Continually Pour Out

I am teaching today on developing the mindset and lifestyle, as Christians, to overflow into the lives of others what God has freely and abundantly given and blessed you with. Many believers have no issue with receiving and unfortunately that's where the blessing stops, they have no outlet for pouring into the lives of others. Being a citizen of The Kingdom of God, being a Disciple of Christ and Child of the Living God is spelled out several times in Scripture in this regard - "freely you have received, now freely give." (Matt. 10:5-8)

Matthew 13:31-32 cites Jesus telling about the smallest of its kind of seed, the mustard seed. When this seed is planted and is nurtured to full health - the smallest seed becomes one of the greatest trees in the area, providing shade, shelter and security for birds and other wildlife. If a seed, not being human, can be given or planted, then give back through what it becomes - how much more can God bless His own and His own should reflect The Blesser and aide others.

Documented in Luke 6:38, Jesus says, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap." The law of sowing and reaping is taught here. The very next words of Jesus are - "For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." 

Notice, it is up to us to decide what to give and if we give but whatever we choose to give be it good or bad, not only will the same gift be given back to you with additional abundance, but the measure you use will be measured to you also. So, whatever you need in life, not just money, but joy, peace, laughter and so forth - consider giving it first if you desire to receive it like Jesus describes.

The last description of receiving from God and immediately becoming an avenue for His blessings to flow due to His abundance on your life is the picture of the Holy Spirit as "living water" and Him welling-up within us.

"The other passage of Scripture where Jesus speaks of “living water” is in John 7. In that context, Jesus is in the temple for the Feast of Booths (or Feast of Tabernacles). One feature of that feast was the pouring out of water at the base of the altar for seven days. On the eighth day, the ritual was suspended—no water was poured. It was then that Jesus made a very public, very dramatic offer:

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.) (John 7:37–39, NLT).

John’s note that Jesus “was speaking of the Spirit” (John 7:39) is key to understanding the meaning of the “living water.”

The living water is the Holy Spirit. Jesus extended the offer to everyone (“anyone” in John 7:37 and “whoever” in verse 38). The requirement for salvation was faith in Christ (verses 38 and 39). The result of salvation would be the gift of the Holy Spirit (verse 39), likened unto “rivers of living water” (verse 38). Jesus repeats the promise of the Spirit to His disciples in John 16:7–15. The Spirit is always involved in salvation (John 3:5–8), but the time of the permanent indwelling of the Spirit would have to wait until “later,” when Jesus had ascended back to glory (John 7:39).

The picture of the Spirit as “living water” leads us to the following conclusions:

• The Spirit gives life. Just as water refreshes and revitalizes a thirsty person, so the Spirit gives life to the believer, enabling God to produce fruit in his or her life. Just as, in Moses’ time, the water in the desert kept the Israelites alive, so the Spirit enlivens the followers of Christ (and, according to 1 Corinthians 10:4, the rock providing the water was a picture of Christ).

• The Spirit is active. He is living water, as opposed to still, standing, or stagnant water. He is an artesian well, “a spring of water welling up to eternal life,” in John 4:14. He is a flowing river of water in John 7:38.

• Believers are channels for the Spirit’s work. At the well in Samaria, Jesus said the water would be “in them” to well up and overflow (John 4:14). During the Feast of Booths, Jesus said the water would “flow from within them” (John 7:38). The Spirit gives gifts, and the believer “shall receive spiritual blessings, or communications of divine grace, in so great an abundance, that he shall not only be refreshed and comforted himself, but shall be instrumental in refreshing and comforting others” (Benson, J., Benson Commentary on the Old and New Testaments, 1857). This is exactly what we see in John 4, as the Samaritan woman, “leaving her water jar, . . . went back to the town” and told everyone about Jesus the Messiah (verse 28)."

https://www.gotquestions.org/living-water.html

Picture, if you would, Christ as the life-giving water in the water-table that runs horizontally under our feet in between the layers of dirt and rock. All the instances that Christ's, life-giving water rises up is a well called a Christian. Amazingly, this spiritual well is portable and can tap into that river of physical, mental and spiritual life at any time. Jesus continues to freely give to His own and Christians must Continually Pour Out.

Our Moral Compass

“If we do not believe in decent behavior, why should we be so anxious to make excuses for not having behaved decently? The truth is, we believe in decency so much – we feel the Rule of Law pressing on us so – that we cannot bear to face the fact that we are breaking it and consequently we try to shift the responsibility.”

“These, then, are the two points I wanted to make. First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it.” (p.21, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis)

Within the human is what many old time scholars used to call The Law of Nature. This term was updated to The Law of Human Nature to reflect a moral compass that directs humanity’s decisions on right and wrong. If anyone studied the world civilizations of history, the shared common moral compass; an agreed upon standard of decent behavior for all humans – would be noticeable.

This Moral Compass is hard to be passed off as mere human instinct. If someone came upon another person drowning in a turbulent whirlpool, the right thing to do would be to attempt to save this person. But there is another voice that would speak to the rescuer of self-preservation, observing the danger of the whirlpool. The voice that judges between leaving the scene and trying to assist in a cautious way is The Moral Compass or The Law of Human Nature.

Since human instinct or impulse is not a viable answer to the origin of humanity’s moral standards, do we derive it from social convention? I recognize humans learn the rule of decent behavior from sources like – parents, friends, teachers and books – but where do they receive it? If humans think or believe they receive their moral center from the social collective then humanity is truly doomed.

C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity said, “Progress means not just changing, but changing for the better.” (p.25) Has society’s moral character changed for the better over the eons?

When humans call a thing or place good or bad, right or wrong, they are speaking through experience or preference. For example, a tree gives the right amount of shade, therefore it is a good tree or the opposite if the tree does not. When humans call a person good or bad, right or wrong the parameters are within that of human behavior, specifically the rule or rules of decent behavior.

So, we certainly compare and make judgments on people, places and things. The target I am aiming at here is in comparing two things or one thing over any number of things, you have to have Something to act as judge on or for each of them. In having the possibility of Right and the possibility of Wrong, this Real Morality, this Real Standard, this Law of Human Nature, this Moral Compass is the testing fire and life-guide.

Even with a birth somewhere in its past, this Moral Compass and its help in our daily, decision-making process, the act to follow the direction of that Compass is still our choice.

“The Law of Human Nature, or Right and Wrong, must be something above and beyond the actual facts of human behavior. In this case, besides the actual facts, you have something else – a real law which we did not invent and which we know we ought to obey.” (p.31, Mere Christianity, Lewis)

Therefore, in order for progress to be made and moral progress at that – an outside, higher source must be considered as the Standard to which we apply or judge things.

I concur with Mr. Lewis that in many circles, if not most, humanity deems themselves the originator of their moral compass because otherwise accountability goes to a higher, creative mind, power and being – known too many as God. The issue is not God’s existence anymore – creation and the devil himself, who is worshipped, witnesses that God exists. The problem is what do you do with God and His blessings and gifts?

God’s involvement in the good things of life, the helpful things is proclaimed in James 1:17 - “For every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” However, even with His perfect gift, Christ Jesus, God grants the freedom of decision. There are No robots in Heaven.

Free will or choice means that some will ignore God. Some will acknowledge God and say, “No thanks.” Some will pretend to accept God’s gifts and blessings but not truly accept and believe God. Some will take God’s offerings and promises wholeheartedly.

The Law of Human Nature or Moral Compass at face value is cold and leaves no wiggle room for sentiment. In the beginning, God was the originator of humanity’s Moral Compass, whether anytime later we decided to reject that notion or keep it – this is the truth. The other options for consideration fail. If you deem this governance of humanity’s life to have begun as an installation of God, then on the outset you declare God unswerving also.

This strict, legalism can be displayed as God singled out a people unto Himself – the Hebrews, with not only The Law of Human Nature active in their lives but some three hundred additional laws for living contained in The Law of Moses.

However, the Lawgiver and Moral Compass Himself, Christ Jesus, came to earth and instructed His people and those who would later be called Christians on what was believed, the Old Covenant and what is to be believed, the New Covenant, going forward. Many in the day of Jesus would often hear Him say – “You have heard it said, now I say….” Christ Jesus came and fulfilled every letter of The Law of Moses and lived the perfect moral life none of us could so that by His sacrificial death and His resurrection humanity’s fallen relationship to Father God would be restored.

He is the God of Justice. But fear not, there is an absolute good and gracious God.

C.S. Lewis states it this way – “we know that if there does exist an absolute goodness it must hate most of what we do. That is the terrible fix we are in. If the universe is not governed by an absolute goodness, then all our efforts are in the long run hopeless.” (p.38, Mere Christianity)

Jesus set the rules, became His human creation, played by His rules to perfection and through Himself and those rules redeemed humanity to Father God. Now, this Good News becomes the Christian’s charge to share with those who would hear, listen and act on this truth.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Not only is Father God, Christ Jesus the Son and The Holy Spirit, the God who set the rules and instilled The Moral Compass, but He is the Savior who loved the most and displayed generosity the most. This is a message worth spreading.

Again, Mr. Lewis helps out here by saying –

“Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness. It therefore has nothing to say to people who do not know they have done anything to repent of and who do not feel that they need any forgiveness. It is after you have realized that there is a real Moral Law and a Power behind the law and that you have broken that law and put yourself wrong with that Power – it is after all this and not a moment sooner, that Christianity begins to talk. When you know you are sick, you will listen to the doctor.” (pp. 38-39, Mere Christianity)

What a challenge for the Christ follower! However, you have to know the “good” and “peace” and any other fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 in order to recognize it. There is a saying about Jesus and Peace that goes – “Know Jesus, Know Peace. No Jesus, No Peace.” The spiritually sick must be convinced they are so before going or listening to The Great Physician.

But for the believer in Christ James adds to The Great Commission – “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” (James 4:17). Therefore, I believe the Christian has an even greater responsibility to uphold the Moral Compass, witness to Christ Jesus as the originator of it and the actual Standard itself, then convince unbelievers they are spiritually, mentally and physically sick for eternity, BUT there is a solution – faith in the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ Jesus for everyone’s redemption. No pressure.

This calls for an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus as one’s Savior and Lord. Jesus was absolutely clear about who and what He is. John 14:6 records Jesus declaring Himself not “a” way, not “a” truth, not “a” life – but “The way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The choice is still there to make for the unbeliever or not fully committed. Jesus is waiting – Our Moral Compass.

Don't Cut Yourself Short

There are many times I have found myself in the middle of a serious problem that I wished and prayed would either vanish or conveniently find its solution immediately. While that satisfaction would alleviate my burden and allow me to continue with my life, there are some productive outcomes that result from embracing our challenges.

I have felt and seen in the lives of others the truth that if we don't firmly grasp our issues, they will not only firmly clinch us, they will likely dominate us. So, tackle the situation before it tackles you - if you can. If the circumstances took you by surprise, then respond don't react to the invader. Reacting is a sudden, knee-jerk, immediate action done due to some stimuli. Responding is the deliberate acknowledging of what is happening and planning of the necessary reply.

I never said this was going to be easy and it often is not, especially in a heated and difficult situation. Although I do not wish problems on anybody, the more problems you don't ignore and meet head-on, the more you will develop a strategy for beating them. 

Complications, obstacles and trouble in life are a given certainty. Life is what you make of it. Problems, issues or challenges in life can develop better integrity in us, if we allow it. Camaraderie among friends, family and co-workers can result from assistance with our problems. And the joy of seeing the challenge through and solution met is always satisfying.

Through life, problems will come and go, but you, God and hopefully your support group are your constant. I have heard and read of many who have given up in their fight of whatever situation they are battling and they choose suicide or death as the way out. There is no Player 2 or respawn point in real life. Life can deal a nasty hand at times, but God says to -

1. Seek Him first (Matt. 6:33),

2. Cast all your cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7),

3. Trust in Him and submit your ways to Him and He will make your path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Knowing that everybody experiences problems, and going through a challenge of grief over a friend I lost recently, I wanted to encourage you. Whether your issue is on the lower end of the managing scale or much higher - first, turn to God and then meet that monster or mountain head-on and - Don't Cut Yourself Short. 

His Double Portion

I've heard many times from the pulpit - "You cannot out-give God." While this is true and many of us would try to out-give God for honorable reasons, Christians need to understand the idea of being filled up with God before pouring out God to others. If resting in God's presence and allowing Him to minister to you does not happen, then whatever believers do is under their own strength. 

Some people have a hard time with receiving anything from anybody, especially God. However, from the beginning, if we desire to be part of God's Family, there must be a reception of God's gift of love - Christ Jesus.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

Look at the ways Jesus loved us - He taught us His new way of Kingdom living, lived the perfect life we could not live, sacrificed His perfect life for ours as the redeeming substitute for our fallen relationship with Father God, bore torture for our healing, on the third day of His death He rose - defeating death, Hell and the grave. 

This display of love did not stop at the Cross and Resurrection. Christ now sits at the right hand of Father God and intercedes for His believers along with The Holy Spirit. Not only is Love one of God's names, according to Scripture, He is Love - 1 John 4:8 says, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 

Love is a verb, an action word - it does not stay still. We see this concept emphasized in Psalm 136 as it has twenty-some instances of the phrase - "His love endures forever". Even though this is a song, we certainly understand the main point through repetition. God's love continues toward His family forever. Our responsibility is to freely receive and freely bless others with His love and inpouring of blessings.

Believers in Christ have the most generous God and King. I'm sure many Christians can testify to the plethora of blessings God has continued to bestow - and we must find the time and place to allow Him to pour out His abundance. 

Securing an uninterrupted time and place for God to minister to believers as His family is paramount for relational development. Just sitting and soaking in God's presence is a wonderful start, but be receptive to the good things, the love, the equipping God desires to do with you in these moments. This time supplies the opportunity for God to fill the Christian and arm the Christian with what is needed to minister to others, by receiving His Double Portion.

No Empty Words, Nor Powerless Actions

Salvation through Christ Jesus is, according to Jesus, the Only Way humanity and creation are made right with God (John 14:6). Plus one's default, eternal destination is re-routed from Hell to Heaven (Colossians 1:13). 

In addition to providing the Christian's eternal pardon, Christ also provides empowerment. The believer's acceptance of salvation through Christ declares - "I am going about life wrong. I could never live the perfect life. Jesus you lived the life I could not live and died the death I could not die. I will live for you King Jesus."

Therefore, salvation should spur or ignite the believer to words and actions that would continue to spread His compassionate salvation. To do this, the Holy Spirit has been promised to those who ask for Him to reside within. 

The Holy Spirit living within the believer, acting as Advocate, Comforter and Counselor is necessary for the believer to have a more personal connection with the Lord and be empowered to perform His will. A Christian not having or inviting the Holy Spirit into their life does not mean you miss the Heaven-bound train - salvation took care of that - the Disciple of Christ with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit has an enhanced, enriched lifestyle until then.

Moving forward with the Holy Spirit, the challenge becomes to not only acknowledge and confess God's omni-presence in our lives as Christians, spoken about in Psalm 139 - 

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you." - Psalm 139:7-12

but to pray the prayer of Moses documented in Exodus 33:15-16 - 

"Then Moses said to him [God], 'If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?' "

If Christians go through life with simply "follower" or "believer" of Christ as their spiritual description, instead of Son, Daughter and Disciple as an added, intimate descriptor, then Scriptural knowledge and experience are the sharing qualities.

However, for the Spirit-filled Christian, the one who has that intimate relationship with Christ through the Holy Spirit - he or she is not only called follower, believer, Son, Daughter and Disciple with Biblical knowledge and experience but is deemed Ambassador as well. 

And for this reason - representing Christ well - the Holy Spirit has been sent to help us in our faith journey. Paul stated it like this to the believers in Corinth -

"We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God." - 2 Corinthians 5:20

Wherever we go, Christian and non-believer alike, all of us represent somebody other than ourselves as we network within society. Everybody serves as a first impression of your family whether good or bad, whether intended or not. The same with employees of a company, the players of a sports team or simply the members of any organized group of people you claim attachment.

However, living the Spirit-filled life for the Christian means our words and actions are empowered and supported by God as we daily represent Him and His ways. Christians do this by reading and applying His Word every day, exemplifying strong, enriched testimonies of God's love and provision and wherever we go everyone should sense God's presence because there are No Empty Words, Nor Powerless Actions.

How Do I Ask God To Share More?

Concerning the details of God and most of the situations in my life - why does God prefer hindsight as the assistant instructor?

In a relationship there is two-way communication. Most of the time in life-situations, where I believe I am being taught something - the communication from God seems to stop and I have to wait for the hindsight to arrive.

I read God's Word, listen to Godly teaching and try to discern what the Holy Spirit is instructing me. But as a person limited in time and space, when God does not follow-up with actions in a timely manner my faith fails and God is viewed as not the same today, yesterday or forever.

I acknowledge God has the right to apply the God Disclaimer - when He deems action appropriate to take, He will take it. In the meantime, as I study His Word, should not God's operation of His favor, protection, healing and so forth align where I can at least grasp and understand His unchanging nature and preference on timing?

I still will trust God, I have too. God is God. He holds all of my life. He knows my thoughts, words and prayers before I perceive them. However, when most of my relationship with God seems like a holdout of details until hindsight kicks in - How Do I Ask God To Share More?

The King Also Brought His Kingdom

I would think the main reason any Christian would list for the purpose of Christ's first visit would be to seek and save the lost. This is clearly supported by Jesus according to John 3:16.

However, there were two other goals during His life-mission - (1) to destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn. 3:8) and (2) proclaim the good news of His kingdom (Matt. 4:23). 

I hear many sermons and teachings on Salvation and the victory we have through Christ over the devil. But in addition to the securing of our eternal destination and triumph over the enemy of our souls -  Kingdom living is what we do in the meantime and He brought a better lifestyle from Heaven to live. Christ came as The King to bring His Kingdom.

Some things that I think comprise a kingdom are - the king, servants, citizens, royalty, rules, relationships, lifestyles, economy and a military as a good start.

Allow me to take you through a paraphrased history of God's kingdom. Before any kingdom or created thing there was just God (John 1:1). Then after the creation of angels and passing of eons with them as Heaven's population, the fall of Lucifer (Isa. 14:3-20) took a third of the angelic host from God's kingdom (Rev. 12:4). 

Sometime later, in God's grand design and timing, God created humankind in His image. Now the kingdom consisted of a perfect earth, a perfect, harmonious relationship between mankind (man and woman) and God, an unfallen angelic host and fallen angelic beings.

The rebellious angel, Lucifer, known by many now as Satan, tempted Eve in the form of a created creature - the serpent. Not only did humanity's relationship with God suffer and fall but all of creation was injected with the curse of rebellion with decay and death as its trophy or end result.

Enter the first major kingdom re-set, the Abrahamic Covenant. This was an agreement totally dependent upon God as Abraham walked out his faith in Yahweh to be the father of many nations. This was the first step by God in securing a people unto Himself.

The next major kingdom re-set was not necessarily a re-set so much as it was a further development and enhancement upon the Abrahamic Covenant. The Law of Moses that God delivered to Moses on Mt. Sinai was the written governing infrastructure for the then kingdom of God. These hundreds of laws in essence were meant to stress that the totality of The Law could not be kept by anybody except the promised God-man, The Messiah.

When Jesus of Nazareth came on the scene hundreds of years after The Law was established, Jesus brought The New Testament or New Covenant founded through Him. 

To prove His point in the most profound way, Jesus not only practiced what He preached but He also fulfilled every letter of The Law, the previous Mosaic Covenant, so that freedom to accept and live His kingdom way was possible.

Through the teachings of Jesus, His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection and later the teachings of His apostles, believers and disciples become royal family members who are guided by relationships and lifestyle mandates that identify them as kingdom members.

Some of those Scriptural passages that teach the Christian kingdom living while we wait for our King are as follows.

In Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7 you can read in red letters the words of Christ about a variety of topics concerning kingdom living. The Be-Attitudes were a strong beginning to His sermon, but they were not all He had to teach. Read it.

James 3:1-12 speaks to the need for a rein over our speech. There is not a day that goes by that I do not observe the dire need to guard our words. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to be our filter.

Speaking of the Holy Spirit, living life through the Holy Spirit is spelled out by Paul in Romans 8. Read it.

A life of faith in action is seen by the many witnesses of it in Hebrews 11. We receive the definition of faith in this chapter and then later in James 2:14-25 believers are admonished to not just be a talker but be a doer - let your actions support your faith.

Finally, daily consume the fruits of the spirit. Among some of the fruits documented in Galatians 5:13-16 are love, joy and peace. Some say we are what we eat. But many have proven the influences that input us, output us whether positive or negative. Why not make those daily influences Godly? Make a point to be loveable, joyful, peaceful and so forth whether anybody else is or not.

These are not all the handles, these are not all the Scriptural passages that instruct on kingdom behavior, but it is a good start. Remember King Jesus came and He saved, King Jesus came and destroyed the works of Satan, but The King Also Brought His Kingdom.

Not Only About His Ability, All About His Timing

Since Christians believe in the ever-present, all-knowing, all-powerful God - submitting a request to God is knowing this and surrendering to His Lordship, especially concerning the timing of one's request.

I recognize giving up all that you are and have to someone else's plan, even if the other plan is God's, is against our selfishness. This is a huge part of our fallen nature that God is continually trying to change in the believer. Christian's desire what we want, when we want it, how we want it - treating God like a genie sometimes.

However, Christ Jesus has visited this world and not only redeemed those who would accept His gift of salvation, but secured healing and the answer for all areas of our lives through His life, sacrifice and resurrection.

Now, even though believers have the assurance of that same resurrection power and spirit living within them, the Christian must still trust God in the timing of His promises.

There have been times in my life when I have believed I knew the timing, according to Scripture, only to be proven wrong shortly thereafter. I do not think seeing a definitive time for an answer to prayer is necessarily incorrect. Humanity lives within the confines of space, time and the conditions of our situation. But believers in Christ must mature/develop to the point where they release what they Scripturally don't know and what they think they Biblically know and confess - "Father Knows Best".

God's promises that are documented in Scripture are His, He made them and has paid for them dearly. God has the right to say when these promises are fulfilled even in the midst of our misunderstandings of Him and His timing.

Christians say that they trust God. I believe this trust has a lot to do with execution of our requests or knowing He has the ability. However, after becoming a believer in God through Christ, trusting God is Not Only About His Ability, but All About His Timing.

Living With God From Glory To Glory

One mountaintop in life, one success is not enough for full development or satisfaction. Therefore, we must live and look toward the next mountaintop, the next goal, the following glory. However, our expectation should be the Valley or No-Man's Land in between to be our vehicle, not our hindrance, to the next Glory.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (King James Version)

The New International Version reads, "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

Notice that the next glory compared to the  Mountaintop you are presently celebrating is promised to be higher or increased - "with ever-increasing glory". Therefore some call the time that justifies that higher mountain-top, that higher glory of life The Valley or The Refiner's Fire. From Glory to Glory is boot camp. From Glory to Glory is training and development of things personal and spiritual. From Glory to Glory, He is changing me. 

Michael English sang it well - "There's not a crown without a cross." If you allow the change to take place and reach that Glorious mountaintop then there is a successful transformation; a glorious change.

The 2 Corinthians 3:18 passage says a transformation occurs between the Glories ("being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory,"). The word "transformed" implies change and with change comes possible friction and uncomfortableness. But fret not, Paul instructs and encourages - this transformation comes from the Lord.

Even though we were made in God's likeness, the image of God - mind, body and soul - this 2 Corinthians 3:18 verse informs believers that during the journey of faith "being transformed" into His image is an ongoing thing, a continual development into His nature. 

When Christians neglect this process at any point during their walk with King Jesus, the Lord instructs through John to the church of Ephesus and all believers through the ages to remember - "You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." (Revelation 2:4-5)

Living from glory to glory cannot be done alone. We will have other believers to lean on and seek out during our faith-walk with the Lord, but none can compare to the One that Jesus promised believers always as He returned to Father God's right-hand side. 

Jesus asked and Father God sent the Parakletos. That is the Greek word for one who is called alongside another to comfort and counsel. This particular ministry is manifested through The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, living within the believer in Christ. Scriptures that speaks to this beautiful, guiding and leadership role the Holy Spirit takes in the Christian's life are found in John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7.

The success of attaining the next glory or elevated goal is determined by the Christian allowing the Holy Spirit's leadership and guidance daily. God is the ultimate gentleman. He does have a plan for your life, however He earnestly desires each believer to be whole-heartedly invested in His perspectives, promises and plan. 

Therefore, the Christian's responsibility during their lifetime with the Lord is to submit his/her own will and ways to the Lord and invite the Holy Spirit to lead every day, asking Him to make clear - His plan as the two of you strive for the next glory in life.

As a help, living truthfully will go a long way, in aiding yourself and the Holy Spirit to reach the next glory. Colossians 3:9-10 says, "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."

There is that pursuit of the image of God mentioned again. And in that chase for His image - not lying, the opposite of the enemy's nature, is a great place to begin. Live a life of integrity. Do not embellish or exaggerate the truth. Shoot straight from the hip, as they say. Speak plainly. Start and maintain this in your private life and it will bleed-over into your public life where people will notice your truthful nature and you will be on your way to the next mountaintop.

A warning here. The minute you desire to start living this way - from glory to glory, with the Holy Spirit and life filled with truth and integrity - don't be surprised when you notice resistance.

There are two lions in Scripture and living with the right one is vital while you are transforming or in the developing stage of glories. 

The first lion is the lion you do not want to listen too. This lion makes so much noise that it is trying to deafen you to God's voice. And don't be shocked if he repeats a lot of the same thing like a natural lion might circle it's prey time and time again. 1 Peter 5:8 describes the first lion this way - "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." The encouragement is to "be alert and of sober mind". 

The second lion is another name for Christ Jesus found in Revelation 5:5 - the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. "In Genesis, as Jacob blesses his children, he promises Judah that his brothers will praise him and that they will bow down to him. Jacob also tells Judah, “You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?” (Genesis 49:9). Jacob says that in the future the scepter and ruler’s staff will not depart from Judah “until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be His” (Genesis 49:10). This messianic prophecy points forward to the second coming of the Lord Jesus, the descendant of Judah who will rule the earth (Revelation 19:11–16)."

https://www.gotquestions.org/lion-tribe-Judah.html

This Lion, Christ Jesus, is to be heard and grasped. His words, power and promises are to be trusted. 

In between the glories is rough terrain. The Lone Ranger was one of the greatest misnomers of all titles and storylines because he had his companion Tonto alongside. How much more are Christians not alone.

Christians are blessed with the Counselor, Comforter and Lion of Judah alongside them in their corner should they allow a daily place for them. Walking the journey of faith with the responsibility of truthfulness and integrity falls to believers with this partnership as Christians work out Living With God From Glory To Glory.

Seeking God's Wisdom

I have always wanted to be someone with the right words at the right time for someone going through a tough season of life. Proverbs 15:23 says it like this - "A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!" Many times I ask God - What should I say here God? What should I do at this point Lord? How should I be thinking about this King Jesus?

These are all awesome questions that I do not ask enough concerning my own life. The inquiries require me to pause long enough for me to receive inspiration from the Holy Spirit on God's leading. And in this world of instant this and that, pausing is difficult.

When I examine the instance when Solomon sought God out for wisdom in governing God's people instead of fame, riches and defeat over his enemies - I always want to pat Solomon on the back. God not only granted his request for wisdom, but gave Solomon wisdom greater than that of anyone known. But wait! There's more! God granted Solomon the things he did not ask for - popularity, wealth and military victories.

This is just one Biblical example of what trusting in and seeking God's wisdom first will acquire for you and me. Perhaps not fame, riches and defeat of enemies - but James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." So ask.

Knowledge is wonderful to obtain but becomes powerful when you wisely apply it. Staying in God's Word and soaking up what The Lord and His Holy Spirit has to impart to you is step one. The next part is to allow God's water, His knowledge to overflow from our lives into the lives of others in the form of wisdom. 

As Christians, the charge is to be aware of our surroundings. Read the room - so to speak. Know the situations around you, pray for God's wisdom and love on people as you look for opportunities to share the right word at the right time. This is the kind of healthy results that come from Seeking God's Wisdom. 

Jesus Laughed.

Jesus laughed. This sentence is found nowhere in Scripture. "Jesus wept." is found in John 11:35 and is the shortest verse in the Bible. Besides this being the shortest verse in Scripture, we can be well assured that Jesus experienced all emotions, including laughter or light-heartedness and joy. 

The depiction many receive of Jesus is from Isaiah 53:2-3.....

"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem."

This portrait of Jesus is justified because His mission was a serious and critical one, plus He was all about His Father's business. "Traditionally, paintings of Jesus have tended toward melancholy portrayals of a somber, glum Savior. It is true that Jesus became our Sin-bearer (1 Peter 2:24) and that He “was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain” (Isaiah 53:3). Jesus was rejected in His hometown (Mark 6:1–6), He wept at a friend’s graveside (John 11:35), and of course He experienced the cross. However, this does not mean Jesus never had a lighthearted moment or that He never had occasion to laugh." [https://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-ever-laugh.html]

However, His Father's business, the Heavenly Father's business took Jesus to the likes of parties and celebrations where there was joy and laughter. "The picture of Jesus that we find in the Gospels is one of a well-rounded, magnetic personality. He carried children in His arms—and what child wants to be around someone who never laughs (Mark 10:16)? He was accused of being too joyful on occasion (Luke 7:34)." 

[https://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-ever-laugh.html]

Jesus Christ is The Creator in human form. Since man and woman are made in His image (Genesis 1:26), He wired emotions within us. Therefore, the God-Man also had and has the full range of emotions and Jesus Laughed.

You Will Be Blessed/Happy

The day of The Sermon on the Mount was a huge day in the life and ministry of Jesus. The Be-Attitudes as they have been deemed, that lead off Christ's teaching, are just that - the lead off. There are two additional chapters, Matthew 6 and 7, where Jesus instructs on topics such as being salt and light to the world, Him being the fulfillment of the Law, God's view on murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, taking an eye for an eye, loving your enemies, giving to the needy, prayer, fasting, treasures in heaven, not worrying, judging others, the art of seeking God, the narrow and wide gates, true and false prophets, true and false disciples, plus the wise and foolish builders.

Jesus did not stop at His speech either. Immediately following His teaching, He came down the mount and began His healing ministry to those in need. What a day for Him and them!

However, when focusing in on the Be-Attitudes we find that those instructions are a good and strong start to what Jesus had to communicate. A change of lifestyle is what Jesus was trying to implement. Kingdom lifestyle that He represented and now taught meant in order to live the "blessed" life or as the original Greek word is translated - "happy" life - then the second half of the equation or sentence had to be carried out.

Matthew records Jesus saying,

• Blessed [or happy] are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
• Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
• Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
• Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
• Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
• Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matt. 5:3-12)

Notice that "Blessed" comes first. Notice that Jesus mentions a person's state of happiness within the condition first before the action, then the reward. He could have structured the sentence with the condition first followed by the state of happiness, then the reward, like - Those who are poor in spirit are blessed for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Either way communicates the point that the blessed state or happy life will be acquired if one pursues the call to action within each Be-Attitude. However, I believe there is purpose in Jesus saying the Be-Attitudes this way. There is a stressing on our thoughts and actions as we enter a situation that we are blessed/happy or should be as we humble ourselves, comfort those who mourn, be merciful and so forth. 

This is a radical mindset on the approach to living that Jesus is teaching. The change may be difficult to make a permanent behavior at first. However, the plan of action is essential in every lifestyle statement of Jesus and the concentration or focus Jesus places in the Be-Attitudes is the knowledge You Will Be Blessed/Happy.

The Value Of Her Gift

If you purchase something, you are agreeing the Value or Worth placed upon the thing is what is willing to be surrendered to attain it. 

I submit to you then that, you would have to experience something or someone far greater in value in order to consider gifting that earlier, obtained something.

Said another way - have you ever purchased an extremely high quality and expensive product that was meant for yourself but then the exact person that could use your purchase came to mind?  

Remember the sisters of Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead? Well, I take you back in time, specifically to John 12:1-8, after Jesus had raised Lazarus, to the house of the siblings. They were holding a dinner in honor of Jesus. As Martha served and Lazarus reclined at the table, Mary took a pound, a pint or half a liter of some of the most expensive perfume of the day and poured it all on the feet of Jesus.

Then Mary proceeded to take her own hair and rub the perfume into His feet as the strong scent of the perfume consumed the house.

Judas Iscariot, the treasurer, was not happy about how Mary spent her gift because of his own greediness and extortion behavior. 

However, Jesus spoke up. First Jesus said, "Leave her alone." To me this speaks that Mary's behavior is personal, the action is between her and the Lord and nobody should be concerned about it. Then Jesus elaborates  and commended Mary's actions - 

"It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." 

Mary saw there was a way to show her love and appreciation to The Lord besides using the perfume or nard in the standard way - for burial proceedings. 

Let the fact not be lost on us that Mary did not rub the perfume into the feet of Jesus with a towel, cloth or rag - she used her own hair. This action, by a woman, was one of the most humbling and respectful acts that a woman could perform in those days. Paul confirms this in his letter to the believers in Corinth when he says, "but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering." (1 Corinthians 11:15).

As Judas fusses over the use and subsequent loss of personal revenue to his pocket, he reveals the enormous monetary cost it was to anyone, especially a female, therefore making the gift to Jesus all that more special to Mary. Judas says, "Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages." (John 12:5)

The New International Version makes the worth clear - "a year's wages". Other translations say "three hundred pence" with the Greek for pence being Denarius. The denari, that day, was worth a day's salary. Three hundred of these would equal a year's worth of pay.

Whether Jesus raised His voice or not, when He said - "Leave her alone." - Jesus accepted Mary's personal gift of great value. I feel sure there are many ways in which Mary displayed her loyalty to the cause of Jesus before this personal gift of value interaction. Mary's time, energy, expertise and testimony on the favor of Jesus and His message of "kingdom come" was I'm sure very much appreciated and will one day be rewarded. 

However, this gift was from a prompting of her heart and from the resources she had earned and bought that was a display of what was precious to her. Let us recall the words of Jesus recorded by Matthew - "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21) 

From then till today, money has been the currency to untold treasures. Funds have supplied us with support for the needs and wants in our lives. But when you have a purchase, like that of Mary, that has cost you a whole year's worth of an occupation and you decide in one sitting to pour it all out on someone's feet and humble yourself with the rubbing of it with your hair - that has potential to cause a stir from the house, astonishment from one and acceptance from the one that counts.

John recorded that Mary continued to bless Jesus with her personal gift even when Judas blurted out his displeasure. John's account pictures Mary rightfully ignoring Judas and dedicating her money in the form of the perfume. She graced His Grace, The Lord Jesus, the treasure of her heart with the best she had to offer at the time - The Value Of Her Gift. 

All-In

Humanity would be in a mess if Christ only came for one type of person - the rich, the educated, the popular, the political savvy, the religious minded and so forth. 

When you examine the life of Jesus, the Son of God - one might think that because He is the Only Son of God that He would receive a more royal and fanfare welcome into this world than a birth in a manger in a stable. However, His first visitation was prophesied to arrive this way. He was also foretold not to be anything to behold and associated with suffering and pain. The prophet Isaiah said it this way many years before Christ came on the scene - 

"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem." - Isa. 53:2-3

In addition to Christ's lowly arrival and His unattractive appearance and life - the people He mixed with and gravitated toward were not the kind of people one might think The King of all creation, The Messiah, would be seen conversing with. However, Jesus went so far as to have the same kind of people become part of His inner circle - His disciples. These individuals were fishermen, tax collectors and common people. Jesus, Himself, was a carpenter.

Notice who He did not hang out with. Not that Jesus did not love or care for these people, but He knew what they had to sacrifice, He knew what they would never give up. People like the aforementioned religious leaders of the day (Pharisees and Sadducees), political movers (Pilate, Herod, Caesar), popular people (Olympic athletes, winners of chariot races, etc), the rich (the rich man of Matt. 19:16-24) and the educated (philosophers of that day). 

What did Jesus claim about Himself that He thought the other parts of society would cling too? Jesus declared He was and is The Messiah, and not only the Savior of the Jewish people but "whosoever believes in Him" (John 3:16). He also proclaimed Himself as the only avenue to God by saying - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

There is no wiggle room in someone's belief of Jesus as personal Savior and Lord. And Jesus is looking for exactly those kind of people to join His family. In Matthew 22:37, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 in response to the question about the greatest commandment. The first half of the equation is that a believer in God, through Christ Jesus, will be sold out, all-in, fully committed, loyal, devoted, dedicated, and faithful to Christ because Jesus first loved us. The second part of the greatest commandment is that God's love and acceptance of us should propel us to love others. Jesus said it like this - 

"‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." - Matt. 22:37-40

I believe this duo commandment is pretty clear - God desires ALL of your love. Notice the second commandment is not an exact duplicate, Jesus said "the second is like it". The difference between the two is that the neighbor of the second commandment does not receive our first and "all"-love, but because of our love for God and His love for us and within us - we love our neighbor as ourselves.

Is the charge for the Christian to live a holy life any wonder then? Peter challenges the believer with the words of God in 1 Peter 1:15 saying - "Be holy, because I am holy." This instruction was given in Leviticus three times by the Lord, and then re-emphasized by Peter here in his letter to scattered believers throughout the land. That is a pretty strong emphasis by the Holy Spirit to make sure this is communicated. I challenge and encourage my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, be set apart as a person saved by grace and living by faith with a lifestyle that is not half-minded, half-hearted or half-anything - but instead All-In.

How Great Is Your God?

I get in the way of the Lord's favor and plan sometimes. Thank God, He does not close off access to Himself because of my dumb decisions. In fact, 1 John 1:9 states to believers - 

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

John is speaking to believers here (1 Jn. 5:13), of a relational confessing of sin - a making things right within a personal relationship with God through Christ. 

"All of our sins are forgiven 'positionally' the moment we receive Christ as Savior. This positional forgiveness guarantees our salvation and promise of an eternal home in heaven. When we stand before God after death, God will not deny us entrance into heaven because of our sins. That is positional forgiveness. The concept of relational forgiveness is based on the fact that when we sin, we offend God and grieve His Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). While God has ultimately forgiven us of the sins we commit, they still result in a blocking or hindrance in our relationship with God. A young boy who sins against his father is not cast out of the family. A godly father will forgive his children unconditionally. At the same time, a good relationship between father and son cannot be achieved until the relationship is restored. This can only occur when a child confesses his mistakes to his father and apologizes. That is why we confess our sins to God—not to maintain our salvation, but to bring ourselves back into close fellowship with the God who loves us and has already forgiven us." 

https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-sin.html

If the direct access Christians have to God through Christ and His Spirit was not available at any moment of my life, I don't know what I would do. The Veil or Curtain that was torn at the moment of Jesus' death trumpeted that access (Matt. 27:51). Jesus was and is our High Priest and our Sacrifice all wrapped into one for a one-time payment, redemption and restoration of creation and humanity (Hebrews 9).

All believers in God have direct, lifetime or better yet - eternal access to God through faith in Christ Jesus. During a long stint of time there was only the Jewish people as God's People. The Hebrews were God's nation on earth, whether planted or traveling. In addition, these people were made up of twelve tribes which had among their ranks a Priestly Tribe - the Tribe of Levi. So, even among Israel, a called-out-people, you had Priests, a called-out-people - who took care of everything concerning God's Tabernacle or Presence on earth. In this duty or calling they had entitlement.

The Priests of God were the only ones who were authorized to touch and care for the articles of The Tabernacle and later The Temple. The one who was declared High Priest was the only one who could enter the Holy of Holies once a year to offer a sacrifice for the nation's faults against God and a great curtain or veil separated the two rooms within The Tabernacle.

However, once Jesus came and died on The Cross as both the sacrificial Lamb and our High Priest - His blood and resurrection atoned for not only the nation of Israel forever, but for whosoever would believe in Him for eternity (Jn. 3:16). God made the rules - blood sacrifice for sin - and He played by His own rules by sending His own Word in flesh, Jesus Christ to secure our eternity.

The ripping of the curtain put an exclamation point on what Christ accomplished on The Cross. The torn veil reveals some additional, descriptive names of Christ Jesus - The Door, The Gate, The Way, and Our High Priest. The Christian faith celebrates every day that whosoever believes in God through Christ Jesus is entitled to eternal access to Him and His benefits, not just the priests from a priestly tribe of Israel or the priests from Catholicism. 

Upon the Rock of Jesus, not upon the rock of Peter has and will the Church of Christ be built and succeed. When Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 -

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." -

Jesus was naming Himself as The Rock. I imagine Jesus pointed His finger at His chest, NOT Peter when He said this. If Jesus had meant Peter, that would have negated every word and work that Christ had said and done, plus undermined Jesus as the foundation, as the Chief Cornerstone of the Christian faith. 1 Corinthians 3:11 states - 

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."

Christ Jesus and His Holy Spirit are the only ones people should consider as carrying the title and duty of Mediator. The message is to not take for granted, but to take advantage of direct access to God's Throne. We do not require a human priest to confess our mistakes for our forgiveness. That priest did NOT die for our sins and rise again on the third day, neither did Peter. The only Mediator between God and man is Christ Jesus, The Lord (1 Timothy 2:5).

A friend or pastor can come alongside and pray with you and seek God's Word with you about a challenge you are going through, but again, Christ and His Spirit are the Mediators, the Advocators before Father God (1 John 2:1 = Jesus as Advocate; John 14:26 = Holy Spirit as Advocate).

Some of the times I have sought the Lord on a matter I have limited God with my expectations, I have placed God inside a box and told Him "this" is what you have to work with Lord and pray that the Lord handle it in that manner. I try my best to base my prayers on His Word, but there are times when it is not. God is bigger than my boxes and in His gracious, Fatherly way - He helps me.

I have found some great ways to start removing myself as my own stumbling block. In order to be useful for the Lord - 

1. I must make the effort to seek God's will/plan, 
2. I must pray about His designs and perspectives on my life and the world around me.

There are times in our lives when God impresses upon us - "'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'" - Psalm 46:10

However, I believe when God's sons and daughters actively seek out God's will while waiting on an answer, God will reward that effort. Not that you are "jumping the gun" in a situation, but that you would be careful to observe any opportunity the Lord provides and test it to see. 

I observe this concept in the story of the Lost Son. The son who asked his father for his inheritance up front and then squandered it, leaving himself in a pig's pen. This same individual realized nobody is coming to save him and made the effort to seek help, ask for forgiveness and hope his father did not shun him from the family. 

Because of his realization and his effort to make things right with the father, look what happens - 

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate." - Luke 15:20-24

I have access to God at any moment of my life for eternity through Christ Jesus.

 

I have forgiveness of my wrongs against God - past, present and future - because of the sacrifice of Jesus. In addition, that same sacrifice provides grace through personal confession to Him, from my continued mistakes, in this fallen body, until I am glorified and sin is no more.

 

I have a God that is so marvelous that no situation can box Him in.

 

I have a heavenly Father God that not only loves me just as I am but loves me enough to further develop me into a man of God for Him. 

I have a Lord and Savior that desires to find different ways to display His love toward me as my relationship with Him matures. 

How Great Is Your God?