Matt. 11:12

The Kingdom of Heaven Suffers Violence, Matt. 11:12

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John the Baptist was the herald, “EXTRA, EXTRA, Read All About It. The Message is here and has begun his CONQUEST! He is going to destroy Sin, Death, and Hell. Stamp your ticket here at the Jordan river, I’m baptizing sinners for entrance into Messiah’s kingdom.”
 
“Multitudes” according to the context were “pressing” to get in. But, the religious leaders were skeptical. They already had a good thing going right where they were. Certainly not going to listen to some homeless dude quoting scripture.
 
Pick up the rest of the story in Matthew and see what Jesus has to say about this situation. One man’s (“oh when the saints come marching in…”) marching band is another man’s noise.
 
Is it worth the (effort) violent force? Why is violence (literal spiritually) necessary? Can’t we all just chill?

The Math that Equals Fellowship with God, Philippians 4:8,9

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Here we find more complex math in God’s word to exercise the frontal cortex of those endowed with “the image of God.” Us creatures who can think!

Like every manufactured machine, there are no unnecessary parts; each part has a specific contribution/contributions. In this passage the Holy Spirit inspires Paul to highlight several of our body components working together for spiritual growth.

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

“Think” in this verse means to add up; it’s an accounting word. Add these things up. The sum total you will arrive at is “the peace of God will be with you.”

Paul says: he has lived “these things” in front of them in such as way that they have been taught through all of there senses. They have “received” them to themselves, They have heard them with their ears, they have seen them with their eyes. You might say that they have “tasted the purity and cleanness” of them. And being persuaded of their value they are encouraged to do them and receive the final benefit: fellowship with the God of peace.

These things + learning + doing = FELLOWSHIP WITH THE GOD OF PEACE.

In contrast with the anxious mindset described in the previous verses, we are to select out “every thing” that is beneficial and praiseworthy to study for the purpose of directing our way of life.

The Law of Harvest/ Coming of Age

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The Law of the harvest runs throughout the Bible. The time for fruit and the inspection of its quality. The bad fruit is separated out from the good fruit.

Peter is inspired to teach this coming of age process from another perspective to Jews suffering persecution from their countrymen.

“Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with the will of God must [continue to] do right and commit their souls [for safe-keeping] to the faithful Creator.
1 PETER 4:12‭-‬13‭, ‬17‭-‬19 AMP

It’s like the bad apples identify you as good fruit by persecuting you for doing good–they identify you with Christ and persecute him through you–REJOICE!! Your identity is confirmed by others!

CONVERSELY,

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.Luke 6:26 KJV

A Law of Harvest, coming of age on planet earth.

Study 1Peter!

The Good Life!

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What’s wrong with “the good life?” Isn’t God glorified in my success?

This would mean that the seed He plants is designed produce material wealth. The truth is: what we call “the good life” is really a slow death with decaying things. The real “good life” begins with seed that produces everlasting things, which don’t decay. (Once we forget Genesis 3 our thinking has erred.)

“And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. –Luke 8:7‭, ‬10‭-‬11‭, ‬14 KJV

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 John 2:15‭-‬17 KJV

 

Pray For Me

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Everybody needs prayer, as a matter of fact we should always pray for each other.
 
But, some ministries put their disciples in a constant posture of needing prayer for the wrong things. It’s like always being hungry for fulfillment and never, never being satisfied.
 
With these ministries focusing on fleshly needs every week, they are feeding the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, “which are not of the father but of the world.”
 
While Jesus said the quote below: they (the flock) are constantly led to focus on the exact things Jesus said not to give a thought to.
 
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. —Matthew 6:31‭-‬34 KJV
 
Because these ministries see it necessary to stir up the fleshly desires the world lusts for, their members become dissatisfied babes, constantly craving more things, and a better life here on earth. Their disciples are spiritually unstable and powerless because they are constantly entangled in worldly cares.
 
(I went to see T.D. Jakes at a church where you can find “your best life now”, and he asks all who are in desperate need to come down close to the alter. Half the church got up (3,000+ ??.) The medicine ain’t working, it’s causing more sickness!)
 
Jesus said, our care, cravings, and affections, should be for heaven–spiritual things. Sounds to me like, mastering, and memorizing the word of God might be one of those things to care about? Thirst and hunger for God’s food and water! DRINK and FEAST! If we need to know what seeking heaven means.
 
There are even promises attached to this task:
 
“Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation. –Psalms 91:14‭-‬16 KJV
 
Chronic sickness is not normal when you know the Great Physician. 
Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Ask of God, ask in Faith; James 1:6

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Been wrestling with James 1 since a Bible study a couple of weeks ago. Because James ask us to do the impossible to “count it all joy when we fall into all kinds of soul trying situations.”

What I want to focus on is the If any man lacks wisdom let him ask of God in faith and no doubting because the man that waivers is double minded and should not expect anything from God.

What I’ve come to understand is that it’s not that we don’t ask from God, it is that WE DON’T BELIEVE THAT HE CAN answer our prayer. We are prone to focus on the problem the difficulty and doubt that God is even able to do what we request, and the possibility that he is unwilling to answer our prayer for whatever reason mixes in.

For example because we are insignificant, or unworthy, our wants are unimportant distractions to God, or we are asking with the wrong motives, have lack of information on exactly what we should be praying about, or doubt God is even willing to answer our prayer. So the thought of his unwillingness in our minds clouds or interferes with our faith in his ability to answer our prayers. James is saying DON’T DOUBT THAT GOD IS ABLE if he is willing to answer our prayer!

So, when we make a request we should not doubt that HE IS ABLE to answer that request.

So we see the kid David going out to kill Goliath,  Daniel in the lion’s den, and his 3 friends

” If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods…Daniel 3:17‭-‬18

We see the woman with the issue of blood, the Centurion Soldier with the dying child: ” just speak the word and my child will be healed”, all come to Jesus WITHOUT A DOUBT that he was ABLE to do the miracle they needed in their life. They wanted a miracle and didn’t doubt. We ask for smaller things and doubt God’s ability to give them to us.

So James is saying to us have that same type of faith in God’s ABILITY to answer the request, and do the thing we come to him in prayer with. In this case asking for wisdom to count up all tribulation in our life to JOY because:

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.-James 1:2‭-‬8 KJV

It is evil to limit God’s power in our heart while facing him in prayer, or give up on our requests because we faint and doubt. This child belongs to another father, not our Father in heaven who has demonstrated his all powerful abilities. Read all of James 1.

But the one doubting…he has been condemned, because it is not of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin.—Rom 14:23

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Luke 18:1 KJV

disasters?

God of Disasters?

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First, we must keep perspective: that this life ends in death for everyone (nobody escapes). So, God’s concern is what happens to us in the end at the great judgment day.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? —Mark 8:36‭-‬37 KJV

Why?

1. People are stubborn to repent; even the chosen must be coerced to abandon evil, the world system, and their own lusts to love and pursue God. (Remember, we are created in God’s image to glorify him–sin is the opposite if that glory.)

Psa 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Psa 119:67, Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. (also read 2Peter 3)

Heb 12:1,  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2. Judgment upon the wicked to punish, and prevent them from perpetrating more evil against their fellow man. (See the plagues against Egypt in Exodus 7)

Rev 9:20　And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

3. Training in patience and other spiritual virtues for the children of God (see Heb. 11 & 12)

Rom 5:3-5, And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Rev 3:10, Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Thayer: keep: to attend to carefully, take care of.

Strong:To keep eye upon.

VWS: Not the words which Christ has spoken concerning patience, but the word of Christ which requires patience to keep it; the gospel which teaches the need o£ a patient waiting for Christ. On patience, see on 2Pe_1:6; see on Jam_5:7.

My note: There is no promise to keep Christians “away from, or out of” the tribulation which will come on the world. The promise is to watch over or keep an eye on believers during this season, to assure their hope and salvation.

Jas 5:7, Be patient [longsuffering, patiencs that outlasts all trials] therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord [our harvest]. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Barclay: “The early rain was the rain of late October and early November without which the seed would not germinate. The late rain was the rain of April and May without which the grain would not mature. The farmer needs patience to wait until nature does her work;…”

My note: The focus of James’ letter is on the birth and maturity of the sons of God. No one likes rain, because it hides the sun and all of its enjoyments. However, in this world it is necessary for life; seeds to take root, and to assure their maturity and ultimate “precious fruit”.

The Saints understand this and are therefore patient (long-suffering) during strategic periods of rain. James goes on and gives numerous examples from Bible history.

  • I believe the “husbandman” James refers to, symbolizes God as he allows trials (rain) to germinate the seed of faith in new believers (early rain), and strengthen (deepen the roots of) mature believers latter in the their spiritual life, outlasting trials (latter rain,) to bear proper fruit in its season.
  • The “husbandman” is also a symbol for believers own patience:
    “Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us. “

Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted [recovered], strengthen thy brethren.

The Power of God in Us: hyperbole or some kind of mind game?

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2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature…

If God used power to give these things to us, where are they? Where are these powerful precious possessions? “I don’t have them in my possession–is this idea just hyperbole or some kind of mind game?”
 
No! you do have them, they are in your Bible. They are contained in knowledge.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The word of God is a treasure chest of powerful nutrients which renew the man and transform the soul.
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
The word of God is everlasting nutrition. The changes it effects in the person last forever.
 
We are to learn it and learn it right:
2Ti 2:15 Be eager [or, diligent] to present yourself approved to God [as] a worker with no need to be ashamed, cutting straight [fig., teaching accurately; or, interpreting correctly] the word of truth. ALT
The TRUTH (no lie), The Whole TRUTH (nothing held back), And Nothing But The TRUTH (nothing added)
Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Psa 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Psa 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
Psa 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

What’s in a name? Paul

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“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Spirit….,”

Acts 13:9 KJV, From this time forward Saul is called by the name Paul in scripture.

Observations:
Hebrew names are not sacred as some imagine: Saul is a Hebrew name, and it was discarded. Paul is a Roman name with a totally different meaning, and became his identity.

In the OT Hebrew names were changed to Gentile names by Kings like Nebuchadnezzar to erase Hebrew religious identity. Was this also God’s intention with Paul?

“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5

Paul means small. Could the name describe his unimpressive stature?

2 Cor.10:10  “because the letters indeed–saith one– are weighty and strong, and the bodily presence weak, and the speech.”

Or his spiritual posture among the saints and before the Lord?

2 Corinthians 10:1  And I, Paul, myself, do call upon you–through the meekness and gentleness of the Christ–who in presence, indeed am humble among you, and being absent, have courage.

My friend the meaning of the name is important, not the language spoken.

The Lord of Hosts and the Battle for Faith

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Deu 33:24 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be. There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, WHO RIDETH UPON THE HEAVEN IN THY HELP, AND IN HIS EXCELLENCY ON THE SKY.

God is our defender ready to go to BATTLE on behalf of those who are upright and trust Him! This is a symbol of WAR!

We never raise your arms in surrender, because we know who is on our side!

WHAT WAR? We’re at peace!

THE MOST IMPORTANT fight on planet earth is a fight for FAITH, the battle to prove the promises and faithfulness of God!

Faith is a verb! Because it is active, constantly alive, it is being met by opposing forces in this world. Faith is never at rest on this earth–“there is no discharge, [furlough, recess, sabbatical, vacation] in this war.”

Faith begins its life with persuasion and CONTINUES with action. This is how “the just live by faith: from faith as a source, to faith as a destination”. (Rom. 1:17) Faith is our road map, the precious cargo, without which the journey and destination are not only impossible, but invisible. The prize, the hope, the resurrection to life is never lost sight of, especially as we don’t know when our tour of duty will be over.

The Clear Path Marked

The testimony, life, death and resurrection of the human being Jesus, changed everything on planet earth. Being persuaded of this fact overcomes the pressure, the assault from the world on the mind and affections to love and trust worthless, temporal decaying earthly things.

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth (trust, to be persuaded) that Jesus is the Son of God?

 

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand…
Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy FAITH fail not: and when thou art converted (turn back), strengthen thy brethren.

The GREATEST fight on planet earth is a fight for FAITH, keeping in focus the things God has revealed in his word! GOD  (the LORD of Hosts) IS Our Helper and Defender!