Jesus wants to fellowship with you

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. John 10:14

God knows everyone; the good, the bad and the ugly. So, what does He mean, that He knows His sheep? The “knowing” here, in reference to His sheep, is more than knowing everything about a person. It is the knowing of FELLOWSHIP. And, in reciprocal, the knowing His sheep have of Him is more than knowing information about Him; it too is the knowing of FELLOWSHIP. And, fellowship with God is a very deep thing. It means JOINT PARTICIPATION in His Kingdom purpose, as we truly submit to Him. He is our LIFE.

Likewise: And then will I profess unto them, I never KNEW you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. Matthew 7:23

Meaning: I never had fellowship with you.

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:3, 6-7

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where are you? Genesis 3:8-9

Preach the Gospel, Preach the Cross

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:17-18

Wouldn’t that be a tragedy, if, in our preaching, the cross of Christ was made of no effect?

If man’s wisdom can render the Cross of no effect, then what IS this effect of the Cross? …But unto us who are saved it is the power of God… The power and the effect of the Cross is to SAVE. We must understand the power of God exclusively in terms of SALVATION (i). This power comes to whoever truly believes the message of the Cross.

Beginning with justification, when a sinner is instantly justified from their sins by faith in Jesus, this salvation of God will touch everything in the ex-sinner’s life. Saved FROM and TO : FROM sin, the flesh, the world and the devil, UNTO the Kingdom of Christ, TO Him.

We may not be fully aware of it, but as we walk by faith in Jesus, His power will be manifest, according to our faith, to deliver us and save us from sin, the flesh, the world and the devil. I mean, we are not fully aware that HE is unceasingly at work saving and delivering us from everything NOT OF HIM, and preserving us for HIMSELF. He is conforming us to His death, so that we may live with Him in the power of His resurrection.

If we walk by faith in Him, He is constantly renewing our minds and our spirit, by the truth of His Word.

Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that just as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Romans 6:3-5

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death… Phil 3:10

I mean, we are not fully aware that HE is unceasingly at work saving and delivering us from everything NOT OF HIM, and preserving us for HIMSELF. He is conforming us to His death, so that we may live with Him in the power of His resurrection.

The issue here is GLORY, His Glory. Sadly, too few of His people grasp this. They associate truth more with a set of rules, than the manifestation of the glory of Jesus : in legal terms, more than in terms of His eternal glory : in reference more to themselves than in reference to Him.

Like, discussing any truth of the scriptures, oftentimes people think in terms of themselves, whether they have an interest in it, and how it affects them, RATHER than understanding that the truth reveals the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ.

(i) Where there is a “power” manifest, but no salvation from sin, the flesh, the world and the devil, then that is a counterfeit power, and NOT the power of God.

The situational nature of teaching

Situational: of, relating to, or appropriate to a situation.

The most detailed treatise we have from God for the practical functioning of His Church is 1 Corinthians. It was a response by Paul to a report he had received:

For it has been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them who are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 1 Corinthians 1:11

And not just contentions. Many bad reports had reached Paul, like immorality, disorderliness and taking the Table of the LORD lightly.

It’s worth noting that his greatest and most detailed directions for Church life came as a response to a situation : a situational teaching (Not to be confused with situational ethics! Which is false.).

This tells us something of the nature of the Kingdom of Christ, and His Church: that only those already functioning together as the Church can receive instruction concerning the Church. Meaning, God can only direct the living. He can’t guide the dead. He can and will instruct and teach the obedient, but He never will offer theoretical teaching to armchair theologians. It is significant that the most detailed instructions we have concerning Church life and practice, were not delivered as a theoretical lecture: but rather RELATIONALLY and as appropriate to the situation.

And. likewise, WE should function the same way within the Body of Christ. The situation and the need will draw the gifting out of us. God gives us grace for the situation. It’s not a matter of us trying to become “The fountain of knowledge”, or a walking dictionary, or whatever. Gifts/grace is given for REAL situations we will encounter.

I thank my God always on your behalf

for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing you are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

As God shakes the earth

the best outcome for His faithful remnant would be that they come to appreciate more WHAT REALLY MATTERS in life: that the essentials get highlighted and all else minimized.

Extreme David

And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? And David laid up these words in his heart, and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and made marks on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, you see the man is mad: why then have you brought him to me? Have I need of mad men, that you have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house? 1 Samuel 21:10-15

Good one, David.

(And to make matters worse, he lands in Goliath’s home-town with Goliath’s sword in his hand! Oops.. )

Life or Death Miracles

I was thinking about the history of Israel. The supernatural, miraculous hand of God was always there to deliver them out of life or death situations: where if they had not received a miracle they would have died. That was the setting of the miraculous. It was never a matter of God putting on a show to entertain them. The same happened in the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth and in the Apostles and Prophets.

If we truly believe and understand today that the souls of men hang in the balance, and that the glory and honor of Jesus’ name is at stake: that it is truly a matter of life or death : then we will see the mighty hand of God deliver folks from death, if we are obedient and believe.

If we think it’s a matter of our own glory, or a matter of entertaining people, then it will be a false power doing the miraculous.

Btw, only the power of Almighty God can deliver Israel today, from the enemies of God.

I think God always starts small

…first 2 families have close fellowship, then 3, then….

It may never grow beyond a few families, or it may grow to 50 or 100 families, according to the purpose of the LORD.

2 or 3 families in one accord, working together in the gospel, is zillions better than none. eh.

I think the gelling point is where the initial 2 or 3 families realize that GOD is in this, and they get a taste of His pleasure in it, and a Holy contentment settles in where they won’t be attracted to anything less again. They won’t go off searching for a “better” church.

http://preachingjesus.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/concerns-regarding-out-of-church-christians/

It is not of him that wills

nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy. Romans 9:16

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all. Ecclesiastes 9:11

We find ourselves recipients of God’s mercy, in Christ Jesus. We should therefore consider ourselves one’s who have received mercy : ignorant, blind transgressors, whom God has had mercy on. One who has received mercy. My confidence is only in this, His mercy alone, both for myself, and for His people.

Unless the LORD had been my help

my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slips; your mercy, O LORD, held me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me your comforts delight my soul.
Psalm 94:17-19

Because you have been my help, therefore in the shadow of your wings will I rejoice. My soul follows close after you: your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 63:7-8

The chickens come home to roost

If someone continues to go the wrong way, where do they end up eventually?

You’ve heard the saying, The chickens come home to roost : that saying often comes to me. When people compromise the truth, then there comes a day, and that day may be delayed many years, when the chickens come home : that is, when they begin to reap the bitter consequences of that compromise. And the reaping comes in the form of a spiritual delusion (2 Thess 2:11).

It’s like a slow or tiny leak in a ship, that takes years to sink the ship. If its not plugged, the ship HAS TO sink, eventually.

I am with you always, even unto the end of the world

Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus WITH you. Jesus WITH us. I am with you always.

Our life should show that we KNOW He is with us, in how we consider Him, for He is present at all times.

This is just so precious a fact, that Jesus is always with us. May His constant presence with us shape all things about our life, our fellowship and our families.

Jesus WITH us should define our life, and our every thought, word, response and action : everything defined by the fact that Jesus is WITH us.

What are you seeking?

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Seek and you shall find. What are you seeking? What are you expecting to find?

Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. What are you expecting shall be opened unto you?

Daily prayer for deliverance from evil and the evil one

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen Matthew 6:13

Pray in faith that the Father will deliver you from evil, today. Believe that He is your Deliverer. Understand that we all need this Deliverer, and His deliverance, continuously. He knows how to deliver His people from evil and the evil one, and his subtle and not-so-subtle schemes (2 Peter 2:9). And He has promised to deliver us out of every temptation of the devil, if we will believe and call on Him.

He is mighty to deliver.

The issue was the Resurrection, and still is

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the LORD Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:33

Witness of the resurrection of the LORD Jesus. This has two aspects, i believe. The apostles testified that they had witnessed the bodily resurrection of the LORD Jesus. And this testimony came with great power and great grace; not in word only, but with a manifestation of power : God bearing witness thru them that they were telling the truth, and indeed the power manifest, thru various phenomena, was credited by many as being the work of the resurrected Messiah in the midst of His people. Their testimony being proof, and, Jesus Himself being manifested in power, proof that He is risen and in the midst of His people. Proof that He is present to SAVE the lost. Proof that He is present to keep His people, and to judge all unrighteousness.

A Prayer of Moses

LORD, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

You turn man to destruction; and say, Return, you children of men. For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. You carry them away as with a flood; they are like a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which grows up. In the morning it flourishes, and grows up; in the evening it is cut down, and withers. For we are consumed by your anger, and by your wrath are we troubled. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your countenance. For all our days are passed away in your wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Who knows the power of your anger? even according to your fear, so is your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, O LORD, how long? and may you have compassion concerning your servants. O satisfy us early with your mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days in which you have afflicted us, and the years in which we have seen evil. Let your work appear unto your servants, and your glory unto their children.

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish you the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish it. Psalm 90

Repentance

My comment from here: http://glennchristopherson.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/repentance-the-rarest-prayer-of-all/

So true, that repentance seems to have become an untouchable subject, politically incorrect, or whatever.

On the preaching of repentance i think there is a dilemma, bcos it is so often perceived as self-righteousness by the unsaved hearers. It often seems to come across as if the preacher is setting himself up as superior to those he preaches to.

Therefore there has to be a miraculous supernatural working in the preaching, where people hear the voice of God calling them to repent and be reconciled to Him, thru and in Jesus. They realize that God is beseeching them thru just a son of dust.

If they just hear a man, it just makes them think that Christians are hypocrites.

Like, if a money preacher on TV started preaching repentance, any intelligent person would be disgusted. They would say, errrr….. hello?

Demythologize

To rid of mythological elements in order to discover the underlying meaning.

To remove the mysterious or mythical aspects from.

(Christian Religious Writings / Theology) to eliminate all mythical elements from (a piece of writing, esp the Bible) so as to arrive at an essential meaning.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/demythologize

I know that this can be wrongly done, when people treat the truth as a myth : like when they try and remove all the miraculous from the Bible.

But in Christianity today, even among sincere, born again saints, there is much mythology that is observed and adhered to, as if it were the truth. Even bordering upon superstition.

Bringing the teaching of the NT into the lives of people today will also require a degree of demythologization : making a difference between what is myth and what is the truth and the reality before God.

Our apartment in Shillong

We are renting on the top floor

Looking up the street toward the school

View from our rooftop terrace

Another view, the city is to the left

Changed into the same image

But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the LORD, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD. 2 Corinthians 3:18

How could we not behold His glory? How could we turn away from beholding Him, and behold other things?

He changes us into His image when we behold Him. From glory to glory.