ARE YOU READY?

 Thanks to Allison Sylvester-Conliffe

for another powerful article

Many of us who have been born again can testify of the excitement at the onset.  We go through what we term the “mountain top” experience.  Everything looks new and fresh to us.  We are happy beings at that time, and nothing and no-one can interfere with that joy that we feel.  We are excited to go to the House of God to worship Him, to learn of Him and of His Kingdom, and come into true relationship with God.  Is all this learning and experience to be kept to ourselves?  Are we to bask in this knowledge of God and in the relationship that stems from it all by ourselves?

The great call on our lives after Salvation and as we follow Christ, is to share the Good News of the Gospel with others in our sphere of influence.  We are disciples as we follow Christ and we are called to make disciples.  Jesus told that to His first disciples.

But…I’m not ready!

And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. Mark 1:17

However, there is something in us, which causes us to believe that we are not ready!  We get convinced that this call is for the elders of the church and for the Pastors themselves to pursue – that’s not for me!  What qualifies a believer as being “ready” to share the Gospel with another?  When Jesus sent out the first Twelve, were they “ready”?  As I examine the Word of God, I see those disciples as “green”, afraid and faithless men, but interestingly Jesus called them to go out.  Even in their apparent disabilities, Jesus used them to heal the sick and deliver the oppressed. 

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where. Luke 9:1-6

When we look at Luke 9:12-17 we see Jesus teaching his first disciples, and us by extension, a great lesson.

 

And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. And they did so, and made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

He taught that the very thing that we possess, when shared, has the ability to multiply itself to reach great proportions more than our minds have the capacity to understand.  If we look at the five loaves and the two fishes that were available, against the multitude who were waiting to be fed, it would seem impossible in the natural scheme of things to feed so many with so little.  Jesus, however, did it and had twelve basketsful in excess. 

Similarly, as our spirits connect with the Holy Spirit of God as He downloads into us, truths and revelation of His Word even as shared from the pulpit, we are expected to share, one on one with others in our sphere of influence.  The sharing of that Word may be to a small audience, but with the Spirit of God in it, if each one tells one, that Word has the capacity to feed many by just our one sharing!

In Luke chapter nine, we see the disciples admonishing Jesus to send the multitude away so that they could get some food since they were all in a desert place.  No food!  Yet Jesus told the disciples to feed them.  But Jesus, there is no food here!  Jesus was obviously talking to the disciples from a spiritual standpoint, but the disciples were listening to Him with the natural ear so they sought out the loaves and the fish.  “Feed them” in this instance may have meant – “teach them”! 

Let us not look at the things of God with the natural eye – nor listen to Him with the natural ear.  We are called to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those who are lost.  We are also called to love them into the Kingdom of God. Let us therefore go forth in the boldness of the Holy Ghost and make disciples with the resources that we have already attained.  The Word is in you!

THE KITCHEN ENCOUNTER

As soon as the coast was clear 8 year old Danny slipped quietly from his room and headed downstairs to the kitchen. He dared not turn on any lights for fear that someone might be alerted. Stealthily he felt his way until he reached the refrigerator and opened the door. His eyes widened as he saw the bounty, and he quickly began to pile things into the pillow case he held in his hand. 

The half-eaten roast chicken left over from the night’s dinner went in first – drippings and all, followed by a block of cheese, a six-pack of yogurt, a bag of grapes, some salami slices and the rest of the chocolate cake they’d had for dessert. Danny grabbed a handful of macaroni and cheese from the baking dish and dumped it in with his other loot before closing the refrigerator door and turning to head back upstairs. But sudden light blinded him, preventing him from seeing the figure that blocked his retreat to his room.

“Danny, what are you doing?”

The tiny boy did an about-face and bolted away from the voice, but he slipped on the trail of grease that had oozed from the pillow case onto the kitchen floor. Before he could regain his composure Danny felt two large hands lift him to his feet and he found himself face to face with Greg Townsend.

“Danny, what’s all this? What are you doing?” Greg asked.

“I…I…I gotta have enough for tomorrow!” Danny blurted out, his eyes welling with hot tears as he tried in vain to pick up his spoils that had spilled onto the floor.

“Son, “Greg replied, “you’ll always have enough for tomorrow. You don’t have to hide food in your room. You’re part of this family now, and I’ll always make sure that there’s more than enough for you and for all of us.”

How many of us are like little Danny, worried about having enough for tomorrow, so we hoard supplies – money, food, clothes. The world system endorses this kind of behavior, and they provide numerous ways for you to store away for the future. But hoarding and the worry that accompanies it, are indications that God is not trusted to be the Provider that He is.


Jesus said, “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6: 32, 33

SOMETHING HAPPENS!

There is power in the name of  
JESUS!

IN SEARCH OF HIS BRIDE

If you were asked, “What are you looking for in a husband/wife?”, you would probably respond with a list of qualities that you think would be ideal in the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.

Do you know that Jesus has done the same thing? He has a list of qualities that He is looking for in His Bride. With this in mind let us look at a Scripture that may seem unusual for this topic at first.

You see, with God everything is “black and white” with no grey areas. The reality is that you and I will either spend eternity with Jesus or forever separated from Him. To live with Him forever means that you will be a part of His Bride. Those who spend eternity in hell, separated from Him and heaven, will have done so by the choices they had made.

Rev. 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

This verse lists those who will spend eternity apart from Jesus, having disqualified themselves from being a part of the Bride of Christ. We can therefore discern the characteristics that Jesus seeks in His Bride by identifying the opposite of each quality.

1. Fearful – Those who easily give in to intimidation from the enemy of the Gospel

The Warrior Bride of Christ

Jesus’ Bride – FEARLESS

• knows that Jesus always protects His own
• courageously spreads the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
• does not water down the Gospel because of pressure from detractors

2. Unbelieving – literally those who are unfaithful; cannot be trusted

Jesus’ Bride – TRUSTWORTHY

• Faithful to do the will of the Lord
• Can be trusted to obey His directions, even when they don’t seem to make sense

3. Abominable – those who do things that are disgusting, distasteful and loathsome in the eyes of God

Jesus’ Bride – DELIGHTFUL

• Lifestyle is pleasing to the Lord
• Practices Philippians 4:8 – thinks on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report and praiseworthy

4. Murderers – those who kill physically and/or with their tongue – by speaking ill against brothers and sisters

Jesus’ Bride – HONORS OTHERS

• Forgives those who offend
• encourages those who are weak
• corrects those who have fallen – in a spirit of humility and love

5. Whoremongers – those who engage in illicit sexual behavior

Jesus’ Bride – PURE

• If married – faithful to his/her earthly spouse
• If unmarried – faithful to the Lord

6. Sorcerers – engaging in witchcraft and false prophecy; seeking answers from spirits other than the Holy Spirit

Jesus’ Bride – GUIDED BY HIS WORD

• in constant communication with Him
• spirit is sensitive to His voice

7. Idolaters – those who put people or things before God in order of importance

Jesus’ Bride – PUTS JESUS FIRST

• Jesus is the first love
• Everyone and everything else is secondary

8. Liars – those who practice deceit and hypocrisy; say one thing but do another

Jesus’ Bride – TRUTHFUL

• Consistently truthful in communicating with Him
• Not hiding anything from the Lord or pretending about anything
• Everything is out in the open before Him

 Rev. 19:7-8 (Amplified Bible)

Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and triumphant]! 

Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor,

 for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come, 

and His bride has prepared herself.

She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white–

for the fine linen is (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God’s holy people).

Do you qualify to be part of the Bride of Christ?

ISSUES OF THE HEART – 2: It’s About Time

 
And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together,

journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 

But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, 

and he began to be in want. 

Luke 15:13-14

I can imagine this young man leaving his father’s house with his inheritance in hand. He was probably exhilarated by his newly acquired independence. He could now chart his own course for his life. I would think that he thoroughly enjoyed his newly found popularity as he used up his gift to impress others. Fame, finances and freedom! This was the life!! He finally had it all…….or so he thought. A rude awakening awaited him.

While he was in his father’s care he had never experienced lack. When he ate, more food was provided for him….. by his father. When he needed clothes, those too, were given to him….. by his father. His father gave him provision, protection, guidance, and most importantly, love. The young son may have had to work, as his older brother did, but he would also have enjoyed all the benefits of being under his father’s covering.

But now he was out there on his own, and this young man was unprepared for the culture of the world system.

He didn’t realize that outside of his father’s household he would now have to toil to acquire what he needed, toil to maintain it, toil to grow it and toil to protect it from predators.

In that world it was every man for himself. No one was there to love him just for who he was. To those who lived in that world he was simply a means to an end.

His father was no longer there to replenish his supply, and eventually his gift dwindled down to nothing. He was left alone and destitute, without the friends, without the finances…..and without his father.

Like the father in the parable, our Heavenly Father gives gifts and abilities to us all. Some are called to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and some teachers. There are other giftings within the Body of Christ also. Some are endowed with the ability to lead. Yet others are given the gift of giving, administration, hospitality or discerning of spirits. The gifts are numerous and varied and you can read about them in the following Scriptures:

• Romans 12:3-9
• Ephesians 4:7-13
• 1 Corinthians 12:1-31
• 1 Peter 4:10-11

Unfortunately, too many in the household of the Christian faith do just what the younger son did. They become convinced that their gift is not being recognized, that their leader(s) are impeding their progress and/or that the Father is taking too long. They decide to pursue their calling and launch out on their own, not waiting to be fully trained to handle the responsibility that comes with the gift. The results are usually just as disastrous as with the young man in the parable.

A gift used without the Father’s loving blessing, covering and guidance soon becomes corrupted, and its owner falls into spiritual bankruptcy.

Jesus Himself had to wait 30 years before He could launch out into ministry. Had He moved out on His own, ahead of His appointed time, you and I, and indeed the entire universe, would have suffered the consequences. Even after He began His ministry, Jesus always moved in cadence with the Father’s timing. As a result He remained continually under the Father’s covering, and enjoyed the blessings of His Abba’s provision, protection and guidance.

The young son in this parable would have eventually received his inheritance……in the right time. But because he moved out of his father’s timing a terrible domino effect occurred.

God is a God of perfect timing. He is very deliberate and strategic in everything He does. He sees the big picture in each of our lives while we see only a portion.

What seems like delay or denial to you may be His way of preparing you for what the future holds. It could also be His way of showing you what your true motivation is.

In other words, do you have a true desire to build the Body of Christ, or are you just interested in using the gift to build a following and promote you into the limelight? Are you willing to wait for your appointed season, or are you impatient to get out there and show people how gifted and anointed you are? In the depths of your heart where no one but God sees, who do you really want to please…..God or yourself?

What gifts and/or abilities  has the Father given to you? 

Please make sure that you don’t use them until the Father says, 

“It’s time.”

GUARD YOUR STRENGTHS AGAINST WEAKNESS

DAVID
David’s strength was his intense passion. He valiantly defended his sheep, killed the giant Goliath and conquered vast armies. He did whatever it took to win. But that same passion, unbridled, caused him to commit adultery with Bathsheba and kill her husband.

• The Result: The Lord spoke through Nathan the prophet, “Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.’ 2 Samuel 12:10-12

• The Lesson: Your gifts (spiritual and natural) are given by God. If they are used for your own personal gain the results can be disastrous, with long-term ill effects on you, your family, your church and your community.

SAMSON
God told Samson that he would retain his supernatural physical strength as long as his hair was not cut. He met Delilah, an attractive secret agent for the enemy Philistines and he began to spend a lot of time with her.

Delilah’s singular focus was on getting Samson to disclose the secret of his amazing strength. She questioned him repeatedly, playing on his emotions until he finally relented and told her where his strength lay.

• The Result: And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison. Judges 16:20-21

• The Lesson: Jesus said, “By their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:20. The power of your gifting/anointing should be seen in the fruit that you bear. As tempting as it may be, beware of getting into conversations that focus on you or your gift, rather than on the Giver.

MOSES
Moses had an intimate relationship with God. Exodus 33:11 tells us that the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. The Lord trusted Moses to follow his instructions to the letter, and Moses did so… until one day when the Israelites were thirsty and had no water to drink. This was not the first time it had happened. After all, they were in the desert. The Lord had told Moses in previous times to strike the rock, and when he did water had gushed out freely and abundantly. This time, however, God told Moses to speak to the rock and it would bring forth water. Moses stood before the people, and in his anger he struck the rock with his rod twice.

• The Result: Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” Exodus 33:12

• The Lesson: You are a steward of the strength/gifting that God has given you. Do not fall into the sin of familiarity by taking God or that gift for granted.

MARTHA
Martha was an excellent hostess. I would imagine that she kept a very tidy home, and went out of her way to make sure that her guests were well fed and comfortable. It seems that Martha had the gift of hospitality. One day Jesus came by to visit and Martha got busy making sure that the Lord was served well. She became angry when her sister wouldn’t help, but instead chose to remain at Jesus’ feet listening to His every word.

• The Result: And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

• The Lesson: You may have a full schedule. You may be involved in several ministries at your church. However, if your focus is not on spending quality time in fellowship with the Lord and in studying His Word, your busyness in ministry is fruitless.

In each case the God-given strength became a weakness when the focus was turned inward to satisfy self. Take a moment to assess your own strengths and giftings, both natural and spiritual.

• Are you in full time ministry? Don’t aim at being a star in the eyes of men. Man-made “stars” fall eventually. Focus on being a humble servant to Almighty God.
• Are you a good organizer? Detail oriented? Able to multi-task well? Beware of a judgmental and critical attitude.
• Are you a leader? Don’t use your position to control or manipulate those whom you have been entrusted to lead.
• Are you multi-gifted or multi-talented? Resist the temptation to pump up your own ego. Those gifts and talents are God’s …..on loan to you.
• Have you been in ministry or service for a long time? Beware of a stubborn, unyielding attitude.
• Do you have an intimate relationship with the Lord? Never take your relationship with God for granted.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 

1 Corinthians 10:12

THE CROWD, THE CALLED AND THE CHOSEN – Part 2

THE CALLED – MOUNTAIN LEVEL
 
And He went up on the mountain 

and called to Him those He Himself wanted. 

And they came to Him. 

Mark 3:13

Out of the crowd who were gathered at the seaside, Jesus called (invited) many to come up higher to Him. Those who responded to the call had a mountain level experience.

I believe these were the same disciples whom Jesus spoke to when He gave the Sermon on the Mount. These were the same ones who learned the principles of the Kingdom of God.

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven….” – Matthew 5:1-3

The “called” were the ones whom Jesus sent out, giving them power and authority they never thought they could wield.

After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. …heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ – Luke 10:1-3, 9

They returned, excitedly reporting to Jesus the results of their mission, and He in turn confirmed their authority.

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” – Luke 10:17-20

Just like the people in that day you may have started off at ground level, so to speak, on your journey with the Lord. Maybe there was some crisis in your life – an illness, a broken relationship, a financial crisis or some other dilemma. You reached out to Jesus and He was there. Then you heard His invitation and you responded, entering into the mountain level experience. But is that all there is? Does this level guarantee you a place in heaven?

In John 3:3 Jesus told Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Soon afterward the Lord tells him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Is it possible to see the Kingdom of God and yet not enter it? I believe it is very possible, just as the children of Israel saw the Promised Land, but were denied access to it because of their disbelief and disobedience.

When you accept Jesus as your Saviour you are given the same power and authority that the seventy of that day were given, and it will work. However, note Jesus’ stern warning at the end of His Sermon on the Mount….

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ – Matthew 7:21-23

Remaining at the level of being “called” puts you in grave danger of

• Double mindedness. You are still too close to the ground level and could “fall off the mountain” if you allow your senses to control you.
• Being lukewarm. There are so many who sit in churches Sunday after Sunday and in weekly Bible studies. They hear the Word of God and are aware of the principles of the Kingdom, yet they fall into the sin of familiarity. The Word becomes so common to them that it loses its relevance, and therefore its potency. They become hearers and not doers of the Word. Jesus said that if you are like the lukewarm Laodicean church of Revelation 3 He will spit you out of His mouth!
• False assurance of your position in Christ. You can be called to be an apostle, called to be a prophet, called to evangelize, pastor or teach. You may have the gift of healing, faith, tongues or interpretation of tongues. You may give liberally or serve faithfully in your local assembly. You may have the title of Bishop, Minister or Reverend. However, as the passage in Matthew 7 indicates, none of this guarantees your entrance into heaven.
• Judgmentalism and a Pharisaical spirit. This happens if you apply the letter of the Law of the Kingdom without understanding or applying the spirit of the Law.

Scripture records that Jesus gave the same authority to the seventy that He had given to the twelve apostles (see Luke 9:1-2). Yet the end results were so different.

“….many are called, but few are chosen.” 

Matthew 20:16

To be continued….

LIKE A LION

The lion – the king of the jungle – hunts only when it is hungry. After it kills its prey, feeds and is full, it leaves the rest of the carcass for other animals to dine on.

The lion will only go out and hunt again after it has digested its last meal and has used the energy that the meal provided. It consumes only what it needs and puts it to good use.

All animals, birds and plants in their natural habitat do like the lion. Have you ever seen an overweight kangaroo, or ostrich? Have you ever seen leaves on a tree storing up extra sap while others go without?

The Body of Christ can learn two important lessons – one natural, the other spiritual.

THE NATURAL
We have become a culture of hoarders. We build bigger homes to house just a few. We drive larger vehicles for our own singular comfort, disregarding the detrimental impact on the environment. We demand larger closets. Do you really need all those shoes? All those outfits?

Are you depending on the Lord to provide your daily bread or have you, like the world, been relying on your own intellectual and material resources? When the global recession hits home personally can you continue to provide for yourself, having not developed a total dependence on the Lord for all of your needs?

The Body of Christ has succumbed in large measure to the spirit of mammon. It is a mindset of greed and selfishness that is never satisfied with what it has. Mammon has influenced believers to focus on prosperity, and has redefined the word prosper to make it fit in with the world system.

In the Old Testament prosper means to be prudent, to have insight or to wisely understand. In the New Testament it means to have a successful journey. No wonder the Lord told Joshua that if he obeyed His Word, then, and only then would Joshua prosper! Joshua’s obedience would ensure his success.

What is your measure of success in the natural? Is it the same as the Lord’s? Is it your obedience to God’s Word, or is it simply your accumulation of material assets?

THE SPIRITUAL

How many sermons have you heard in church? How many messages have you heard via Christian television or radio? How many Christian books have you read? How many teachings have you listened to on cd?

Now…how many of those messages have you actually eaten (absorbed mentally and spiritually), and digested (meditated on), and then put into practice in your life before listening to another one. I have asked this question before, but it bears asking again….

Have you done the last thing that God told you to do? Have you obeyed His Word?

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 

Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3:14-19

Be like the lion. If you have been hoarding (naturally or spiritually), use it or lose it. Don’t be caught overweight!

ABIDING IN HIS LOVE – Filled with His Joy

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 

John 15:11

The word “joy” comes from a root word meaning to rejoice exceedingly, be well, to thrive.

Think about this…even though Jesus was “despised and rejected by men; a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” He talked about His joy more than His sorrow. It is because He knew that any sorrow He felt was short-lived compared to the everlasting joy that He had within. Moreover, His sorrow was not a self-pitying one, but rather was for those who were still lost and without a Savior.

In the world today joy and happiness are used interchangeably. The truth is that the world can only offer you happiness which is a temporary feeling of euphoria brought on by some external factor – a raise in salary or a good time out with friends, for example, or some other pleasant event that appeals to your senses.

Joy, on the other hand, is not dependent on external influences or your sense realm. It originates within. It is understandable, then, that Jesus, even though He was hated and reviled by so many, maintained His joy. Not only that……..He wants you to have His joy.

Jesus’ joy originated from the intensely intimate relationship that He shared with the Father. Because of this, He was able to maintain His joy even in the face of terrible persecution and rejection. He did not allow temporary situations to permanently affect Him. He remained focused on His mission and His continuous communion with His Father.

For Him to be moved with such compassion for those who were afflicted, Jesus had to know the joy they were missing. When He saw that they were like sheep without a shepherd, He knew they were missing the joy of having the love of the Great Shepherd to guide them. He knew the joy they were missing when their bodies were afflicted with disease or the minds were tormented. He also knows the joy you miss when you don’t abide in Him completely.

John chapter 15 details Jesus’ final commands to His disciples before His crucifixion. The last words that are spoken are usually the ones that you remember most vividly. This is why I believe He took the time to expound clearly in this chapter on His two commandments – love God by abiding in Him (verses 1-8); love your neighbor as Jesus loves you (verses 9-17).

Jesus described the joy that awaits a good servant. When you are a faithful steward over the things that the Father has assigned to you, you can be assured of the right to enter into the joy of the Lord.

• His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matthew 25:21

Joy and peace go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other.

• 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
• “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11

Everything on this earth – interpersonal relationships, challenges, triumphs – comes to pass. The only thing that is permanent in your life is your relationship (or lack of it) with the Lord, which determines where you will spend eternity. Therefore…

• …lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrew 12:1,2

The following Scripture summarizes what you do to maintain your joy…

• Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally, (insert your name here), whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:4-8

Friends will disappoint you; family will fail you, but the joy of your intimate relationship the Lord will always continue to be your strength. Abide in Him and enter into the joy of the Lord!

ABIDING IN HIS LOVE – All Things

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
John 15:9

Before you can abide fully in the love of Jesus Christ you first have to understand

1. how the Father loves Jesus and
2. how Jesus, in like manner, loves you.

THE FATHER LOVES THE SON

Perfect, intimate love is a love that shares everything. This is the kind of love that is demonstrated between the Father and His Son, Jesus the Christ. Everything that the Father is, and everything that the Father has, is also the Son’s. The Father, in His love, gave all things to His Son with nothing lacking.

In the beginning of time God had said, “Let Us make man in Our own image, and let them have dominion over….all the earth” Genesis 1:26. The first Adam had all things on earth, just as the Father had all things in heaven. The only exception was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. When Adam disobeyed God’s command, the consequences were loss of intimate communion with the Father, and dispossession of all things that the Father had so freely given to him. However, Jesus, the Last Adam, came to earth and regained for us all that was destroyed and lost when the first Adam sinned.

• The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. John 3:35
• The Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does… John 5: 20a
• All things have been delivered to Me by My Father… Matthew 11:27a
• And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church…Ephesians 1:22

THE SON LOVES YOU

1. Everything that is in a vine flows freely into its abiding branch so that the branch has the same DNA – and therefore the same attributes – as the vine. The vine gives the branch everything that it needs to sustain its life. In the same way Jesus, the True Vine, gives you all things when you abide in Him…

• He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32
• If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7

2. Jesus has made provision to take care of all your essential daily needs.

• Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:25, 33

3. The Father, through Jesus, gives you everything you need for your spiritual, emotional and material success throughout your entire life.

• Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue… 2 Peter 1:2-3

4. Before Jesus left the earth He made sure that you would have access to everything that you need to know.

• But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:26
• 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. John 16:13
• All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He (the Holy Spirit) will take of Mine and declare it to you. John 16:15

Pause for a few moments and take inventory of your life. Are there areas in which you are not experiencing the “all things” that Jesus promises? Could it be that you have not yet fully accepted the love of Jesus in those areas? For example, is there dis-ease that has been plaguing your body for some time? Are there ongoing problems with interpersonal relationships? Are you experiencing continued lack in a particular area?

If a branch is not completely embedded in its vine source it won’t receive all things. Similarly, if there is a crimp or a disconnect in your soul caused by fear, unbelief, indifference or disobedience, then you will not receive all things that Jesus wants to give you out of His overwhelming love! There can be nothing blocking the flow of the Lord’s love to you – a love which comes in myriads of ways….healing, protection, reconciliation, provision….the list goes on and on. 

Receive all things the Lord desires to give you. Abide in His love!