Tag: jesus (Page 18 of 28)

Kingship. Revelation 22:16.

December 21, 2019 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

**“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”**

Friends, for this, our last week together during Advent, I will again be writing this post centered around Jesus as the “Light.” It is this aspect of Himself that He has been impressing upon my heart, and I believe, wants to re-mind us of. In these dark days, these turbulent and uncertain times in which we live be remind dear friends: Immanuel is here, still! He is sending His Word out afresh in this season of hope that we might refocus our hearts and minds on Him. To rekindle our remembrance of His promise to “never leave us, never forsake us.” My prayer for each of you in this season of hope is that you will look up and be refreshed, reawakened, or, perhaps, awakened for the first time to His Truth. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5.

Isaiah speaks to us about this tender Shoot, this Root. This babe who’ll be born to us in Bethlehem. This Morning Star who comes and humbly takes on His servant’s frame. “He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him”—Isaiah 53:2.

I’ve heard of these offspring’s before, these mere shoots; “suckers” they’re called. They’re described as follows: A shout which grows out of the root of a tree, at some little distance from it, of which no notice or care is taken, nor anything hoped for from it. Like that of the springing up of a low and insignificant plant or shrub out of the earth.

Jesus was viewed by many in much the same way…

As insignificant. A nuisance. Wild. Untamable. Of having little value to them. Being deemed as unworthy of sharing in their precious time. A heretic! Most could not recognize the hope He offered this lost and dying world. Offers, still. Jesus was looked upon by most of those He came to give His life a ransom for as an imposter. Yet He is greater than any of those mere men from whose bloodline He hailed. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” –Micah 5:2.

Listen closely to how He describes Himself when speaking to John. He leaves no room, in any man’s heart, to doubt the authenticity of both the speaker or His Words. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star” –Revelation 22:16. Long before His lone star shone brightly in the heavens, a beacon, drawing the poor and royal both towards a manger, Isaiah had written of the seemingly lowly status of this New Born King who would come cloaked as Bethlehem’s Babe. “And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger” –Luke 2:12.

Is it any wonder that His arrival would be accompanied by this sign? This Guiding Light? Be heralded by an angel? The birth of the Kings of Kings, God’s only begotten Son made flesh, warranted an extra-ordinary celestial announcement. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world” Psalm 19:1-4.

Would any of those below have otherwise believed that the King of Kings had just been born in such a lowly place? Or that He is, in fact, their long-awaited Messiah? Is the King of Glory? Jaded as humanity was—is, still, it requires signs, proofs. Why was it only the Magi who seemingly knew whose star this was? To Whom it was pointing them towards? Didn’t all of Jerusalem, and the surrounding areas have access to the same Scriptures they did? More even? “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth” Numbers 24:17.

No one expected Him to come as He did when He did, that first time around. And, as it was then, so too will it be when He comes again.

“The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah’s. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing – until the flood hit and swept everything away” –Matthew24:37-38.

Most missed out on the free gift of Jesus’ lavish, sacrificial, healing love. They missed His purpose, the heart behind His ministry: restoration—clearing the way back to a right relationship with the Father. They missed out on His healings, the freedom, liberty, and, new-Life that was being offered them; that might have been theirs, but, they missed out. Missed Him. Their hearts too firmly set against any possibility that He was, in fact, who He claimed to be. They failed—some refused, to acknowledge the humble majesty of this Bright and Morning Star, this New Dawn, this Light that annihilates the darkness, because they were too busy looking for a stately, warrior king, a militaristic deliver—another David. Though through His mother and father both, His lineage is linked to that of Kings, of warriors, this once-renowned kingly line had, by the time of Jesus’ birth, been reduced to little more than the embers of a once-prominent name. Perfect! No mere coincidence here! Such a thing doesn’t exist with God. He is perfect, so is His timing. Hence the exact moment of this Babe’s birth. This Shoot spoke of in Isaiah.

Just when all appeared hopeless, dried up, like some long-dead tree stump, this Offspring of David, this Shoot would suddenly burst forth; forever turning this world upside down. Making all things new…

From the moment He arrived—before really, His Kingship has always been hidden in plain sight; starting with His conception. Kings aren’t typically born to unwed teenage moms and dads who are carpenters. They’re not born in a lowly manger rather, in stately mansions. Kings are not born outwardly poor, don’t willingly take on the form of their humble servant, washing the feet of their friends. Most kings do not renounce their titles, nor the glory and perks that often accompany it. Yet the King of Kings did. He was pleased to give all glory and honor to His Father—claiming none as His own. This Jesus, a babe who was bathed in the Light of heaven, came as a Living Sacrifice the first time. Meek, lowly, yet no less The King. No less God wrapped in flesh.

Soon, He will come again. This time, however, He’ll come as our Judge. Yet before He does, before this Light who sees all, comes; He, out of His store of unfathomable love, offers us one last opportunity to cry out to Him now, in repentance of our sins—for His mercy and forgiveness, acknowledging that we are sinners in desperate need of Him, our Savior. “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds” –Revelation 22:12.

What better Christmas gift could any man ask than to have His name written in The Lamb’s Book of Life? “For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts…” –2 Peter 1: 17-19.

Friend, in this season of renewed hope, my prayer for you is this: that you will receive this Gift God freely gives to anyone, anywhere, who will wholeheartedly accept it. Won’t you ask Him to give you this Jesus as your Lord and Savior now, as your own Christmas Gift? How I would love to spend eternity celebrating Him with you! “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” –Revelation 22:17.

Transformed. Acts 9:3

December 14, 2019 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

**“Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.”**

Friends, for the remainder of Advent, I will continue to share shorter posts centered around Jesus as the “Light.” It is this aspect of Himself that He has been impressing upon my heart, and, I believe, wants to re-mind us of. In these dark days, these turbulent and uncertain times in which we live, be remind friends: Immanuel is here, still! He is sending His Word out in this season of hope to refocus our hearts and minds on Him. To rekindle our remembrance of His promise to, “never leave us, never forsake us.” My prayer for each of you in this season of hope is that you will look up and be refreshed, reawakened, or, perhaps, awakened for the first time, to His Truth. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5.

Suddenly: unexpectedly; happening, coming, made, or done quickly, without warning.

One moment Saul was intent on killing the leaders of The Way and taking anyone who even remotely smacked of Christianity captive. And in the next, he finds himself blinded by the Light of the glory of God. At that moment, Saul experienced the “suddenly” of God. Scripture states it this way: “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem” –Acts 9:1-2. Armed with letters of authority from the high priest to commit these unspeakable atrocities, Saul had set off for Damascus to address the synagogues there. He was asking for their cooperation in the arrest of anyone they suspected maybe following The Way. He wanted them all, every man, woman, and child in chains that he might have them dragged back to Jerusalem.

Religion will do that to us. It will drive us into believing that even our wrongs are right. It will so blind us to the Truth, that we’ll dress up our sins and earnestly offer them up to God as a sign of our love, our loyalty, just as Saul did. Only the Pure Light of God’s Truth is able to remove these scales, this crust of religious ideology from our eyes, enabling us finally to see this Jesus who is standing right in front of us…

Little did Saul know, however, that he was, and would continue to be, an intricate part of God’s plan of salvation for the gentiles. As a result of his ravaging and persecution, these new followers of The Way fled Jerusalem. And, with them went The Truth. This knowledge of Jesus as their Savior. Of Him being The Way—the only way, back into right relationship with the Father. And this Truth spread with their every step. From one to another it passed, this life-changing Truth could not be contained. It passed from one to another, sating the thirst of each one it filled just as surely as if water had been given to one who is parched. In Saul’s attempt to silence the voice of those that now carried the Word of God within themselves, he had unwittingly become one of its greatest catalysts. But, before Saul could accomplish his insidious plan to bring an end to The Way, however, God would stop him in his tracks—literally. Listen to what God has to say about men’s plans: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps” –Prov. 16:9. It was God’s plan, not Saul’s, that would prevail. It always has been, and it always will be…

The verse following today’s Scripture says this: “He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” –verse 4.

Saul, in the midst of his sinful, awful tirade, hears the voice of the Resurrected Jesus, and its Truth pierces him to his core. At that same moment, he is blinded by the Pure, All-knowing Light of this same Jesus. He has caught a glimpse behind the veil, been made a witness of the blinding Truth of God. All his misguided zealousness, his religion, must now give way to this Truth that exposes men’s darkest deeds. Saul will forever be undone by this one encounter. And so too, must we…

Saul was blinded, yet, in a very real sense, his eyes had never seen so clearly.

In Saul, we’re able to catch a glimpse of ourselves. Our desperate need for transformation, for reconciliation. In Saul we also witness great hope. The fiercest of sinners can be saved! It is not too late for you, for any of us, to turn to this Jesus and ask His forgiveness. Ask Him to come into our hearts, forever changing them. In Saul, we recognize our deepest need: to meet this Resurrected Jesus face to face. To be transformed, as he was, by this God whose Light is no longer swaddled and lying in a manger, a Christmas babe. Like Saul, we must be willing to leave our religion, our idols, and intellect, our traditions, and pride at the feet of Truth—our love offering, our due. We must come and bow before Him, fall to our knees, face to the ground, in humble adoration, in submission, in awe. Then, stand up, bold, and changed, and willing and wanting to tell anyone and everyone about this Light that pierced the deepest recesses of our hearts and minds.

The Light that is coming again, soon, and very soon…

“I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” 1 Corinthians 15:50-52.

Jesus came to Saul just as He comes to each one who has, or ever will be, saved: suddenly and without warning. And, just as suddenly, He will one day call us back to Himself—eternally. No man knows that hour. Not even the Son…

Friend, this Advent, ask yourself this one question: If Jesus suddenly showed up today, are you ready to meet Him face to face? Don’t think it can’t happen to you. Paul’s experience alone ought to dispel that lie. Where are you spending your eternity? If you don’t know the answer to this question, please, I implore you, ask this same Jesus into your heart now, don’t delay…

Adventuske. 2 Corinthians 4:7

December 7, 2019 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”

Friends, over the next several weeks of Advent, these postings will each be centered around Jesus as, “The Light.” It’s been this aspect of Himself that He’s impressing upon my heart, and I believe, wants to remind us of. ” The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” John 1:5. In these dark days, these turbulent and uncertain times in which we live, God is re-minding us: Immanuel is here, still. He is sending His Light forth, in this season of hope, that it might illuminate and refocus our hearts and minds on Him. Exposing their hardness and wayward tendencies, so that, His Truth might be rekindled within them; causing us to repent and return fully to Him. Our remembrance of His solemn promise stirred afresh within us: “He will never leave us, never forsake us.”

My prayer for each of you in this season of hope is this: that you will take the time to allow the Light of the world to dawn in your hearts and be re-freshed, re-awakened, or perhaps, awakened for the first time, to His Truth. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5.

The term Advent finds its roots in the Latin word, adventuske. Which means, “arrival”, “appearance.” In the Christian community, it is that four-week period preceding Christmas. Matthew’s Gospel refers to the dawing of this great Light— this Jesus who appears, dawns suddenly in the human heart, this way: “The people who were sitting (living) in [spiritual] darkness have seen a great Light, And for those who were sitting (living) in the land and shadow of [spiritual and moral] death, Upon them a Light has dawned.” –Matthew 4:16. That’s us. Our heart. Each believer. Each minister of the Gospel message. Each one who has been transformed. Made new. Those washed clean by the shed Blood of this same Light that commanded the darkness to give way to the light of the first day. We are “the people,” upon whom this permeating Light of Christ has dawned; piercing these, our earthly vessels through and through. Exposing us to His blinding Truth. “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one abiding in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit. For apart from Me you are able to do nothing” –John 15:51. Now, ever changed by this Truth; our new hearts are eternally captivated by the One whom we now adore.

This advent of Christ in us laid to rest our old man with all its sins and stains. Darkness must take flight in the presence of Light. Now, made new, His resurrected brilliance shines through us. Our new man beckons to all who will, saying: “Come, see a man who told me all things I ever did. Can it be that this is the Christ?”

His Spirit alive in us—Immanuel. Fully God yet fully man. A deep mystery.

On that first Christmas Eve, Pure Light entered this world in a sullied, fleshly vessel in order that He might be akin to us. Experience every aspect of our frail humanity; in every way save sin. How better to mediate for any man except having experienced, in the truest, the most intimate sense, all that a man has seen and felt and done and lived through: good, or bad? This Light of which Paul is speaking descended from heaven that He might live within each of us, intimately. Making a way back to having a right relationship with the Father possible by the eventual laying down of His life. I saw it written this way: God descended heaven in the form of His Son to prepare the way back to Himself. He came to be Redeemer of a lost and dying world. First, it was God above, God far from us. Then it became, in Christ, God with us. Finally, through His gifting us His Holy Spirit, it is now God in us. For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” –2 Corinthians 4:6.

This same Jesus, this Light that shone in the darkness 2000 plus years ago, beckons to you and me now—still. Leaving heaven He came to us as a defenseless babe. For a time, the all-powerful One, Creator of heaven and earth surrendered His power, entrusting Himself into the hands of Mary and Joseph, His creations. He came not to condemn the world, rather, to offer it salvation in Himself. In His death and resurrection, He offers you, me, them, each of us, eternal life. Without Him, outside of His dunamis (the Greek word from which we derive our English word dynamite) power in us: His strength, ability, His moral power, His excellence of soul, His inherent power residing in us, His very nature within His; we can do nothing of eternal value. Starting with saving our own souls. Impossible outside of Jesus. Hence why we have such a deep need of this Light we carry in these our fragile, earthen vessels, His alone.

In this advent season, this season of a million and one shining lights, won’t you ask the One True Light to come into your heart?

I promise, as one who has received His precious Gift, Jesus is, by far, the only Present you will ever need in this, or any season. “For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you” –Ephesians 5:14 (emphasis my own). And what is “this reason?” That you might leave behind every sinful thing, every deed committed under the cover of darkness. And, then, after having surrendered your life into His loving care be filled with His Light that you too will, in turn, shine it into this lost and dying world. Becoming a beacon then for, “whomsoever will…”

Fill the Need. Colossians 4:12-13

November 30, 2019 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

Cast as much reproach as you like on me, ye worldlings; the more honour shall there be to God, who worketh as he pleaseth, and with what instrument he chooseth, irrespective of man. –Charles Spurgeon.

Continuing on in last week’s charge to be “doers of God’s Word”, notice then how one of our brothers who, having had no formal ministry training, did just that…

How he obeyed the call God had placed on his life, despite the hardships it brought with it, and then went out and filled the need he was called to fill. How he faithfully preached the Word, planted a then-obscure, and small-town church, prayed, and interceded for the Body of Christ at all times, and, co-labored with his brothers for the benefit of all. His learning coming by the instruction of the Holy Spirit and his fellow ministers. Pay attention to how Epaphras carried out this great and privileged mandate he’d been entrusted to walk out. Notice too, that though Epaphras was a simple man, much like the disciples before him, he bore evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in Him—in his ministry. And, like them, he was obedient to the will of God. The call on his life—his transformation was evident, it bore much fruit. Finally, in our examining of him, we’ll also catch glimpses of our brother Paul. Timothy too…

Little is known about Epaphras other than in all likelihood, Paul himself was responsible for his conversion. Our brother Epaphras was not a Jew, he was a gentile believer who, it’s believed, hailed from Colossae. He also became a friend, brother, and treasured co-laborer of the Apostle Paul. He holds the distinction of being lauded by Paul for his exhaustive prayer ministry. And, Paul, in the Fourth Chapter of Colossians, makes clear to the church in Colossae, and to us, his thoughts and knowledge of this Epaphras. Of his heart for serving God, and he reminds this nascent church of the command attached to the Word of God Epaphras had shared with them earlier. “Epaphras, who is one of you and a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. [He is] always striving for you in his prayers, praying with genuine concern, [pleading] that you may [as people of character and courage] stand firm, [spiritually mature] and fully assured in all the will of God. For I testify for him that he has worked strenuously for you and for the believers in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis” –Colossians 4:12-13.

In the first chapter of Colossians we hear Paul refer to him as, “a faithful minister of Christ,” and in the fourth chapter of this same book, we hear Paul describe Epaphras with these words: “a servant of Jesus Christ”–Col. 1:7; 4:12.

Paul uses the term, “a servant of Christ Jesus” multiple times when referring to Himself. There is one other preacher whom Paul bestows this title upon as well; his son in the faith, young Timothy. “Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:” –Philippians 1:1. Paul’s charge to Timothy was to do, in essence, what we’ve witnessed our brother Epaphras do: holding fast to his faith, praying and interceding for all people. Teaching and admonishing those in his charge that they might come to the saving knowledge of the One True God who is able to reconcile man back to God. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…,” –1 Timothy 2:1-5.

In Chapter One of Colossians, the Apostle Paul informs us that it was Epaphras, who first shared the life-changing Good News with those in Colossae. He was responsible for the establishment of the Colossian church. Yet the only thing that qualified this convert for his position, this privilege, was God’s choosing of him, then, secondly, Paul’s confirmation of this calling on his life. “You learned it from [our representative] Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf and he also has told us of your love [well-grounded and nurtured] in the [Holy] Spirit” –Colossians 1:7-8. All three of these men, in fact, share in this calling—this burning in their bones to pray for and to preach, teach, and encourage “whomsoever will” about this Jesus and His great life-changing love for them.

Now let me ask you, “which area of service have you heard God whispering in your ear to lay hold of?” What fire is burning in your bones? Is God calling you to teach? To preach His Word? To missionary work? Evangelism? Worship? Intercessory Prayer? To leading others perhaps? Does His whispering make you feel as though there’s no way this could be you? That you must somehow have mistaken His voice for your own? That you’re in no way qualified? If so, that’s a great place to be! Why? Because you’re absolutely right!

You and I are not worthy to be called—used by, to serve, such a Holy, pure, and sinless God. And yet He calls us. More, He wants us. Wants to use us as His hands and feet and arms and eyes, His Words. Use us to go and serve and bleed and lift up and out that one He is wooing—calling to Himself; just as surely as He did with Epaphras and Paul and Timothy, with Peter and Moses, Abraham too. Yet, above all, He wants us. Period. He wants to have a relationship with us. To love us and shape us and teach us and change us, filling up, restoring, those empty, barren places within caused by this life we live. By our own sins and failures, by rebellion—and those who’ve sinned against us. By those thoughts that we are too broken, too stupid, too far from Him even.

I know this with certainty because I am one of the broken. The unqualified, the ill-educated, that unrefined, sin-stained one He called to Himself, washed in His Blood, then, clearly whispered, “Feed My sheep.”

Finally, as it was with Epaphras, and Paul and Timothy, so too it is with me. I must fulfill my calling in coming here every week, week after week, to meet with you. Praying for you while we are apart. Loving you, though we’ve never met; simply because I know my Father loves you. And I do it scared and uncertain that I able—am capable, of this awesome privilege of being here with you. And it’s there in my weakness and inability that He reminds me, time and again, that it’s not me who does this, it’s Him in me. It’s all Him. The same One who called and equipped our brothers is here now, inspiring this; calling you. I come here out of obedience to Him—out of love, His love, for you. I come because I too am a bondservant of God. And I was called here to fill a need…

“Therefore give all the glory to his Holy name. Cast as much reproach as you like on me, ye worldlings; the more honour shall there be to God, who worketh as he pleaseth, and with what instrument he chooseth, irrespective of man. Again, dearly-beloved, whatever is your work, whatever God has ordained you to do in this world, you are equally certain to have the assistance of the Holy Spirit in it.” Charles Spurgeon.

Brothers and sisters if you love the Lord and feel some stirring in the depth of you to serve Him, to fill some need, I urge you to fast and pray and seek His confirmation. God will always confirm His Word and His call. Seek out your pastor, or elder, a mature brother or sister, that they might pray with you, intercede for you. And then listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you…

And friend, if you are here today and don’t yet know this Jesus, don’t let another day pass you by without Him by your side. I can guarantee you, you are in no way “living your best life” without Him! Ask Him into your heart today, He’s waiting… “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” –Romans 10:9.

Waves of Affliction And Trouble. Matthew 14:22-25.

November 9, 2019 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

***“As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people.”***

It wasn’t Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand, nor was it Peter’s walking on water that jumped out at me as I read Chapter 14 of Matthew’s Gospel. It wasn’t even Jesus’ walking on water. Rather, it was the fact that He ‘insisted’ that His disciples get in their boat and cross the Sea of Tiberias, and head towards Gennesaret without Him—all the while knowing a storm was headed their way. But why? Why did Jesus insist that they go ahead without them? Why send Twelve of His dearest friends—His beloved disciples, into a perilous storm He knew was coming? Why would He send them off on their own to face a storm He knew was far beyond their capacity to traverse?

Would you be surprised if I said His love for them was the motivating force behind Jesus’ command that they cross the sea without Him? Be sent into a storm He knew they were ill-prepared for? Difficult as it may be to take in, God’s love will, oftentimes places us in situations or allow us to face seasons of difficulties that we simply do not understand, are in no way prepared to handle. Included within these often-stormy moments, are precious gifts given us—if we’ll but receive them. Those sweet moments of clarity that lead us into the sure knowing that He alone is God. And, in those moments, a heart-cry goes out, Abba! Father! Save me as only can! We hand ourselves over to the One who allowed the storm so that we might witness Him walking on the water right there beside us; already there with us, ready and willing to save. Just as it was with the disciples, so it is with us, too. Though skilled in their craft as fishermen, and dedicated followers of Jesus, what they were about to face is an example of one of the occasions the Lord would use adversity to build their faith in Him. To redirect their natural tendency to handle things on our own—back towards Himself.

When we become aware that life will give us more than we can handle and come to grips with this, we find a promise: God is faithful to meet us in the mess and in the pain. And when He does, we learn to recognize our constant need to depend on Him. This is why Peter instructs the Church to cast our fears, worries, suffering, and pain on God. He reasons we can do this because God cares for us. When life deals us more than we can handle, we can rest in the reality that God can handle it –MICHAEL HIDALGO.

They were following after Him, mind you, serving Him, they were not out of the will of God, had not disobeyed Him. This was no rebuke. No punishment for deliberate sin. These were not men who had decided to run off and go their own way. On the contrary, in getting into that boat, they were following Jesus’ command, just as they always had. From the time Jesus called His disciples, He began stretching their faith, preparing them for that day when He knew He would have to leave them behind and return to the Father. This command to cross over before Him was no exception. He was ever instructing them, refine them and building them up. Taking from them what did not benefit them, their calling and purpose, and depositing into them instead new-life and purpose, a new vision and wisdom; readying them for the task of spreading His Message to a world who would all-too-often reject that message—reject Him. Sound familiar?

Jesus knew His friends end from their very beginnings. Hence, He knew exactly what they’d need, both individually, and collectively to do the will of the One that had sent Him, and chosen them. As evidence of this stretching of their faith, we first witness Jesus’ disciples facing a similar storm back in Matthew Eight. Immediately following Jesus’ informing those within earshot of the cost of following after Him, He instructs His disciples to get into their boat and head off to the opposite side of the lake –Matthew 7:18-22; 8:23-27.

God is always working. Always preparing us for what is just ahead—just on the other side of any given storm or struggle.

It is here then, in verse 24 of Matthew 8, that we first see the disciples facing a storm at sea. It is here also, where we come to understand that the disciples have yet to come into the full knowledge of just who this Jesus truly is. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” –verse 27. It is here too, that we witness an eternal Truth that can and will carry us through any storm. Jesus has promised to never leave His chosen alone.

He was as present in the disciple’s boat in Matthew 14 as He was in Matthew 8. The difference between the two being the lesson He was teaching in each instance—the degree of stretching that was taking place. Their learning to see beyond the limits of the natural world that they may see more clearly into the realm of the spirit. Contained within Matthew 14 is, in part, a vital nugget: to always remember the Truth of who God is, has shown Himself to be in our lives; contrary to the intensity of the storm we may be facing. For as long as we are on this earth, waves of affliction and troubles will come our way. How we perceive them, allow them to affect us, determines the shape we’ll come out in on the other side of our storm. Shipwrecked or strengthened?

Know this beloved: it is to the other side of the storm that we as His disciples, His servants, are being called; to serve, witness to, to bind up and undergird another. Why, in part, we have been chosen in Him at all. The other side of the storm is what we, as our brothers before us, are being prepared for, stretched, that we might reach the one God is sending us to; all the while becoming more like the One who sent us…

Another of the reasons the disciples were sent into the thick of a situation that was too great for them to manage on their own, was to teach them reliance—to trust in God alone. Only God can safely get us through the perilous storms that would otherwise destroy us. Contrary to our strengths and gifts, to our God-given abilities and our divine potential, we were not created to live apart from God—we are not our own. Love teaches us to rely solely on God, while the world around us screams at us to be self-reliant. To be our own god, to save ourselves. Let us each, instead, follow the lead of our brothers before us.

After being saved from a storm, once again—after allowing God to have stretched their faith one more time, it is here, for the first time that we hear these men finally proclaim that they know, (a knowing so deep and pure and true that they were willing to die for it) that this Jesus is, in fact, the Son of God. Long before Jesus ever stood over the dark void this storm—and its outcome, existed in Him; as does every storm—and its outcome, that you and I will ever face. Even that one that appears so perilous that it threatens to take us out! Fear not beloved. God is as present with you now as He was with our brothers then. And, the wind and waves still obey Him today…

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” –Isaiah 43:1-2.

He has called you to pass through the afflictions, the troubles, this current storm, beloved. Through the waters and rivers. Through the fire—to faith and Life in Him. Trust that you have everything within you you’ll ever need to get there; God in you and with you—always and in all ways. Waves of affliction will come—troubles too, but we, you and me and Peter and John and every believer that has ever or will ever live—are never, not for one nano-second, ever alone. He still walks on the stormy waters we are passing through them on the way to those He has sent us to reach; before He calls us back to Himself. Rely on that Truth. Place your trust in God alone…

If you have read this through this teaching, and do not have a relationship with Jesus, the One who saves all those who cry to Him from their hearts; then please, ask Him to show Himself to you know. Ask Him to be the Lord and Savior of your life. “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” Romans 10:9.

Always On My Mind. Isaiah 43.

November 2, 2019 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

“But now, this is what the Lord, your Creator says, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel,
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you [from captivity];
I have called you by name; you are Mine!”

The Lord remembers the bonds which unite us to himself even when we forget them; he recollects his eternal love, and all the deeds of mercy that have flowed from it. Though our memory is treacherous, and our faith is feeble, “yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself;” blessed be his holy name! –Charles Spurgeon

Man’s profession of love has been the impetus behind countless love songs and verses of poetry. Odes have been written and country rivers cried as a result of its birth, and death. But its genesis, its heart, its very Lifeblood is found in God’s love for man from eternity past. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life –Psalm 42:8. Long before He stood over the dark void God knew us, called us His beloved. His was the first love song ever written. The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love, he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing —Zephaniah 3:17. God’s absolute love for us runs so deep, is so profoundly intimate, complete and everlasting, it ensures we, His beloved, will always possess a place in the Father’s heart. He gave His firstborn, our Lord, as a ransom to ensure that fact. Jesus paid the sin debt we owed that our loving Father might have all of His children gathered about Him—eternally. Mark Lauterbach describes this radiant beauty of God singing over us like this: He sings over those for whom he has removed his judgments (verse 15). He sings over a rebelling people, who have been restored. He sings over a people who have no righteousness in themselves. He sings over those who have every reason to fear the face of God, not desire it. Scripture resounds with God’s singing His songs of love, deliverance, and redemption over us. Wooing us with a pledge of unfaltering, and endless love. The guarantee of that love sealed, for all eternity, in the shed Blood of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus.

“Think of the great Jehovah singing! Can you imagine it? Is it possible to conceive of the Deity breaking into a song: Father, Son and Holy Ghost together singing over the redeemed? God is so happy in the love which he bears to his people that he breaks the eternal silence, and sun and moon and stars with astonishment hear God chanting a hymn of joy.” (Spurgeon)

Before Father Abraham saw the smoking firepot and the flaming torch pass between the blood path of the slain carcasses, he’d laid side by side in obedience to Lord, God’s love and providential care of His elect had long been established. In the lifeblood of each of these animals, we witness the prophetic; the Blood of Jesus, yet to be shed. The fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to Abraham in the death of His only Son, Jesus, our Messiah. –Genesis 15:7-20. The only One worthy to be offered once, for all—for the sins of the whole world. In Him is found every tribe and nation

Remember though, that the first glimpse of this Blood—His Blood, is witnessed in the garden. Those animals whose blood was shed that their skins might be used to cover the sin-stained bodies of Adam and Eve. Their blood is our first glimpse of that One whose Blood actually sealed this covenant God made with Abraham. Abraham had done nothing to earn Gods saving grace, His mercy, and promises of protection and provision. God alone chose Abraham, just as He chose each of us. He alone established the covenant promise with Abraham, and, God alone is the only One who can fulfill the terms of His covenant. He alone is God. He alone is able…

Before Jesus stood over the dark void and spoke one Word, His elect had already been sealed in Him – Ephesians 1:4-5. Their love songs of love and deliverance already sung. I don’t know about you, but that is mind-blowing to me! Songs of a love so profound existed in the Father’s heart for you and me long before we were even knit together in our mother’s womb! God knew every sin, every evil thought, every selfish bone in our bodies—our great rebellion and turning away and still, He chooses to sing over us.

We are the heirs of the depth of God’s love for His Son—and of the Son’s complete obedience to His Father. For rarely will anyone to die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us –Romans 5: 7-8.

As Christians, we believe that in Jesus, God has accepted us. Yet all too often as the result of abuse, harsh judgments, hurtful words, and actions we also have the propensity to be far more sin conscience than we ought—allowing the heavy-weight of feelings of unworthiness to rob us of the Truth of the song of love God is singing over us. Left unchecked, it will cause us to become callous to the Truth that God delights in us—views us as cherished. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me –Psalm 18:19. I am in no way suggesting that we should allow ourselves to become so lofty and mystical that we lose sight of the need to come before the Holy Spirit in prayer, asking Him to search us, revealing anything in us that is not pleasing to Him, and then repent. I am simply here to remind those that are going through a trial—or are about to, perhaps even the one that has just emerged from some faith-fight that God loves you, delights in you, fights for you, will never leave you or forsake you—regardless of how you may think or feel about yourself. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee –Isaiah 43:2

We can’t fathom God’s incredible love for us. In and of ourselves, there would be nothing to attract him, nothing for him to delight in. But he has made us new creations in Christ, created in the likeness of Jesus, in whom is all his delight. Praise God today that he has made you precious and delightful to himself –Mark Altrogge.

Beloved, Praise Him today, that He has written a song of love specifically for you. Be encouraged as you face this new season, this trial, this heartache, this loss—nothing, not one thing you’re facing can nor ever will, separate you from the love that has called you and sustained from eternity past. He gave the Author of the greatest love song ever sung—just for you. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life –Isaiah 43:3-4.

Friend, if you are here today and want to know this Jesus, this One who is Mighty to save you who will sing songs of love and protection and redemption over you, ask Him to come to you and show Himself real in your heart. Call out to Him, from your heart, and He will answer you. If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved –Romans 10:9-10.

In Order To Release. Luke 18:18-30.

October 19, 2019 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

We are nowhere near as altruistic as we imagine ourselves. Scripture asserts that the human heart is deceitful beyond our understanding—it is incurable. In it lives the ability to commit every type of sin. “For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness” –Mark 7:21-22. In our own strength, we are powerless to overcome these evil thoughts and longings. Part of the ‘all things’ Jesus strengthens us to do includes giving us His strength in exchange for our weakness so that we can release into His loving care those things that can harm us or no longer benefit us. Contrary to how we may feel about them…

Much like this rich young ruler, we cannot give back to God any-thing He may ask us to give up or over to Him, minus the power of His Holy Spirit at work within us. It simply isn’t in our nature. Self-love will always so powerfully contend against the love of God that, even in the believer, it is often necessary to stir up our minds, by way of remembrance, the will of God that commands us to give and to sow. Having a knowledge of God, being a ‘good’ person, simply knowing about God, about His Word and will and desire for our lives will never give us the grace needed—the will required to release into God’s hands those things He may ask of us—from us. We see evidence of this in the rich young ruler. Likely a leader in the local synagogue. He knew enough about God to recognize in Jesus a man well-versed in the way and words of God—a true Rabbi. Thus he came to Jesus, sincerely some say, seeking to add more, some-thing else to what was already his. He had no idea that the ‘more’ he sought after would actually require him to leave behind what he valued the most.

With all he owned, all he had been given, he was the very poorest of men. Poor in that he was unwilling to exchange these worldly possessions for the eternal treasure being offered him. Christ in Him. Christ’s Life in Him and with Him—always. Of God living and ruling and leading and guiding and adding and taking away. Matthew Henry says it like this: Can a man lose by doing that with which God is pleased? He is able to make all grace abound towards us, and to abound in us; to give a large increase of spiritual and of temporal good things. He can make us to have enough in all things; and to be content with what we have. God gives not only enough for ourselves, but that also wherewith we may supply the wants of others, and this should be as seed to be sown.

Yet outside of a genuine relationship with Jesus, minus the deposit of the internal treasure of great value, the Holy Spirit in us, willing us to want what God wants, we too are inclined to turn and walk away from the future and promise the Lord has for us; choosing also, only those things which we can see and touch and hold on to. Those things we’ve deemed as beneficial to our overall wellbeing. Saying no thank you to God because we are too busy playing God…

This thought of freely releasing into God’s hands whatever it is He asks us to give up or over to Him, struck me as I was reading 2 Corinthians 9. Why did those believers in Corinth that had long since decided to give, need to be reminded of the commitment they had made? Wouldn’t they simply just give over the monies they had set aside when Titus and the witness arrived to collect it?

In Paul’s stirring words, a great spiritual Truth is revealed. Even the greatest of Christian men are simply that—men. And, as such, are susceptible to both falling and falling short. Fortunately, for those men and women whose lives have been surrendered to God, they, by His grace, through His election of them, are lifted up again and again and again, set aright, never to be left alone in the place they stumbled or fell short. As a result, when they fail God, and they will, by His strength in them, they are able to get up and continue on in Him. To keep fighting, keep giving up and over to. Keep standing in the face of what may feel like a great personal loss because their trust and love and heart and mind are fixed on the Gift they were given in exchange for the life they turned over to God when they heard Him say, “Come, follow me…”

Jesus is a master at revealing our hypocrisy, our humanness. Not to shame us but rather out of a deep and abiding love for us. A love He desires to share with all those who will receive it. With the precision of a gifted surgeon, He will expose our inability to keep the perfect Law of God; just as He did with this rich young ruler. By claiming to have kept all the commandments he revealed that he had in fact, failed to keep them. From the young man’s first words, Jesus begins to challenge his thinking by correcting his basic understanding of what is good. Jesus informs him that only God is good. Thus setting the standard we must use when measuring what we’ve falsely come to believe is good in others. In answering His disciples’ question on which is the greatest commandment, Jesus informs us that the core of—the very heart of all of the commandments is summed up in these two: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets”—Matthew 22:36-40.

For some of us here today, Jesus may be asking us, as He did our young ruler, to release material possessions He’s allowed us use of. For others, maybe it’s a job or a relationship that He’s asking you to let go of? Is God calling you to move to another church home? Maybe He’s calling you to a new city or state? Is He asking you to bless a person, a family, or some organization financially, and you just can’t see how you’ll see your way clear to do it? Is He asking that you entrust Him with your opinions of yourself, who you think you are, that you might see yourself as He sees you? Is He asking you to hand over your vision in exchange for His? Those wounds that have had you bound, are keeping you isolated and joyless, that you may have the joy and freedom that is found only in a relationship with Him?

The rich young ruler wouldn’t do it. He chose the here and now—what he believed he needed instead of what God was offering him. Left to ourselves we will always choose what pleases us. The power essential to give over to God any-thing He may require of us is found only in the person of the Holy Spirit. And it is in our relationship with Christ Jesus that the Spirit is given us, comes and lives within us—enabling us to do those things we simply cannot do on our own. He alone empowers us to obey God and to release into His Providential care every-thing God may desire from us—up to and including our very lives. But, we must accept His free gift. The rich young ruler knew of Jesus, but He did not know Jesus. So when asked to give over something he felt he could not live without—he had no choice but to walk away. He was power-less.

Do you have the power to release into God’s hands whatever it is He may be asking you to let go of?

If you are His, I pray that you turn to the only One who can strengthen you, brothers, and sisters. I am here to remind you and me of the commitment we made long ago—or not so long ago, to God. To have ready what we have pledged to Him when He comes for it…

Friend, if you have felt God calling you don’t turn away as the rich young ruler did. Don’t think you know enough about Jesus to get by when He is here offering you all of Himself right here, right now. Don’t turn away, please. Just ask Him, from your heart, to come into your life and do what only He can for you. He’s right here waiting to give you what you need, Himself, so you will release, into His care, what no longer serves you…

Have You Heard… John 3: 27.

September 28, 2019 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

***They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”***

The all too familiar saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is just plain wrong. Ask anyone who has suffered a tongue lashing from one who is verbally abusive. Words can, and often do hurt. Even those spoken inadvertently. Our words have the potential to turn a friend into a foe and to momentarily break the strongest of Spirits…

While reading verses 22 through 36 of John, Chapter Three, the carelessness of the words spoken in verse 26 struck me. Instantly, the term “friendly fire” came to mind. According to Wikipedia friendly Fire is defined, in part, as; An inadvertent attack by a military force on friendly or neutral troops while attempting to attack the enemy.

Whether it was the group of the religious leaders of the day, led perhaps by Nicodemus, Jesus’ nighttime visitor (vs. 23), or John’s own disciples that were speaking in today’s verse is up for debate. What our Scripture does make clear is, whichever the group, they apparently saw Jesus as competition. The closing words of today’s verse certainly alludes to that fact. “And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.” That said, what we may never know for certain is whether their words were intended to spark jealously within John or, were they testing his loyalty? Had underlying insecurities perhaps, driven them to speak in such a self-interested manner? Only God knows the intentions of a man’s heart. And how does any of this in any way connect to friendly fire?

In short, words. The power behind our words. Words can bring death or life! Talk too much, and you will eat everything you say –Proverbs 18:21. Remember brothers and sisters, we as believers are soldiers. And, from the moment the Lord called us to join in the battle until the day He calls us home, we will never leave the battlefield. Let us then be ever vigilant, friends. Not allowing ourselves to be lulled into thinking that simply because we stand behind the pulpit, are active in ministry, lead the team, or are heading up the committee that the enemy of our soul isn’t circling right there next to us. That he isn’t prowling, watching and waiting for any opportunity to discredit us, to use any word spoken in haste as a weapon to wound a fellow brother or sister. Even our anxious words, spoken half unawares.

Never forget our enemy’s sole mission is to take us out, to discredit us, use our every careless or inciteful word to cause wounds in another that may cut so deeply they’ll walk away bruised and bloodied. We’ve each, at some point in our Christian walk, experienced friendly fire, if not, we’re bound to. We’re surrounded with people who, much like ourselves, will fall short and be hurtful. For me personally, knowing our propensity to wound each other lends added weight to our brother Peter’s words to the Church Elders…

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour –1 Peter 5:8.

So with this in mind lets reread the definition of friendly fire: An inadvertent attack by a military force on friendly or neutral troops while attempting to attack the enemy. But what is an inadvertent attach? Inadvertent is defined by Webster as; not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning. Being unpremeditated, thoughtless or careless. Friendly fire, though not deliberate, has the potential to be as deadly as the bullet aimed intentionally at the heart. And in listening in on the conversation of those who were speaking to John, we hear words that have this potential to maim and destroy as surely as any misdirected bullet or bomb does. In not recognizing Jesus as one of their own, these men failed to understand that any conflict, any fallout that may result from their attempting to stir John up would, in fact, be, friendly fire.

Evil words destroy one’s friends; wise discernment rescues the godly –Proverbs 11:9

John, however, appears to have escaped being wounded in this exchange. The closing verses of this chapter make that clear. John knew who he was. More importantly, he knew who Jesus was. He was not threatened by Him in any way. Rather, he delighted in Jesus. He was humbled to have been chosen to serve Him at all. Perhaps it was, in part, this Divine revelation of just who this Jesus is that had shielded John from the effects of the friendly fire that whizzed all around him?

When we are willing to bow low in the service of our God, to forsake all for Him that we may gain Him, to shed, let go of, our egos and titles and the recognition they may bring our way and simply be used as one delighted to draw the attention of others solely to the Lamb of God that walks among us still—He then, delights in blessing us. Not in some, we earned it way, rather as a Father who delights in loving and blessing His children. What daddy doesn’t want to keep his children safe? Jesus is, after all, our fortress and our shield. His Mighty Hand ever covering us that no weapon formed by the enemy of our souls will either prosper nor thwart His plan.

In John, we see a man not wishing to be anything other than the best, most faithful, diligent, and, submissive version of himself he can be—Scripture makes this plain. But rather than taking my word on this, listen instead to what John has to say concerning himself and His Lord. Go ahead, draw in, I’m certain he won’t mind your listening in: …”You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.” The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. –John 3:28-31.

In the perilous times in which we live, in this hour of darkness and deep confusion we must know who we are in Christ, our purpose. Just as John did. Know this friend, no man’s careless words can take from you what God has for you, whether great or small. Stand firm then in your calling, hold down your place on the battlefield. God sees you and He has a purpose and a plan for your being exactly where you are. John understood this. He rested in it. Don’t allow another’s insecurity, doubt, indecisiveness or fear-filled words to cause you to duck, shrieking back! Not even friendly fire can take us out, if, like John, we’ll just hold fast to God knowing, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven” –John 3:27

Friend, if you are with us today and have yet to ask Jesus into your heart, don’t wait another moment. We never know what’s coming just around the corner. My hope is that you’ll take the time now to invite Him into your life. “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” –Romans 10:9-10. But don’t stop there friend. Find a Bible-based church and attend. Read Gods Word daily and grow in your new relationship with Him…

Such Love. 1 John 4:17-18.

August 24, 2019 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

“And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”

What is our brother John saying to us? What is it he is trying to open our eyes to see—more, our lives to be filled with and built upon? Verses 17 &18 answers this, in part. Our ability to have confidence in the day of judgment. And that perfect love, faith in the finished work of Christ, in His complete, benevolent love for us will dispel all of our fears.

Whether or not we believe it, the day of God’s judgment is coming. More, whether you believe this or not, you will face God and give an account for your life. Perhaps the greatest part of that account being why you chose not to believe in His Son? Yet John does not leave us alone with this knowledge of the coming judgement. Equally, verse 17 also instructs believers on just how to have this confidence or boldness on the day of judgment. And in verse 18 he instructs us how to cast fear out of our lives.

John Piper summarises these 2 verses this way: “These are simply positive and negative ways of saying the same thing: getting rid of fear is the negative way of saying become confident. I hope we all take the day of judgment as seriously as John does. So the main point of the text is clear: John wants to help us enjoy confidence before God. He does not want us to be paralyzed or depressed by fear of judgment. Nothing would make John happier (1 John 1:4) than to produce a generation of Christians who were utterly confident that God would accept them on the judgment day.”

Yet verses 17 and 18 are somehow wanting minus the glue that binds them together. The Truth found in verse 16 that girds them. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him –1 John 4:16. This gem is key to understanding just where this ability we must have to gain this confidence John speaks of, comes from.

Yet what does this love look like? And, how do we, as mere men, mange to love as God loves?

The Apostle John makes it clear that if we do not have a relationship—not a head knowledge, not our parents passed on religion, but an authentic relationship with Jesus—we cannot abide with God. More, we will not be able to love as God loves because it is the perfect love of God in us, at work in us, and not our own anemic, flawed love, that enables us to love as God has commanded us. You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works—James 2:22.

With this in mind, let’s follow along with John as he lays out how it is, we must take in, pattern ourselves after, and, have full, fixed confidence in—this love…

1). As we live in God…
That is, firstly, accepting in our hearts that God’s love for us is indisputable. Believing too, in the proof of His love. That this same God sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for us—literally in our place. And, that, finally, because of Jesus’ sacrifice, if we accept Him, God places His righteousness over us—covering our sin, eradicating our shame. Just as surely as He placed the bloodied skins of animals over a naked Adam and Eve –Genesis 3:21. We are made clean then, in His Pure, Spotless Blood, shed on our behalf. This acceptance is the nascent beginnings of our faith walk. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life—John 3:16.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing—John 15:5.

2) Our love grows more perfect…
The perfecting of our love for God and, conversely, for His people, is accomplished and grows in the crucible of relationship. In the friction of the day-to-day. Firstly, in our relationship with God. And, then, from its foundation springs our relationship with our neighbor. It is in our everyday walk with God, in the smallest of moments, of details, that He graciously reveals Himself. Demonstrates His great love and providential care for us. These tiny, at times seemingly insignificant, and easily overlooked moments string together forming our trust in Him. Our lifeline. An abiding love and trust we may not realize we have until life happens and then bam! Suddenly there they are; having been being built-up within us—unawares.

Our foundational relationship is with Christ Jesus. A lifelong, stabilizing gift crafted by God upon which our walk with Him begins. And, then, from this shoots grow; our love takes action and we desire to see others love Him as we do. “In this, that is in your love for each other, God’s love is put into action and so reaches its appointed goal. It does not remain at the imperfect stage of mere talk but reaches the stage of action. Perfect love is love that does not die on the vine. It’s love that comes to fruition”—John Piper.

No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us –1 John 4:12

3) So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment...

Fear implies judgment. That is all fear outside of deferential fear. More accurately, respect for God. Being awed by Him—to our very core. Overcome, undone by who He is. His majesty. His splendor. His unfathomable love. His being all-powerful and all-knowing. Creator of all things. All of them. The knowledge that our next breath and heartbeat are afforded us at His discretion. Reverential fear is not only healthy, more, it is also fundamental in the life of every believer. Least we get so puffed up and proud, thinking all that we have and do and accomplish is by our wit and hand. It is this reverential fear in us, in part, that produces both our humility to bow low before the Lord while propelling us to also go boldly before Him. Lowly in our reverence and boldly in the full confidence we have that when God sees us—He is looking at the finished work of His Son. He is looking straight at Jesus, we being hidden in Him.

On the other hand, to fear God on the day of judgment, to feel afraid, would imply that we have not loved as we ought. That some doubt lingers in us. That we do not look like Jesus. Are not clothed in His righteousness. We do not have His perfect Love as our garment. Remember, perfect love cast out fear. Our fear (doubt) before God reveals that we have not loved as we have been commanded to love—purely without reservation nor judgment. We need Jesus! Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure—1 John 3:2–3.

4) …perfect love expels such fear:
Our confidence in the finished work of the Cross, in Christ abiding in us—His Spirit residing in us, and, in Gods perfect love living and flowing from us; empowering us to love others as He would have us to love them, has commanded us to love them, demonstrates the perfected love of God at work in our lives. In everyday words—the more we surrender to the will of God, the closer we draw to Him, the more we are being shaped into the image and likeness of His Son; day after day after day. This change in us breeds lasting confidence that when we finally stand before the Throne of God, it is Jesus that The Father will see. His perfection—and not our sins and shame and short-comings. Not our sullied, flawed, imperfect selves—rather His Spotless, Perfect Son. And so we come boldly before Him. Trusting completely in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Because of who God is and what He has done our lives, we can entrust ourselves into His Hands—just as Jesus has. God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good—Numbers 23:19?

If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love — 1 John 4:18. Friend if you have read through until now and know that do not have the relationship with Jesus described above—a personal, intimate, loving relationship; then please, don’t let the sun go down on this day without asking Jesus to come into your life. Don’t go one more day without Jesus as your friend, your guide, your Lord. Ask Him to come and live in you—and you with Him. No man is promised tomorrow. And, truth be told, aren’t you hungry for more than you have right now? Jesus wants to love you, to help fill your life with everything its been missing—starting with, and most importantly, Himself.

And, now, to my brothers in Christ. Allow me, please, to encourage you. If there was some check in your Spirit as you read, some doubt that lingers in you, some sin that weighs you down, go before your Father and confess. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything in you that is not of Him. Then, take courage and turn from it, beloved, regardless of the cost. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us —Hebrews 12:1

Snatched From the Fire. Zechariah 3:2.

August 17, 2019 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

“And the Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.”

Snatched: To take or grasp abruptly or hastily; to attempt to seize something suddenly.

You beloved are that burning stick that has been snatched from the fire. A sinner saved by His amazing grace! Like Joshua before you, you have been washed clean—made new by the sacrificial shedding of Blood. The Spotless Blood of Jesus shed on your behalf. If, that is, you have accepted Jesus as your Lord…

To enter into any meaningful and lasting relationship requires intentionality. To deeply consider your commitment. A deliberate, deep and highly personal choice born from the wanting to share and grow, exchange and receive. To sacrifice and serve another or others; come what may. A conscious laying down of one’s life born out of genuine love for the well-being of the other. Entering into a relationship with Jesus is no different. It ought to be born from a deep desire to connect with this One, like no other. Remembering this: once that relationship has been established, you’ve then been set apart to both serve God and His people. And, then, to spend eternity with Him…

Yours will not be an eternity spent in the hell, that place of separation and torment that was neither created nor intended for you or any man. It was created for Satan and all those fallen angels who followed him in his rebellion against God—Matthew 25:41.

You fellow believers, are the ministers of the Most High God. Those chosen from a long line of royal priests. And yet, even though you are the King’s kid still, His ownership of you stands above your service to Him. Your priesthood—your role in ministering before the Lord exists solely because He alone has bestowed its use and service, privilege and anointing, upon you.

Ah! I have my filthy garments on. I cannot pray to Him. I cannot praise Him as I would.” I know what it is to come and preach to you sometimes, and to feel such an overwhelming sense of my own unworthiness, that, were it not, “Woe unto me if I do not preach the gospel,” I would not come on this platform again, for it is hard to feel that your garments are defiled even while endeavoring to be God’s mouth to men—Charles Spurgeon.

Friends, we cannot curry the favor of God. There’s not one thing we can do to earn “our spot.” Earn His Love for us. His forgiveness. Not-one-single-thing. Without God’s mercy and His election of us, take away His unfathomable love for us; our sins demand we spend eternity in the hell created for Satan and his gang of fallen angels, separated from God. As all those who deliberately chose to rebel against Him—deny Him, will. Not popular, I know. But it’s Truth nonetheless. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? —1 Peter 4:17. Now, with that knowledge ever before us, may we be about working out our salvation. Never forgetting the very heart of the words cried out by our brother, Paul.

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death…? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! —Romans 7:24.

May this be our cry too, brothers and sisters. May we, like Joshua and Paul, and a remnant of the nation of Israel before us—like every saint that has been or is yet to come, never lose sight of how—by whose power it is, we either stand or fall; least we begin to think too highly of ourselves and risk being humbled by our Lord and, accused before His Throne by the one whose joy is found in pointing out our sins to Him.

My true position, as a Christian, is to be always ministering to God, always standing before His altar. –Charles Spurgeon.

Satan stood at the right hand of the Angel of the Lord accusing Joshua of every sin he and his people had committed. And Satan stands there still; pointing out our sins as well. Accusing all those who dare to believe in The Name above all names! Jesus!

But, here’s the good news beloved…

Jesus Christ has the final Word! He is always, “a very present help in times of trouble”—Psalm 46. There is nothing that Satan can say or do to tear you down before the Lord. We see this Truth not only within our Scripture verse today, but this same Truth permeates the Word of God. Jesus knows everything Satan will use in His attempt to destroy you—to kill you and, He’s got you covered. He’s covered your every sin with His precious Blood. You are now the righteousness of Christ Jesus.

When God spoke to Zechariah concerning the forgiveness of Joshua’s sin, the stain on the priesthood, and the sins of Israelites—you were right there in the center of God’s heart also; represented in the person of Joshua. You stood there before the Lord in all your sin, with all of your faults and flaws, and, you were covered by God’s intentions towards you. Your filthy clothes were also removed, and, in their place, the new raiment of Christ’s righteousness was placed on you. Covering your guilt and shame, you were cleansed and then redressed from head to toe!

Beloved, now when God looks at you, it is His Son—The Spotless Lamb slain for your sins, that He sees.

The rebuke is forcibly applicable to the case in hand. He says, “Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire.” Satan says, “The man’s garments are filthy…”
“Well,” says Jesus, “how do you expect them to be otherwise? When you pull a brand out of the fire, do you expect to find it milk-white or polished?” No, it had begun to crack and burn, and though you have plucked it out of the fire, it is in itself still black and charred. So it is with the child of God. What is he at his best? Till he is taken up to heaven, he is nothing, but a brand plucked out of the fire—Charles Spurgeon.

Can you even fathom so great a love, my friends? Whether or not we can wrap our heads around this, the Truth of God’s love stands fixed. Our firm foundation. God loves you and He gave His only begotten Son to die for you that you might be restored into right relationship with Him—John 3:16.

That is the very heart of the Father’s love towards you, beloved.

The Apostle Paul says it this way: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us so that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit —Galatians 3:13-15.

You have been snatched from the fire so that you might have a relationship with the Father…

That you might spend your remaining days running after Him. Seeking Him out. Loving Him and spending time with Him. Desiring Him above all else. Above everyone and everything—placing even yourself at the very top of that list of those, you are willing to sacrifice up to Jesus. Understanding now, you are no longer your own. You have been purchased at an exceedingly high price—1 Corinthians 7:23.

So, then, be re-minded beloved: Just as Joshua was lovingly and thoroughly cleansed and prepared, so too have you been cleansed. You too are being prepared for something unimaginable beloved; to become the bride of this Christ who came and gave His life in exchange for yours. That’s Good News! The very One who reached into that all-consuming fire and said, “Not this one. This one is my own.”

Accordingly, as it was with Joshua and Peter and Noah and Mary, with Paul and John and Father Abraham, brides each, made ready for their wedding day; so too has every detail of your life been, and will forever remain in the All-Knowing and capable hands of the Father. He has spared no expense on preparing you for that day that will rival no other.

The day you meet Him face to face…

That day when your fullness of joy spills out at His feet in loving gratitude. In praise and thanksgiving. In holy adoration.

Beloved, if you have forgotten, as we sometimes do, just how deeply you are loved and cherished by God, then please, ask the Holy Spirit to re-mind you. To fill you once again with the fullness of His Word concerning His great love for you. May you experience renewal, being re-united with the One it is you belong to; have been betrothed to.

The One in whose name you have been called to minister…

I believe each of us needs to stop, from time to time, and reflect on this enormous Truth. To recalibrate, realigning ourselves with our True North.

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end—Hebrews 3:12-14.

I like that closing sentence, “And the angel of the LORD stood by.” Oh, yes, we want Him always to stand by. When you have your new garments on, when you wear your mitre, you still want His presence. “Abide with us,” must be our daily prayer. We want still His strength, His comfort, His smile, the help of His arm, the light of His countenance—for if we have Him not, we shall soon slip from our steadfastness, and have reason to stand again, like Joshua, with filthy garments on—Charles Spurgeon.

Friend, if you are here today and have not asked Jesus into your heart know this; God Himself has called you here. These words should be little more than a confirmation. A quickening inside of you that says, “I believe this is God. I believe this is Him answering my question, God, would you truly love someone like me?” He says yes. Yes, I love you. Yes, I led you here. And no, there is nothing that you have ever done that is so filthy that my Sons Spotless Blood will not wash it clean. Just ask me in and let us begin the journey I have planned for you…

The Lord said to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the Israelites, concerning you and me: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future—Jeremiah 29:11.

Tag: jesus (Page 18 of 28)

Kingship. Revelation 22:16.

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Transformed. Acts 9:3

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Adventuske. 2 Corinthians 4:7

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Fill the Need. Colossians 4:12-13

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Waves of Affliction And Trouble. Matthew 14:22-25.

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Always On My Mind. Isaiah 43.

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In Order To Release. Luke 18:18-30.

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Have You Heard… John 3: 27.

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Such Love. 1 John 4:17-18.

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Snatched From the Fire. Zechariah 3:2.

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