December 26, 2020 -- John 18:19-23 -- Troubles and Heavenly Peace

19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”

John 18:19-23 English Standard Version

Why didn’t Jesus strike back? How could Jesus stay so calm? What is the point of all that is going on here in this brief scene? Jesus didn’t strike back because He knew His purpose. Jesus by His self-control and responses made clear the paradigm of heaven: “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12).

How could Jesus stay so calm? The promise of the Father is: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts you.” (Isaiah 26:6). Jesus knew His Father in heaven was working out His eternal purposes in Jesus’ life. Jesus knew He was filled with the Spirit of God Who would direct His steps, give Him great endurance in suffering and ever remind Him of the Father’s eternal love and the Father’s love for lost and fallen humanity.

The point of what is going on is how deeply and surely the Father loves His wicked and rebellious people. The point of what is gong on is to demonstrate the victory of Jesus. The point of what is going on is to allow believers a glimpse into the workings of the Holy Spirit guarding and protecting those who believe in the Triune God

No doubt Christmas this year was very different than any you have celebrated before. What remains unchanged and unchangeable is the great love of God demonstrated in Jesus Christ. With the eyes of faith, see Jesus, veiled in flesh and yet our king. With the eyes of faith, love Jesus and share His love to others in this world who feel battered by pandemics and financial ruination, and are fearful of all that the future might hold. As Christians, Spirit-filled, we behold Jesus, the Treasure of all Nations, Who holds the future and therefore, with great peace and calm, go and tell it on the Mountain that Jesus Christ is born!

Prayer

Perhaps, this Christmas, family didn’t gather as we had hoped we would. Perhaps expectations were unfulfilled and the disquieted longing of our hearts percolated with even more misgivings and troubles. Into the chaos of this world and human hearts shaken with fears we welcome You, Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You for the majesty of that first Christmas. Thank You for the Word, which the Spirit is using to teach us and open the eyes of faith so that Your saving glory is made known. Comfort the disquieted with Your love. Afflict those who are falsely comforting themselves with things that cannot last. Draw our eyes, Spirit of God, to the work of Jesus, wherein we begin not only to see but start to delight in the new understanding of the deep, broad, high, and wide love of God pouring out on all who believe. Glory to You, O Triune God, in the highest! Amen.

https://youtu.be/Rfed6pJ8TPs

December 22, 2020 -- John 18:10-11 -- Suffering and Sanctification

10 Then 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.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

John 18:10-11 English Standard Version

Peter’s misguided attempt at helping Jesus provoked an important teaching. Peter was inappropriately trying to alleviate Jesus’ suffering. The Father in heaven had willed that the Son should be crushed for the salvation of sinners. Jesus had prayed for the grace and strength to endure this suffering so that the Father’s glory and Jesus’ own glory would be made known (Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, John 17). All that Jesus would endure was for the salvation of His Own.

When someone near us is suffering it can very well be sanctifying suffering, the suffering that makes one pure. Think of it, during these Covid times, how many of you have lost money, significant sums of money even? Is God teaching you not to treasure things, but that He is your greatest treasure? While confined in prison, Paul wrote many New Testament letters. These are now part of our Bible. Paul’s suffering, the crushing he endured was used for blessing. When a believer grows in confident faith in Jesus, friends and family, perhaps even nominal Christians may storm out of their lives with statements like “You are being too radical”. Perhaps God is purging your circle of friends and family in such a way that those who had inappropriately influenced you against the glory and praise of God are now no longer capable of having such a negative influence.

Today’s prayer is Jonah’s prayer, offered as he was in the belly of the great fish. (Background, Jonah suffered much so that he would be purified as the prophet to Nineveh):

“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,
and he answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
and you heard my voice.
3 For you cast me into the deep,
into the heart of the seas,
and the flood surrounded me;
all your waves and your billows
passed over me.
4 Then I said, ‘I am driven away
from your sight;
yet I shall again look
upon your holy temple.’
5 The waters closed in over me to take my life;
the deep surrounded me;
weeds were wrapped about my head
6 at the roots of the mountains.
I went down to the land
whose bars closed upon me forever;
yet you brought up my life from the pit,
O Lord my God.
7 When my life was fainting away,
I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came to you,
into your holy temple.

8 Those who pay regard to vain idols
forsake their hope of steadfast love.
9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving
will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
Salvation belongs to the Lord!

https://youtu.be/XG347euXoTM

December 21, 2020 -- John 18:4-8 -- Falling before Jesus

Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”

John 18:4-8 English Standard Version

And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 2:9-11 English Standard Version

In the first text, 480 battle hardened soldiers who had come to arrest Jesus, fell helplessly before Jesus when He declared “I AM He”. Jesus gave these men the briefest glimpse of His glory and they fell before Him as though dead. In the second text, Magi, wise men from the East, traveled, diligently searching for Jesus. When they saw Jesus, they too fell to the ground, but they in vivified, joy-filled worship.

This is the Christmas question: “Who is Jesus”? Will you disregard Him and live as if He had no power until, at the end of your life, like Roman Soldiers you will all fall down before His glory and power? Those who deny Him now, will find at the end of History He is glorious in majesty and He has the power to cast the wicked to hell. Or will you seek Him out right now and give your life in worship, presenting to Him, the best of what you have, the best of what you are, praising God and glorifying Jesus in the strength of the Holy Spirit?

Now is the day of salvation If you do not know Jesus, find a Christian friend whose walk you admire and ask about Jesus! Your life and joy, your blessedness and peace depend on it.

Our prayer, which is an ascription of praise and promise of blessing, comes from Isaiah ~

But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Isaiah 43:1-3 English Standard Version

https://youtu.be/r_dO91hQhkU

December 20, 2020 -- John 18:3 -- With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation

So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

John 18:3 English Standard Version

Hmm, do you think Judas’ feet still felt fresh from the fact that just a few hours beforehand Jesus had knelt down and washed his feet? In Chapter 13, Jesus did what only the lowest servant in the household would do, He washed the feet of all His disciples. In that culture, where everyone walked everywhere, the first act of hospitality the host of a home would offer to a newly arrived guest was to direct his servant to wash the feet of the guests. The feet are refreshed. The dust is washed off. It is an act of welcome.

In the Upper Room, Jesus was alone with His disciples. None of the disciples would do this lowly task. So Jesus stood up and took the lowest place of washing the disciples’ feet. Even His betrayer’s feet, Jesus even washed Judas’ feet. Let that sink in for a moment.

Do you understand the washing you have received? Jesus suffered betrayal, humiliation, rejection, an unjust sentence and finally death so that we would be washed—thoroughly cleansed of our sins. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, but Jesus gave Judas every opportunity to repent. Jesus knew the wickedness lodged in the heart of every apostle, every one of His followers, but He cleansed them.

Know this, Jesus went to the cross fully aware of your worst sins, your deepest needs and greatest brokenness. That is why we, as Christians, celebrate the Incarnation and birth of Jesus. From the start of His life to the end of His life, Jesus make the way open to the Father. Today’s prayer of praise comes from Isaiah:

You will say in that day:
“I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
    for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
    that you might comfort me.

2 “Behold, God is my salvation;
    I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
    and he has become my salvation.”

3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day:

“Give thanks to the Lord,
    call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
    proclaim that his name is exalted.

5 “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
    let this be made known in all the earth.
6 Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
    for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

Isaiah 12 English Standard Version

https://youtu.be/OYdkFctlQYs

May the Lord, Mighty God
Bless and keep you forever
Grant you peace, perfect peace
courage in every endeavor
Lift your eyes and see His face,
and His grace forever
May the Lord, Mighty God
bless and keep you forever

December 18, 2020 -- John 18:1-2 -- Suffering and Joy Juxtaposed

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.

John 18:1-2 English Standard Version

Seems a bit jarring, doesn’t it, to juxtapose Jesus’ suffering and betrayal with the festivities of the Christmas season? There are so many lovely nativity scenes on display now. What one easily forgets is that the beginning of Jesus’ life was as filled with suffering as was the end of His life.

Jesus was born in a cave, in an area where animals were kept, because Joseph and Mary’s extended family would not accommodate them. Remember this was the time in Roman history when a census was being taken of the known world. Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem, because they were descendants of King David’s family.

All the extended cousins and second cousins would be there in Bethlehem. No one gave them room because Mary was pregnant. No doubt every busy-body family member had counted on their fingers when Joseph and Mary had married and calculated how far along Mary was in her pregnancy and realized this baby was conceived before the date of marriage. Scandal attended Jesus’ birth.

The wonder of the Incarnation and the majesty of the life of Jesus Christ is that He willingly left the splendours of heaven and He came as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. He knew His life would be suffering and betrayal—yet His life on earth was filled with the vision of His Father in heaven. Jesus lived as the Suffering Servant, yet His life was marked by obedience to His Father which was filled with the joy set before Him. He was able to despise the shame of suffering and betrayal and scorn the cross, knowing He would sit at the Father’s right hand in victory, bringing many sons and daughters to salvation. What a Saviour!

Prayer-Praise reading comes from Isaiah 59:19-60:3

So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west,
    and his glory from the rising of the sun;
for he will come like a rushing stream,
    which the wind of the Lord drives.

20 “And a Redeemer will come to Zion,
    to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord.

21 “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
3 And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Isaiah 59:19-21; 60:1-3 English Standard Version

https://youtu.be/0FlbFot-aho

1. Sweetest music, softly stealing
Thro' the silence of the night;
To the shepherds, now revealing,
Christ is born, the Source of light.

[Chorus]
Glory unto God the Father,
Who hath sent His only Son,
That He may all nations gather
Round His feet and make them one.

2. Now in David's ancient city
He is born, the angels say;
God the Father, full of pity,
Sends His Son to you today. [Chorus]

3. Shepherds, to the stable hasten,
There your Saviour Christ is born,
Son of Mary, lowly maiden,
On this first glad Christmas morn! [Chorus]

4. He from highest heav'n descending
Comes on earth your woes to heal,
That your ev'ry want attending,
Love of God He may reveal. [Chorus]

source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/christmascarols/s/sweetestmusicsoftlystealinglyrics.html

December 17, 2020 -- John 17:25-26 -- Mining the Bible for Treasure

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.

John 17:25-26 English Standard Version

How do you know anything about the Father? How do you know the Father loves you and loves believers? Jesus, in this chapter of John, is fervently praying for believers—His followers then, today, and all those who are appointed to eternal life. It is the the Father Who has sent the Son to be His Witness. It is the Father Who has given Jesus so that the world will know God in heaven is righteous. There are no examples in our world today of righteous men or women. Sin has so infected the ground, the heart, and the cosmos that true righteousness is beyond the comprehension of anyone unless the righteousness of the Father in heaven is revealed by the Son, through the Spirit’s witness in the Word.

Jesus, Who is the exact representation of the Father, made the Father known to those first disciples. Jesus, Who is the radiancy of the Father’s glory, continues to make the Father known to believers today. The love of the Father and the love of the Son are poured into the heart of believers by the powerful presence of the Person of the Holy Spirit.

Everyday my inbox with filled with breathless emails, tweets and messages about this conspiracy and that corrupt official’s actions. There are stinking piles of things to read in order to be informed about this or that. Let me reassure you this is just devil-directed-distraction—all of it. Believers are called to look to Jesus Christ.

With the same enthusiasm that would otherwise have been used to research conspiracy theories, read the Bible. Mine the Bible for its rich truth. The Bible, which the Spirit uses to lead you to Jesus, will reveal to your heart and mind the Truth. Knowing Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life, will cause you to instantly know counterfeits. Don’t spend all your time researching counterfeits, because the Truth is will farther away from you. Gaze at the Truth. Admire the Beauty of Jesus, the Desire of All Nation. As you dig deep into the Bible Jesus will continually make His Father known to you. This is how believers know the Father. Jesus is the Radiant Witness to the Father’s love and the Spirit will continually speak to your heart and mind so that you declare: “Abba—Father, my Father!”

I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music.

I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh, when will you come to me?

I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;

I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.

I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

Today’s prayer is Psalm 101:1-3; 103:1 English Standard Version.

https://youtu.be/ApE27TPPHlY

December 16, 2020 -- John 17:24 -- United in Love and Christ's glory

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.

John 17:24 English Standard Version

In verse 22 Jesus, in this long prayer to His Father, asks that believers may be united with the Father and with the Son (this by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit). When believers are united to the Living God they live in the glory of God. Jesus continued in His prayer that believers will fully see Jesus’ own glory in eternity. This is to the great joy and blessing of believers to know their lives have been lived with tremendous purpose unto the honour and praise of God.

Right now, no doubt, people are making huge Christmas lists of things they want. The pandemic has prompted many to want tools and kitchen appliances and gadgets as being locked down in their homes people have plenty of time for projects. Others, knowing the vaccine is here dream of big cruises and trips expecting the vaccines will be a panacea allowing things to return “to normal”. The arrival of the virus has shown us one thing: no one knows what one day will bring. Normal is a fragile state.

Jesus, in His great sacrificial love for His people, prayed for the one gift that could never be taken from believers. To know the love of God by being united with Him and blessed to see His glory now and in ever growing fullness in eternity is to have the greatest gift. Do not chase after temporal things. Do not run after gifts that will be wiped out whenever the next stock market crash happens. Let your heart chase after Jesus Christ and in the pursuit of Him you will find joy unspeakable, full of glory. That is the only treasure you can take from this life into eternity.

Prayer today is Psalm 136:1-5

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the LORD of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever!

https://youtu.be/eMY3ivdNzwE

December 15, 2020 -- John 17:18-19 -- Go Tell It on the Mountain

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.

John 17:18-19 English Standard Version

The book of Hebrews makes it clear that Jesus consecrated Himself, He willingly gave Himself as the sacrifice which takes away the sin of the world. Since He was perfect, without sin, He could dedicate Himself as the One Who sanctifies, that is makes holy all who believe in Him.

With that understanding, believers are made holy in Jesus so that believers can proclaim Good News to the world. Christians falter and sin, just as anyone else does, however, Christians are growing to hate their sins and are learning to walk in the joyful wonder of God’s rich salvation. Jesus, the Desire of All Nations, has taken hold of the Christian’s heart so that following Him is become more precious than chasing after sin. The Christmas season give many opportunities to declare who Jesus is, and why as a Christian you believe in Him. Be prepared to explain your undoubted Christian faith to those around you.

Why do you go to church? Why do you wish people a “Merry Christmas”? Think on these things and be prepared to give a one or two phrase answer that invites others to think about God and His radiant Son Jesus. For example, you might explain: “I go to church to express my love to God Who first loved me”. Regarding the second question you could smile and say, “I wish you a Merry Christmas because Christmas gives brings me joy in God Who trough Jesus so clearly showed His love for this broken world.” Maybe use a phrase of a Christmas Carol to explain what you believe so that others are left hungry to know more.

Mighty God, thank You for the angels and shepherds who were the first to declare the glorious birth of Jesus. Spirit of God, as we worship Jesus our Savior and King, help us to go and tell everyone we meet of our great joy and confident hope which is anchored in Jesus. Amen.

https://youtu.be/4mnzvWR73O4

December 12, 2020 -- John 17:11 -- Jesus' love expressed in prayer

Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me,

that they may be one, even as we are one.

John 17:11 English Standard Version

This is the longest recorded prayer offered by Jesus. It is so full and rich. Jesus is nearing His betrayal and crucifixion and He speaks with His Father in the full confidence of His Father’s love, purpose and approval.

The Father is “Holy”. Completely separate from humanity in His perfections and His majesty and honour in keeping His promises. He had determined, before the foundation of the world to save for Himself a people to be brought to Himself through Jesus Christ. His power and holiness would accomplish this. Jesus, in His prayer, honours and blesses the Father and His holiness.

Jesus asked His Father to keep the flock which Jesus had shepherded while He was on earth; entrusting them to the Father as He departed for His suffering. They are about to face the greatest trial of their lives—Jesus’ arrest and execution. Unless the Father, by His love and purposes, had sustained the disciples and followers of Jesus they would have been broken and destroyed.

Jesus, in His humanity, was fully united with His Holy Father through the powerful presence of the Spirit. It is the Spirit Who guarded Jesus in unity with His Father throughout all His earthly ministry. This same Spirit of Holiness would sustain Jesus as He faced the greatest trial any human being in history would ever face. The divinity of Jesus would endure, the humanity of Jesus needed the Spirit’s presence—as does any human being who lives need the Spirit’s glorious presence.

Beloved children of the Father, brought near by Jesus and guarded by the Spirit—be assured that Jesus’ prayer offered so long ago continues to have validity and power. Jesus continues to pray for you, but now at the Father’s right hand. The Holy Father and Jesus have poured out the Spirit of power so that you can endure all things, hope and believe in all trials. Do not lose heart. Pray. Read the Word. Trust Jesus is exactly Who He said He is: the One Who brings you safe by the power of the Spirit into the presence of the Holy Father in heaven.

Today’s prayer is Psalm 130 is one in the series of Psalms called “The Songs of Ascents”. These are the psalms recited as the people of Israel would journey to worship the LORD at Jerusalem. As we await Jesus’ return in glory, we worship Him looking forward to the New Jerusalem.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
2     O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
    to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
    O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
    that you may be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
    and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
    more than watchmen for the morning,
    more than watchmen for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!
    For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
    and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
    from all his iniquities.

Psalm 130 ESV

https://youtu.be/7QCcwgb817s

December 11, 2020 -- John 17:2-3 -- Glimpses of Glory

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

John 17:3-4 English Standard Version

Filling in Christmas cards this year I have been writing at the top of many of them: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among the people with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14). The moment of Jesus’ arrival on earth gave glory to the Father in heaven—it is what the angels declared. The life and work of Jesus on earth glorified God—Jesus’ work and words, life and rest, every moment He walked the earth He was conscience of living whole-heartedly for His Father in heaven. He perfectly proclaimed the coming Kingdom of God. He displayed the Father’s radiancy in His miracles of healing and feeding. Those who perceived Who Jesus was as He preached and offered the miraculous signs saw the glory of God the Father.

Now, in this section of John, called the High Priestly Prayer, Jesus is praying, asking His Father to give to Him the glory had with the Father before the world existed. Note, when the God of Splendour and Power is even fleetingly revealed, even a small glimpse of this glory is given, hearts melt, kingdoms fall, lives are converted, and sinners are judged.

When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “I AM He” the soldiers caught a glimpse of His glory and they fell to the ground stunned in His presence (John 18:6). In fact, Jesus had to take charge of the situation so that they could regroup and arrest Him. When Jesus was being crucified one man crucified on a cross beside Him, glimpsed the saving power and glory of God and said “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). When Jesus gave up His Spirit and died, the Roman soldier at the foot of the cross declared “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39). Through out history efforts have been made generation after generation to suppress the word of God and defeat the glory of Jesus—these all failed.

Voltaire, the French philosopher and author of the early 1800’s, noted “we are living in the twilight of Christianity”. In a beautiful twist of fate that declares the glory of Jesus Christ, the home where Voltaire once lived, in Ferney, France, is now the location of a branch of the French Bible Society! The glory of Jesus Christ is being declared in the written word preserved and blessed by the Spirit so that all who believe on Jesus know the Father in heaven. One man remarked, what Voltaire saw as twilight was in fact the dawn of Christ’s day. So, with the angels and the shepherds, and saints and wise men throughout the ages we declare with greatest joy: “Glory to God in the highest!”

Prayer today is the praise found in Romans 11:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
    or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him
    that he might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. ESV

https://youtu.be/OGfxlGeNVmQ

December 9, 2020 -- John 16:33 -- Peace in a world full of tribulation

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 English Standard Version

It seems very odd for Jesus to put the words peace and tribulation right next to each other. No doubt you understand tribulation. There are great sufferings as the world is locked down because of Covid. There is great anguish because the government, in the middle of this pandemic promotes abortion and dead. In fact, so committed to death are our various governments here in Canada that the B.C. government went to court to force a hospice in British Columbia, set up to be safe from Medical Assistance in Death, to provide M.A.I.D. Sadness fills the heart and mind because famine kills around nine million people a year (to put this in perspective, Covid-19 and deaths related to it have, as of today killed an estimated one million five hundred and sixty thousand people). The U.N. reports there are over 2.6 million people living in refugee camps, right now! And war, famine, government instability and guerilla warfare has displaced over 79 million! Yet the greatest tragedy of all, is that our world walks in darkness, which is rebellion against God and against His Son and blasphemes the Holy Spirit by refusing the witnesses of the Spirit to Jesus Who is the world’s true light, Savior and peace.

Jesus has overcome the world. The might of the Roman Government was not enough to overthrow Jesus nor to crush Him and put out the light of His salvation. Religious leaders of the Jewish faith who were supposed to stir up in the Jewish people the anticipation of the arrival of Messiah—Jesus Himself—denied Jesus as they tried to hold onto earthly power. Mocked. Rejected. Betrayed. Homeless. He walked in a world ravaged by hunger. He saw the injustices of tyranny. He saw disease scourge the land. And Jesus saw the greatest tragedy of all: He walked among His own people and His own people received Him not. They were walking in darkness while the Light of Life was right there in front of them. Yet Jesus had great peace.

Jesus lived as a man in great peace because His eyes, His life, and His faith was fixed on our Father in heaven. How does this Jesus give peace? He defeated the power of sin at the cross. He overcame the world’s temptation to sin, the power of evil and the lusts of the flesh by His faithful obedience to His Father in the world. He never sinned—in word, in thought, in deed. Jesus did all the good He was called to do and no good expected of Him by the Father was left undone. Ponder that for a moment. Then, as the spotless Lamb of God, He stood in the place of sinners, receiving our punishment for sin at the cross. He was buried. And death could not hold Him. He rose from the grave and ascended to heaven.

Jesus taught us He has overcome the world. Jesus did in fact overthrow the kingdom of this world and its powers and the effects of sin. Jesus gives to us, by His Spirit, the power to live for our Father in heaven. When despair threatens us, we turn to Jesus. When we might waver seeing the evils of the world and tragedies there, we look to Jesus and find in Him peace that passes all human understanding. Living for Jesus is the gift of peace He gives and the powerful witness that speaks to our world torn by upheaval, tribulation and fear. In Jesus we have peace.

The prayer today is Isaiah 26:1-5. It speaks to the time of peace which is ushered in by Jesus.

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

“We have a strong city;
    he sets up salvation
    as walls and bulwarks.
2 Open the gates,
    that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.
3 You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.
4 Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:1-5 ESV

https://youtu.be/ZYrL9ea1XUg

December 7, 2020 -- John 16:13 -- The Spirit of Truth and no compromise

When the Spirit of Truth comes, 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 declare to you the things that are to come.

John 16:13 English Standard Version

Clearly the truth we need is given to us by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. God our Glorious Father has spoken and the Spirit of God has made His will known all through the generations. God the Father spoke most clearly in Jesus Christ—the Prophet, the Perfect and final High Priest, and King. The Spirit of God was given to Jesus without measure and we know that the Spirit Who resides in Jesus is given to believers.

There are many times a man will speak with me and say, I want to date a woman. She is not a Christian, but I am seeking the Lord’s will on this. Hm. He has spoken clearly about this in the Bible—the Old and New Testament are filled with examples of God’s clear declaration. And mentally I count down for the “yes, but” and usually the immediate example to refute this is Solomon. The man will argue with me, he had lots of wives. To which I reply something to the effect true they were not “Christian” or God'-fearers”. They also turned his heart from serving God. What makes you think you are smarter than Solomon?

All that believers need for faithful living as followers of Jesus Christ is given in the Bible. The Spirit of Truth guided the followers of Jesus to write the New Testament. This has been preserved by the Spirit of God through the generations so that believers have the clearest manual for living as grace-receiving, obedient children of God.

Are you prepared to be guided into all truth? Where are you making small compromises? Where are you thinking “this is too much for God to ask of me”? How are you examining your life so that you choose to follow Jesus into all truth rather than in compromise. Notice the Spirit only speaks what has been given to Him by Jesus. Notice that Jesus reveals the Father’s will. Such committed love and unity in work and purpose should be so instructive for believers. Clearly the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit devote themselves to One another in love and unity in accomplishing their purpose. Clearly the point is for believers to yield obedience and worship and love to God the Triune without any hint of compromise to the world around. The Spirit will guide the believer in all truth—what a glorious promise!

The lament today, from Job, shows how God answered Job’s cries and pleas. The help long-sought for by all humanity has fully been given in Jesus the One Who cleanses us and the Spirit Who speaks to our spirit. What a Savior!

Job 9:30-35

If I wash myself with snow
and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 yet you will plunge me into a pit,
and my own clothes will abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him,
that we should come to trial together.
33 There is no arbiter between us,
who might lay his hand on us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me,
and let not dread of him terrify me.
35 Then I would speak without fear of him,
for I am not so in myself.

https://youtu.be/nwSV-b9vAUQ

December 6, 2020 -- John 16:7 -- The Helper, the Holy Spirit

Nevertheless, 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 go, I will send him to you.

John 16:7 English Standard Version

Jesus’ departure—His betrayal, trial, being whipped, mocked, beaten, and crucified, death, resurrection and appearances to His disciples and finally His ascension into heaven are all part of His departure—is to the advantage of His disciples. By this the Father has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of Light, the Kingdom of the Son He loves. Now Jesus tells of more blessing yet in store.

The Helper, the Holy Spirit, is given to believers. What a fitting title for the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps Christians to understand Scripture. The Holy Spirit shows believers the condition of their hearts revealing all that needs to be confessed, helping believers to seek to be cleansed in Christ. The Holy Spirit lives in the followers of Jesus so that they can be kept safe by Him through any and every storm—especially the persecutions Christians will suffer at the hands of authorities. The Holy Spirit is for believers the deposit, guaranteeing the salvation of believers. Jesus, when He walked the earth, received the Holy Spirit without measure, without limit. The Spirit of God filled Jesus’ humanity so that Jesus lived in perfect obedience to the Father. This same Spirit, the Helper, enables believers to resist the sin that lingers in their hearts and so that they are able to fight sin and live in the grace won in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity Who is Mighty, sustains the weary Christian, who feels bruised and unable to carry on in the fight for faith.

No wonder Jesus claimed it is to the advantage of His disciples, to the advantage of His followers through out past generations and for our advantage that Jesus went and faced the cross and death and then rose up. What a glorious Savior. What great blessing is given by the Father, through Jesus, such that believers are filled with the Helper, the Holy Spirit!

The prayer-reading is directly from Isaiah 11. The “shoot from the stump of Jesse” is Jesus Christ. The work of the Spirit in Jesus’ life (and consequently in the life of believers) is described. Then the tumult of the world now being brought into full submission to Jesus the High King of Heaven is revealed, showing believers why they need the Helper more than ever.

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

Isaiah 11:1-5 ESV

https://youtu.be/VrNHG5JOWjg

December 5, 2020 -- John 16:2-4a -- Prepared to live for Jesus

They will put you out of the synagogue. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

John 16:2-4a

From January 2020 to September 2020 363 Nigerians have been killed by the Boko Haram. This is an Islamist military group operating with almost no opposition in Northern Nigeria. In the last week an additional 110 people were slaughtered. Farmers were tied up and their throats slit. While Canadian news seems to focus exclusively on Covid-19, the world around us burns with the conflict ignited by the arrival of Jesus Christ. The constant haranguing about Covid-19 and the fears the state media whips up in order to deflect Canadians’ attention from the gross scandals and the constant, continuing ethic violation of the government prove Jesus’ words, “they do these things because they have not known the Father” nor do they know Jesus.

Christians know the violence and the evil, the killings and the scandals are nothing new. Every generation had to deal with the machinations of wicked men and women, corrupt governments and violence. Christians, do not live in constant fear! The LORD your God knows every atom, directs every storm, works in and through every tragedy in order that His glory and majesty would be made known across the earth and proclaimed into the cosmos.

Pray with urgency for those afflicted. Praise with confidence King Jesus, Who once came as a babe in a manger, He is now ruling with power. Live in the confidence of the salvation given you in Christ Jesus. Do not measure your success by the standards of the world. Success for the follower of Jesus Christ is to live by the power of the Spirit, defying the dictates of godlessness and knowing our lives are precious to the Father in heaven because of Jesus Christ. Be prepared for suffering and persecution. The Father’s watchful gaze is on you. Obey the government as far as it agrees with the Word of God. Show yourself a faithful citizen of Jesus’ kingdom even as you live faithfully wherever it is God has called you to live.

Prayer today is Psalm 2

Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
    and cast away their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King
    on Zion, my holy hill.”

7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
    and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 2 ESV

https://youtu.be/pj6vzfkk8II

December 4, 2020 -- John 16:1 -- Great warning and greater assurance

I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.

John 16:1 English Standard Version

There is tremendous assurance and great warning in these 14 words! The warning is that there will be great persecution and struggles in our faith. The warning is that the disciples themselves will face the sin of their own hearts and wonder “can God really love me still?” No doubt, that is a question many of us wrestle with, “Can God, Who sees all and knows all, love me still?” So often we are cast from from our moorings and the temptation is to throw in the towel and stop striving for holiness.

The tremendous assurance is this: God is not done with you. God is not done with me. In Jesus Christ believers are rescued from their allegiance to sin. Sin is thrown down. Sin is made powerless over us. Christ has taken away the wrath of God which was properly leveled against us and against our sins. Jesus took our place at the cross. Jesus keeps us from falling away.

See the manger there—Christ the Lord, the newborn King—has come to live a life without sin and without any rebellion against God. He is the spotless Lamb of God Who takes away our sin! He is glorious. He knows our need and to our weakness is no stranger—as the carol “O Holy Night” reassures the singing-believer.

I can’t do this. I can’t live for God as I am supposed to do. True that. Jesus told His disciples and tells us these things, all these things—the Spirit Helper, the Spirit of Truth will bear witness to all Jesus taught and strengthen the believer so that are kept from falling away. Confess you need. Fall on your knees—His power and glory ever more proclaim!

The prayer today is Zechariah’s prophesy-song, Luke 1:68-79

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

https://youtu.be/fB3Fo6yG2n0

December 3, 2020 -- John 15:26-27 -- Disarming cultic lies with the Word

But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

John 15:26-27 English Standard Version

It is important to clear up one huge misnomer—the cult that calls itself “Jehovah’s witnesses” are in fact heretical. This brief text explains why. The Spirit of Truth—Whom those calling themselves ‘witnesses’ do not acknowledge as God, the Third Person of the Trinity—the Spirit will bear witness to Jesus Christ. The first true witness to Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Truth: the Spirit given to Jesus without measure (John 3:34).

Jesus Christ is in fact fully God and fully human and He lives now at the Father’s right hand in heaven. True witnesses, Bible literate and empowered by the Spirit of Truth, confess Jesus Christ Who was from eternity, took on flesh, was born that first Christmas, declared the kingdom of God and the need for people to repent of their sins, died bearing the punishment of God against sin and rose from the dead in triumph. This is what the first apostles and believers declared with joyful wonder and were prepared to face persecution, the loss of property, imprisonment and death in order to declare.

When you receive the knock at your door (or the email from Jehovah’s witnesses, or the letter, which is what is happening now) know the Truth given by Jesus in the Word of God. Do not fall for the lies which are being perpetrated by this cult. Do not allow these false witnesses to use their rewritten false-book-that-masquerades-as-a-bible be used to insult Name and glory of Jesus, trampling it the mud. Do not let them blaspheme the Holy Spirit in your presence.

Remember this passage! Notice how strongly trinitarian it is: The Spirit of Truth, bearing witness to Me [Jesus, the Speaker of these words], Who [the Spirit] proceeds from the Father. Notice how the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit all are intimately connected with the salvation of believers. This is what we declare with wonder and joy—Jesus Who came that first Christmas will come again in glory!

Today’s prayer is based on John 1.

King Jesus, You are the True Light Who has come into the world! The world was made through You, yet the world does not know You. Blessed are You, Faithful Father, for giving to the world the Son; glorious and merciful are You Father Most High Who gives the right to all believers to be called sons and daughters of God! Blessed are You, Spirit of Truth, Who bears witness to Jesus so that believers know themselves to be sons and daughters of God. This Christmas season, Spirit of God, embolden us to bear witness to the Father Who in His great love sent the Son. Spirit of God, instill in us a longing for Jesus’ return in glory. Amen.

https://youtu.be/TT3cfXd3Shk

December 2, 2020 -- John 15:20 -- Stick Close to Jesus

Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

John 15:20 English Standard Version

What is the goal of your life? Are you looking to be popular? Thinking you’d be happy if you could make a lot of money? Maybe you desire just to be comfortable? At the start of this chapter Jesus gave to Christians the goal of their existence: “Abide in Me, and I in you”. The goal of all Christian living is to know Jesus Christ and to follow Him in all things. He leads the believer to the Father in heaven where the Christian understands the great love of God the Father.

Living for Jesus means there are people in your life—school, family, or work-place—who will hate you and undermine you and accuse you of all kinds of things. Those who persecute you are actually rebelling against the fact that in your life, words and actions they see Jesus. Amazingly Jesus promised that those who keep His commandments, even under such pressure, will glorify the Father, bear much fruit and be confirmed as the disciples of Jesus (all this in verse 8). And the crowning promise in verse 9 is that believers, who stick close to Jesus despite ridicule and persecution, will be confirmed in the Father’s love and Jesus’ love. The Spirit of God will give you the strength and grace you need to endure.

Living for Jesus also means you will meet people and immediately you recognize in them the presence and love of Jesus. No matter their circumstances or yours, you will find you have delight in speaking in with them. Your conversation will glorify God, you will see the fruitfulness the Spirit of God is bringing each in the other’s life and you will joyfully confirm—here is another believer! The love of God is confirmed to each of you.

Are you living for Jesus? When you are faced with a decision do you pray? When you can get away with cheating and no one would know, does your heart cry out and your conscience prickle? Are you openly declaring your love for Jesus in a world that is hunkered down in Covid-chaos and in desperate need of the Good News that Jesus is near? This is the glory of Christmas—Jesus had entered into this world of trouble. He will never leave His people nor abandon them. Abide in Jesus—pray, read your bible, trust in Him in all circumstances, do not compromise your faith. It is the most glorious work, requiring all your heart, mind, soul, and strength—but there is no greater task, no greater purpose than to abide in Jesus and He in you.

God of Wonder and Love, joyful are those who intentionally come into Your presence, cultivating the awareness You are near! Worshiping You leads us to want to express our love and devotion in action. As believers worship You, we are reminded You made us. You claimed us in Jesus Christ. You have spoken Your claim over us to our very hearts by Your Spirit living in us. Forgive us for the times we have tried to hide our faith in order to foolishly accommodate ourselves to the world. Renew in us thankful hearts and minds that form thoughts and actions of praise to Your Name. You are Good! Your steadfast love never ends, it has been evident through-out history, Your steadfast love carries on from generation to generation! Triune God reigning in splendour and magnificence, in our lives—individually and collectively—be glorified. Amen.

https://youtu.be/e6v_TAIF_qI

December 1, 2020 -- John 15:18 -- Test of True Christianity

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

John 15:18 English Standard Version

Interesting how my French classes have helped me to better understand my own language. Let me explain. Right now as I am being tutored in French I am learning to carefully examine conditional sentences. There are many similarities between English and French in the use of verb forms for conditional sentences. A quick review will be helpful.

A conditional sentence has a first part or clause which begins with “if” and the second part or clause uses the word (or implies the word) “then” as the result. A conditional that has a present verb in each of the two parts is a general truth (called a Type 0 conditional). Now go back to the verse for today.

Look at the key verbs in each part of the sentence. The first part has the present verb “hates” and the second part has the present imperative “know”. It is a general truth statement. The world hates the followers of Jesus. The world hated Jesus and the world will hate those who follow Jesus.

Why is this the case that the world hates true Christians?

~Christian faithfulness to Christ is a stark contrast to the world’s devotion to evil

~Christians cannot join in doing the wicked things the world does

~Christians have a focus not on a best life now, but on the life that is best in Christ, one that looks to eternity in the glorious presence of Jesus the King

Why are many Christians not hated now?

~Most people who call themselves Christians today are so compromised with the world and accommodating to its evil that the world has no reason to hate them

~Most so-called Christians today join in the world’s wickedness with no compunction so the world has no reason to hate them

~Calling oneself a Christian but living as if this brief existence is one’s best life reveal’s one’s claim of being a Christian as a lie and again, this fits right in with the world

Chapter 15 of the Gospel of John highlights Christian living:

~abiding in Jesus—reading the word and prayer—reading and praying until one knows His life-giving presence and hope

~bearing fruit—by word and deed demonstrating an allegiance to Jesus

~love—for God and for fellow Christians and even for one’s enemies. I Corinthians 13 demonstrates this love, which empowered by the Spirit takes a manly man or an excellent woman to fully live it out

~dedication to the Father—not to the government, not to money, not pursuing conspiracy theories, no devotion, no worship, no god above the Father in heaven.

Little wonder then, that so few of us are hated by this world.

If what is written here is really bothering you—excellent. Let God’s Spirit move your conscience and heart to confess what you need to confess. Abide in Jesus.

God our Father, in our feebleness and fainted-hearted living, transform us so that our hunger and our thirst is focused on You alone. Father in heaven, You sent Jesus so that Your love, Your mercy, Your goodness, Your forgiveness and Your transforming power would be known to those You call Your children. Spirit of God, holy and mighty, as Jesus has asked the Father to give believers Your presence into our lives, act in us to renew in us a holy zeal for Jesus. Spirit of God, cause us to be unsatisfied with anything less than whole-hearted love for God; deep love from God which is reflected back in praise and love made evident in our prayer, practice and proselytizing. Amen.

https://youtu.be/mXBzrutelZA

November 29, 2020 -- John 15:17 -- Commanded Love

These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

John 15:17 English Standard Version

The count is on. This is the First Sunday in Advent—there are a total of four Sundays of Advent—and then it is Christmas. This marks the time between Jesus’ birth as a baby in Bethlehem and the anticipated time when He shall return in glory. We remember Christmas because it teaches us of God’s great love shown to us in Jesus Christ. We celebrate Christmas with the glowing expectation of the moment when the heavens will be filled with the majesty of Jesus and brilliance of all His holy angels as He gathers His people to Himself for eternal life in His presence.

In the previous verse Jesus taught His followers that by the power of the Father they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the strength of the Spirit followers of Jesus Christ can live for Jesus and in so doing bless others. Jesus told believers they are appointed to “bear fruit”. “Fruit-bearing” means using your gifts and abilities, your talents and likes in order to encourage others in the blessed Name of Jesus.

For example, recently at our home Carolyn and I hosted two young men as we watched church and then ate lunch. These young men are attending a recovery centre so it is rare to go off-site. I can do so in these Covid-19 times because I am volunteer staff there and as staff am part of their one-household bubble. As the men left they said to Carolyn, “thanks for hosting us”.

When I returned home Carolyn said, “Why did they thank me?” A bit of background might be necessary. I made the lunch for the men: roasted potatoes and turnips, peas, sausage and sautéed onion, with crepes for dessert. I explained to Carolyn she’d used her gift. She’d made the men feel very at home. She chatted with them. She asked them questions without being intrusive. They felt welcomed and heard. That is Carolyn’s gift of hospitality shining through.

Do you like to give gifts—find a recovery centre and ask a staff member or manager what gifts you could make gifts for those who are going to be there at Christmas. Do you like to fix things? Keep your ear to the ground for a neighbour or co-worker who might be like me, unable to fix anything and appreciative of any help. Perhaps you are a prayer warrior. Prayer regularly for those whom God has placed on your heart. You see, whatever your gift, use it and in so doing you show the love of God which has rested on you in Jesus.

If you are unsure how to use whatever gift He has given you. Ask a friend whose faith you admire to direct you as to how you can use your gifts so that you show love one to another. Now, more than ever, as Canadians feel the isolation of Covid-19 and all the restrictions imposed by the government, the need for the experience of love and demonstration of it is more vital than ever. Know that God’s goodness and love will be shown to others by the way in which you bear fruit. And God our Father in His great and extravagant creative majesty will cause you yourself to feel blessed even as you serve others. You really can’t out-give God.

LORD of heaven and earth, You are the Everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

You do not faint; You do not grow weary;

Your understanding and wisdom are limitless

and it is the glory of Your people to search out Your wisdom.

You have promised, Faithful Father, that You will renew the strength

of every person who prays to You, learning to lean on You for every good thing.

Help us, LORD, help us by Your Word and Spirit to show the love of Jesus to our hurting world.

Amen.

The prayer is based on Isaiah 40:28-31

https://youtu.be/VXT0XGAImIU

November 27, 2020 -- John 15:16-17 -- The Spirit, the Helper, the Truth

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him for he dwells with you and will be in you.

John 14:16-17 English Standard Version

How did Jesus hold it all together? When He faced the great betrayals in His life? His mother and brothers wanted to take him home. Even His family was saying “He is out of His mind” (Mark 3:21). His disciples could not understand what He was teaching them, or the miracles which accompanied His teaching. Jesus rebuked them “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” People around Him constantly sought glory for themselves not for God (John 5:45).

Jesus endured in His humanity, in His flesh because He had the Holy Spirit in Him. The Spirit was given to Jesus without measure (John 3:34).

Jesus lived for the glory of His Father. His heart and mind, obedience and life were fixed on that one goal that God should be glorified (John 17). It was the Spirit Who enable Jesus, in His flesh to accomplish this.

Jesus knew His purpose—to go and preach to other towns also (Luke 4:43)—even when it would have been easiest to stay in one place where His teaching was applauded and welcomed.

Jesus knows our failures and our weaknesses. He came to us not because we are basically good and can take care of ourselves. Jesus came to this world because we are in desperate need of His Spirit, the Helper, Who sustains believers.

Jesus knows we seek our own glory and when we are credited with this or that, we can barely hear the adulation, because immediately we wonder if we are good enough, if we can handle the next task. The Spirit of God, our Helper, makes our life valuable because we finally understand our purpose—to glorify God—not ourselves, but God and the result of this is enjoying Him (!!) forever.

Jesus knows people flop from one thing to the next, never quite satisfied—the longing is better than having. This is true for all things except one. When we are filled with the knowledge of the love of God shown to us in Christ, then our life’s purpose is transformed—we know we are to serve God with all we have and all we are. And it is the only worthy goal of our living The Spirit, the Helper sent from the Father at Jesus’ request, fills us with the knowledge of our life’s purpose—to declare the glory of God.

Jesus, we hold up to You the promise You gave Your disciples, we ask You send Your Spirit of Truth. Send to us this Helper so that in the light of this rich salvation which You have shown us in Christ, we will live for You when things are easy or times are tough. Send Your Spirit to overcome our weaknesses and failures as the Spirit testifies to our Spirit we belong to Father in heaven on the basis of Jesus’ glorious work. Send Your Spirit so that we will not seek our own glory, but shine the radiant glory of Jesus in all we say and do. As the angels proclaimed it, let our lives declare: “Glory to God in the highest!” Jesus, send Your Spirit so that our ordinary lives, working or jobless, married or single, marriage, raising children or cultivating friendship dear as family, sickness or healthy times, riches or poverty, we will in all circumstances honour our Creator, Redeemer and Helper. Amen.