Ephesians 1 ~ by the will of God

Ephesians 1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. 

In love 
he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 

In him we have redemption 
through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In him we have obtained an inheritance, 
having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Voyage to Damascus.

Consider the lives of two men.

Both men woke up and had work. One is going on a business trip. One is working from home.

Moses and Paul. They woke up for a regular day.


Moses finds on this particular day as he puts out his walking staff - he finds a snake. As Moses puts out his hand, he finds he has snow white Leprosy.

Deuteronomy 5 - The Ten Commandments - Dead Sea Scroll  - Plate 981

http://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/explore-the-archive/image/B-298337

Paul is on a business trip and discovers he is Blind.

Roman road to Damascus

Not your regular day. And Both will find this to be the Will of God.

Amazingly, we have a letter from the formerly Blind man c. 38 A.D. Wondrous. In actual fact, we have 300 letters from the man. We credit from the Holy Spirit. These 300 Chapters are now owned by the University of Michigan. All 300 Chapters are called Papyrus 46 and almost 99% intact. Dating to the time the Apostle John was very much alive.

Paul recovered from being literally blind. Miraculously of God, we know. Paul tells us he has seen Jesus alive as the 500 have in 1 Corinthians 15.  Paul is now so gifted of the sight of Jesus Christ God, his life's work is to inform millenniums of the Wonderful Love God has for us. Paul tells us he is the one who has seen Jesus lately. And in this being from God, we find Paul lists the Fruit of the Spirit.

Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

We find Grace, Faith and Blessed are listed right there at the top with Jesus Christ. Blessed with Jesus.





Paul is telling us about God. He has no reason to write the Chapter unless the Holy Spirit is teaching, comforting, helping. Paul is not just throwing around nice words to fill up the paper and showing the Boss - look, he filled up the page with pretty words. "Look Father God, about 1200 words look -  blah blah love blah blah poetry big blah blah foundation blah blah poetry blah blah sound grand blah blah something about foundation love blessed blessed beloved blah plan blah head blah fulfilled high words dominion and will and blessed in poetry." This is something important to God. His Words. His Bible. His Teaching.

Paul is telling us - The Body of Christ. He is building up the Body of Christ.

God has acted with so much love for His people, He wants to tell us what God Himself sees.

The Top of the Body of Christ.

Is The Will of God.

~ Bought with a price. The Blood of Jesus. Covered by Jesus.

~ The Faithful of Jesus Christ.  Saints. God has chosen His People. We are God's. It is He who has made us. He seals us with the Holy Spirit. His Promises are sure.

~ Obtaining Fellowship with God to last for Eternity.

~  And in this Faith - God opens the Spiritual Treasure. Why? For our Redemption. Adoption. Grace. Blessing His Beloved Children. In Jesus, finding us holy and blameless.

God puts His Plan to Fulfillment. We experience God.

1. Some interest in the Faith and Jesus Christ.

2. We have an idea we are blessed and feel grateful.

3. We start to have an idea we are supposed to find out about Father God. We have a knowing  in our souls about the Riches of His Grace.

4. We consider His Full plan for our time.

5. We wonder about uniting all the people we love and know in God's care and Love.

6. We ask of God about the guarantee of our inheritance - the invitation to live forever with God = we want to bring our lives as a blessing to increase His Praise and His Glory. We want to see the Father run to us  - the prodigal.

7. We realize this Salvation requires God to reach to us. We are not able. We seek a miracle.

The immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

~ God assures us the foundation of The Body of Christ, the foundation of the very world, itself, is God's Plan of Salvation in Jesus Christ.  Saying the purpose of life itself is  - to find Jesus Christ.

~ In God's Purpose,  all of His Plan is under His Feet. This is something very comfortable and easy for God.  Father God tells us if we seek Jesus, we are going to find Jesus.

~ The Foundation of God's Plan to us is the work of mankind - to believe God.  Father God tells us to us, this is mystery to mankind. However God, is the creator of all things,  He is the head, the authority, the King of Kings of His Plan.

~ In Jesus Christ ...
 lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

~ When we see Jesus of the Gospels, willing, loving, holding children, healing. Dealing with all of life. Ending the storm, We have seen Father God.  The Salvation of God tells us God is working circumstance in our lives - to bring us to God.





Abba God,

In Astonishment, because of You, The Body of Christ is families living in Heaven and in earth.

We pray for more Heaven on earth as Your Will is done. You easily accomplish this with Your Kingdom, Your Power and Your Glory.

We ask blessings on the Body of Christ - multitudes and multitudes forming great believers, The Body of Jesus Christ. Their prayers are beautiful to You. We ask You to bless us and make the Holy Name of Jesus so great in our lives, You will be our blessing and presence as we pray.

We ask Blessing on those who Bless the Body of Christ. We know You will bless those who bless You. We ask all things continue to work for Good for those who Love You and work according to Your purpose. And pray all the families of the earth shall be blessed in Jesus Christ God. God bless Charlie Gard and his ability to lift up many people praying for this child. May our Father God look with all His favor on this boy, his healing, the new High Court hearing and his family.

Covering this in Jesus, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Luke 7:1-10 ~ Jesus marveled at him

Luke 7:1-10

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.

Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.”

6 And Jesus went with them.

When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard these things,
he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.






The emotions of Jesus.

Jesus delights in us

Psalm 149
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation.

Jesus told us He often longs to hold His Child - You - Me.

James 4
5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”


We always want more of Jesus. What happens when Jesus is almost demanded, Jesus tell us about this.

Matthew 15

22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have MERCY on me, O Lord, Son of David; MY DAUGHTER IS SEVERELY OPPRESSED by a demon.”

23 But he did not answer her a word.

And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”

(Demanding her will. Jesus is in charge and He decides to answer her crying.)

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Jesus heard Love speak to Him. Jesus spoke Love back.

David is said to be the apple of God's eye. David sought to be the anointed of God. Obedient and pleasing to the Will, Plan, Delight and Love God has for His People.

Matthew 18:2-4

2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

The Children expect Jesus to Love them. He does.


Abba,

The Centurion believed the Word of God is eternal and far reaching with the Tender Love Jesus has. The woman who cried believed Jesus would here her over the protests of the people for her to leave. The blind men yelled over the people and Jesus heard.

Let us in anticipation of pleasing You, have Your Yearning fulfilled and please You with Faith. We hand our most important prayers, concerns, thoughts, opportunities to You. For Your Good Love, Joy and Will. And we will rest in Your Good Will. Knowing Jesus rested and prayed and we will do the same, and please You.

In Jesus Christ God Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Matthew 5:27-37 ~ All you need to say is simply

Matthew 5:27-37

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Divorce

31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.


Literature, meaning us, mankind, has been talking about this Chapter for millenniums.

It's great to swing the axe at someone, but more complicated when it is your child. Your parent. Your Family. And really this is not about the fun of pointing the finger, but involves straight to your own chest.

When you think about how the books about Harry Potter played out, you realize this is the children's success story of Jesus Christ. Magical Jesus. And this is interesting. Harry celebrates Christmas and Easter. Fighting evil.  Dumbledore could be Joshua. Dumbledore is not Moses, he is not involved enough in the story.

So Dumbledore says what will you say when you are on the mountain bike and you come around that swerve to find the Jump is pretty steep. And Dumbledore picks up on a very, very interesting quote on Evangelism Winston Churchill thought about. (Won't Heaven be interesting when we are sitting with John Adams, gazing at Moses and talking to James B. Irwin, 61, Ex-Astronaut and finding out how all things work for Good?!!!)

Winston Churchill said, "I like a man who grins when he fights!"

And on to Dumbledore:
“There are all kinds of courage," said Dumbledore,
smiling.
"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”

Jesus Christ, of course, comments on these close to the vest and riddled with wrong steps times. "Fight the Good Fight."

Abba, weighs in, "The Prodigal Father saw his son far, far away and ran to him."



If we can't do the faith when life finds the job hard, when.





Not John, nor Luke, nor Mark nor Matthew would be a fan of cheap grace - living the way we want to and depending on the mercy of God at convenient intervals. The men who knew Jesus and those who encountered the Holy Spirit in the early Church really believed the reaction to God's grace is deliberate and changed behavior. We witness in the Scriptures that all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God, but all did extend themselves to please God.

The Scriptures, being real, give a very real discussion of the disciples learning how seriously their Savior, Jesus Christ, took sin.

Matthew 19:10
The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”

As a child I wondered why oaths were so important to be discussed.

2 Chronicles 36
11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. 12 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God’s name. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord, the God of Israel.

Bam. End of Zedekiah - he had encountered the living God. No one told him he was part of the Scriptures. Life isn't permanent and God is drawing us to Him.






Mercy. God tells us exactly this. God desires Mercy more. More than sacrifice.


Jesus wants us to act as the Lights of the world. He expects our yes to remain yes and our no to remain no. The Savior of the World, our Hero, said He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law.

When is the Law fulfilled. When we simply can't. When we can't. That is when Jesus comes to help us. When we are beaten. When there is too much pollution. When the forces of wrong swamp life. And God shows us this through the whole of His Word. Mary was unwed when Jesus was born in the Stable. Elijah felt he must run away after God won an incredible victory and his fear led to hideous depression. Moses was a murderer. David murdered for hire and for adultery. What about when it's your child? Your parent? Your boss?

How do you know the circumstance exactly?

Jesus adopts us and in His name covers us in His Righteousness. We get one choice. Exactly one. We can go with Jesus forward when we have been wrong. We can go with Jesus forward when we have wronged. That is the Good News. God is Willing. Able. Capable. Dependable. Amazing. Wondrous. Strengthening. Honest. He plans your morning noon and night. Yesterday, today and TOMORROW.


John, our eyewitness, says:

1 John 4:16
So we have come to know
 and to believe
 the love that God has for us. 

God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

We would never ask Jesus to be our waiter. And to ask Him to deliberately clean up our messes. but if we are absolutely in the ditch, God says. "I'm sitting here, too. I've got you, I've got you."

Father God is known in Jesus to repeat twice. In Heaven, Abba is known to repeat 3 times to nod with love to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is completely unprecedented God tells us how much He loves and cares and enjoys and delights in the three chapters of John talking about Joy in Life = the 11 times God informs us yesterday, today and tomorrow Creation is God.


And then... there was that time that God felt we needed His Assurance AND...

Psalm 136

136 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Twenty - six times.



Abba, Our Father.

I give You Great thanks for my son Alexander's 26th year. And recognize the blessing of family. Asking as Peter fell into the water, that Your Great Strength continue to lift up the people of Faith.

All we need is Jesus the Lord as we pray. We do little as people who turn to dust. Your faithfulness is a shield and buckler. Your Promises are sure. You are God. You are Father. You give me Jesus. You save the world. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

You are the Alpha and Omega and we rest in You. You wrap us in Your Love. Jesus the Lord, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

1 Peter 5:7 ~ Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

How will we tenderly explain Jesus is silent and also casting our anxiety freely on Jesus?


Matthew 23:37
How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

Mary and Martha looked directly upon Jesus. The Light of the World. Knowing the Resurrection of all of mankind rested in the Will and Word of Jesus. They had struggled and had found sorrow upon sorrows. And they could tell Jesus about their sorrow. Jesus is God. Son of God. God of God. True God of True God. Light of Light. And He is the one who is remarkable. And in the compassion of Jesus they could tell Him exactly as their emotions and heart truly, sincerely bled and hoped.

Mary and Martha saw The Light of the World in Jesus. Knowing the Resurrection of all of mankind rested in the Will and Word of Jesus. They had struggled and had found sorrow upon sorrows. And they could speak up and tell Jesus about their sorrow. Jesus is God. Son of God. God of God. True God of True God. Light of Light. And He is the one who is remarkable. And in the compassion of Jesus they could tell Him exactly as their emotions and heart truly, sincerely bled and hoped.



When we say Jesus was silent and tender as a Lamb. We are also saying Jesus tells us He has come for our Salvation. Jesus does not accuse us as we tell Jesus our heart, our need, our pain, our love, our hope, our hurt. Jesus is Tender and Loving.

Jesus our God. Using His Creation to explain His Tenderness. King of Kings. Lord of Lords.



Our Abba Father,

O come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels!

O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels

O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

Resting in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Proverbs 4:27 ~ Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

If only Christo was still with us.

Christo Vladimirov Javacheff and Jeanne-Claude were a married couple who created environmental works of art. Christo and Jeanne-Claude were born on the same day, June 13, 1935; Christo in Gabrovo, Bulgaria, and Jeanne-Claude in Morocco. They first met in Paris in October 1958 when Christo painted a portrait of Jeanne-Claude's mother. They then fell in love through creating art work together. Credit was given to "Christo" only, until 1994, when the outdoor works and large indoor installations were retroactively credited to "Christo and Jeanne-Claude." They flew in separate planes: in case one crashed, the other could continue their work.


He might have said this was too much color. Or he might have said beauty crosses borders. Jeanne-Claude might say this Unites people. Americans have for generations called this America's House.

Proverbs 4:27
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.


We have seen new and harsh words in the political slime-ant. Violent words. Anger. And we have seen unbecoming topics focused on - not putting enough focus on Lara's Law.

And yet we have to remember in this harsh climate, we had an apology from an actor when he actually got very loud approval for his joke. No one really commented on how rare and refreshing it is to see an apology. No one gave this apology a second glance. Why.

We have seen, lately, people crossing their political aisle to put their comment upon remembering we want this country to prosper and feel as if we are part of the Nation. Don't forget this. The Left has said to the right, we agree we want our culture to have a way to meet in the middle to have pleasing circumstances.

Applaud the news for finding the wholesome middle worth their time.

What does God say to the middle? What we all agree on about The Christmas Truce of 1914. Relief. Support for mercy and humanity.

Psalm 145:9
The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

Mark 10:18
"Why do you call Me good?" Jesus replied, "No one is good except God alone."

Psalm 100:5
For the LORD is good; His loving kindness is - everlasting -
And His faithfulness .... to all generations.

Did the Lord ever speak out about finding where the middle is placed?

Micah 6

8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

What will we see in this Humility before the Lord?

Deuteronomy 30:15
"See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity"





The Goodness of God reaches from Moses to Micah. And continues to eternal life.

Deuteronomy 10:12
"Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you,
but to fear the LORD your God,
to walk in all His ways and love Him,
and to serve the LORD your God
with all your heart and with all your soul"

John Adams served his Nation. He saw the Founding Fathers as co-workers. And when he reached England he found King George III to be compassionate and found common ground after having loathed the man from a distance. John Adams reached France and found Jefferson and Franklin accomplishing little trying to blend in. To both England and France, he met them with honesty. And John Adams accomplished much - rarely is he credited for filling the shoes of George Washington next. Bold to take on law cases that were righteous in his eyes - so much so movies today credit Adams with his truth. Treated his enemy - George III with compassion and then treated Thomas Jefferson equally as well.

Not all believe the ending statement of John Adams saying, "Jefferson lives." I do. Salvation is what we Live for.  Life. I have seen death bed peace and joy. Contentment to go to God. I have seen news from entering into Heaven prove to be reliable twice in my own life - twice. Life changing. I believe in the mystery and goodness of God.

Abba, our Father,

For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. The flowers have already appeared in the land; The time has arrived for pruning the vines, And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Let us seek peace and pursue it.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Putting all of our cares upon the Lord Jesus Christ, for He makes our burdens light. We find rest for our soul.

Giving thanks for my son who helped the air conditioning work in Texas in July. Allleluuuuia!!! With a July Birthday. Resting all our people, all our beloved all of our cares in the Steadfast, reliable, determined, goodness and Love of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Matthew 19:24-26 ~ with God all things are possible

The Lord saw fit to provide us with lightning during the day for July 4th!

Matthew 19:24-26

"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”





Empires.  Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Constantine. You hear the same pop culture inform you of Constantine’s jaded use of Christianity.

Today we are going to follow this Incredible Change of the Roman Empire with some pop culture.

"MIB" K said, "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals, and you know it! 1,500 years ago, everybody knew that the Earth was the center of the universe. 500 years ago, everybody knew that the Earth was flat. And 15 minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll know tomorrow."

We aren't salmon, we are meant to be unique with unique opinions. There is more to Constantine than "Constantine used Christianity to promote his promotion to Emperor."

The History of our United States Congress was being used as a Presbyterian Church on Sunday for most of its years. Only stopping in the 1950s.

So compare the Congress and Constantine. Constantine has something Pop Culture wisdom – SEVERELY OVERLOOKS.

Constantine, Alexander the Great and Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian Empire had something in common...When the events surround a man are beyond his imagination, he looks to see what force is behind him greater than himself.

This is called “Discerning and Wisdom."

What is behind us? What is in front of us? What force is greater than ourselves? People said Truman was the last surprise President. Constantine knew he wanted out of war. Smart man.


Constantine was a potential emperor in the future prisoner of Diocletian to prevent political uprising, Emperors did that with competition. Nonetheless Constantine was a prominent member of the court: Bishop Eusebius was eye witness of Constantine's journey to torture  Jesus Christ’s nephew descendants to repent of Jesus. They all refused and upon torture and promises, died for Him. Constantine was a tolerant and politically skilled man who had mixed with pagans and Christians in the reign prior to Diocletian. Events there in Nazareth changed him.

Constant power struggles suppressed Constantine from coming into his position as his father's son. Constantine began to look to soothsayers recommendations,for favorable omens. Constantine, was with a spirit that left a deep impression on his followers, inspiring some to believe that he had some form of supernatural guidance. Constantine's army arrived at the battle the seers of Rome declared to be a final battle. His soldier's shields were bearing an unfamiliar symbols. According to Lactantius, Constantine was visited by a dream the night before the battle, wherein he was advised "to mark the heavenly sign of God on the shields of his soldiers ... by means of a slanted letter X with the top of its head bent round, he marked Christ on their shields." Eusebius describes another version, where, while marching at midday, "he saw with his own eyes in the heavens a trophy of the cross arising from the light of the sun, carrying the message, In Hoc Signo Vinces or "with this sign, you will conquer", Constantine had a dream the following night, in which Christ appeared with the same heavenly sign, and told him to make a standard, the labarum, for his army in that form.

Constantine was to look to another Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia to be his baptizer as he was about to die. He had hoped to be baptized in the River Jordan. This was not to be. But Constantine had changed the Empire and called the Council of Nicaea - to resolve with the Bishops, who would dare to travel, what the Holy Spirit would call as His Word.










Alexander the Great did something similar Josephus said in his History: Alexander had visited Jerusalem after his conquest of Egypt and that the High Priest in all his splendor had come out to receive him. When Alexander bowed down before the High Priest, he was asked why he did so. He said in reply that he was actually bowing to God, of whom the High Priest was the representative, and that while still in Macedonia he had had a dream of this meeting. Then the King "was shown from the book of Daniel the passage where it says that a certain Greek will come to destroy the whole Persian empire", and Alexander is said to have guessed that it referred to him.

The Talmud relates that when Alexander the Great and his conquering legions advanced upon Jerusalem, they were met by a delegation of elders, led by the High Priest Shimon Ha Tzaddik (Simon the Righteous). When Alexander saw Shimon approaching, he dismounted and prostrated himself before the Jewish Sage.

To his astonished men, Alexander explained that each time he went into battle, he would see a vision in the likeness of this High Priest leading the Greek troops to victory. In gratitude, and out of profound respect for the spiritual power of the Jews, Alexander was a kind and generous ruler. He canceled the Jewish taxes during Sabbatical years, and even offered animals to be sacrificed on his behalf in the Temple.

Two different historical accounts tell us Alexander believed God was part of his life.

Why would God include Alexander an Ivan the Terrible of me me me conquest?  God created this world to deal with only one type of human being. 

1 Kings 8:46
They sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin)

Jesus is said to have delighted in mankind during Creation and that includes the parts of Genesis where He had to realize we have flaws. Jesus decided to wade into life bigger than Constantine, Alexander and Nebuchadnezzar.


God reached out to that Alexander the Great.


Romans 8

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set youa free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,  God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.  And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.





And so did Nebuchadnezzar believe radically in God. Nebuchadnezzar believed Isaiah's 14th Chapter was written about him. Nebuchadnezzar gave Ezekiel, now a slave, a house. Nebuchadnezzar had attempted to work with Judea and the Temple of God.  He continued to allow the Jews freedom to gather and worship. This is why the exiles were promised a return from Babylon. 

Problems? At least we are not howling. Nebuchadnezzar did some of this. Nebuchadnezzar gave us an example God taught us.


James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

The work of Salvation is God's. When mankind become entangled with God, they begin to look to Him. The choices of men. It's always our choice how we want our stories to continue with Him. Jesus forgave Pilate. Pilate, according to known history, chose a more desperate path, as did Herod, in the convenience of life. Constantine chose to embrace the Lord even if it was not until his death that he was baptized. I'd far prefer to be Constantine in History than Herod or Pilate.

We should always consider the Word of God to be powerful enough to allow Him to be Supreme in our lives and giving Him the path forward. God is Sovereign. He tells us so.





 


Every 500 years there is something amazing and we live in amazing times. God tells us it's not the Words of belief, it is the obedience to His commands. Jesus added the Eleventh Commandment.

John 13:34
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

So we wandered all over.
Diocletian, Constantine, Creation, Jesus' great great nephews. Nebuchadnezzar - proud hero, inconsistent protector. Alexander the Great going to God to bow down. Congress. Presbyterian Church 1793-1950 housed in Congress.The Eleventh Commandment. And we even will include Micah's 6th Chapter. And, of course, July 4th. All want the blessings of God and are interested in His continued favor. Which, of course, we want for our Nation.

This one aspect of God wraps all the obedience, mercy, holiness, faith, forgiveness, determination of His will and the goodness of His plan.

 

This is obedience to God. Living in ways to please God. Going firmly in the direction of goodness. Dwelling there. Being unique in doing what God would care about. Giving Justice with Mercy. Being humble to allow God as God. Paul wrote he knew he always was a sinner, he just wasn't sure in which aspect just then. Paul just believed God is God.

John 4:24
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

Colossians 1:16
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking (rules and logistics) but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.




Father God, 

We pray this July 4th for an increase in the Holy Spirit. A rising up of God's Love.  We love this Nation and ask for God to bless us, please.

The ability to put anger down. To let compassion exist without need for gain or immediate gratification. An idea God does prevail.

Our Daily prayers, being alive with curiosity to find what God is doing with Prayer.

In Jesus Christ, we make our request. Amen in Jesus. And in Jesus we are covered!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †