s awakening. That moment Peter went from Oida—experiential knowledge, into a deeper, more intimate Ginōskō understanding of his relationship with Christ—of just who Jesus was. Of their connection one to another. Again, it’s Scripture that makes this abundantly clear. “Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out” –Matthew 16:17-18 MSG.

Scripture informs us two paths lay before us—one leading to Life, the other to death. God has given us the free will to choose which we will take. Oida, the path laden with stony words and second-hand experiences. Littered with statements like “I know about Jesus, I’ve heard everything about Him,” made smooth only by other people’s experiences of Him—empty of any actual knowledge of your own. Or there’s the way of Ginōskō. The personal, living as One with God daily, path. The Him Living in you and you living for Him, path. The “all-in” way. “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster” –Deuteronomy 30:15.

Today, friend, the choice has been set before you. Which will you choose? And know, not choosing is a choice. It leads away from where Jesus is calling you—to know Him.

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” –Deuteronomy 30:19-20.

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