John 17: 25 - 26.
O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
This was spoken by Jesus in the upper room the night He was to be betrayed. This is the closing thought of this prayer. It is interesting to see, just how much darker the world is now compared with when Jesus spoke these words to His disciples. There are more people on the earth, that is true, but there are more professing Christians now than at that time. So why the greater darkness? The answer will not be easy to hear, but it needs to be said. We have become complacent, in our belief. We are afraid to let "Our Light" shine before others, and we have stopped being "Salt". We are more afraid of how the world views us, than we are of how Jesus will view us. This is the problem. We have to stand up for the truth of Christ, and be fearless against the world. We need to be consistent, in our actions. Our walk, must match our talk! The world is full of hypocrites, we don't need to be part of that group. We have to remember that Christian means Christ-Like, and we have to start showing enough evidence that the world could convict us of being "Christian". Are you one? Or are you a poser? Only you and God know for sure.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
319th Post Jesus Promises Made to His Followers Con't. - Jesus Prayer Con't. - John 17: 20 - 24- Con't.
John 17: 20 - 24.
Jesus is binding all believer's from the time began, until He comes again in this passage. Jesus starts out with the ones, who believed but died before the promise could be realized. Those are the remnant of the Old Testament. There has been a lot of bad teaching concerning this, through the years. There is going to be one place that all believer's go, to be with Christ. The believing Old Testament Jews and proselytites will be part of this group, along with those who know only Jesus. One group is not favored over another, we are all together at the same time. Jesus said that this has been the plan from before the foundation of the world. Notice the word "may", contrary to popular belief, there is never a point in time where free choice goes away. If there is such a verse in the Bible I have not found it. Being one of God's chosen, requires that you continue to improve your relationship with Jesus everyday. As your relationship improves so does your walk, you become more Christ-like everyday. If you have lived your life correctly, at the point of death, you will be the most Christ-like, you can be, until God finishes the work He started in you. The world should start to persecute you because of your walk, if you have no persecution, maybe you need to look at your walk. Change what needs changing. There is still time!
Jesus is binding all believer's from the time began, until He comes again in this passage. Jesus starts out with the ones, who believed but died before the promise could be realized. Those are the remnant of the Old Testament. There has been a lot of bad teaching concerning this, through the years. There is going to be one place that all believer's go, to be with Christ. The believing Old Testament Jews and proselytites will be part of this group, along with those who know only Jesus. One group is not favored over another, we are all together at the same time. Jesus said that this has been the plan from before the foundation of the world. Notice the word "may", contrary to popular belief, there is never a point in time where free choice goes away. If there is such a verse in the Bible I have not found it. Being one of God's chosen, requires that you continue to improve your relationship with Jesus everyday. As your relationship improves so does your walk, you become more Christ-like everyday. If you have lived your life correctly, at the point of death, you will be the most Christ-like, you can be, until God finishes the work He started in you. The world should start to persecute you because of your walk, if you have no persecution, maybe you need to look at your walk. Change what needs changing. There is still time!
318th Post Jesus Promises Made to His Followers Con't. - Jesus Prayer Con't. - John 17: 20 - 24.
John 17: 20 - 24.
"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world."
This was spoken by Jesus in the upper room on the night He was to be betrayed. This passage is quite lengthy, but it encompasses a complete thought, and this is why I posted it fully. Those in my class, are quite familiar with this, because I tell them that if you ever need a hug from Jesus, read this passage, and you can almost feel His arms coming out from this book and hugging you. Knowing the context of this passage also makes it that more special. With all Jesus was dealing with on that night, He still could look ahead in time and bless us. "What a Savior!!" I will get into the meat of this passage in the next post.
"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world."
This was spoken by Jesus in the upper room on the night He was to be betrayed. This passage is quite lengthy, but it encompasses a complete thought, and this is why I posted it fully. Those in my class, are quite familiar with this, because I tell them that if you ever need a hug from Jesus, read this passage, and you can almost feel His arms coming out from this book and hugging you. Knowing the context of this passage also makes it that more special. With all Jesus was dealing with on that night, He still could look ahead in time and bless us. "What a Savior!!" I will get into the meat of this passage in the next post.
Friday, June 3, 2011
317th Post Jesus Promises Made to His Followers Con't. - Jesus on Prayer Con't. - John 17: 16 - 19.
John 17: 16 - 19.
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
This was spoken by Jesus to His disciples in the upper room the night He was to be betrayed. Notice Jesus uses the word sanctify, two times in these verses. Jesus is telling the disciples and the Father, that they are no longer part of the world, because they have been shown how to walk with God, and keep His words. The word sanctify means to be set apart. The first time they were set a part by the Father, because He chose them and exposed them to the truth. Now Jesus uses the sanctify again after He uses another word consecrate. Jesus being perfect, had no need to consecrate Himself, but Jesus is elevating Himself to a new position, that he has not held, or would be able to hold until He died on the cross for our sins. When Jesus accomplished this, He satisfied the requirements to become our "High Priest". Jesus had to consecrate Himself before He could represent us. This is shown in the Old Testament, when the High Priest had to sacrifice a bull for his sins before he could listen and sacrifice the people's animals. Jesus is perfect, the High Priests of the Old Testament were not. Do you feel Sanctified?? If you believe, you are!!
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
This was spoken by Jesus to His disciples in the upper room the night He was to be betrayed. Notice Jesus uses the word sanctify, two times in these verses. Jesus is telling the disciples and the Father, that they are no longer part of the world, because they have been shown how to walk with God, and keep His words. The word sanctify means to be set apart. The first time they were set a part by the Father, because He chose them and exposed them to the truth. Now Jesus uses the sanctify again after He uses another word consecrate. Jesus being perfect, had no need to consecrate Himself, but Jesus is elevating Himself to a new position, that he has not held, or would be able to hold until He died on the cross for our sins. When Jesus accomplished this, He satisfied the requirements to become our "High Priest". Jesus had to consecrate Himself before He could represent us. This is shown in the Old Testament, when the High Priest had to sacrifice a bull for his sins before he could listen and sacrifice the people's animals. Jesus is perfect, the High Priests of the Old Testament were not. Do you feel Sanctified?? If you believe, you are!!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
316th Post Jesus Promises Made to His Followers Con't. - Prayers of Jesus Con't. - John 17: 14-15 Con't.
John 17: 14 - 15 Continued.
This was spoken by Jesus in the upper room the night He was to be betrayed. We were looking at why the world hated Jesus, and now His disciples. People think that being a Christian is easy. We are not required to do anything, all we have to do is believe, right? Believing is more than just saying you believe. There has to be proof that you believe. The proof is the difference in your life from what the world says. As a believer, you will start to treat people differently, with respect, for you know that they have worth as for being part of God's creation. Your language will change, because you know that some words are offensive and may hurt others. You will stop taking the Lord's name in vain. You will stop going and doing things you used to do, because God may tell you this is offensive. These are just some of the ways, your life will show change. If your life has no change, maybe you need to look into this further. The last part of the passage we are looking at in these two posts, deal with Jesus not asking the Father to take us out of the world, but to protect us from the evil one. Jesus wants us to be in the world, because if we were taken out, how could we convict the world?? Jesus asked the Father to keep us from the evil one. This is to protect us from moral corruption. We have free choice, and it is this free choice that gets us into trouble. It makes us become compliant, and lazy, when we are in this state, we are easy prey for evil to come in and corrupt us. We can not fall from without, but we sure can from within! Are you walking? Or are you parked?? You have the power to change what needs changing.
This was spoken by Jesus in the upper room the night He was to be betrayed. We were looking at why the world hated Jesus, and now His disciples. People think that being a Christian is easy. We are not required to do anything, all we have to do is believe, right? Believing is more than just saying you believe. There has to be proof that you believe. The proof is the difference in your life from what the world says. As a believer, you will start to treat people differently, with respect, for you know that they have worth as for being part of God's creation. Your language will change, because you know that some words are offensive and may hurt others. You will stop taking the Lord's name in vain. You will stop going and doing things you used to do, because God may tell you this is offensive. These are just some of the ways, your life will show change. If your life has no change, maybe you need to look into this further. The last part of the passage we are looking at in these two posts, deal with Jesus not asking the Father to take us out of the world, but to protect us from the evil one. Jesus wants us to be in the world, because if we were taken out, how could we convict the world?? Jesus asked the Father to keep us from the evil one. This is to protect us from moral corruption. We have free choice, and it is this free choice that gets us into trouble. It makes us become compliant, and lazy, when we are in this state, we are easy prey for evil to come in and corrupt us. We can not fall from without, but we sure can from within! Are you walking? Or are you parked?? You have the power to change what needs changing.
315th Post Jesus Promises Made to His Followers Con't. - Prayers of Jesus Con't. - John 17: 14 - 15.
John 17: 14 - 15.
I 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 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
This was spoken by Jesus in the upper room on the night He was to be betrayed. Jesus is praying for His disciples and for future believers that the disciples will lead to Jesus in the future. Jesus is reminding His Father that He (Jesus), has instructed them in everything the Father wanted, and the disciples are starting to show fruits of their belief, by acting differently than the world acts. This will cause conflict, because by their actions they will condemn the world. This is why the world will hate them. It is the same with us, think back when you became a Christian, does your life now look different than it did before you accepted Christ?? If not, why not?? If you are a true believer, your life will change, because you are starting to live more and more like Christ. If your life shows no difference, then maybe you should look into why not. As you read your Bible, God reveals more and more of His attributes to you, you are then to try to add them to your own life. I am running out of space and still have the last part of the passage to talk about. Will continue next post.
I 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 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
This was spoken by Jesus in the upper room on the night He was to be betrayed. Jesus is praying for His disciples and for future believers that the disciples will lead to Jesus in the future. Jesus is reminding His Father that He (Jesus), has instructed them in everything the Father wanted, and the disciples are starting to show fruits of their belief, by acting differently than the world acts. This will cause conflict, because by their actions they will condemn the world. This is why the world will hate them. It is the same with us, think back when you became a Christian, does your life now look different than it did before you accepted Christ?? If not, why not?? If you are a true believer, your life will change, because you are starting to live more and more like Christ. If your life shows no difference, then maybe you should look into why not. As you read your Bible, God reveals more and more of His attributes to you, you are then to try to add them to your own life. I am running out of space and still have the last part of the passage to talk about. Will continue next post.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
314th Post Jesus Promises Made to His Followers Con't. - John 17: 12-13
John 17: 12-13
While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Jesus spoke this prayer in the upper room the night He was to be betrayed. Jesus is continuing His blessing of the disciples, that are with Him. Notice that Jesus says He kept all safe but one. Jesus is referring to Judas here. Jesus calls him the son of destruction, this is a reference to a type of anti-christ. Jesus went on to say that Judas was necessary, in order to fulfill the Scriptures, there are many prophecies saying that one of his group would betray Him. There is a lot of talk concerning Judas' fate. I believe that the Bible is clear on this, and Jesus Himself is confirming it, by saying destruction. Judas lost his salvation. Whether he had it once or never had it, I don't know. Only God can see his heart. Then Jesus returns His attention back to the eleven, by asking that His joy be fulfilled in them. We as Christians are supposed to have an inner joy, and peace that others can see and this is what is to draw non-believers to us. It seems we have either lost it, or never had it. This joy and peace comes with a real understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done for you in your life. If you are walking with Jesus, He is very active in your life. Knowing and feeling this, gives you that joy.
While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Jesus spoke this prayer in the upper room the night He was to be betrayed. Jesus is continuing His blessing of the disciples, that are with Him. Notice that Jesus says He kept all safe but one. Jesus is referring to Judas here. Jesus calls him the son of destruction, this is a reference to a type of anti-christ. Jesus went on to say that Judas was necessary, in order to fulfill the Scriptures, there are many prophecies saying that one of his group would betray Him. There is a lot of talk concerning Judas' fate. I believe that the Bible is clear on this, and Jesus Himself is confirming it, by saying destruction. Judas lost his salvation. Whether he had it once or never had it, I don't know. Only God can see his heart. Then Jesus returns His attention back to the eleven, by asking that His joy be fulfilled in them. We as Christians are supposed to have an inner joy, and peace that others can see and this is what is to draw non-believers to us. It seems we have either lost it, or never had it. This joy and peace comes with a real understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done for you in your life. If you are walking with Jesus, He is very active in your life. Knowing and feeling this, gives you that joy.
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