Tag: Salvation (Page 16 of 17)

“Copycats” 2 Cor.4:17-18

October 22, 2016 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

Unlike Christ who is the exact image of God—the spitting image, One in Trinity, spotless, pure, and perfect in all His ways—we are copy cats. Now before you go quoting Genesis to me, before you start shouting that we are in fact created in the image—the likeness of God, let me make clear my point—the thing that makes us copycats—what separates us—it’s sin. God doesn’t have any. We do…

So, while we are on this side of eternity—living in our mortal coil still, we are imitators (Eph. 5:1-2). Yes, if saved, we have been made new in Christ. Yes, we’re seen by God through Jesus’s Blood shed on our behalf—in our stead. Yes, we’re seated with Christ in heavenly places, having access to perfection—while still being housed in our tents of tainted flesh—a mystery…

But, we are not made perfect as He is perfect—wholly, not yet. That is our hope—it’s why we press on, daily, like Paul, towards our high calling… (1 Jn.3:2; Phil.3:12-14).

Paul is instructing those in Corinth not to fall for the counterfeits among them—those with smooth words and catchy phrases. Wolves in sheep’s clothing, Jesus warned of them as well! Beware of those who point to themselves—their abilities, and not toward the Cross—towards the finished work of Christ Jesus, as Paul does—unadorned, in plain speak. Don’t buy into what they’re selling—it isn’t Christ (Matt.7:15; 2Cor.4:5).

Christ alone went before us proving that with God all things can be done (Phil.4:13). Even to the overcoming—the survival of, a savage, barbaric scourging that ended in His crucifixion. It should have killed Him—the scourging alone, it should have killed Him. Think the Passion of the Christ…

But it didn’t. Why? Simply put, you, me, them—the whole of a sin-soaked world destined for—deserving of death…

Paul is pointing us towards Hebrews 12. The how of Jesus’s ability to endure—and the why.

Let’s pause for a moment. Allow me to remind you here of where we started a moment ago—about being copycats and not exact images of—not the splitting image of, our Father.

Yet He—God, allows us to share in afflictions, trials and tribulations, in our walk with Him. We, mere flesh, are deigned worthy through this same Jesus. Take Paul . Listen to him stress to the Corinthians, and to us, how minor, how unimportant, his troubles—our troubles, are? How light, when weighed against the gain of Jesus? And what a privilege they are, these trials and tribulations—these sufferings of our flesh and Spirit, mind and soul (vs’s. 8-11).

These, each, afford us the blessed opportunity to share in Christ’s suffering!

Yes. It is blessed to suffer for Christ’s sake…

And this coming from a man of God who knew what suffering for Christ meant, what suffering for the sake of the Gospel was about! Paul saw far more of suffering than many of us have ever or might ever, encounter…

Hunted, in Acts, by men who agreed to fast until they had killed him. And, in 1&2 Corinthians, Paul himself tells us that he was beaten by the Jews five times, endured three Roman scourging’s with rods, one stoning at the hands of a blood-thirsty mob, three ship-wrecks, and multiple imprisonments!

So how is it that Paul can stress to the Corinthians, and to us, how minor, how unimportant, his troubles—our troubles are? How light, when weighed against the gain of Jesus? And what a privilege they are? How it is they afford us the blessed opportunity to share in Christ’s suffering!

Why? Because he knew that the greatest of our afflictions—however painful, however life altering—however they may have broken our hearts, Spirits, minds or bodies, don’t compare—will never compare to what Jesus endured for you and I. Period. Plain-speak…it just doesn’t compare. And that they would help to mold and shape us—in preparation, for the world to come. We must die to our flesh…

We are sinful man, born into a sinful world, where the unthinkable happens around us daily. And we struggle—and often fail, to make sense of a thing. To understand the “why” of it. The terribly insufficient answer is because we live in a world riddled with—corrupted by sin.

Hate, sickness—physical, spiritual or emotional. Financial loss—loss of anything, addiction, is part of the human condition brought on through sin. And yes, as we see via our example in Paul, it happens to Christians also—those used mightily by God, are not exempt. Often the very opposite is true… (Jn. 16:33).

But how Paul? How do we endure when we are drowning in pain, in loss? How do these mere jars of clay, these vapors, press on when our spouse walks out—or dies suddenly? Our child gets sick, turns to the streets or drugs—or dies also? How do we fix our eyes on the very Jesus that is watching us shoot-up, sleep around, get drunk? In our relationship-less-state… How?

Paul says —we must look to Jesus none-the-less. Through the pain, He understands our pain. Through the shame, He underwent shame and understands all too well. We must turn to the one whom Paul has laid it all down for, the One who—endured The Cross so we would not have to. Who said, “I’ll go for you, I love you too much to lose you, even in your sin-stained situation—no, because of it, you’re not ready…I’ll go….”

We must turn to Jesus, the Teacher and Guide. He already knows—and He’s waiting. For you to come, just as you are—now, today, it’s why He endured—the scourging, the desertion and humiliation, the abandonment at the hands of those He loved. Why He didn’t run from the loneliness, separation from The Father, and His shame…

Rather He held His Cross like a precious lover—because it was…

He held it tight for our sins and shame, for our angry, drunken, drug-induced states. For our divorces and abortions, He held that Cross tight. When He knew the time of that Cross was coming near, He locked on to Jerusalem –set, laser-focused, all His attention towards what must happen.

It’s why He was born—It was, is, His purpose. For the weighty—the eternal. The Cross was for but a moment…

And, we, like Paul, must model Jesus. And fix—set our eyes on things eternal. We must endure our light and temporary troubles by always—despite, contrary to—whatever we may encounter, in faith. We must look past our crosses, yet, holding tight to them—for they are our sacrifice, our blessing, our Joy… And we must look, as Jesus did, as Paul did—toward the One who promised to finish the work in us that He started, if we would just hold on!

“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction” (Isa.48:10).

…Many have been brought home to God as chosen vessels, and a good work of grace begun in them, in the furnace of affliction. It is comfort to God’s people, that God will secure his own honor, therefore work deliverance for them. And if God delivers his people, he cannot be at a loss for instruments to be employed. God has formed a plan, in which, for his own sake, and the glory of his grace, he saves all that come to Him.

Matthew Henry.

“Dead Men Speaking?” Heb.11

October 15, 2016 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

“[Prompted, actuated] by faith Abel brought God a better and more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, because of which it was testified of him that he was righteous [that he was upright and in right standing with God], and God bore witness by accepting and acknowledging his gifts. And though he died, yet [through the incident] he is still speaking” (Heb.11:4). Emphasis my own.

These men of God, these stalwarts of the faith—eternal voices, esteemed each, and found in the Christian Hall of Fame, Hebrews Chapter Eleven, are no more dead—no more silent, than is Jesus. And Jesus is most certainly not dead! He is alive and speaking still, as are they—always, to His children—to the world!

There are times, that in order for us to understand where we are now and how it is we got there, we must look over our shoulder for a moment and evaluate—take stock of, our path, our journey. This is what Paul, I believe, is reminding us to do in Chapter Ten’s conclusion. He signals us to remember those moments when we first believed, when we were on fire for the Truth—for God. We must rekindle those moments, afresh, again and again.

There is no price too great to pay to follow what burns in our hearts—what we hunger for, thirst after. Paul reminds us that though time has passed—and with it’s passing, perhaps it’s taken some of our ardor also. Nevertheless, we must hold on, hold fast to, our passion for God. We must remain steadfast in faith. We must persevere…

He reminds us that none of us is promised a smooth path to follow. But he also states plainly that the one who went before us is coming back for us as well—and He won’t delay! That is our Hope delayed, but not denied! Yet this Jesus is not looking for—is not pleased with us when we shrink away from our walk with Him simply because it’s gotten hard…

Think how hard it was for Him. How hard it was for Abraham, Moses and Noah. For David, Mary, His mother, and Rahab, the prostitute. For Peter and John, Matthew the tax collector and Simon the Zealot. Even for Paul himself. How difficult it was for all those who choose to follow the call they knew came from God in the midst of a pagan world who wanted nothing to do with their Jesus…

Sound familiar?

Yet we, like they, gain our strength through The Holy Spirit, so that, we too may endure until the end. If we will turn our hearts to Him—crying out to the only One who can sustain us in our hours of weakness, our times of trials and loss and testing. And there will be testing. Jesus did not escape it, and we certainly won’t either. Like Master—like servant. We must hold firm to our faith. It was this very thing—this faith, this elementary foundational building block, which straightened their spines, these stalwarts, and aided them in putting one foot in front of the other when persecution, uncertainty and yes, fear, hunted them.

We, like with those who’ve gone before us, who’ve finished their race and received their crown, have been bought for a price. The ultimate price, The Atoning Blood of Jesus. Christ’s sacrificial giving of His life in exchange for our own. Least we never forget!

Now,echoing across this Hall of Fame, we hear the footsteps of Abel—out first dead man speaking. “By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.”

As we continue to listen to Paul’s naming of those found in this encouraging—life affirming, faith building chapter, next we hear of Enoch…

Enoch, Noah’s great-grandfather. Much like Elijah in Kings 2:11, Enoch too, was taken up to heaven, never to have tasted physical death (vs.5). Then comes Noah. Noah who in holy fear built the Ark that God instructed him to build—and he built it precisely as he was told…

He built it in the midst of persecution and torment. He built it though he had never seen rain. God had told Noah to build a boat—and he did it, by faith, in obedience. And as a result, he, his whole family, and those animals the Lord chose to enter this boat, were all saved from the coming flood. Through Noah’s faithfulness, God ushered in His judgement on a sinful world. You see, Noah was a type of the Christ to come—and Christ, through His obedience to the Father—offers Salvation for all who will…

An Ark…safety.

Concerning Noah and us all: Faith moves us to do those things we have no foreknowledge of—no reference point from which to spring forward. We are made to be solely reliant on the Christ whom we confess… (James 2:14-26).

And when we think faith, how can our minds not go straight to Father Abraham. Not only did he leave home and country when called to by God, also, when he was nearly 100 years old, he had the faith to believe a promise given him by the Lord under a starry, night sky. A promise which stated that from his withered, and all but dried-up body he would sire a child, Father a nation. And this promise would be fulfilled through the womb of his equally dried-up, and barren wife! It is never too late for God…

Faith is the evidence of things unseen, yet hoped for… (Heb.11:1).

Our Hall of Fame list goes on to mention such memorable names as, Isaac and Jacob and Joseph of the multi-colored coat. Who would save his entire family from famine—because by faith he endured pits and slavery, false accusations, deceptions and treachery, attempts on his life, and abuse at the hands of those he thought loved him—those whom he loved…

In this world you will have trials and tribulations, but fear not, take heart, for I have overcome this world… (Jn.16:33).

And, as I stated earlier, sometimes, in order for us to know how best to move forward we must look back to where we started—for the purposes of re-calibration, not in sorrow or longing for things past, God forbid! If we have been made new creations in Christ Jesus, why would we ever long to unite our new selves to the corpse of the dead selves we left floating about in our Baptismal waters? Though we are—and will be until Christ’s return, working out—learning this new self, this new relationship; it’s thinking and resulting actions.Each of these things will never be made complete should we continue to reach behind…

Paul says it this way, “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3:13-14).

Each of those found in our Hall of Fame, as well as every Christian that’s gone before us, knew of one trait in our arsenal that was essential to or faith walk. Needed like air and water…

Perseverance.

Paul knew it. Paul’s faith, along with those mentioned in Hebrews 11, was fashioned in trials, made sure through perseverance. In faith believing that the One who started this new thing—this good work, would do just as He said He would, and complete it. That was His part—His promise to them, to us. Our part is the persevering through whatever comes. Through the fiery furnaces, through so much we’ll never understand this side of eternity. That is what Paul is teaching us—back there, in Chapter 10…

Paul says it this way: “But we are not of those who shrink away and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved” (Heb.10:39). And not because of anything we’ve done…

Perseverance is the take-away when we look to God’s Word for how it is we’ll get through this world and all of its many trials and woes. It’s what lead us into Chapter 11, into Faith—the how of perseverance, its partner.

Why perseverance? Why Faith? The closing verses of our chapter gives us a glimpse—and sets us up for what is yet to come. Jesus. It was Jesus these stalwarts in our Hall of Fame wanted, served—yet did not know by name. They knew only the God of Laws and the Prophets. Paul tells us that, “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Heb.11:39-40).

Jesus.

And how much more than Paul and Peter and John and Mark are we—witnesses to the fulfillment of the promise each of these Hall of Famer’s clung to. If we, like those before us, will continue to persevere in faith—in spite of, regardless of—come what may. Our joy too will be made complete! Our Faith rewarded…that we may see Him coming on the clouds, returning to bring us to Himself in glory!

“And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God: and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away. And he that sitteth on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he saith, Write: for these words are faithful and true” (Rev. 21:3-5).

“Free or Freedom?” Jn. 8:36

October 8, 2016 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

Moses was instructing the Israelite’s in the tenets of the new covenant and its oaths. A New Covenant they were about to enter with God—after their long sojourn through the wilderness. Moses makes plain to the Israelite’s in Deuteronomy 30, that a choice to follow God, and all He asks of them, must be set in their hearts—chosen by them—fixed…

Also, in Chapter 29, Moses, during this same instructing, says this, “Someone may hear the conditions of this promise. He may think that he is so blessed that he can say, “I’ll be safe even if I go my own stubborn way. After all, [the LORD would never] sweep away well-watered ground along with dry ground” (Duet.29:19).

Plain speak. Don’t think to yourselves, “I believe in God, I’m his, after all, He is the God of my father’s—He’s got my back, I’m not like those people.” (the world, the unsaved) those that may know of the Lord—yet presume upon, take for granted, His grace, His patient mercy…because what they actually have is religious knowledge, not true relationship.

For those that may say, but that’s what the Old Testament says with it’s dark, negative speak…listen to what the Apostle Paul tells us in the New Testament. Listen to what he has to say about taking such liberties with God’s mercy and grace, “What shall we say then? shall we continue in sin, that there may be abundance of grace? God forbid! How shall we that are dead as touching sin live any longer therein” (Rom. 6:1-2).

You may be asking what this has to do with today’s verse? Everything, would be the short answer…

Allow me to elaborate. There is an eternal difference between having freedom’s and being—free…

It is the theme—the fact stated, by our above mentioned principles, Moses and Paul. Each a witness to the Truth, Jesus, who alone is able to set men free.

Solomon informs us in Ecclesiastes that there’s nothing new under the sun, listen: “History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.” (Emphasis mine.) As it was then, so it is today…

Culture, technology, fashions, foods, appearances…all of these certainly are different—unarguably. But the heart of man, his core, remains unchanged. The sin-nature that drives him to chase after the illusive “anything” that will offer him the slightest whiff of supposed freedom—his right to choose, that has not changed one iota in man…

And that friends, that searching, that rebellious selfish want is what drives a man to serve the masters of his flesh, his thoughts, plans, needs and wants—his, what’s best for me. That is what this world and the father of it calls—offers as, supposed freedom. Freedom to choose—my choice, I get to pick, I get to say…Me.

Think of the Israelite’s and the golden calf here…Me, what I want. And I’ll give everything I have and own to get it! They forgot all about Moses on the mountain, weren’t giving a second thought to the fact that he was up there seeking God on their behalf—now, I want it now…(Ex.32:1-3).

Think Pharisees…Me, I deserve the best. All roads point to what I want, what best serves what my flesh is screaming out for. Recognition, accumulation, stature. Don’t I deserve that, after all… (Matt.23:4-7).

Concerning this freedom, how can the world give you something it does not possess? Doesn’t have to give? (Matt.4:9),

Only Jesus has the power and the authority to set a captive soul free (Lk.4:18-19).

There is no better evidence of the false freedoms this world offers, no greater evidence of its lie, and the father of its lies, than what we witness in the dialogue between Jesus and satan. Concerning the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, listen as satan tries to offer Jesus the very things which Jesus himself created! “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” (Matt.4:8-9).

Why would anyone ever choose a counterfeit over an original? The world—satan and what he does not have to offer—his temporary smoke screens, over God the creator of heaven and earth and satan as well? satan, known from the beginning as Lucifer, was a high-ranking angel allowed to choose sin, choose selfishness. He was cast to earth and away from God where he was given dominion to rule temporarily—but never is he, nor will he ever be, mightier than God…

And both he and his illusions of freedom will one day be cast into hell for all eternity… (Rev. 20:1-3).

Regarding this false freedom: it was this-worldly, prideful, sin-soaked freedom, that the Lord allowed one of His creations to choose. And in his choosing, he became the father of lies. The father of those he whispers to—lures, with false promises, stroking their prideful ego’s. Just as he tried to do to Jesus. It failed—he failed. Because it is written—Truth, true freedom, will always, always, expose the darkest of lies—illusions of freedom.

Now let’s hold that idea of freedom—satan’s lies, and contrast, compare them to, the Freedom found in Christ…

God’s Word clearly states, “So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through.” (Jn.8:36). Completely free—nothing held back from you.

Being free is found only through submission—selflessness. It’s the choice we make to relinquish the freedom to choose our own way for God’s…Sounds backward right? It’s certainly a-not-of-this world thinking—not man’s logic.

The best known Bible figures each referred to themselves as, ‘bondservants” of Jesus Christ and claimed to be free through His ownership of them and through their service to others, seflessness…

The term “bondservant” in the New Testament (bond-servant or slave in some translations) is a translation of the Greek word doulos. Unlike perceptions of modern slavery, bondservant or doulos is a relatively broad term with a wider range of usage. In the time of the New Testament a bondservant could refer at times to someone who voluntarily served others. In most cases, however, the term referred to a person in a permanent role of service. The importance of these New Testament authors referring to themselves as bondservants should not be overlooked. Despite proclaiming a message of freedom from sin in Jesus Christ, these writers were dedicated to Jesus as their one master. Further, their service to the Lord was not one they could consider leaving. Most importantly, the image of the bondservant became one of great importance for Christians, who are called to live as bondservants of Christ Jesus…

Just as a bondservant was more than an employee who could leave for another job, the true Christian is a servant who can never leave their master for another. As Christ belonged to the Father and submitted His will to Him, and unto death for us, so we too must submit to Jesus—via our death to self.

Being free is found only in surrendering our wills—wants, desires, those temper tantrums of the flesh, to a higher calling—the common good. Service to another—others. Being free is found only in the resurrected self. Made alive through Christ’s life, death and resurrection… “Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him” (Jn.13:16).

Freedom to do it my way…. It’s a lie. It was born from the father of lies. A poisonous brew concocted from the twisted mind of the father of lies—worldly. Offered to all who will as a sweet drink that promises to please. And it does, for a time…but ultimately it ravages, destroys—takes captive, the mind—soul, body, emotions, of the one who drinks it in. It, like its slithering originator, will squeeze the very life from its partaker—one poisonous sip at a time… (Jn.8:43-44; Pro.14:12).

Being truly—eternally free to live a life worthy of—dedicated to God, and service to His people. Will cost you your so-called life…But here’s the thing, since you didn’t create yourself, give live to yourself, it’s not really yours to keep after all… is it (Matt.10:24)?

And unless your life is given in loving surrender to the One who died to purchase your opportunity—the chance for you to be free, the moment you exhale that last breath, His gift to you—it is to your father you will go to partake in a final—eternal glass, of his poisonous brew…

I beseech you today to choose being free in Christ Jesus…As long as you have breath in your lungs there is time…

Listen to Jesus as He shares this same Truth with the Israelite’s gathered around Him: “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed’” (Jn.8:34-36).

“I’m Coming Back.”Lk. 13:6-9

October 1, 2016 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

Friends, what do the Words of Jesus spoken to a crowd of Jews 2000 plus years ago have to do with us today?

Simply put, “The Word of God is the same yesterday today and forever” (Heb.13:8 NIV). That is a rudimentary Biblical Truth.

As such, it makes what Jesus said to that crowd quite relevant to us today. Put Scripturally, “The heaven and the earth will pass away, but My words will certainly not pass away.” (Mark 13:31 BLB).

I am laying this foundational Truth in preparation for our text today. The sub-heading of which is, “Repent or Perish” (Lk. 13:6-9 NIV).

That statement—those three words, “I’m coming back,”however unpopular in our current culture, are, and will stay, fundamental Truth… believe it or not.

Beginning in Chapter 12 of Luke we witness Jesus revealing certainties that lead us into today’s teaching. Follow along as Jesus walks those who would seek Him through those Truths. While on this walk, notice too that Jesus clearly lays out the costs of following Him, discipleship, as well as the promises—or gains that being a true disciple affords those willing to lay down their life and take up their personal Cross… (Lk. 14:25-34).

Jesus asked his disciples first, then, those standing in that gathering—that mob, just as He asks each of us today, these, and other, questions:

#1. What motivates you to want to follow Me? To serve Me?…

Are you, like the Pharisees? Are you motivated by attention and material gain? Those passing trappings that so often end up owning those who have take-up the profession, the job of preacher or teacher of His Word? Notice I said, taken up, not all those who stand in our pulpits today, who call themselves preachers and teachers have been called, chosen or appointed by God to do so. How do I know this? Scripture tells me. “You will recognize them by their fruit.” (Matt.7:15-20).

Anyone can do anything for a time, but no one can do it for a life time unless it is authentic, a true, pure calling, an appointment—you’re chosen. Think Peter and Paul here, think John the Baptist. Called each. Your heart is, must be consumed—your mind flooded with the ever-present LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ, the burning in your belly to share that Truth, Him… with everyone, and not solely for the benefits promised you if you do… or you will fall away. Think Pharisee’s here…

Again, not my words but His, The Word, listen: “Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness”(Matt. 7:21-23NLT).

#2. You’re not getting away with anything!…

Tying into the above statement, think Pharisees here, we too make think or feel that we are getting away with something… Example, we go to church every week, read our Bibles faithfully, give our tithes regularly and practice charity just the like those mentioned in the above Scripture. Yet in private, in our secret place, away from the eyes of onlookers, we are acting as ungodly as one who doesn’t know God! Shame the devil and tell the Truth! I know I’ve been guilty of this sin in my walk with the Lord. Thinking because a man didn’t know, I was okay, I got away with something! Let me share with you a Truth the Holy One hit me with… “No creature can hide from him, but everyone is exposed and helpless before the eyes of the one to whom we must give a word of explanation” (Heb.4:3 ISV).

God is Holy and cannot look upon sin. So if we truly desire to follow God, we too must strive—press in towards, stretch, towards Holiness…

“This is the message he has given us to announce to you: God is light and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are not living in the truth. But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts” (1Jn 1:5-10).

#3. Fear the One who can not only kill the body, more the One who when the body is dead can send you to hell.

Jesus was straight-forward with all those who wanted to run after Him concerning the cost they would pay to have right relationship with Him. Notice I did not say to have salvation alone in Him, but, right relationship (Mk.10:17-27). Jesus must be Lord and Savior in our lives. We must be completely submitted to His will and abandoned to our own. We must wholly recognize the ultimate price He paid to redeem us, He is no mere gain in our life’s pursuit of getting more (John 3:16 ESV)!

Let me pause here a moment to ask if you know Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life?

Lord. The One to whom you’ve given unfettered access. The one who now controls every aspect of your life. From a heart filled with loved you’ve surrender yourself to Him…” Yes, to your will, yes to your way, yes to more, deeper, wider, less of me and more of you…yes, yes.

Your will for His will. Your thoughts for His thoughts. Your life—no longer your own…. Lord of all—everything—it’s yours. Period.

Savior. The sinless, spotless Lamb of God who from an unfathomable depth of love for you and I, while we were yet filthy in our sins, looked across time and eternity and said to each of us, I believe you are worth dying for. And with that He held His cross like a dear lover—tight, and laid Himself on it—willingly, until it was finished. The sin debt, yours and mine, theirs too…was stamped, paid in full! God split the veil—His Pure Flesh—Jesus’s…access. Unworthy.

Let’s continue on, shall we…

#4. Do not Blasphemy the Holy Spirit.

He comes to us politely. He’s never rude or intrusive. Recurrently, He will knock at the door of our hearts seeking entry. Offering us knowledge of the Christ—His will, and reconciliation through Him to the Father. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit occurs when we blatantly refuse to acknowledge His gracious offer of a life reconciled to God, we choose to hold fast to what His gentle promptings are asking us to release to Him. The god of our sin, our sins… (1 Tim. 4:1-2). Jesus tells us that we may sin against Him and be forgiven, but sinning against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable (Matt. 12:32 NIV)!

And why is that? We are being given, offered—freely, the opportunity to choose God—choose reconciliation, choose life, eternal, yet we willingly—hardheartedly, stay in our sin. We choose to cling to it them, our gods, and stay at odds with, push away The God. The I Am that I Am… again, let’s hold it up to our above Scripture, “And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matt.7:23 ESV).

In closing, picture this…. we’re standing at the entrance of a lush vineyard. Shhh, listen, the Owner and Manager are speaking. They’re talking about one of us. They’re discussing the outcome of—the fate of, that fig tree over there… Metaphorical. It’s You, me—one of the others maybe standing just there…it’s our fate.

The owner of the vineyard is telling His manager to cut the thing down, it’s worthless!

What? Wait!

Throw it in the fire with all the other useless wood! It’s simply taking up a space that something with far more value—productive something fruit-bearing, could be planted in. It’s been three years since its planting—yet no fruit. Now everyone knows if a fig tree is going to produce fruit typically it happens within the first three season…

Not our little tree… how? It’s been well-tended, planted in the riches of soils, watered regularly—looked after with the greatest of care—with the greatest of attention to every detail of the thing… Yet nada—nothing! Not one single fig…

The owner wants to turn it into firewood, but the manager intercedes…After all, that’s why He was hired—the welfare of the Owner’s vineyard… (Rom. 8:34; Heb.12:2).

Friends, the Word of God tells us—you, the one who is here, now…seeking, that if you do not know Jesus: “God again designated a certain day as “Today,” when a long time later He spoke through David, as was already stated: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Heb.3:7).

Friends, a thing is true whether you believe it or not. Jesus is coming back. He loves you and wants to return you into the loving arms of Father God. Won’t you pray along with me—please? If you ask Him, He’ll let you, come to Him. He’s right here, now, waiting for you to ask…Promise.

It’s not complicated—like this, ready?

Dear Jesus, come into my heart, I can’t do this anymore, it’s not working. It hasn’t worked in a long time. I’m told you’ll come to me if I ask—if I mean it from my heart… So I’m asking, as messed up as I am. With all of my sin, shame, hurts and hang-ups, with no clue how to do this…I’m asking you into my life, my heart. Today, now—forever. Amen.

“Atom to Adam and Beyond…” Col. 1:15

September 3, 2016 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

“He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation” (Col.1:15).

Originator of all creation? Wait. Does that mean that the same God that created me, created the salamander and the snail? The sea and slime? What about the milky way and neutrons? Oxygen and sunshine? Souls and Spirits and intelligence too? Abilities and ideas? Even my desire to do or be a thing?

Yes. Categorically—without equivocation. Yes (Acts 17:27-28).

Our Scripture today plainly attests to this fact—this reality.

Jesus is not only (as in simply, merely or just) our Lord and Savior, not just God’s substantive equal, in that He is not solely the firstborn human fathered by God—literally (Phil.2:6-7). He is the God of the Trinity.

Think the Holy Spirit over-shadowing Mary here…

She, by the power of the Holy Spirit, would conceive and give birth to God’s only begotten Son—Jesus the Christ (Lk.1:35). Three in One, the Godhead.

He is inestimable—boundless. Omnipresent. All of creation—all of it, contains His essence. His Word, thought and will (Ps.33:6-9).

He is God with us—permeating His creation, Immanuel. The very templet of the New Creation, the New Adam. Pure—undefiled, worthy of God. He is Deity wrapped in flesh—man as God intended, perfect. He is in intimate relationship with—gnosis with, the Father God. (Rom.5:12-18).

Creator of all, over all—atom to Adam. In Jesus is found the very definition of fullness—the sum total of all. Both Alpha and Omega, babe and man, lamb—spotless, and lion—roaring, all-powerful, eternal (Col.1:19).

This Jesus is the greatest author, the most prolific of artist. He is the creator of mechanics and all things mechanical, designer, and engineer. Gravitational pull, magnetic poles, the very site of, placement of our galaxy, temperate zones and lightening—tectonics and solar nebula’s (Job 9:9-10; Amos 5:8; Ps.19:1-6; Rev.4:11).

This Jesus—our Jesus, He is the stuff of Greek myth. Half man, half God. Difference is, He’s no myth. He’s real, authentic, sole, glorious, magnificent, awesome—He is God all by Himself.

Contained within man, animals, aquatic life and yes, even plant life, is a protein known as Laminin. Science has come to bear out the Truth of God’s Word…

After all, He is Creator of all things—science included, it is only fitting that science should confirm His Truth.

The Laminin Protein.

What is this stuff?

According to the Journal of Cell Biology: “Lamins line the inside of the nuclear membrane, where they provide a platform for the binding of proteins and chromatin and confer mechanical stability.”

Laminin Protein is the physical proof of—form of, substance of—what we find in Colossians 1:17. “And HE IS before all things and in and through Him the universe is a harmonious whole, all things are held together.” (Emphasis added).

And, as it is physically impossible for man to be literally held together in the absence of this protein, so it is also, spiritually speaking, to hold together as well—without Jesus we fall apart… (Gen.3:6-7).

We have absolute need of Jesus. Without whom, life is and will always be—without form or substance.

Willy-nilly.

And we, having no true, set form, nothing fixed and unchanging to which we can attach to and sustain our lives—are left to our own inadequate devises—veiled attempts at self-construction.

Thus we build shabby frames and frame-works—pointless, faltering constructs—unable, incapable of successfully sustaining function long-term—our essential static, fixed framework nonexistent.

No God, no life. Simple… (Acts:28 specifically; 17:22-31).

Put Scripturally, “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing” (Jn.15:4-5).

Break off a branch from any vine, tree, plant and what happens? Death. No life-source, no life.

And that leads us into this protein also being present in plants of the field, birds of the air, as well as the fish of the sea.

In “types” of their own of course…

Each type—each protein strand, unique to whom it inhabits. Makes sense right? Man is unique from all other created things. He is the only created article that God formed in His own likeness and blew His Ruach breath into—His Spirit, His life-giving, creative breath. (Gen.1:27; Gen.2:7).

Certainly fish, snails, sea algae, and, cows should not—don’t need to, carry within them the fullness of what man has. They are not called—were not created to be him—man. To follow after his Creator, to co-create with Him…

Yet, even these creatures contain within themselves this life-force—this divine glue, that holds them together. It allows for them to work and flourish, to reproduce, and have dominion over—their little place under the sun… (Ecc. 3:1). All of which Jesus’s hand is in as well—His creations. (John 1:3).

Our God—this Jesus, is far too enormous for us to take in. Trying to ingest this enormity of–the scale of, His person, intelligence and creative abilities is like trying to eat an elephant in a single bite—impossible!

Jesus is too great for our finite minds to even begin to grasp. We try. We wrestle and grapple and stare out into the void—in wonder, with a sense of slack-jawed awe…God! My God!

And we are left still—silent, humbled, incapable. As it should be. How thoroughly disheartening—horrifying, it would be if we could conceive—thoroughly take in—this Lamb, this Lion, this Baby, Child, Man, eternal—what is an eternal God? Inconceivable!

He is One who speaks and things are—poof! (Jer.1:5)

And with that same breath speaks—and they are not. Gone, baby gone… (Lk.12:20).

This Jesus, as we have just witnessed, in part, such a small,small part, is greater, bigger, more far reaching—present in everything we think of, image or remember—daily. He is God present not only with us—but in all things. All of life, every created thing, every situation—He is there in it all.

Since this is fact, it only stands to reason that He is here—now, present with us, in this space and time. The Word of God tells us that no man is promised tomorrow. That today is the acceptable day. Your problem is not too big for this big God. Your mistakes not too great for Him to forgive and more—turn into a lifesaving word for another.

There are no bars that can hold Him back or keep Him out, no addiction He can’t overcome—stomp out beneath His all forgiving feet.

There is no crime unforgivable, ask the thief on the cross, he’ll tell you I’m telling the truth. Jesus told Him at his moment of salvation, as he hung dying next to Jesus, the very same words you will here on your day of –your moment of salvation; “And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Lk.23:43).

But, like with this thief, you must believe that He, Jesus, is who He says that He is. You must ask Him to come into your life and have mercy on you—forgive your sins. We all must, each of us.He won’t just bust in and save you, me, us, from hell.

God’s Word says it like this; “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…(1Jn.1:8-10).

Today is that acceptable day. Now—right now, this second, is the acceptable time—what are you waiting for. You just received your personal invitation, please respond now to assure your place in heaven.

There is a great big creating God who has—in all His building, all His creating, prepared a place specifically—exclusively, for just you—and Him. All that will, come…

“Start Where You Are” Phil.3:15-16

August 20, 2016 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

No one starts at the finish line. None of us start-off in perfect shape. Look at the Olympic athletes that ran, tumbled, and, flew across our television screens this past week. No medals, no wreaths—symbols of that sure victory—hung from around their necks before they competed—before they entered the race.

It is through our trials, in the midst of running of our race, that the best in us surfaces, bursts forth. And if we endure, we are victorious. We finish our race well.

To get a sure grasp on our Scripture for today we have to backtrack a bit—look towards what precedes it. Paul’s having a conversation with his beloved Philippians. This church—this group of predominately gentile believers have always been devoted to Paul. They are known for their generous giving—both to him and within their community.

Paul is writing this letter from inside a prison cell. He is talking to the Philippian Church about not having confidence in their flesh—in their own abilities. Rather, he instructs them to stayed laser focused on what they’ve been taught by him…and know. Christ and Him crucified…

You see there is a group of Judaizing teachers in their midst attempting to get the Philippians to follow the law of Moses yet again. They are stressing, falsely, that one must be circumcised, salvation alone won’t cut it…

Paul is instructing them to remember all he had taught them.

In our ongoing walk with the Lord there will always be those who will try to get us to deviate from the Truth. To back-track. They will do their level best to convince us that we need a bit of this—whatever “this” may be at the moment, along with what we know, in order to really have it all. To be complete in God…

Paul calls them dogs. Jesus called them vipers—hypocrites! Blind guides lost themselves, doing their best to convince us that theirs is the way to God…

We must take great care to stay the course the Holy Spirit has—and will continue to, lead us towards. He knows each of us—intimately…

Remember, He is Alpha and Omega. Knowing our beginning from our end. He knows exactly what we need, when we need it and more, what we don’t need and never will!

And what we, like the Philippians, don’t need is to return to the ways of our flesh…like dogs returning to their vomit.

Looking back to Chapter One, Paul reminds us that Jesus began a good work in us and that He alone will carry it on to completion until the day He returns for us, or calls us home to Himself. “Because I trust, (have faith), concerning this, that He who has begun a good work in you will accomplish that until the day of our Lord Yeshua The Messiah. (Phil, 1:6).

Paul is sharing the heart of this thought with his friends in his letter. He is telling them to follow the example he, Paul, has laid down for them—as he is nearing the end of his race, but not yet…

Not before he writes them one more time—joyfully, yet again, about leaving behind all that we once considered gain in our lives—for the sake of having, knowing, serving—loving Jesus Christ.

Paul shares with us that what he once held in such high esteem, his learning and his standing as a Hebrew among Hebrews, a Pharisee, he now counts it all as nothing having gained Christ. “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith” (Phil. 2:8-9).

And Paul knows a thing or two about humility, remember, he is the Apostle who carried a thorn in his flesh as a reminder to stay humble. “By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively” (2 Cor. 12:7).

Sometimes when we have been given much, be it worldly possessions, positions of influence, or great material wealth, it is often too easy to get a big head. To loose sight of what truly matters… Jesus.

How much more when this occurs with the gifts given by the Spirit? With vast spiritual knowledge and great revelation? With high positions of authority within the Church? Paul, having seen the great Light of Christ and heard His audible voice. Paul, the great Apostle to the gentiles—having written 13 books of the Bible, traveled far and near to save souls from the grip of sin and death knew all too well the perils of taking oneself too seriously.

And so he tells his beloved Philippians to have no confidence in their flesh, or the words told to them from blind guides.

Paul. This same Paul that stood by watching the first martyr of the church, Stephen, be stoned to death. Paul, who with great zeal and blood-lust persecuted Christians. Paul, our great teacher did not start off nearly as well as he finished.

As I said earlier, none of us starts at the finish line. None of us start-off in perfect shape. Those lofty aspirations we have for Holiness,Godliness, will never be fully met in this world. Paul knew this, and it drove him, as it must drive us, to strive, to press on, nonetheless. We must always—continually keep taking stock of our spiritual state.

Checking our moral compasses—setting right the plumb lines of our integrity. We like our brother—our teacher Paul must continue to press towards the mark, that glorious finish line where Christ awaits us. where we—like Paul, will hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant, now enter in to your rest.”

But in the meantime, we start where we are. God in His infinite wisdom—His Omniscience, knows the exact moment—the precise place and time He will say… Enough of this, come to me, I have need of you. I love you…We, outside of our yes, have nothing to do with His choosing. A mystery too great for even the likes of Paul… “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love” (Eph.1:4). And in the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, God says it this way, “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart”…

It’s okay to not agree with me, to not fully understand the depth of what God holds for you, Paul didn’t. I know I didn’t, and still don’t. None of us, I believe do. It’s a process. It ‘s part of the glorious joy of following after the Lord. Learning more of Him…

Daily the Lord reveals Himself to me, to you—new dimensions, sneak peeks of His personality and desires. That blows my mind! As the song says, “Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth, would care to know my name?” He shows Himself to Us. His new creation who cost Him, Jesus—greatly! His pure and precious Blood had to be spilled—was demanded of Him—in order that we might be restored to right relationship with the Father…

God is not expecting us to have it all together, to know it all. He’s looking for a heart willing to be surrendered—a life willing to be given over to His plan, purpose and use. To be poured out, to the very last drop, in obedience to His will and calling.

This is what, I believe, Paul is trying to get us to understand today. Do your best, use all that God has given you—gifted you with for the advancement of His Kingdom and the fulfillment of His will. Keep your eyes focused—fixed on Jesus and His calling on your life. Never mind the naysayer’s, and those who have, and are free to share, their opinions—what they think is right for you…

Always seek wise counsel within the brotherhood of believers and those you hold in esteem, but measure all advice against the Word of God. God alone is your final Authority. He alone never wavers—is unchanging. Saturate your mind with His Word. Pray without ceasing—ask for more and more of Him daily—hourly, minute by minute. Seek first His Kingdom and leave the details, providence and provisions needed to Him. Just keep pressing your nose against the ceiling of heaven, never being satisfied until you hear, “Well done—enter in.”

“So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also. Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that” (Phil. 3:15-16).

Start where you are, with what you have in your hands—but never be satisfied staying there—Press on…

I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will meet you where you are today. I pray also that you become so uncomfortable in that place that you must move—perpetually forward. Desiring, with an unquenchable thirst—the Living Water only our Lord can offer you…Amen.

“Does God Play Favorites?” Rom.9:21-22

August 13, 2016 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction” (Rom.9:21:22).

So are we to understand that we serve a God who plays favorites? Some school-yard bully randomly choosing up sides for a game of you-go-to-heaven-you-go-to-hell?

“You—yeah, you, the fast one, I’ll take you.”

“And you, yeah, you next to him, you can come too.”

“But not you—are you kidding me…not on my team!”

For many this example brings up memories of being the last man standing. Cheeks-red, ashamed. And even now, after all these many years and accomplishments later, you’re feeling the pain, still— are angry, still—to say nothing of feeling like it was completely unfair!

After all, what’s wrong with me you’ve asked? I’ve got two legs and two feet. I could run fast—heck, I could run faster than him! So why didn’t I get chosen—I am too good enough!

And there it is… Paul’s argument.

Our answer—Election.

God’s Sovereignty.

The topic some pastors dodge, and unseasoned ministers shrink under the weight of. But not Paul. Why do they run and shrink? It’s unforgiving—this topic of election. It doesn’t play well with collection plates and full pews—true statement.

So what do we do with unpopular Truth? Truth too great for finite man to wrap his finite mind around? Do we who have been called to bring His Word, this Truth, into a lost and dying world, water-down the gospel—dilute God, so as not to offend?

I will say as my brother Paul said before me, “God Forbid!”

No, we are called to boldly proclaim the Gospel, boldly speak the Truth. We serve a Sovereign God. He does not serve us…Potter, clay. Divine order.

I’m reminded of a quote I recently came across. “A watered down gospel may fill pews, but it will never lead a sinner to the Cross of Christ.” And we are sinners, of that be sure. All of us. There’s not one of us “deserves” to be on team Jesus.

Not one of us is good enough to have gotten picked for His team…

Who of you reading this, in the light of God knowing your heart can say, “but I am”—good enough that is.

The Word of God itself condemns you. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1Jn.1:8). “All have turned away; they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.…(Rom.3:12).

God is the Righteous Sovereign over the whole world. As such, He, God, has the right to do with anyone or anything He created exactly as He wishes, sees fit —no questions asked..

.And that’s where our backs get up—our necks stiffen…

That’s where we cry, “foul!” That’s where the screaming starts, “but it’s not fair!”

We forget that we serve at His pleasure and His calling. Grateful beyond words to have been called, chosen at all. We are not owed our salvation—quite the opposite in fact. What we deserved is hell… Why do we all try to convince ourselves that we are good? Haven’t we all told a lie before? Haven’t we all stolen something that did not belong to us? Haven’t we all looked with lustful eyes or had sexually perverted thoughts?

Jesus defined looking with lust-filled eyes to be the same as adultery (Matthew 5:28).

You are a liar, a thief and an adulterer and so am I. And there is not one person on this planet that likes liars, thieves, adulterers or murderers…

The reality is you agree with God and you cannot fight something you agree with…

How would you defend yourself when you agree with the very laws you’ve broken?

Romans 9 is God speaking to us in and with His authority. It’s not Paul speaking to us—sharing his opinions. How can we know that God’s promise of salvation will not fail? Paul’s answer is that our salvation is secure because it doesn’t depend on us, rather on God’s purpose according to election.

As the sovereign of the universe, God always accomplishes what He purposes to do. He chooses some for salvation apart from anything that they do, and He rejects others apart from anything they do… “So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” (Rom. 9:13).

Think the man at the pool of Bethesda in John 5:15. Was He the only one there that day in need of a healing? Why not heal all those gathered? And Why Israel? Why wasn’t Africa or Asia made the Apple of God’s eye—His chosen people?

We need to submit, joyfully, to this truth of Gods Sovereignty. Not question it. It’s God’s authoritative revelation of Himself. And this revelation should put an immediate end to our, “I’m good enough for His team argument.”

Paul knew then, as ministers of the gospel know now, today, that there will always be those who will cry out loudly, “but that’s just not fair!” Why them and not me? I’m a good person, don’t I deserve…

Their failure to see—their shortsightedness, comes from their inability to realize, accept, that God is not bound further than He has been pleased to bind Himself by his own covenant and promises…

In other words, God is bound by His will and Word only. Not be our wills and wants. Not by what we think we should have and deserve. Our screaming, “It’s not fair”, changes nothing…

It serves only to show how little we fear God and how prideful arrogant we actually are—how little we know of submission or humility…

How little we understand—know—about God. About the unconditionality of being chosen by God as a child of promise. “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” (vs.16)

He owes His creation nothing. Hard pill to swallow I know. Doesn’t sound like the squeezably-soft God of love, and plenty and forgiveness for all being preached about today. Apostasy! A feel good gospel designed to tickle the ears of those who cannot—will not—hear the saving Truth of the Gospel.

So to answer my opening question, no, God is not some school-yard bully. He is rather an Awesome God, Righteous in everything He does. Sovereign, sinless and pure—perfect in all of His ways—above reproach.

But, as this Righteous Sovereign God He is also free to harden whom He wishes, in order to display His glory…

God could have chosen to be merciful to Pharaoh and the Egyptians by softening their hearts—telling them about the need to put the blood on their doorposts to escape the wrath of the destroying angel. Rather, God chose to harden Pharaoh’s heart for the greater purpose of displaying His glory in power and judgment, so that His fame would spread throughout the earth.

As the Righteous Sovereign over all, God has the freedom to harden sinners for His greater purpose of displaying His glory and power in righteous judgment. “You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? (Rom.9:19-21).

Remember today that you are the clay, not the Potter. “For the sake of Jacob My servant, And Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor Though you have not known Me. “I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other” (Isa. 45:4-6).

“I’ve Been Where You Are.” 2 Cor.5:11-21

August 6, 2016 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

I believe one of the many wonderful gifts God offers us—is diversity. I’m not speaking here of the diversity found within the melting-pot of nationalities, though beautiful. Nor of cultures, though certainly diverse.

I’m speaking directly—specifically of diversity found within experiences— our varied yet collective flawed pasts.

Those universal hurts, mistakes, betrayals, and, tragic-regrets we’ve shared or witnessed. Those life-events survived. The events that didn’t kill us, but rather strengthened us. The experiences we might offer each other as balm to sooth, as encouragement to keep going, as a proof-of-life that helps to build up, that unites rather than divides.

Those very things that shamed us, ripped lives apart. Ours and theirs…

Those things that made us drop to our knees and cry out—in loneliness, desperation, pain, and regret. Like a wounded animal bellowing from places of deep brokenness. From almost-fatal wounds.

Painful scars, cruel slashes, some raw still…staring at us from just over there.

Reminders.

Paul carries them too, these scars. Thorns in our flesh. Dare I say they compel him? Us…?

Listen as he pours himself out in this Fifth Chapter. Read it, Dig into it. See for yourself how he understands—firsthand, what being saved from sin, his sin, truly means… as best one can this side of glory.

He understands that no man’s promised tomorrow— that the light which emanates from a life can, and, often is, snuffed out without warning—zero regard for station.

Beggars and kings, young, old, rich and poor alike—will each will face the Throne of God’s Judgement… ready or not.

Paul knows this like you know water is wet.

And so we witness him defending himself, his knowing, before those who think him arrogant, superior even.

Why?

Because they’ve mistake his heart of compassion, his certain knowledge of God’s mercy, his unmerited, unwarranted internalized forgiveness as arrogance, insolence.

Yet he is trying to persuade men still, to seek salvation in the Lord. Be ye reconciled! And those that do not find him arrogant or superior, those that know him, his sincerity, that know the Truth, will most certainly view him as hypocritical, unreliable, untrustworthy even, should he not boldly speak out, should he back down—from defending this Truth.

Everyone is watching…

Yet despite their fierce scrutiny, he has great love for these Corinthians—so he does all he’s able to remind them, encourage them—of who they are.

Our charge..

There are times in our walk when competing voices will try to put their distracting hands of confusion over others ears. Attempting to block out the deep Truth that lives within us all. But thankfully, mercifully, we serve a God whose will won’t be blocked—His will—will be done in the lives of His children. Those He’s called…

His strength, not ours.

That’s where Paul finds himself today. Convicted. Fiercely. Determined. We’ll all stand in his shoes one day, if we’re truly called as Ambassadors of God…

In his opening verses Paul’s doing his best to say, “Hey, listen to me please. I’m not trying to indoctrinate you into some cult. I’m not bullying or threatening you. I’m not using cheap scare tactics or throwing around disheartening words merely as frightful rhetoric—just because. I’m trying to tell you I’ve been where you are, and by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ I’ve been saved, restored in Him. It’s only now, as a result of His mercy, that I understand just how far my sinned stained soul was from God—please listen, you’re making an eternal choice.”

Paul is telling us that God’s judgement is coming to each of us—to the whole of the world. There is no escaping.

In the closing lines of the previous chapter he states that all men will appear before the Throne of God, judged for the deeds done while in the body.

Paul has tasted the goodness of Jesus, His saving grace. Remember he was once among the greatest of those who not only persecuted Christians—he stood as a witness and championed Stephan’s death… stoned for his witness of Christ—of the Truth.

He, Paul, possibly, threw stones himself. Maybe the fatal blow. He stood among the mob gathered…Stephan’s accusers. The first verse of Acts Eight tells us plainly that Paul stood there, “giving approval to his (Stephan’s) death.”

Stephen, God’s servant, operated in signs and wonders. Unheard of…

Recall that at this time in biblical history only the Apostles had been known to move in signs and wonders…

We never know who we may be standing before. Judge not, least…

Yet Paul hated him—as he did all Christians. He rejected everything and anything that smacked of it—Christianity that is. Paul was relentless in his pursuit and elimination of Christians…Think today. Think Isis. That type of determined righteous erroneous hate.

Deeper, more personal. Have you hated or rejected someone for their faith in Christ?

Acts Eight states that Paul, “began to destroy the church. Going from house to house. He dragged off men and women and put them in prison.”

It becomes plain to see why, at this place in his life Paul is so convicted—so concerned about people being reconciled to Jesus. It’s plain to see how well acquainted he is with the weight of sins, his, theirs and ours—and their eternal reach.

Now freed himself through God’s mercy and grace, that freedom drives him to pour out his life in service to the One He had persecuted. Now he lays down his life so that some would know—be reconciled to—find—his Jesus.

Rejection by the world is an oddly a unifying thread among Christians…

We each own a piece of it…this rejection.

It’s an ever present—however silent—tie that binds us all to Jesus. After all, who more than He knew rejection, persecution, and the need for man’s salvation?

And we, His children are commanded to go out into that world that wants little to do with us, often despises us, and daily, faithfully, in-spite-of, carry-out His directive? Go ye therefore unto all the world…

Paul didn’t care what these Corinthians, or anyone else for that matter, thought of him—how they perceived him—so long as his God was honored.

He stood as naked as one may stand fully clothed…our example. Bold.

Naked—in his removal of self-will.

Naked, because he had stripped off his care for the opinions of the world—standing, he was clothed only in the pure love of Christ. Confident that he might reach those he’d been sent to reap—to bring in to the Kingdom. Listen to his plea in verse 20: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

And there it is. The heart-cry of Paul and Peter, of James and John and the remaining Eight. Of every Christian Martyr that shared in their same faith, their same certainty. The point of this message…

It’s the heart-cry of every Pastor, every minister and evangelist. The song of every worshiper and the prayer of every warrior who storms the gates of Heaven— violently, for the sake of salvation of souls.

Be reconciled to Christ Jesus!

We are Ambassadors of Reconciliation. Marked by God. Chosen…

We must wear that mark soberly into each encounter, before each new soul presented in Christ.

Not as one still in bondage, God forbid!

Rather as a Holy fuel!

Being ministers who live in a state of such relentless remembrance of Gods mercy towards us, allowing that to spur us on, to pour out our lives for each other, and the whole world.

We must never forget our past sin-stained state—more, we mustn’t care for the opinions of others towards it, that in that caring we may be deterred—save the opinion of Christ alone. “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are.”

We must keep in the forefront of our minds that we, and those that have yet to know our Father, are not promised tomorrow. And while it is today labor tirelessly for the reconciliation of souls.

In closing, listen to our brother Paul’s heart…“If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.”

Receive this word as a charge. Wrap yourself in it. Arm yourself with it because; “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

I’ve been where you are, dear heart, precious soul, please, hear my plea that you too be reconciled to the Father. Cry out to Jesus for forgiveness of your sins.

Until next time…

“Just A Taste” Mk.9:1-8

July 16, 2016 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

In today’s Scripture Jesus opens with a puissant statement of fact. But what is He alluding to specifically?

A clue is given within His word choice. Jesus hints at its deep significance through His word usage. The solemnity of what He is about to say, He uses language which He reserves only for occasions such as this. Pay attention…“Verily I say unto you…”

Is it His death and resurrection to which He is referring in this odd opening verse? Or, maybe it’s the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost?

Perhaps He’s speaking to the imminent spread of Christianity or, to Jerusalem’s destruction in A.D. 70?

Mark’s opening verse is ambiguous, oddly placed…hence all the scholarly debate surrounding it.

But if we just look at it, it seems a natural flow, an easy pivot. It serves to transition us into what’s coming next. Linking some of those present to His, Jesus’ own future intent. Jesus gathers us up and points us toward Mt. Hermon—to His Transfiguration. And everything is clear, deep but clear.

While each of the fore-mentioned events are Biblical fact, for a few within the crowd that day, three within earshot of Jesus actually—each of these events will become a reality. Eye-witnessed.

And that is the very heart, the core, of this event, this witnessing. So it’s toward that, toward seeing and tasting for oneself that we’ll look toward today. One delicious spoonful at a time…

What happens to us, each of us, when we’re given a taste of Jesus?

If we are anything like our brothers we’re left wanting more. A taste isn’t nearly enough to sate our longing, our desire for Jesus.

But it is just enough, typically, to leave us wanting. Craving that is, desiring, running after—more of Him.

You noticed no doubt the visual used today is ice cream. Specifically, many tasting spoons standing in many tubs of various flavors of ice cream.

Why?

To demonstrate a point, two actually. The first, as human beings we do enjoy our options, dare I say, demand them!

If you have doubt about the validity of my statement, check out the variety of television stations available to us. The variety of, types of, cars, colors, watches, fashion choices and eateries. How many flavors do we really need—to flavor our coffee?

We are inundated with choices, varieties, types. As a result, we are often left unsatisfied, overstimulated, by what we’ve chosen. Left flat. Yet we’re happy glad that we get to wake up tomorrow and get to choose anew!

We have not yet been satiated.

Neither have our three brothers.

But things are about to change—eternally…

Three have been chosen, hand-picked to follow Jesus up a mountain. And you…come along.

Yet, for these three, this is nothing new, being the first to go, do, and see that is. Somethings aren’t meant for everyone to witness, first, filters are required.

Peter, James, and John—Jesus ’ inner circle. They are those filters through which Jesus pours Truth, His Truth, Kingdom Come Truth—full strength, by the mouthfuls.

These were chosen for their unique abilities. Each eventually would learn both how to consume, ingest and then disperse, speak out, allocate, teach—these unfiltered Truths.

Three prodigious leaders of the future Church. They’ve each been with Jesus from the beginning. Hand-picked. Known by God—Ginṓskō, like a man knows his wife. Intimate like.

For nearly Three years now these have slept beside Him, eaten with Him, been privy to His numerous miraculous healing’s and extraordinary, unparalleled, radical teachings. Yet they are not yet fully firm, not yet set in their knowledge of His divinity…more time is needed.

Things are still a little wobbly…

But wait you say, Peter? Wasn’t it Peter, this same Peter, who said out loud, who answered correctly when all others failed, that Jesus was The Christ—The Son of God?

Yes, you are correct.

It was this same Peter indeed. The one who loved Jesus the most, think John 21. Yes, it was this impulsive, bold, bodacious Apostle—the denier, the reinstated one, the Fisher-of-men, the fisherman, the rock. Simon.

And yes, it was John. The same John who laid his head against Jesus’ chest at the Last Supper, the one Jesus loved. The Beloved. The one who stood at the foot of the Cross and received Mary as his own mother. The very same John that would write a Revelation on an Isle called Patmos. Exiled there after having survived being boiled in oil for his refusal to stop preaching the Gospel when ordered to do so by the Emperor Domitian.

And James, John’s brother. Whose mom asked Jesus that each of her sons sit at His right and left hand in Heaven. James one of two brothers whom Jesus prophesied would in fact drink of the shared cup of suffering that He, Jesus, would Himself drink from. This same James would be the first of the chosen Twelve Apostles to see martyrdom by the sword at the hands of King Herod Agrippa, as witnessed in Acts Chapter Twelve.

We could get heavy here. We could delve into deep Biblical Truths and mysteries— from here on out in fact.

We could get theological. We could enter into the significance of, the meaning behind, these three brothers being allowed to witness Jesus’ Transfiguration. More, we could delve into both the immediate and lasting reasons why Jesus took them, as leaders, along in the first place…

We could look into the significance of, the meaning behind, the Law and the Prophets. Symbolized by Moses and Elijah’s appearance and witnessed by these men. Moses, symbolizing those that have died in Christ, the other, Elijah, one who never tasted death…Wait. Didn’t Jesus say something about not tasting death before His return?

We could examine how neither the prophets nor the law could or can save a man. How it is only through the shed Blood of Jesus Christ, only by His Redemptive work done for you and I on Calvary’s Cross, that our salvation may be, can be found. How one such as you and I can’t even enter the place of desiring the new life Jesus’ death and resurrection provides without, outside of, the Fathers call.

We could go into it all. But we won’t…

Rather, I’d have your focus be on what’s to come…

As with our brothers, let’s assume you’ve had a taste of Jesus also. And like our brothers, though wobbly at times, you’re determined, fixed on following after Him. You’re walking up the mountain with Jesus, trusting, curious, excited, yet filled with trepidation’s. But your walking. Heel to toe—your walking.

The Apex is in sight yet you stop because He did. Look! What’s happening to Him? You can’t look anymore, not straightaway, only barely, through squinted eyes. Dazzling bright whiteness. Jesus stands before you—éclat.

And that Voice, that soul-penetrating, commanding Voice. Emanating from within the clouds. That same Voice that said, that you heard say, “This is my Son, listen to Him.” That Voice. The One that changes everything…

And wham…you’re on the ground. Stiff as a dead man with fright. You knew He was different this Jesus, knew He was powerful, believed He was a Prophet, The Son of God even, Messiah—but now. Oh now, sweet undeniable now…

Silent in contemplation, each step a thought, you return to the mundane that awaits you at the end of this journey, the base of this mountain. There’s always a valley. The necessary mundane, the purpose of the journey. Lessons. You’re now a witness to something so immense, so life altering it can only do one thing for you, propel you, prepare you, for what awaits you…The Fullness of Jesus.

There is a song by Jesus Culture entitled, “Holy Spirit”.

Within its second verse these lyrics are found; “I’ve tasted and seen, of the sweetest of loves. Where my heart becomes free and shame is undone. In your presence Lord.”

That dear heart, beloved, that is where I want you to focus today. On that taste. That moment on your personal mountain top, your place of witnessing His Transformative power…

I’m challenging you today to continue to walk in the footsteps of those three brothers who went before you. Trailblazers. The original taste-testers…

Follow their lead, read their stories, listen to their hearts—every time you, like they, get a little wobbly. And you will. We all do. Each time, every time your taste buds need a reminder of that one-of-a-kind, mind-blowing flavor of Jesus Christ. That other-worldly experience only He provides!

Why? Preparation.

Once you’ve tasted His love, mercy, goodness, grace, kindness—the plethora of His unmerited favor, His benevolence. Once you’ve had a taste of Him, His perfection, everything outside of Him becomes lack-luster, bland. Hospital food bland. It becomes ordinary and eventually, prayerfully, completely undesirable…

This is our great goal. Here, now, on earth. Before others—to desire, exude, crave, Him alone.

Like our brothers before us the taste of Jesus should leave us, has left us—ravenous. And it, that taste, should drive us to do anything—anything. Destroy every, any obstacle, every relationship that stands in the way of more—of it. Of Jesus.

Everything must be pushed aside, left. As we stand before all that Jesus has for us, like greedy, unashamed children we should be jumping up-and-down. Shovels, not spoons in our grasping hands, saying, screaming… yes please daddy, I would most definitely like more, and more—and more.

Until the day I stand before you a shirt-stained mess, belly puffed out from the bits hungrily gobbled-up along the way. Now, home with you. Sated. Finally, no further need for my spoon…

“Eyewitnesses” 2Pt.1:19

July 2, 2016 / ministermaryellen@gmail.com

“We couldn’t be more sure of what we saw and heard—God’s glory, God’s voice. The prophetic Word was confirmed to us. You’ll do well to keep focusing on it. It’s the one light you have in a dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts” (2 Pt.1:19).

Is Peter double talking?

Or, is he confirming Scripture?

Confirming Scripture I believe. And Scripture bears me out. Listen to what Jesus says: “The eyes that see the things you see are blessed! For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things you see yet didn’t see them; to hear the things you hear yet didn’t hear them” (Luke 10:23-24).

It is on The Word of God alone that we must rely.

Peter is nearing the end of his life, he has finished his race and is awaiting his Crown of life to return home to his Friend. It’s from this mindset that he’s speaking—observation and experience. You see he was privy to be eye-witness to what only burned in the hearts of the prophets to know…to witness for themselves. But it was not for them…

They longed for what Peter and the disciples had experienced. The magnificent privilege of living in the physical presence of Messiah. The Holy One of Israel. To taste of His Divinity, bask in His Holiness. To listen to, be taught and instructed by Him daily. To fellowship and tabernacle with Him at will—and live! Think God speaking to Moses here—listen: “But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live” (Ex.33:20).

Yet here is Peter telling us that not only was he eye-witness to the Messiah, more astonishingly, He was His friend…

In fact it is Peter alone, in the Gospel of Mark, who answered unswervingly the question Jesus posed to His disciples. “Who do people say that I am? And what about you?” Peter answered—via divine revelation: “You are Christ, the Messiah, God’s own Son” (Mk.8:29, Lk.9:20).

For three years Peter walked with, ministered alongside of, ate with, slept near and had been privy to the teachings of Jesus. Couple this with being one of three welcomed into Jesus’ inner circle and certainly, by all accounts, we have evidence of Peter being a fit eyewitness—a worthy and reliable source.

Need more?

Let’s go to Mark 9. Here we see Jesus, Peter, James, and John. The three are witnesses to Jesus’ Transfiguration. This only eight or so days following Peter’s revelation and profession of Jesus being the Son of God. In the blink of an eye Peter went from being the one who had followed Jesus in faith, had believed Him to be the Messiah, to an eyewitness.

There was no room for doubting that Jesus was in fact—the I Am spoken of by the prophets!

Perhaps Peter was in the crowd the day John baptized Jesus and heard God’s voice declaring Him His Son (Mk. 1:10-12)? Perhaps that was the first time Peter heard God’s audible voice? Was that what caused him to drop everything and follow after Jesus? Scripture doesn’t specify. Whatever the case may be, Peter most certainly heard God’s voice loud and clear on the mountain when Jesus was Transfigured. He also saw Moses and Elijah, as well as witnessed the physical realm shift in appearance as they were collectively engulfed within a cloud (Matt.17:1-5; Lk. 9:28-36).

So is Peter in any way questioning, doubting or challenging the veracity of the prophets accounts of Jesus? Absolutely, emphatically—no! What he is in fact doing is laying down, confirming, adding, another layer of truth—an eyewitness account.

Peter is doing what each of us are called to do. Fulfill the Great Commission. He is giving testimony to, lending a voice to what he knows—emphatically. He is saying if you have any doubt that the Old Testament prophets may have gotten it wrong let me set the record straight. He is a lawyer’s dream come true!

And tell us Peter, on the day in question, on that mountain—can’t you just hear it?

Their questions, his sharp, crisp, quick answers! No hesitation, no second-guessing. Just here it is, this is the way it happened.

So now that we’ve established we can rely on Peter’s eyewitness testimony, it follows we should adhere to his instructions to us. We must stay fixed, focused on Jesus—and His Word. Patiently awaiting Jesus’ promised return for us—His eyewitnesses.

But how do we do this? How do we like Peter, James and John, like the prophets of old—become reliable eyewitnesses?

By following after the example of the one who spoke to them—instructed them. By following, via strict adherence, Jesus’ instructions. Just as they did.

To be a credible witness, one must deny himself. That is—deny what you think, feel or imagine to be real and true if it does not align with Scripture—the inerrant Word of God. Jesus did nothing outside of His Father’s will. “Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another, showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way” (2Tim.3:16). Obviously I am not referring here to mundane daily tasks like picking out your wardrobe…

As eyewitness for Jesus we must be discerning. We must know, via The Holy Spirit within us, what to pay attention to. What we should allow to influence our thoughts, words and deeds. And what to dismiss, run from, disdain as folly—snares meant to rob our Truth. “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world” (1Jn.4:1)

We must be willing to lose our lives, not popular I know, but necessary. Every belief, possession, personal ideal—everything must be willingly laid at the foot of The Cross. We must be subject to Jesus’ Lordship over us or we are useless. Salt without taste—willful, rebellious. Using eyes that do not see—the blind leading the blind. “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul” (Matt. 16:25-26)?

Witnesses must be confident, bold in their truth. We must be audacious, uninhibited in our testimony, come what may.

We, unlike the Peter and the Apostles, may not have yet seen Jesus face to face but that doesn’t diminish our knowing Him—our certainty in His existence. He is no less real to His friends today than He was when He stood and spoke to Peter, James and John face to face. To be a credible, trustworthy, reliable eyewitness we must have zero regard for our reputation. We must be singularly focused on speaking the truth—God’s Truth. Solely. Without wavering. Without compromise. “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, divine utterance may be given me, so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should” (Eph.6:19-20).

Beloved, we have yet to see our Lord face to face, yet we do have firsthand knowledge of Him and in fact have seen a shadow of His Magnificence. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been understood and observed by what he made, so that people are without excuse” (Rom.1:20).

If we have eyes, we are eyewitnesses…

Even if we were blind our Spirit would testify to His truth!

Go, as eyewitness, into all the world telling anyone—everyone that Jesus Christ is Lord while it is still today. While you here, sojourners in a foreign land, awaiting your Crown…then you will have fulfilled Peter’s instruction—to wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts.

Be a faithful and true eyewitness…

Until next Beloved, Blessings.

Tag: Salvation (Page 16 of 17)

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