What to do In the Waiting – 10-31-22

“Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” John 21:22 NKJV

Follow Jesus in the waiting – along with a few other things!

RELATIONSHIP:

Do you already have a relationship with a powerful God who cares about your every need because He loves you? Did you know my God can communicate with you and protect you – He has a plan for you to prosper if you just submit to His will and let His plan play out in your life!!! God wants a relationship with you and has already made a plan for your life. He loves you so much He sent His son to this world, to die as a sacrifice for your sins and rise from death with victory over sin and the ability to have a personal relationship with you.

Do you want to know truth? Be able to discern lies? Know how to figure it all out in these confusing times and have peace? The Bible says Jesus is the truth. I have experienced it and it has changed my life. I was once a hot mess of sin, promiscuity, drug and alcohol use and so much more. But I was lost and when I could not find my way, or find a truth, I numbed it with bad choses. When I found Jesus, and truth – I found peace and deliverance from those things.

If you want a relationship with God without truth you will get the counterfeit, hypocritical Christianity that has kept some of you away for too long. You need truth and relationship. You need to be honest with yourself and God (including honest repentance) and God will reveal truth to you. It becomes the two way, interaction that your relationship with God is built on. This is why Jesus is called the truth, because he is our only way to the Father.

“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 NIV
Here is a prayer for you to pray:
Jesus, I believe you are the way, the truth, the life, and the only way to the Father. I believe you are the son of God, you came to Earth and lived. That you died on the cross as a sacrifice for my sins, and rose again so that I may be saved from my sins and be able to get to know you. I declare: Jesus, you are Lord!
Therefore, I confess that I am a sinner and I ask that you forgive me of my sins and come into my life. Help me to turn away from my sins and transform me into what you have lovingly created me to be. Help me through a real personal relationship grow and accept your will for my life – that I may live in your blessings. Please walk with me, and talk with me – I accept a relationship with you and with our Father God, through you. In the name of Jesus I pray ~ Amen

BIBLE READING:

Dear Heavenly Father – Please give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of who you are, who Jesus is, and who the Holy Spirit is. Open the eyes of our understanding, please, so we may know the hope of our calling and the vast sovereignty and power of the grace of the cross. Please do not let us miss out on what you want and need from us today. Lord, I pray that your word prepares us and not scares us! We forbid the works and influences of fear over your word and our sound mind. And please keep us and bless us and shine your face upon us and pour out grace over us and give us peace! And we pray for the peace of Jerusalem! Thank you! – In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Today’s reading is the Gospel of John chapter 21 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

Breakfast by the Sea

21 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: ²Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. ³Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and ^[a]immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. ⁴But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
They answered Him, “No.”
⁶And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
⁷Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. ⁸But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. ⁹Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. ¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
¹¹Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. ¹²Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

¹⁴This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

Jesus Restores Peter

¹⁵So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of ^[b]Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I ^[c]love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
¹⁶He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of ^[d]Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I ^[e]love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
¹⁷He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of ^[f]Jonah, do you ^[g]love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. ¹⁸Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” ¹⁹This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

The Beloved Disciple and His Book

²⁰Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” ²¹Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
²²Jesus said to him, “If I ^[h]will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
²³Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

²⁴This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

²⁵And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Philippians 1:6-

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”

STUDY/DEVOTIONAL:

One more reminder – I wanted to make sure everyone knew we have started a group for fasting – it teaches all the ways you can fast and all the lengths and all the “why do we fasts” and all the Bible verses. We have an expert in long fasting in the group to discuss how to do thing in a healthy manner and give more information; please make him feel welcome. You do not have to fast to join the group. If you do fast, we will support and encourage you. But if you just want information on fasting that is perfectly fine too.
Also, my first ‘podcast’ is published in that group as well. It is on humility and fasting. I think you’ll enjoy it. The link to the group is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/509149707741862

Please share it with your friends who have questions about fasting or long to learn more about it. Fasting is the number one thing I get asked about so it will be great to have all the information in one space for people to access and interact with.

Now to finish the Book of John. The things to remember and take away from this book are the LOVE of God, the insights into the spirit, and Who Jesus Is = with all of His “I AM” statements that lead us to the powerful I AM in the garden. This chapter exemplifies Jesus’s love and care, gives us more prophetic insight into the spirit and shows us one last time who Jesus is!

“¹ After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: ²Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. ³Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.”

As John set’s the scene for this final chapter – let me remind you of where the Disciples are at in their minds: Jesus died, rose again. Showed himself twice. And told them to wait for the comforter. They were faced with the same dilemma we all encounter at one point or another. What to do in the waiting?

Simply put, these men went back to fishing. I have heard sermons about not going back to where Jesus found us, using this passage. But I disagree – they did not go back to where Jesus found them. No doubt they needed food, money and supplies and they’d might as well fish for it while waiting. I disagree with those who teach that they were ‘wrong’ in going fishing – the Lord literally blessed it and met them there with further grace and blessings and love.

“⁴But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
They answered Him, “No.”
⁶And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.”

Peter probably turned to Andrew, his brother… then realized he wasn’t there! But man wasn’t this scene familiar to Peter, Andrew, James and John?! Wow! He probably shrugged his shoulders as he threw the net over thinking weird men on the shore keep telling me how to fish and it works – let’s see what happens this time.

I do not think I matters much if you work and continue life while waiting – Jesus did not reprimand them. He blessed them and restored Peter. So while waiting, occupy. While waiting – keep living. AND be obedient. Fish, or work, or occupy, where He says to throw in your nets.

“⁷Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. ⁸But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.”

Of course Peter jumped in and swam. He got there just slightly faster and a lot more tired! I am sure there is a lesson here on answering the call. You see while waiting, and living – you are called to come to Him! You can come by boat, dragging in your blessing or you can jump overboard, forsaking your blessing and arrive all wet and tired. Neither is wrong.

“⁹Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. ¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”

Jesus already had some fish and bread. But He told them to bring some of the fish they caught. You see, that blessing (you received while you wait) is for His use! AND He will take care of you. So don’t be afraid to be a good steward and give it all to Him.

“¹¹Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.”

And Peter the swimmer dragged the net to shore. You see he forsook the boat and his peers and his blessing and swam to shore – but God restored it to him as he dragged it in. There is no formula for the waiting. There is no wrong way. The blessing took longer to get to Peter – but they all received it and it was abundant!
“The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.” Prov. 10:22 NKJV
No sorrow! None! If there is sorrow, the enemy has corrupted your blessings. May the Lord deal harshly with Him. That is your gift, your inheritance, your promise from The King! God’s word said it, I believe it, and that settles it.

“¹²Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.
¹⁴This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.”

Jesus obviously didn’t look like himself, yet He did. Many believe God gave most of mankind a spiritual blindness to make Jesus unrecognizable to men in general – but those who knew Him, knew him well enough that they could see through it.
Obviously to John, who was there, who also knew Jesus very well – this inability to recognize Him, but know it is Him, did not leave room for doubt – as John writes about it as if them knowing gave their experience more truth and value.

Now Peter had denied the Lord 3 times the night Jesus was betrayed. Jesus loves us, but actions do have consequences. And Jesus’s love alone cannot undo what was done in the spirit with those denials. So three time Peter must confess His love for Jesus and understand the importance of feeding His sheep.

“¹⁵So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
¹⁶He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
¹⁷He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

Wouldn’t it be great if the grace of forgiveness could cancel out the consequences? But that is not how things work. However Jesus does set it right.
While we are waiting – we should set a few thing straight. If we have wronged anyone or offended them – set it right. Jesus will help you.

Then, Jesus tells Peter how he will die:

“¹⁸Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” ¹⁹This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

When Jesus first called Peter – He said ‘follow me, I’ll make you fishers of men’. Quickly Peter knew that following Jesus was going to be dangerous but worth it. Most people I know who come to Christ come for His love and blessings and leave when times get hard – no one seems to talk about it anymore – that it is dangerous and worth it. Now, having lovingly been restored – Jesus tells Peter he’ll die on a cross too, then says follow me.
In case your Pastor hasn’t told you, and in case you haven’t actually read the Bible and think it is about a peace loving hippy – let me be the one to tell you – it is dangerous to follow Christ. He literally walk into death and if we follow, we will find ourselves at a cross. Let me also say – it is going to get worse. Well, aren’t I a bucket of sunshine today?! But we need to know the truth. Jesus is the truth. Jesus says to Peter – you’ll die, follow me. And peter had tasted and saw that this was good – so good – it was worth dying for. It is worth sacrificing everything for. We cannot play make-believe Christians any longer – if we believe this we must live it and that includes knowing this is not for the faint of heart.
In our waiting we must realize we are waiting for the next level, waiting to enter the big league – but there, people die for following Christ. Are we prepared, ready, and able to accept this cup?

Peter accepted this and was in – all in. He had and would continue to go strong, full out for Christ.

“²⁰Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” ²¹Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”

Peter always seems to say the wrong thing, until he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter seemingly thinks he is at a fortune teller’s table, playing lightly with the prophecy, excitedly burst out with – do John next! What will become of him?!

But let us take a side bar here – let us talk about ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’. This was the nickname for John. Earlier he was called one of the sons of thunder – but over time he became the one Jesus loved. Does this mean Jesus did not love Peter? No. He did love Peter – He loved all of them. Yet, John seemed to be Jesus favorite. Does Jesus actually show favoritism? I mean the next thing Jesus says is ‘what if John never dies?’!

“²²Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

Follow Christ. You want to be powerful – plug in and stop worrying about others. The spirit knows how to pray, so pray in the spirit and stop worrying about praying in your native language. Follow Him – Eyes on Him – focus on Christ. Then all the things are added. Just get into a relationship with God through Jesus.

“²³Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
²⁴This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.”

I have heard people say that John believed He would never die, and that was why he survived being boiled in oil. Well, here we see John sign off that it is him who is writing this and He did not believe he would live forever. What John DID believe – He believed He was Jesus’s beloved. And that is powerful. If we could grasp Jesus’s love and love Him back with the same depth – we too could know the secret things in Jesus’s heart and the prophecy and live in the power.

“²⁵And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.”

And Jesus is going to begin to make himself real to people again – not you and I, we have a real relationship with Him. But He will begin to do His own evangelistic work again and reveal himself. And the works, miracles, healings, deliverances, etc. that He will do will be so great that if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

***

Thank you for reading in 2022 – a Year of Wisdom and Salvation
May the God of peace keep you and bless you. May you stay focused on Christ and covered in grace. Walk in wisdom.
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!

30 Oct 202228 Oct 2022

WEEKEND READING – 10-30-22

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him.” Job 13:15-16 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of Job chapters 13-14 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

Job Defends Himself

13 “Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.
²What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
³But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God.
⁴But you forgers of lies,
You are all worthless physicians.
⁵Oh, that you would be silent,
And it would be your wisdom!
⁶Now hear my reasoning,
And heed the pleadings of my lips.
⁷Will you speak ^[a]wickedly for God,
And talk deceitfully for Him?
⁸Will you show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
⁹Will it be well when He searches you out?
Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?
¹⁰He will surely rebuke you
If you secretly show partiality.
¹¹Will not His ^[b]excellence make you afraid,
And the dread of Him fall upon you?
¹²Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.

¹³“Hold^[c] your peace with me, and let me speak,
Then let come on me what may!
¹⁴Why do I take my flesh in my teeth,
And put my life in my hands?
¹⁵Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
¹⁶He also shall be my salvation,
For a hypocrite could not come before Him.
¹⁷Listen carefully to my speech,
And to my declaration with your ears.
¹⁸See now, I have prepared my case,
I know that I shall be vindicated.
¹⁹Who is he who will contend with me?
If now I hold my tongue, I perish.

Job’s Despondent Prayer

²⁰“Only two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide myself from You:
²¹Withdraw Your hand far from me,
And let not the dread of You make me afraid.
²²Then call, and I will answer;
Or let me speak, then You respond to me.
²³How many are my iniquities and sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin.
²⁴Why do You hide Your face,
And regard me as Your enemy?
²⁵Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?
And will You pursue dry stubble?
²⁶For You write bitter things against me,
And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
²⁷You put my feet in the stocks,
And watch closely all my paths.
You ^[d]set a limit for the ^[e]soles of my feet.

²⁸“Man^[f] decays like a rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

Job Speaks of Life’s Woes

14 “Man who is born of woman
Is of few days and full of ^[g]trouble.
²He comes forth like a flower and fades away;
He flees like a shadow and does not continue.
³And do You open Your eyes on such a one,
And bring ^[h]me to judgment with Yourself?
⁴Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
No one!
⁵Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You;
You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.
⁶Look away from him that he may ^[i]rest,
Till like a hired man he finishes his day.

⁷“For there is hope for a tree,
If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And that its tender shoots will not cease.
⁸Though its root may grow old in the earth,
And its stump may die in the ground,
⁹Yet at the scent of water it will bud
And bring forth branches like a plant.
¹⁰But man dies and ^[j]is laid away;
Indeed he ^[k]breathes his last
And where is he?
¹¹As water disappears from the sea,
And a river becomes parched and dries up,
¹²So man lies down and does not rise.
Till the heavens are no more,
They will not awake
Nor be roused from their sleep.

¹³“Oh, that You would hide me in the grave,
That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past,
That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
¹⁴If a man dies, shall he live again?
All the days of my hard service I will wait,
Till my change comes.
¹⁵You shall call, and I will answer You;
You shall desire the work of Your hands.
¹⁶For now You number my steps,
But do not watch over my sin.
¹⁷My transgression is sealed up in a bag,
And You ^[l]cover my iniquity.

¹⁸“But as a mountain falls and crumbles away,
And as a rock is moved from its place;
¹⁹As water wears away stones,
And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth;
So You destroy the hope of man.
²⁰You prevail forever against him, and he passes on;
You change his countenance and send him away.
²¹His sons come to honor, and he does not know it;
They are brought low, and he does not perceive it.
²²But his flesh will be in pain over it,
And his soul will mourn over it.”

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Philippians 1:6

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”

***

Thank you for reading in 2022 – a Year of Wisdom and Salvation
May the God of peace keep you and bless you. May you stay focused on Christ and covered in grace.
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!

29 Oct 202228 Oct 2022

WEEKEND READING – 10-29-22

“He uncovers deep things out of darkness, And brings the shadow of death to light. He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them. He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness. They grope in the dark without light, And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.” Job 12:22-25 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of Job chapters 11-12 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

Zophar Urges Job to Repent

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

²“Should not the multitude of words be answered?
And should ^[a]a man full of talk be vindicated?
³Should your empty talk make men ^[b]hold their peace?
And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?
⁴For you have said,
‘My doctrine is pure,
And I am clean in your eyes.’
⁵But oh, that God would speak,
And open His lips against you,
⁶That He would show you the secrets of wisdom!
For they would double your prudence.
Know therefore that God ^[c]exacts from you
Less than your iniquity deserves.

⁷“Can you search out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
⁸They are higher than heaven—what can you do?
Deeper than ^[d]Sheol—what can you know?
⁹Their measure is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea.

¹⁰“If He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment,
Then who can ^[e]hinder Him?
¹¹For He knows deceitful men;
He sees wickedness also.
Will He not then consider it?
¹²For an empty-headed man will be wise,
When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

¹³“If you would prepare your heart,
And stretch out your hands toward Him;
¹⁴If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away,
And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
¹⁵Then surely you could lift up your face without spot;
Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;
¹⁶Because you would forget your misery,
And remember it as waters that have passed away,
¹⁷And your life would be brighter than noonday.
Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.
¹⁸And you would be secure, because there is hope;
Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety.
¹⁹You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid;
Yes, many would court your favor.
²⁰But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And they shall not escape,
And their hope—^[f]loss of life!”

Job Answers His Critics

12 Then Job answered and said:

²“No doubt you are the people,
And wisdom will die with you!
³But I have ^[g]understanding as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
Indeed, who does not know such things as these?

⁴“I am one mocked by his friends,
Who called on God, and He answered him,
The just and blameless who is ridiculed.
⁵A ^[h]lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease;
It is made ready for those whose feet slip.
⁶The tents of robbers prosper,
And those who provoke God are secure—
In what God provides by His hand.

⁷“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
⁸Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
And the fish of the sea will explain to you.
⁹Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
¹⁰In whose hand is the ^[i]life of every living thing,
And the breath of ^[j]all mankind?
¹¹Does not the ear test words
And the ^[k]mouth taste its food?
¹²Wisdom is with aged men,
And with ^[l]length of days, understanding.

¹³“With Him are wisdom and strength,
He has counsel and understanding.
¹⁴If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt;
If He imprisons a man, there can be no release.
¹⁵If He withholds the waters, they dry up;
If He sends them out, they overwhelm the earth.
¹⁶With Him are strength and prudence.
The deceived and the deceiver are His.
¹⁷He leads counselors away plundered,
And makes fools of the judges.
¹⁸He loosens the bonds of kings,
And binds their waist with a belt.
¹⁹He leads ^[m]princes away plundered,
And overthrows the mighty.
²⁰He deprives the trusted ones of speech,
And takes away the discernment of the elders.
²¹He pours contempt on princes,
And ^[n]disarms the mighty.
²²He uncovers deep things out of darkness,
And brings the shadow of death to light.
²³He makes nations great, and destroys them;
He ^[o]enlarges nations, and guides them.
²⁴He takes away the ^[p]understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth,
And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.
²⁵They grope in the dark without light,
And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Philippians 1:6

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”

***

Thank you for reading in 2022 – a Year of Wisdom and Salvation
May the God of peace keep you and bless you. May you stay focused on Christ and covered in grace.
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!

28 Oct 202227 Oct 2022

Learning to See Jesus All Over Again – 10-28-22

“Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” John 20:1-2 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Gospel of John chapter 20 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

The Empty Tomb

20 Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ²Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

³Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. ⁴So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. ⁵And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. ⁶Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷and the ^[a]handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. ⁸Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. ⁹For as yet they did not ^[b]know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. ¹⁰Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord

¹¹But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. ¹²And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. ¹³Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

¹⁴Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

¹⁶Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

She turned and said to ^[c]Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

¹⁷Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

¹⁸Mary Magdalene came and told the ^[d]disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

The Apostles Commissioned

¹⁹Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were ^[e]assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

²¹So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” ²²And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Seeing and Believing

²⁴Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

²⁶And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” ²⁷Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

²⁸And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹Jesus said to him, ^[f]“Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

That You May Believe

³⁰And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Philippians 1:6-

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”

STUDY/DEVOTIONAL:

Before we finish this week’s studies – I wanted to make sure everyone knew we have started a group for fasting – it teaches all the ways you can fast and all the lengths and all the “why do we fasts” and all the Bible verses. We have an expert in long fasting in the group to discuss how to do thing in a healthy manner and give more information; please make him feel welcome. You do not have to fast to join the group. If you do fast, we will support and encourage you. But if you just want information on fasting that is perfectly fine too.
Also, my first ‘podcast’ is published in that group as well. It is on humility and fasting. I think you’ll enjoy it. The link to the group is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/509149707741862

It almost feels like we finish John today, but we will finish the book on Monday as we close out the month. On Tuesday we will study Philemon and then finish the week in James – it should prove to be a powerful time.

First, Jesus came to earth – which was very important. Second, He died, taking my sins to hell and conquering death, sin and the world – which was also so very important. Today we study the third point to the gospel message – Jesus lives! He rose again and LIVES!

“¹ Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ²Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
³Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. ⁴So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. ⁵And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. ⁶Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. ⁸Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. ⁹For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. ¹⁰Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.”

John out ran Peter, but Peter got there and walked right in. IF Jesus’s body was there Peter would have been defiled – this is why John stopped. As we see throughout the gospels, John knew the Torah, prophets and Psalms better than Peter. Although the Bible says we should study to show ourselves approved, Peter was still chosen to be one of the 12. Still chosen, even though he often put his foot in his mouth and often was too feisty. (While John was in the end known as the disciple of Love, it was John and his brother who wanted to call down fire from heaven and nicknamed the sons of thunder!) Peter and John lived in the same village, can you imagine their conversation on the way home? In verse 8 it says they believed – they believed someone took Jesus! Because verse 9 says they did not YET know the prophecy that Jesus would rise from the grave!

“¹¹But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. ¹²And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. ¹³Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
¹⁴Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

Lovely Mary, in her grief meets two angles and doesn’t even notice. I met an angel in my dream once and I was terrified. Mary, Jesus’s mother, met an angel and was very afraid. The shepherds out with their sheep say singing angels and were terrified. Yet Mary Magdalene meets two angels inside a grave that was empty 2 seconds ago and she assumes that they are supposed to be there and speaks to them like they are guards or something.
Then Mary with her blurry weepy eyes turns and sees Jesus! And assumes he is the gardener.
When we are grieving, or dealing with something emotional – we should note that we cannot see Jesus clearly, even if He is standing right in front of us!

“¹⁶Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
¹⁷Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

Don’t hug me! Can you imagine?!?! I know I would be flinging my arms around Him!

“¹⁸Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.”

Now we know we read that John and Peter went home. They must have called for all the disciples to gather back together because:

“¹⁹Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
²¹So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” ²²And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

So they are gathered and locked the door, no doubt talking up a plan to learn where ‘they’ took Jesus and speculating who did it – when Jesus leans in and says: I have an idea – why don’t you all calm down and have peace. Then shows then his hands and side and they were a bit unnerved to say the least. Again, Jesus speaks “peace”.
Jesus spoke and things were formed into existence in Genesis. Jesus spoke into the storm on the sea: “Pease.” And it stopped. Jesus spoke “I AM’ and the angry mob fell flat. Jesus spoke again here Peace and I can almost feel the calming blanket dropping over the room.
Jesus breathed life into us in Genesis and Jesus breathes a new life, the Holy Spirit into them that night. You see being filled with the Holy Spirit and being anointed with the fire are two different things that happen at two different times.
Jesus was sent and now He sends. Are you ready to answer and go?

“²⁴Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
²⁶And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” ²⁷Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
²⁸And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

Thomas gets bagged on a lot for doubting. But Jesus made a trip back, just for Thomas! No one was left out – and Thomas was permitted to put his hands in the wounds. (And I sit here thinking “ewww” and “why isn’t Jesus supernaturally healed, including the scars. I know He is able.”

“²⁹Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

You and I get an extra blessing. Take it serious and walk in it! YOU ARE BLESSED!

“³⁰And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

It sure seems John is wrapping things up. I think John was working on this book for a while, working it and rethinking it and changing it. He may have wrapped it up here – but then Paul and Peter were killed and I believe it was in response to Peter’s death that John finished the book and sent it out. But don’t let me ump ahead to Monday – we’ll have to wait.

Meanwhile, please feel free to come back over the weekend for more wisdom reading from Job. I am mid-way through a lesson on David’s keys to fasting in the Fasting group (being released in short devotional style posts that string together) that you can join the group and enjoy. And I will see you back here on Monday to conclude John and the group.

I pray an extra blessing over you this weekend – stay safe.

***

27 Oct 202226 Oct 2022

King of the Jews – 10-27-22

“Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” John 19:19 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Gospel of John chapter 19 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

19 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. ²And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. ³^[a]Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.
⁴Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”

Pilate’s Decision

⁵Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”
⁶Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”
⁷The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to ^[b]our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”
⁸Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, ⁹and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.
¹⁰Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have ^[c]power to crucify You, and power to release You?”
¹¹Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
¹²From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”
¹³When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. ¹⁴Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”
¹⁵But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!”
Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”
The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”
¹⁶Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus ^[d]and led Him away.

The King on a Cross

¹⁷And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, ¹⁸where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. ¹⁹Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
²⁰Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
²¹Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ”
²²Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
²³Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. ²⁴They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:
“They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.”
Therefore the soldiers did these things.

Behold Your Mother

²⁵Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” ²⁷Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

It Is Finished

²⁸After this, Jesus, ^[e]knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” ²⁹Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. ³⁰So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

³¹Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. ³²Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. ³³But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. ³⁴But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. ³⁵And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. ³⁶For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” ³⁷And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb

³⁸After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. ³⁹And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. ⁴⁰Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. ⁴¹Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. ⁴²So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Philippians 1:6-

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”

STUDY/DEVOTIONAL:

Before we really dig in – I wanted to make sure everyone knew we have started a group for fasting – it teaches all the ways you can fast and all the lengths and all the “why do we fasts” and all the Bible verses. We have an expert in long fasting joining the group to discuss how to do thing in a healthy manner and give more information. You do not have to fast to join the group. If you do fast, we will support and encourage you. But if you just want information on fasting that is perfectly fine too.
Also, my first ‘podcast’ is published in that group as well. It is on humility and fasting. I think you’ll enjoy it. The link to the group is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/509149707741862

Now to today’s reading. As I always do with the message of the cross – I will be brief and let the words of the Bible speak for themselves. I view the cross with all reverence that my Lord and King died. And it was my sin that killed him. It was grace that hung an innocent man, grace that transformed him into our sins, and grace that persevered in the battle against sin and death! Jesus rose victoriously and helps me in my life, provides for me, protects me, and saves me into eternal life.

“¹ So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. ²And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. ³Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.
⁴Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”
⁵Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”
⁶Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

Pilate had Jesus beaten, assuming this would be enough to pacify the Jews – it was not enough for them. They, under the influence of the enemy, wanted Jesus dead. Oh how satan must have thought he won.

“⁷The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”
⁸Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, ⁹and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.”

Where are you from? Jesus could not answer – he always has been and always will be He is I AM.

“¹⁰Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”
¹¹Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
¹²From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”
¹³When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. ¹⁴Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”
¹⁵But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!”
Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”
The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”
¹⁶Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away.”

Pilate must have felt like the only sane person in a looney bin. Everyone around him must sound crazy! The Jews taking a thief and crying out for the death of an innocent man. Then Jesus is unable to answer – what good would it have done, anyway?
When a Jew hardens his heart is literally take a humiliating crisis and an act of God to get them to repent and soften again.

“¹⁷And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, ¹⁸where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. ¹⁹Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
²⁰Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
²¹Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ”
²²Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

And so fulfill prophesy.

“²³Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. ²⁴They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:“They divided My garments among them,And for My clothing they cast lots.” Therefore the soldiers did these things.”

Fulfilling more prophesy.

“²⁵Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” ²⁷Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.”

As Jesus hung there, dyeing – He does such a Jewish thing: He makes sure John will care for His mother, properly.

“²⁸After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” ²⁹Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. ³⁰So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

Fulfilling more prophesy.

“³¹Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. ³²Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. ³³But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. ³⁴But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. ³⁵And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. ³⁶For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” ³⁷And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Fulfilling more prophesy.

“³⁸After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. ³⁹And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. ⁴⁰Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. ⁴¹Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. ⁴²So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.”

Every time I read it. I feel as if I have killed Him again, by reading these words. Yet more power and strength come each time we read it. This is the truth. I leaves me in tears every time, even though I know what happens next.

***

26 Oct 202225 Oct 2022

The Power to Create the World, Drinks from The Cup – 10-26-22

“Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” John 18:6 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Gospel of John chapter 18 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. ²And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. ³Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. ⁴Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”

⁵They answered Him, “Jesus ^[a]of Nazareth.”

Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. ⁶Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

⁷Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”

And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁸Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” ⁹that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

¹⁰Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

¹¹So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

Before the High Priest

¹²Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. ¹³And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. ¹⁴Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was ^[b]expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

¹⁵And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another^[c] disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. ¹⁶But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”

He said, “I am not.”

¹⁸Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

Jesus Questioned by the High Priest

¹⁹The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.

²⁰Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where ^[d]the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. ²¹Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

²²And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck^[e] Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

²³Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

²⁴Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Twice More

²⁵Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”

He denied it and said, “I am not!”

²⁶One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” ²⁷Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

In Pilate’s Court

²⁸Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the ^[f]Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. ²⁹Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”

³⁰They answered and said to him, “If He were not ^[g]an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”

³¹Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.”

Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” ³²that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.

³³Then Pilate entered the ^[h]Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

³⁴Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”

³⁵Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”

³⁶Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

³⁷Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

³⁸Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

Taking the Place of Barabbas

³⁹“But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

⁴⁰Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Footnotes

John 18:5 Lit. the Nazarene
John 18:14 advantageous
John 18:15 M the other
John 18:20 NU all the Jews meet
John 18:22 Lit. gave Jesus a slap,
John 18:28 The governor’s headquarters
John 18:30 a criminal
John 18:33 The governor’s headquarters

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Philippians 1:6-

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”

STUDY/DEVOTIONAL:

Yesterday’s prayer concludes the teaching and the words, that John could remember and shared with us, that happened after the Last Supper and before the garden called Gethsemane. The disciples (except Judas who had already left) and Jesus left the upper room, singing hymns, as described by Matthew. Jesus’s countenance must have been heavy and prayerful – while the disciples had full bellies and enjoyed deep intimate fellowship with each other – not in a modern perverse meaning, but Jesus opened up to them and they were open to receive it making everyone feel closer than ever before (remember a couple chapters ago the disciples admitting deeper understanding at Jesus’s more direct words). They were celebrating death passing over – celebrating life with the life giver – feeling more alive than ever! They had fermented grape juice, which they called wine – it was not good for getting drunk, but it was great for a warm feeling, which no doubt added to the wonderful closeness of the night. I can imagine them, some with locked arms, some with arms around each other, singing and humming their old hymns (I’m sure filled with nostalgia as well).

“¹ When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.”

For the disciples – it must have been a wonderful night. I can almost see the soft lantern lights and the shadows of the beautiful garden reflecting and dancing on the brook. Jesus knew everything was about to change forever. Nothing would ever be the same again. We learned in other gospels – Jesus went to pray, took Peter, James and John, who fell asleep (and John understandably leaves this out). Jesus asks that this cup be passed from Him, but not Jesus’s will – instead God’s will be fulfilled. And Jesus comes back from praying just in time for Judas to gather the mob and locate Jesus in the garden.

“²And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. ³Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. ⁴Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”
⁵They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. ⁶Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.”

The power of the Lord came over them like liquid lead, when Jesus spoke “I am”. The “He” is in italics because it was added for clarity and emphasis. But in Greek, Jesus said “I AM”. The same response Moses got from the burning bush in Exodus 3. “I AM” in Greek and Hebrew both means I exist, in permanent present tense – always existed and always will. Always will! As they came to try to stop Him from existing – He speaks life, eternal life = I AM.
I AM, knocked them off their feet. I AM knocked Paul off his feet as well on the way to Damascus. I AM took the shoes off of Moses because I AM made the ground holy.

I imagine the disciples are standing ready to fight and ready to flee, frozen in time just staring at this mob lying flat out on their backs. The men of the mob stagger back to their feet and compose themselves and Jesus says, maybe I should speak softer – these mortals cannot handle the power of God.

“⁷Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
⁸Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” ⁹that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

No one falls down this time. I imagine them still a little stunned, maybe a couple advanced a little – but how were they going to grab this man who can knock them all out with His name – I AM!

“¹⁰Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
¹¹So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

Drink of the cup. Hold on to this symbol – so much more is here.

Let’s go back to Matthew 20:22 when Jesus asked James and John:
“But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”
This was the cup of persecution. Then the baptism was the sword of death for James and boiling oil for John.

Then to Matthew 26:26-28:
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Where Jesus took and shared The Cup.

Then a little further to Matthew 26:39:
“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Let this cup pass.

SO let me challenge you with a thought to mill about in your head, maybe make a decision on it. As Jesus asked James and John if they were able to drink the same cup as He would – are you able to drink from that cup? If the day came to lay down your life for Christ, will you? Can you pray, not my will but yours and mean it? The next time you partake of communion the blood, the cup, won’t hit the same way – it never will again. Because it is not just a cup of his blood to remind us of healing and the cross – it is us partaking, sharing, taking part in, making the action of… making it our cup too. Skip communion until you have resolved this, until you are sure you are able to drink of the Lord Jesus’s cup.

“¹²Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. ¹³And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. ¹⁴Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.”

And the disciples scattered. We do not know where they all went. Peter followed Jesus far behind.
I will guess the women, and Jesus’s mother were with Him for the holiday and were in the upper room. I bet the women were also there in the garden, getting ready to go back to where they made camp. Therefore I will bet a few guarded the women and helped them flee. But I will guess that John followed Peter. You see the style of writing at the time made you not speak of yourself – so ‘another disciple’ could have been himself (or he could have just named who it was).

“¹⁵And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. ¹⁶But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”
He said, “I am not.”

So this other disciple, went in with Jesus, into the courtyard. Everyone scattered. He made a way for Peter to come in and yet Peter had a struggle. John was there – his love for Christ so strong nothing was going to stop him. Being associated with Jesus was grounds for them to try to kill them too. Did John know the High Priest only wanted to kill one for all of them to then be scared and stop?

John knew and recorded Jesus’s words in verse 8 and 9: ⁸Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” ⁹that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”
Therefore John knew prophecy must be fulfilled and He was safe and could stand with Jesus. Here we really see that John saw in the spirit and understood things the human eye could not perceive. We see here that His love for Jesus was the key to a greater understanding – knowing the things to come, how and where to be. The others did not have the faith or understanding. Peter was on the edge of it almost there. John invited him in and Peter denies Christ – denies himself – denies it all.

“¹⁸Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.”

And Peter tried to blend in.

“¹⁹The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.
²⁰Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. ²¹Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”
²²And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struckJesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”
²³Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”
²⁴Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.”

Jesus was in a bad situation that was going to get worse – and He knew it. Have you ever been there? I have. No matter what you say it is a trap. So you state the obvious and get smacked. You keep your mouth shut and get smacked. You have no way out – except if God, Himself, intervenes.
Jesus knew God was not intervening. Jesus knew the only way out was to finish the task, fulfill the prophecies and rise victoriously in 3 days.

“²⁵Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”
He denied it and said, “I am not!”
²⁶One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” ²⁷Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.”

Poor Peter – ALL four gospels repeated his denial. But the victory of it all in Acts chapter two when Peter was filled with the spirit and preached! And the Church was built, souls were saved, and the disciples and the Good New spread!

“²⁸Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. ²⁹Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”

Passover is celebrated for 7 days. The disciples and Jesus had the last supper the day BEFORE the lamb was prepared. No doubt the disciples assumed they would be going back the next day for the lamb feast – and not running for their lives while the Lamb of God was the final sacrifice.
Did you notice, Jesus’s accusers brought Jesus to the Praetorium but kept themselves clean so they could eat? Yes, those selfish monsters planned to relax at a table surrounded by their respective wife and children and extended family and worship God for saving them in Egypt and hoping for the messiah – while their savior and messiah was being beat and killed. I wonder if while they took their knives and pierced into their lambs, if they even thought of the man on the cross, pieced for their iniquities.

“³⁰They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”
³¹Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.”
Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” ³²that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.
³³Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
³⁴Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
³⁵Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
³⁶Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
³⁷Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
³⁸Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.”

They were so worried about being ritually clean, they overlooked what dirty scoundrels they are. Pilate saw through them. He declares Jesus innocent – which of course Jesus was, and this too fulfilled prophecy.

³⁹“But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
⁴⁰Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.”

Can you imagine being so deceived that they release a thief into their lives over a savior – but wait… do we not let the thief in, and he lies, kills and destroys instead of standing on faith with our Savior. We are not much unlike these Pharisees. Let us remain humble and repentant so that we are not further deceived.

And as we end the chapter we easily forget that when he spoke His name – the enemy fell to the ground. Jesus has the power. He IS the power. He created the heavens and earth. And here we see ALL this power, humbling drink the cup – to save me. To save you. And if no one else would ever repent – He would still do it just for ONE person to repent, especially if it was you. Because He is calling you to a higher love – a deeper relationship, sharing and knowing. He has invited you to drink from the cup too.

***

26 Oct 202226 Oct 2022

LEARN PRAYER AND FASTING

If you have been following this blog for some time you know the key things I repeat on all the time: Repent and humble yourself – and grace.

The easiest way to humble yourself before God is through prayer and fasting – so I have spoke in this often as well. So much in fact that the number one question I hear is how do I fast and pray.

For something as simple as not putting food into your mouth – there is a lot to learn and know about it, lots of ways you can do it (including putting food in your mouth!), and lots that the Bible says about it.

So I am compiling all my short talks, studies and all the Bible verses I can find on fasting in one place – one interactive place where I can give the info, answer questions, pray with and for you, and encourage you – keeping you accountable while fasting. So, it is a Facebook group set up through our Facebook page. The link is embedded below.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/509149707741862

You are formally invited to join the group, participate or don’t, stick around in there to learn all about fasting and prayer. The group is brand new and you’ll be some of the first to join. I am guessing it will stay small.
We have spoken in the past about not having a prayer life – but having a life of prayer – now we are taking it a step further and not having done a fast once a year ago or back in 19…… instead living a fast life. Because once we know about fasting and prayer and the power that comes from it – it will become a natural pattern of living.

Please join us.

25 Oct 202226 Oct 2022

Prayer and Church Growth – 10-25-22

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;” John 17:20 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Gospel of John chapter 17 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

Jesus Prays for Himself

17 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, ²as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He ^[a]should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. ³And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ⁴I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. ⁵And now, O Father, glorify Me together ^[b]with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

⁶“I have ^[c]manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. ⁷Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. ⁸For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

⁹“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. ¹⁰And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. ¹¹Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep^[d] through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. ¹²While I was with them ^[e]in the world, I kept them in ^[f]Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is ^[g]lost except the son of ^[h]perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. ¹⁴I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷Sanctify^[i] them by Your truth. Your word is truth. ¹⁸As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. ¹⁹And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Jesus Prays for All Believers

²⁰“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who ^[j]will believe in Me through their word; ²¹that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²²And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

²⁴“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. ²⁶And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Footnotes

John 17:2 M shall
John 17:5 Lit. alongside
John 17:6 revealed
John 17:11 NU, M keep them through Your name which You have given Me
John 17:12 NU omits in the world
John 17:12 NU Your name which You gave Me. And I guarded them; (or it;)
John 17:12 destroyed
John 17:12 destruction
John 17:17 Set them apart
John 17:20 NU, M omit will

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Philippians 1:6-

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”

STUDY/DEVOTIONAL:

How many prayers of Jesus’s do we have recorded? Not many.

We most famously have “The Lord’s Prayer”:
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matt 6:9-13 NKJV

Jesus used that to instruct us how to pray. And now, today, we are reading another prayer of Jesus and I never hear lessons from this one on how to pray. Jesus is the great intercessor and we have the privilege to join Him in intercession for ourselves, our love ones and everyone (who believes)! This is not an intercession for unbelievers to come to Him – there is a time and place for that form of intercession. However we should be praying for each other, as believers!

Granted – we are NOT the Christ and we cannot prayer for ourselves as if we are. But look at how the Christ, God on Earth, prayed that He could fulfill His call.

“¹ Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,”

We cannot be glorified or lifted up until we are humble. I cannot emphasis this enough! The first shall be last and last shall be first and all of that. We have studied the word and see in the word almost daily that GOD SAYS we must humble ourselves before Him. If we aren’t low we cannot be lifted up. John has, throughout this book, added to the formula of humility – that we must have a deep love for God as well.
Once we get low, make sure you are fully repentant so you are the lowest you can be!
Then – we can pray powerful prayers for ourselves: Lord, Please lift me up that Jesus can be seen in me and that YOU can be glorified in me! AND so I can glorify you!

“²as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.”

Reminding God of the things He has given us and the promises and the plan for our life is a great way to pray for ourselves. There is something special about reaffirming these things with a grateful heart and spirit of worship!
Lord Jesus, You have given us authority and “power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19) so that we are equipped to “Go therefore and make disciples” (Matt. 28:19-20) so that the father is glorified in the Son who is lifted up by us!

“³And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Oh Lord, that through me, they may know eternal life and that you are the only true God and that they will know Jesus whom You have sent.

“⁴I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”

Daily pray that the Lord is glorified in us, through us, and by us. Pray that we always point to Jesus. Pray that we are able to finish the work the Lord has given each of us to do, that we do that work daily and that the Lord continues to make a way for each of us to do that work, removing hindrances and obstacles.

“⁵And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”

This last verse we cannot pray for ourselves. We can glorify the father and the Son and worship and magnify them. But we do not dare rob God of any glory and we do not dare ask for any either.

When was the last time you prayed like that for yourself?
Times were about to get the hardest for Jesus – He had to submit to the cross. Times are about to get hard for us – we must submit to the fact that God has the right to tell His story through us any way He wants (knowing He promised to work it out for our good). So, like Jesus prayed acknowledging His authority and promises, then stating His mission to save souls, then asking God to work it out for His glory, and finally for help finishing strong – we should also be praying for ourselves the same way.

Jesus continues to prays and He focuses on His love ones, specifically His disciples.
You and I acting Christ-like, and fulfilling the “go ye therefore..” will be given disciple as we go to make them. Because ONLY God can make them and give them to us as we manifest Jesus’s name to men! AND…
Don’t I LOVE that term to manifest the name of Jesus to people. That doesn’t mean preach Jesus – that means LIVE it. Pray for people, lay hands on them, tell them what Jesus has done for you lately and how He can do it for them too. Ask Jesus to reveal Himself to them! Yes – MANIFEST the Name of Jesus!

⁶“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.”

Also note – your disciples should be GOD’S disciples, keeping HIS words, not ours. We are there to lift them up, help guide when they can’t hear the voice of God – but not to control them, force them, or enslave them. They are gifts to us from God AND they are HIS! So our prayers should start with thanking God for them!

“⁷Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. ⁸For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.”

Yes – we are sent by God, given the Word of God to give to them and they must receive it to be “our disciples”. As Paul said – follow me as I follow Him.

⁹“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.”

So we pray for the ones God gave us to help.
What does it mean, though, that Jesus did not pray for the world? Are we not supposed to pray for the world? It does not mean not to pray for the world – it means at this moment the prayer was for specifically believers.
You see, in this section, in this prayer – He only prayed for believers: Himself, the disciples, and then ALL believers. Jesus is about to go to the cross and die – it is the believers who faith is about to be tested and their world’s shaken. They need prayers. If someone says follow me and you get into your car and start following them and they drive off a cliff – you are now left without directions. Were you also supposed to drive off the cliff? Are you supposed to stay there? Are you supposed to turn around and go home? They needed prayers! But so do we. We know Jesus drove off the cliff and many of us followed Him to that cliff, years later. And we STILL do not know what it is we are supposed to do at the edge of that cliff. So if you have made disciples, pray for them.

“¹⁰And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. ¹¹Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. ¹²While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.”

We can pray and show God our faithfulness – THIS is something most of us never do. We know God doesn’t like it when we brag on ourselves to others. But God loves for us to report in with what we did for Him! In secret, the other day, I did a good deed – and when it was done I did not tell anyone and I assumed the Lord saw it. None the less, just like God knows when we need something but still makes us ask – He want us to come and tell Him! Hey God, did you see that?! I gave to the poor, the homeless, the widow, and the prisoner (Matt 25:31-46) Our joy in the Lord comes from sharing these things.
As Jesus prayed for the 12 He showed God how He was faithful in rearing and teaching them – so we can pray for our students and tell God how we taught them well.

“¹⁴I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. ¹⁸As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. ¹⁹And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”

Jesus prayed that the Lord will keep His disciples from the evil one – such a good prayer! I pray this for those who follow me. You should too. Because we are sanctified by God’s word and truth we are not of this world and the world hates us – this requires prayer protection. We have been sent and for our sakes Jesus was sanctified, set apart, and now sits at the right hand of the throne – making intercession for us – as we intercede for each other. As I/we pray for the ones who follow me/us , who we have led to Christ and are now raising up, and those who needed a mentor and a leader to help them reach their next level. After praying for their growth, protection and God’s assistance – Jesus prays for their ministry – for the fruits of their calling – for the fruits of being a believer who lives this and does it, without some special calling other than being called to follow Jesus (which will always bear the fruit of disciples and growth).

Jesus came through and preached and had thousands who were fed bread and fish, who saw and ate a miracle – yet only 120 were in the upper room. So, let me explain it this way: Let’s say I travel to a small town with one church (with 200 members) and 15 thousand people. I go through the streets and invite everyone to hear me speak. And the place is packed. And I do it for 4 days. At the end 500 people gave their hearts to the Lord and I told them to go to the one church in town. Then I leave.
Meanwhile you win a co-worker to Christ just by acting christlike and you start teaching him about Christ on lunch break. Another Christian sees and asks to join and they need a mentor. And then you find another coworker feels like they were left out and they join and are saved. Now you have 3 disciples. You continue to invest in them, teach them, and pray with them. They go out and soon the light inside of them has touched and transformed people. Now you need to have your meeting in the evening at your house, because there are 12 in total. And the newest 9 of them each touch and reach 3 more people and add 27 to your 12! That is 39 – and in the matter of a couple years you need your own church building! Those 27 collect disciples and become 81, and when they reach people they become 243, 729, 2,187, 6,561… and that is with each person taking 3 people under their wing. Maybe some do more and others do less – so in 5 years there are 500 new believers in your town, who have been raised up and taken care of so none fell through the cracks.
In 5 years I so back to that small town where 500 gave their lives to Christ and learn the church has only grown my 20 people. No one took the new believers under their wings and raised them, cared for them, taught them how to serve the Lord and to become a disciple.
In ten years your 500 people are still being cared for, fought for, loved on, prayed for, growing and helped – and have grown larger in numbers. And in that same amount of time there is no way of even finding the 500 who raised their hand at my tent meeting – their contact info is out dated.

You see the Lord’s ways look small to man – but are so much bigger and more permanent in the long run. We just need to find a couple of people, a few steps behind us, to hold onto for their very soul’s sake and grow with them, stay a couple steps ahead of them. And pray for them:

²⁰“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;”

Pray for your disciples and for those who believe through them and watch how God’s glory is multiplied in it!

“²¹that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²²And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

God is glorified and we are all loved, feel a personal connection, have a person who can be our “father or mother in Christ” and we can turn to for advise as well as having “children in Christ” we can raise. All of it very hands on and personal, without tents and without mass altar calls and raising our hands.

²⁴“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. ²⁶And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

God wants a personal relationship – so He designed all of the around personal relationships! Glory to God! So we learn by man’s example how to be in a loving relationship with God. This is the conduit of His love – true love! The reason we must love one another. The reason the world will know us by our love. The way in which we are to grow.

God loves you – Jesus Loves you – I love you… so you know love and can love me, love Jesus and love the Father!

Disclaimer: Tent meetings and street evangelism is not bad or wrong! They have a purpose. Seeds are planted. Most of those meeting bring in Christians from all over anyway. Just like this blog brings in Christians – unbelievers do not stick around to the bottom of the posts. THAT is why I have the salvation message at the top. If they are going to start to read then bounce, let them read how to come into this relationship with God. While Christians will stick around to read further. And those who are really hungry for the word are still reading – hey that is YOU!
Say Hi in the comments if you are still reading! You are awesome! It is YOU who I work hard to do this for and I pray for, you are hungry for the word of God and I pray you are filled and yet remain hungry and eager for God! I pray you are blessed and God meets all your needs. I pray you experience love. I pray that you are prepared for what is to come and that God goes before you, makes a way for you and hides you from the evil one and the evil one’s wrath. I pray that you company of angels stomps as they walk causing a quake everywhere you go and that God leads you to one or a few you can disciple and mentor and grow the kingdom of Heaven! In the Name of Jesus ~amen.

***

24 Oct 202222 Oct 2022

Love Overcomes – 10-24-22

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Gospel of John chapter 16 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

Jesus Warns and Comforts His Disciples

16 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. ²They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. ³And these things they will do ^[^a^]to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. ⁴But these things I have told you, that when ^[^b^]the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.

“And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

⁵“But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ ⁶But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. ⁸And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹of sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; ¹¹of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

¹²“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. ¹⁴He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He ^[^c^]will take of Mine and declare it to you.

Sorrow Will Turn to Joy

¹⁶“A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”

¹⁷Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” ¹⁸They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not ^[^d^]know what He is saying.”

¹⁹Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? ²⁰Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. ²¹A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ²²Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

²³“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. ²⁴Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Jesus Christ Has Overcome the World

²⁵“These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. ²⁶In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; ²⁷for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. ²⁸I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

²⁹His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! ³⁰Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”

³¹Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? ³²Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his ^[^e^]own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. ³³These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you ^[^f^]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Footnotes
a.John 16:3 NU, M omit to you
b.John 16:4 NU their
c.John 16:15 NU, M takes of Mine and will declare
d.John 16:18 understand
e.John 16:32 own things or place
f.John 16:33 NU, M omit will

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Philippians 1:6-

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”

STUDY/DEVOTIONAL:

Welcome back to our study of the Book of John. We are suspended in time between the last supper and the garden where Judas betrayed Jesus and here we have lingered while John tries to remember and tell us all the most important things Jesus told them. I know personally, if I knew it was my last chance to tell you everything I could, I would pick the most important stuff. John realizes the important of this moment and works hard to remember it all.
The depth and the width of it all cannot all be covered in a study with this structure. I hope you are really praying fervently for understanding and you are taking time to think n these verses throughout your day. There is just so much Good Stuff as Jesus tries not to scare them but prepare them – because in a moment, it is all going to change forever.

I often feel we are on the threshold of a moment that will change the world forever, as well. We also must be prepared for what is coming.

“¹ “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. ²They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. ³And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. ⁴But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. “And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.”

Jesus warns against Paul and at the same time foretells his coming. Paul was just a man. The first one we know the name of in a long line of men who kill Christians in the name of “god”. Look at modern Iran and you will see this long line continues today (as well as in Korea, China, and other places as well). The spirit of the antichrist has been trying to kill off the seed of Adam and the Seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the seed of David forever. Jesus did not need to speak of it when He was there to protect the disciples. BUT now that He is leaving it is time to make the disciples wise to the attacks. So many times Christians wander around willfully ignorant of the enemies’ devices because they do not like to speak of such uncomfortable things and “Everything isn’t a Demon” (yes, I know). And then they say – God will protect me and wonder why they find themselves drowning in a sea of attacks. Although Jesus is within us – He is not here like he was for the disciples. To hide from these attacks as must be wise to them, anticipate where they will happen next. The serpent was the most shrewd of the beasts – we will not always anticipate correctly. He’s got a few years of experience on us. That is where Jesus and the Holy Spirit come in – AND Jesus wants us to know!

“⁵“But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ ⁶But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

The Holy Spirit is a vital person. Both in relation to His Authority in the God Head as well as inside of us. Not just in small measure to convict ourselves of sin – but in overflowing measure, manifesting with truth in tongues, fire, conviction, righteousness and judgment!

“⁸And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹of sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; ¹¹of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

I could spend an hour on that verse – so take a look at these elements of the Holy Spirit that move through us, during the course of the day and think about all that it means, and how it impacts every room we enter and every step we take.

¹²“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”

We are sorry we cannot even bear so much of this now, Lord.

“¹³However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

We can know all truth – we can know if the leaders lie to us. We can know if there is a “conspiracy”. When we are overwhelmed with contradicting news and do not know what to believe – WE CAN ACTUALLY KNOW THE TRUTH!
AND not only will you know the truth, but you will also know things to come. Will you have the gift of prophecy? Some will and some won’t. But with or without the gift you and I can still know things to come as God guides us and positions us and leads us.

“¹⁴He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”

It will not happen for your glory or my glory – but in all things the Holy Spirit gives glory to God! And will speak on behalf of God to us.

Jesus then goes on to explain that the disciples will mourn but to keep hope because he will rise up from the dead. You and I should remain hopeful of the day when we will see Him as He returns for His sheep.
Of course the disciple gets confused as Jesus tells them. And Jesus responds:

“¹⁹Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? ²⁰Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. ²¹A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ²²Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.”

First of all – I wish I could have seen and loved Jesus in flesh. What a gift to mourn his death and celebrate His resurrection without faith – but to see with your eyes such amazing things. But we very well might be the generation that sees the rapture and our Jesus is the sky catching us up to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

²³“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. ²⁴Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

Over and over in the last few Chapters, John has been showing us to ask. To pray for everything, ask for everything, in all things pray. It not that we can ask to heap greed upon us – God is not a genie in a bottle. But our daily food, our finances, our seed to sow, our needs, our wants, our desires, and in all things – ask and we will receive.
John is coming from a place of love and humility. John assumes we also LOVE Jesus. Some of us are so broken (I was once one of them) that we followed Jesus without true love and did not love him – nor do we love anyone in a truthful healthy way, because we did not know Godly love. Without love, and without hearing from God – we cannot ask within His will for us, because we cannot know His will without love and without hearing from Him.
Therefore we must pray for a healing in our “Love” department. That God would heal love, help us to know love and help us to love. So we can love Him and hear His voice and we can love – then ask, receive and have our joy filled.
Side note – you, like me, may also have to ask God to help you learn to receive. If you do not know how to receive, then you will ask and God will give, but you’ll miss it.
Jesus love us so much that NOT only did He lay down His life for us – but He also tell us, as His last words, as His most important words – that HE WANTS TO FILL US WITH ALL JOY! He wants to meet our needs and WANTS to give us our hearts desires and WANTS to help us succeed in life. I dare say, He wants us to prosper. We just have to get ONE thing right – LOVE. Godly love, not the devil’s corrupted version of it.

²⁵“These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. ²⁶In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; ²⁷for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. ²⁸I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

God is Love. David had a heart after God. John was the beloved Disciple. If we learn NOTHING else – learn love. Love the weak, love the poor, love the homeless, love one another, and most of all love Jesus! I do not mean as a doormat. I do not mean in perversion. I do not mean in a guarded way. I do not mean in an unhealthy way. True love does have boundaries, not strings attached and stipulations. True love doesn’t manipulate. You either give and take love freely or you don’t. It is your choice. And you can learn it through the help of our savior. Unhealthy love of Christ and all tings leaves a door open for the enemy to manipulate you, corrupt your thoughts, and even possess a stronghold in you. Perfect love cast out fear and every other demonic stronghold within us. Pray for love. Pray to love others as Christ loves. Pray for healing in Love.

“²⁹His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! ³⁰Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”
³¹Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? ³²Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.”

Finally, the disciples start to get it. Finally, there is understanding. I pray that you too have the breakthrough revelation that John the revelator had and tried to share with us all this time – LOVE. God is Love, Jesus was given all that God is, so love. And the comforting Holy Spirit reveals the truth of it to us – love. Love is the truth.

“³³These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

How often when we are going through troubling times we quote this – or get a meme or plaque of it and post it to comfort us and encourage us. Did you ever notice that Jesus said this between the Last Supper and the cross? Jesus knew, within the hour He was going to be questioned and beat, with in the day He would be beaten into hamburger and die. Jesus knew His disciples would be heading into the scariest thing they have ever seen in their lives and that their lives would never be the same and that most of them would die a martyr’s death. And He gives them peace and good cheer. He gives them peace and good cheer!
We have a bad day at the office and feel a little bullied, but not even enough to go to the Human Resources Department over, and we are crying out to God and putting this verse on our lock-screen of our phones and we can’t even muster a smile… when Jesus was facing the cross and the disciples also faced martyrdom and they had peace and good cheer.

SO we can love, and learn love, and heal our love – because Jesus overcame the World. The whole world!
AND we are made in the image of God – He is an overcomer, so are we – and we do so with peace and good cheer!

***

23 Oct 202220 Oct 2022

WEEKEND READING – 10-23-22

“Truly I know it is so, But how can a man be righteous before God? If one wished to contend with Him, He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand. God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?” Job 9:2-4 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of Job chapters 9-10 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

Job: There Is No Mediator

9 Then Job answered and said:

²“Truly I know it is so,
But how can a man be righteous before God?
³If one wished to ^[a]contend with Him,
He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
⁴God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.
Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?
⁵He removes the mountains, and they do not know
When He overturns them in His anger;
⁶He shakes the earth out of its place,
And its pillars tremble;
⁷He commands the sun, and it does not rise;
He seals off the stars;
⁸He alone spreads out the heavens,
And ^[b]treads on the ^[c]waves of the sea;
⁹He made ^[d]the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
And the chambers of the south;
¹⁰He does great things past finding out,
Yes, wonders without number.
¹¹If He goes by me, I do not see Him;
If He moves past, I do not perceive Him;
¹²If He takes away, ^[e]who can hinder Him?
Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
¹³God will not withdraw His anger,
The allies of ^[f]the proud lie prostrate beneath Him.

¹⁴“How then can I answer Him,
And choose my words to reason with Him?
¹⁵For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him;
I would beg mercy of my Judge.
¹⁶If I called and He answered me,
I would not believe that He was listening to my voice.
¹⁷For He crushes me with a tempest,
And multiplies my wounds without cause.
¹⁸He will not allow me to catch my breath,
But fills me with bitterness.
¹⁹If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong;
And if of justice, who will appoint my day in court?
²⁰Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me;
Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.

²¹“I am blameless, yet I do not know myself;
I despise my life.
²²It is all one thing;
Therefore I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’
²³If the scourge slays suddenly,
He laughs at the plight of the innocent.
²⁴The earth is given into the hand of the wicked.
He covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not He, who else could it be?

²⁵“Now my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, they see no good.
²⁶They pass by like ^[g]swift ships,
Like an eagle swooping on its prey.
²⁷If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,
I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,’
²⁸I am afraid of all my sufferings;
I know that You will not hold me innocent.
²⁹If I am condemned,
Why then do I labor in vain?
³⁰If I wash myself with snow water,
And cleanse my hands with ^[h]soap,
³¹Yet You will plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes will ^[i]abhor me.

³²“For He is not a man, as I am,
That I may answer Him,
And that we should go to court together.
³³Nor is there any mediator between us,
Who may lay his hand on us both.
³⁴Let Him take His rod away from me,
And do not let dread of Him terrify me.
³⁵Then I would speak and not fear Him,
But it is not so with me.

Job: I Would Plead with God

10 “My soul loathes my life;
I will ^[j]give free course to my complaint,
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
²I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me;
Show me why You contend with me.
³Does it seem good to You that You should oppress,
That You should despise the work of Your hands,
And smile on the counsel of the wicked?
⁴Do You have eyes of flesh?
Or do You see as man sees?
⁵Are Your days like the days of a mortal man?
Are Your years like the days of a mighty man,
⁶That You should seek for my iniquity
And search out my sin,
⁷Although You know that I am not wicked,
And there is no one who can deliver from Your hand?

⁸‘Your hands have made me and fashioned me,
An intricate unity;
Yet You would destroy me.
⁹Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay.
And will You turn me into dust again?
¹⁰Did You not pour me out like milk,
And curdle me like cheese,
¹¹Clothe me with skin and flesh,
And knit me together with bones and sinews?
¹²You have granted me life and favor,
And Your care has preserved my spirit.

¹³‘And these things You have hidden in Your heart;
I know that this was with You:
¹⁴If I sin, then You mark me,
And will not acquit me of my iniquity.
¹⁵If I am wicked, woe to me;
Even if I am righteous, I ^[k]cannot lift up my head.
I am full of disgrace;
See my misery!
¹⁶If my head is exalted,
You hunt me like a fierce lion,
And again You show Yourself awesome against me.
¹⁷You renew Your witnesses against me,
And increase Your indignation toward me;
Changes and war are ever with me.

¹⁸‘Why then have You brought me out of the womb?
Oh, that I had perished and no eye had seen me!
¹⁹I would have been as though I had not been.
I would have been carried from the womb to the grave.
²⁰Are not my days few?
Cease! Leave me alone, that I may take a little comfort,
²¹Before I go to the place from which I shall not return,
To the land of darkness and the shadow of death,
²²A land as dark as darkness itself,
As the shadow of death, without any order,
Where even the light is like darkness.’ ”

Footnotes

Job 9:3 argue
Job 9:8 walks
Job 9:8 Lit. heights
Job 9:9 Heb. Ash, Kesil, and Kimah
Job 9:12 Lit. who can turn Him back?
Job 9:13 Heb. rahab
Job 9:26 Lit. ships of reeds
Job 9:30 lye
Job 9:31 loathe
Job 10:1 Lit. leave on myself
Job 10:15 Lit. will not

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

Philippians 1:6

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”

***

Thank you for reading in 2022 – a Year of Wisdom and Salvation
May the God of peace keep you and bless you. May you stay focused on Christ and covered in grace.
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!