Church at The Well

The Well is a Faith-based Community that meets and operates out of the house of Pastor Steve Cerone. Here you will find devotionals, notes, and videos from Steve's teachings

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(07/22/18) Consider The Lilies (Women wk 1)

Steve Begins a new series about women that are mentioned in LUke's Gospel

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The Women of Luke

3rd Gospel: Not a Jew or an ‘eye-witness’, a Doctor [Col 4:14], Paul’s companion [2 Tim 4:11], wrote Gospel + Acts [52 of 260 chaps], going further than Matt & Mk re: the Holy Spirit, and highlighting the Emancipation & Restoration of the Role of Women in a Patriarchal Society.

Unlike Mark [dictated by Peter to the Empire Romans] & Matt [to the Jews] both Jewish coming from Hebrew traditions & lineage, Luke recognizes ‘other things’, from a Gentile perspective, regarding Humanity and a deeper Spiritual message: The Perfect Man.

Not Emancipation to Separation, but to Unite, become One, in the Spirit!

NT Women. There are a lot found:

In all 3 Synoptics [Matt-Luke]: Peter’s mother-in-law, the Woman who touched the hem of His garment, Herodias, etc., none of these are in John.

In 2 of the 3 Synoptics: Syrophoenician woman, the Woman who poured out the ointment in Matt 26/Mk 14, the Widow’s 2 mites [Lk 21 & Mk 12], etc.

In 2 of the 4 Gospels: Mary & Martha [not in Matt & Mk].

All four Gospels record the involvement of Women at the Cross & at the Tomb.

‘Exclusive’ Women, only found in 1 Gospel: Samaritan woman of Jn 4, Woman of Jn 8, J & J’s mother [Salome] approaching Jesus in Matt 20, etc.

LUKE has more Exclusive Women & emphasizes Women more than the others. Our series will primarily look at his ‘exclusive’ women. Luke WANTS us to take notice of 2 Things:

CULTURE: Read ‘The Wild Gospel’ p. 76. A return to the Garden, New Creation! Luke’s genealogy (chap 3) goes back to Adam, ‘the son of God’!

Luke & Paul traveled together, carried the Revelation ‘neither male nor female’ (Gal 3:26-29), ‘We regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new’ (2 Cor 5:16-17). “It is finished!” (Jn 19:30). No coincidence Luke gets the last word: “Into Your hands I commit My Spirit” (Lk 23:46), from Psa 31:5, a Mother’s Prayer. As John presents the Woman as the Bride, Luke presents the Spirit as our Mother & Widow.

SPIRIT: Feminine in Hebrew (Gen 1:2). Wisdom [Prov 8, et al] is a Woman. In Matt 11:19, “Wisdom is justified by her children”, Grk wd sophia is feminine. Yet, in 1 Cor 1-2 Jesus is referred to as the Wisdom of God. Not ‘female’ counterpart to ‘male’, but feminine in relationship and function to the Last Adam. Read 1 Cor 15:45-49.

LUKE 8

Let’s read vss 1-3 (coming off of last week’s ‘woman in the city’). KEY verses for Luke.

‘certain [38x!] women’: Luke’s use of the word ‘certain’ stresses ‘specificity’ but also ‘any’,

implying these people are around us today, always are, always will be, ‘any’body!

MARY Magdalene: We will spend a week on her in the future. For now …

Appears in all 4 Gospels, but only Luke introduces her before the Cross & Tomb.

Prostitute? Loose woman? Wealthy by association? Some suggest the Woman in Lk 7.

Magdala is called ‘the city of color’ in the Talmud, a particular district is called ‘the tower of dyers’. Dyed clothing was for prostitutes.

JOANNA, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward: Only mentioned in Luke. Appears again in Lk 24 at the Tomb & returning to tell the Disciples what they saw.

She’s married [a wife] to Chuza, Herod Antipas’ steward (a kind of business mgr), wealth & position, ‘easy living’.

Herod Antipas: Son of Herod the Great (Matt 2), Herodias (wife of his brother), beheads John the Baptist. World of Politics, Perversion, Power of civil gov’t. Read Lk 13:31-32.

Joanna would’ve known about Herodias’ disdain for John the Baptist in Herod’s house, Herod’s ‘Ahab’ tendencies, the plot to behead John.

Mary & Jo: From the Streets to Herod’s house (corruption, wickedness) people are following Jesus. Joanna? From Herod’s house to the Streets! Read Prov 13:22.

SUSANNA

This is the only time she’s mentioned in the NT. Nothing ‘known’ about her, a ‘no one’ compared to Mary & Jo, but Luke gives her a Name. And this could be the biggest point Luke was trying to make!

‘Divine Nobodies’, by Jim Palmer. Read p. 88.

Susanna means ‘lily’ or ‘rose’. Read Song of Sol 2:1, ‘the Rose of the field’, ‘Lily of the valley’! Someone! What did Jesus say about lilies? Read Matt 6:28.

What did Jesus say about the Holy Spirit? Read Jn 16:13-14. Pneuma is neuter, neither masculine or feminine.

Conclusion

ALL 3: Minister to Jesus, Give of their Substance, all the Same yet all Different. Not just ‘women’ any more. And there were ‘many others’.

Luke follows vss 1-3 with the Parable of the Sower where seed lands on all types of soil and conditions. But Jesus ends the parable, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” The Kingdom is available to all! Matt 11:28, “Come to Me, ALL you … “

“I’m too bad.” God is SO good!

“I’m a nobody.” Not to your Father!

Whatever Social Sphere you’re in or from, History & Heritage, Occupation, whatever! He is for YOU!

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Lk 12:32-33), FREE to Be, to RECEIVE & GIVE!

NEW!!!!!

A NEW HUMANITY!

A NEW MAN!

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(06/10/18) "The Kindness of Three Women" (Fruits wk 5)

Steve continues his series on the fruits of the Spirit, this week looking at the kindness of Sarah, Rahab, and Hannah

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The Spirit of Meekness & Moses (Gal 6:1) led us to the Fruit of the Spirit: Love & Ruth, Joy & David, Peace & Solomon, Longsuffering & Joseph.

Today: ‘Kindness of 3 Women: Sarah, Rahab, & Hannah’

One Harvest with much fruit. We can discuss the Fruit individually, as we have, but each fruit contains elements of all the others [like today, Kindness, Goodness & Love]. Each OT saint we’re looking at contains elements of various fruits of the Harvest.

Kindness

Various translations: ‘Gentleness’, ‘kind acts’, benignity (kind & gentle). Primarily Kindness.

Chrestotes [#5544] means moral goodness, integrity, goodness of heart manifested in an outward working of a good, gracious, heart; not a ‘state’ of being, but useful.

Interesting: Christos & Chrestos sounded exactly the same in Acts [see Acts 11:26].

Love: Mercy for the Guilty, Grace for the Undeserving, Kindness for the Innocent

1 Cor 13:4 Kindness is next to Longsuffering [last week], just like Gal 5’s Fruit.

Read Eph 2:7 & 4:32. Like last week re: the Characteristics of God (Longsuffering) as an example of what our Characteristics should be, which the Spirit of God gives us. ‘Longsuffering’ to get others through! Kindness shows the riches of His Grace & Love!

Read Titus 3:4-5, “When the Love of God for mankind [philanthroopia], His Kindness appeared … according to His mercy He saved us”. The emphasis is Goodness. Acts 28:2

Paul, “The goodness [chrestotes] of God leads people to repentance’ (Rom 2:4; in 2 Cor 7:10 ‘godly sorrow’ leads people to repentance]

Jesus, “My yoke is easy [chrestotes, Matt 11:30], ‘goodness made known in kindness’

Lk 6:35, ‘He (our Father) is kind to the unthankful and evil’ (Matt 5:45 parallel)

SARAH [NT: Gal 4, Heb 11]

A lot of chapters with Abraham (Gen 12-23). A lot of stories! We’ll look at two:

Gen 18 [nearly 25 yrs into their journey]. Tell the story. In vs 9 while Sarah is preparing the meal

in the tent, they ask where she is & A tells them. Read vs 10 [the result of 17:17]. Sarah

laughs ‘within herself’ for the same reason as A did in Gen 17!

Read vss 13-15. Sarah does not throw Abe under the bus. A does not come to her defence.

1 Pet 3:1-6 re: Wives, ‘submissive, gentle & quiet spirit, holy women trusted in God’

Vs 6, “as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror”. Gen 18:12 is the only place Sarah refers to Abe as her ‘lord’. But more than ‘referring’, it is ‘doing good’.

Kindness [doing good] can be seen or unseen externally; the absence of [retaliation, retribution, or defending yourself at the expense of another].

Gen 20. Tell the story [like 12:12-13 in Egypt; here in vs 11].

Read vss 3-7. Abimelech challenges Abraham.

Read vss 11-13, “This is your kindness [checed] that you should do for me: in every place”

Checed is like a trinity of ‘goodness, kindness, faithfulness’. Lot claims it was God’s checed that spared him S & G’s destruction ‘in saving my life’ [Gen 19:19]. Many times, checed is translated Mercy.

Kindness does 2 things simultaneously: Delivers from & Restores to [Titus 3 above]. Q: What would the world be like if the Kindness of God were shown among Mankind?

RAHAB [Josh 2-6, Matt 1, Heb 11, Jas 2]. Tell the story.

Read Josh 2:11-13. The spies agree to these terms, to ‘deal kindly and truly’ with her and she lets them down the wall by a rope. The plan: The Scarlet Cord [Gen 39].

Sowing & Reaping of Kindness, the Heart of the Golden Rule. Read Matt 7:12. But more! One act of Kindness has the Potential of bringing a much greater Harvest (vs 13), ultimately births Jesus! Rahab becomes the mother of Boaz [Matt 1:5].

HANNAH [only found in 1 Sam 1-2]

Hannah means ‘gracious, merciful’. Mother of Samuel, but with much Longsuffering demonstrated with Kindness. Tell the story.

Provoked by Penny but does not retaliate or throw Penny under the bus [earlier ‘the absence of R, R & D’]. ‘She wept and did not eat’ (vs 7). Personal cost of Kindness.

Last week Vine’s def for Longsuffering, ‘self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger and is associated with mercy’.

False accusations by Eli. Vss 9-11 in an awful place, ‘bitterness of soul’, ‘wept in anguish’, praying ‘Remember me’ and commits her son to the Lord with a Nazirite vow (Samson was their Judge at this time).

She simply Bears her soul and he Blesses her. Read vs 17. Kindness always walks in Peace, Overcomes misunderstandings, and brings a Blessing.

Read vs 18. Kind is what we were created to be, like our Father!

Jabez verse (1 Chron 4:10, “keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!”). The Blessing releases her to BE who she IS (‘favor’ of vs 18 comes from the same wd Hannah), “went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad”.

Rom 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Final Thought

Sarah gets her Isaac, the Promise!

Rahab gets her Boaz!

Hannah gets her Samuel and nurses him until he is ready to be released into the service of

the Lord, fulfilling her Vow.

Again, last week we said it is easy to stop short of the Dream when you’re in the Palace relieved of Longsuffering. It’s easy to be consumed by the Kindness instead of nurturing it to be kind to others in the service of God.

Kindness may involve Nurturing; a span of time developing the Kindness the Lord has shown us to become Kind to others! Seeds produce fruit that contain seeds!

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(07/29/18) Master the Impossible (Women wk 2)

Steve continues his series on the women of Luke, this week looking at Elizabeth

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WOMEN OF LUKE: Elizabeth [pt 2]

Last week: Mary Mag, Joanna, Susanna fr Lk 8

The Streets, the Palace, the Nobodies

Luke: Women & the Spirit, a New Creation, Union as the Perfect Man [individually & corporately]. No more Separation.

Today: ELIZABETH [Lk 1]

Not mentioned in any other Gospel, Mother of John the B, who is in all 4.

Lk 1:1-4, the Prologue. 3 Things:

“many (things) fulfilled among us (which) eyewitnesses delivered to us …”

“(I have) perfect [exact] understanding of all things from the very first [‘from above’ like Jn 3:3] … “ Divine Direction

“an orderly [in order] account … (to) know the certainty [be secure] … you were instructed” Something about Zach & Liz Luke considers the first thing to write about.

Vss 5-7: Zach & Liz

Both of Priestly lineage [the Religious order by birth]: Zach 2x/yr for a week at a time served in

the Holy Place, at the Golden Altar of Incense 2x a day – Prayer.

Both are Righteous ‘before God’, Walking in His commandments, Blameless! GOOD people!

But Liz is barren [public shame]. OT: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, et al., a String of Shame.

‘Advanced in years’ – Like Sarah [Gen 18, Gal 4]! The Flesh & the Spirit, Ishmael & Isaac.

The Promise! Read Lk 24:49 (Acts 1:8)! The Promise of the Spirit, not Performance of the Flesh! The Birth of the Promise of a New Covenant is coming!

Vss 8-20: Zach’s Encounter

Read vs 13 ‘prayer is heard [faithful ministry] … Liz will have a son and you will call him

John’ which means ‘grace & mercy of the Lord, God’s favor’. Let’s not forget, father Abraham laughed at the same news.

Read vss 14-20. Three Points:

Personal & Corporate ‘Joy & Gladness’ compared to their current state of Shame.

Description of John’s Ministry: ‘Great, Nazirite vow of Holiness, Filled with the Holy Spirit (OT not ‘in’ from birth), Elijah Ministry of Restoration prophesied in Mal 4, Forerunner ‘in the Spirit (pneuma) and power (dunamis, Acts 1:8) of Elijah’!

The MAIN Point: This is the Beginning of the Time of the Promise, the end of the Old & beginning of the New! See Matt 11:11-15.

Liz is going to birth the first ‘voice’ Israel has seen/heard for 400 years [wilderness]! A PROPHETIC VOICE [of the Spirit]:

Goes before Jesus arrives

Restoration of Relationship with God [vertical] & Generations [horizontal]. Reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-20)

Repentance of the Disobedient to the Wisdom of Righteous Ones: Preparation of People for the Lord Jesus!

Read vs 18, again. Zach sees their condition [old age] as a good reason for the Word of Promise to be rejected, ‘did not believe’ (vs 20), like Abe & Sarah [Ishmael], i.e., when actually, it is what God will use to reveal & prove it is HIM! The Impossible!

This is what Shame looks like when it’s allowed to hang around too long: Unbelief. The opposite of the Prophetic is ‘mute and not able to speak’ [no Word], Israel did not enter the Promised Land [Word + no Faith], Doing religious things [good people] for the wrong reasons [fear, shame, guilt, family]. Does NOT BELIEVE there can be a ‘JOHN’, the GRACE of God. Unbelief: Grows from Experience & False Doctrine.

Vss 21-25: Elizabeth’s FIRST Words

On to Liz! Read vss 24-25.

Liz’ conceives and hides 5 mos. Why? Her FIRST words are re: Reproach (disgrace, John means ‘grace’), but she says He ‘takes away’. John’s message of Repentance & Removal, “Behold! The Lamb of God who TAKES AWAY the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29). John has already seen & experienced it in his parents! GRACE!

Liz will only speak 2 more times: Vss 42-45 [preceding Mary’s song] & vs 60.

Vss 26-80: Elizabeth’s SECOND & THIRD Words

Mary visits Liz. Read vss 41-45. Liz is out of hiding (6th month). The Spirit (Liz) & the Word (Mary) meet & greet! The result? The SECOND time Liz speaks, filled with the Holy Spirit as the ‘babe leaped for joy’ [like Abraham in Jn 8:56!], Prophesies fulfillment of the Word! Element of Faith [vs 45].

The first Person in the NT to be filled with the Holy Spirit is a WOMAN, a Person! Shame is removed! She comes out by conceiving the Spirit of Grace, the Promise by the Word, entering into the Promise!

This is the 3rd time Luke refers to the Holy Spirit:

To Zach re: John [the Gatekeeper], to Mary re: conceiving Jesus [Gen 1, Lk 24, Acts 1:8], filling Liz at the ‘sound’ of the ‘Word made flesh’ [Acts 2 + Gen 1]!

Mary’s Song, vss 46-56. She remains with Liz for 3 mos, then returns home

Liz gives birth, Gabe’s prophecy is fulfilled re: Joy [vs 14].

The THIRD time Liz speaks. Read vss 57-64. “NO! He shall be called John!”

Not like our fathers who did not enter the Promise. A New Pattern!

A New name! ‘John’, Grace!

A Name given by God Himself (Matt 1:21)!

This is Luke’s ‘orderly account’, ‘IN ORDER’, the FIRST thing!

It’s funny, “how the Lord had shown great mercy” (vs 58) but they’re surprised when Liz announces his Name will be and represent what the Lord has said & done instead of what they’ve always done, what they’ve always said. Revelation, the Word and Spirit of Grace & Truth, John & Jesus, is often rejected & not allowed to ‘become flesh’, to be ‘great’!

Zach’s break from the ‘Old’ causes them to marvel, Looses his tongue, he gets Filled with the Holy Spirit [vs 67] and Prophesies over and above Gabe’s Word. The Word is built and grows in and on the Spirit. Read vs 80. A NEW VOICE!

NO MORE SHAME.

NO MORE SEPARATION.

A WORK OF THE SPIRIT OF GRACE!

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(05/27/18) "The Peace of Solomon" (Fruits wk 4)

Steve continues his series on the fruits of the spirit, this week looking at peace

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The Spirit of Gentleness: Moses. The Love of Ruth & Naomi. Joy & David.

Today: Peace & Solomon [David’s last son]

Like Joy last week, not a complete message on Peace or Solomon (David’s son). Huge subjects!

Solomon means ‘peaceful’. We’ll get to that later.

Like Joy, Peace is included in the Nature of the Kingdom (Rom 14:17). And Jesus in Jn 14-16, “Peace I give you … “ in relation to ‘troubles’ [Joy was in relation to the work of bearing fruit]

Jas 3:18, ‘wisdom from above’ … “fruit of righteousness is sown in peace”

Peace is mentioned in every book of the NT except for 1 John

Paul’s Salutation, “Grace & Peace”, the Old & New!

OT, shalom was a Blessing & Prayer of Peace: Completeness, Soundness, and Well-being of

the total person God-given. Also assoc with following the Law, suggesting security, contentment (Isa 26:3), prosperity (Ps 122:6-7) and the absence of war (1 Sam 7:14). Primarily an Observable Peace, external (a bit like joy was prompted by external).

NT, eirene implies a ‘joining together, prosperity’

Peace - an Inner tranquility the Holy Spirit gives to those who trust in God through Christ.

Isaiah’s prophecy expressed this, Isa 9:6-7.

The Peace Jesus spoke of was a combination of Hope, Trust, and a Rest of mind and soul, brought about by Reconciliation with God.

Stephen (re: Moses) in Acts 7:26 ‘reconcile’, Grk wds ‘at one again’, ‘at one peace’

Yet, Jesus says, “Do not think that I came to send/give/bring peace on the earth … a sword, division“ (Matt 10:34 & Lk 12:51)

HUGE SUBJECTS

Proclaimed by the host of angels at Christ's birth (Lk 2:14), prophesied by Zacharias at the birth of John the Baptist (Lk 1:79), introduced at the beginning of His ministry (Matt 5:9 ‘peacemakers’), throughout [missions], and at the end at the Lord's Supper (Jn 14:27). It was also the first word He spoke to the Disciples on Resurrection night (Jn 20:19-21).

Paul associated Peace and Spiritual Blessedness as a result of Faith in Christ (Rom 5:1), manifested in Prayer (Phil 4, ‘peace of God’) and encouraged us, ‘to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace’ (Eph 4). In Rom 3:17, quotes Isa 59:8, echoes Zacharias.

Solomon: The Fruit of Peace

Solomon’s Birth. Q: Who can tell the story of David & Bathsheba [Solomon’s mother]?

Read 2 Sam 12:8, 13-14.

Jas 3:18, ‘wisdom from above’ … “fruit of righteousness is sown in peace”. This Fruit did not come from Righteousness sown in peace. It was not the ‘peaceable fruit of Righteousness’ (Heb 12:11) that comes from discipline.

The Baby dies. Read 2 Sam 12:24-25. Love & Peace come together.

Solomon’s Reign. So many things associated with his 40 yr reign [following feuds]: Splendor of the United Kingdom at Rest, Temple built as well as Palace, Military advancements [defences, outposts, etc.], Trade & Commercial Prosperity … Solomon the Architect, Poet, Intellectual, wrote Song of Songs, Proverbs [collected, too], Ecclesiastes …

Some say ‘Songs’ was written in his youth/Love for God, ‘Proverbs’ as he grew in Prudence & Philosophy [Wisdom], and ‘Eccles’ in his old age ‘sad retrospect’; though warned in Prov 31:1-3 [or at least collected; controversy over ‘who’ Lemuel was]

Solomon’s Wisdom. Read 1 Kgs 3:3-9.

‘Understanding heart’, shama means to ‘hear intelligently’ connected to ‘obey’; ‘to judge’ means to govern

Read God’s reply, vss 10-13.

“Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men” (1 Kgs 4:30-31). The Queen of Sheba [from Ethiopia, Yemen?], ‘queen of the south will rise up in judgment’ [Matt 12:42, Lk 11:31]. Read 1 Kings 10:4-9, ‘the fruit of Righteousness is sown in Peace’ and can be seen.

Read 1 Kgs 3:16-end. Wisdom appeals to Love … the Love of a Mother. He knew God’s Love as Jedidiah, for David & himself.

SO, WHAT DOES ALL THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ‘PEACE’?

Peace needs/requires the Wisdom of God [1 Cor 1-2] that appeals to/’joined together’ with Love of God to Enter & Remain in His Rest. Read 1 Chron 22:6-10 [repeated in chap 28].

Jesus is our Peace [Eph 2:14-18]. He has broken down the partition among Men, but also between God & Man [Reconciled us], and also within our Souls [Heart & Mind, Isa 26:3], to have Peace to Enter the Rest [Heb 4:8-11, “If Joshua … “]. Rom 8:6!

Solomon’s Life became one of Pride, Wealth, and Extreme Sensuality – Idolatrous due to a DIVIDED HEART: The Wisdom of this world & the Wisdom of God, Love for self more than the Love of God (who says, “I also would have given you much more!”).

His Divided Heart produced a divided Kingdom, both Externally & Internally.

Saul did not have a heart for God, after his own heart and will, Kingdom torn from him the way he was trying to tear it from God (1 Sam 15:28)

David had a ‘heart after God, to do His will’ (Acts 13:22), when he started; but his heart became divided, i.e., he never overcame his sensuality. Solomon had 700 wives & 300 concubines, his father’s son, making David’s lust look like nothing! BTW: This cost a fortune to maintain, high taxes causing the people to question his love for God & them.

Solomon? His name meant ‘peace’ and he was afforded everything that makes for Peace & Rest. David’s wars were for Solomon’s Peace & Rest. Solomon through it all away in ‘vanity of vanities’.

Peace, the Prosperity of being Joined Together with the Wisdom & Love of God, remaining in His Rest (Gen 2:2, “On the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested”).

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(05/20/18) "Stop Building A New Cart" (Fruits wk 3)

Steve continues his series on the fruits of the spirit, this week looking at joy

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The last 2 weeks: The Spirit of Gentleness: Moses. The Love of Ruth & Naomi.

Today: Joy & David.

JOY: Chara

Note: Not a complete message on ‘The Joy of the Lord/Spirit’. The last time I preached in

Swanage in ’08, the ‘Joy of the Lord, the People of God’ [Heb 12:2, Paul, etc.].

Chara means ‘internal calm delight or happiness, cheerfulness’ expressed in a visible way

In Matt 25, Parable of the Talents, “… enter into the Joy of your Lord”: FUTURE

7 times in Jn 15-17 on the road Jesus refers to Joy (His & ours): NOW

Nature of the Kingdom of God in Rom 14:17, Paul includes ‘Joy of the Holy Spirit’ (not rules & regulations, external observances, etc.)

Chara: Not jumping up & down, singing loud, waving your arms … could be Rejoicing.

Chara might be expressed in singing, dancing, clapping … these could be the visible, external, physical [body, words] responses [manifestations] to chara. Lk 6:23

Hannah’s Song, “My heart rejoices in the Lord”; Mary’s Song, “My spirit has rejoiced”. Joy of Human spirit prompted by external [OT] vs Holy Spirit [NT].

OT [simchah]: Prompted by external, spontaneous, cannot be sustained or contained [expressed outwardly]. Ex 4:14 ‘[Aaron] glad in his heart’. Psa 118:24 ‘we will be glad’

NT: Jesus says it is within us (Jn 15:11, 17:13; Holy Spirit) based on His Word; Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS” (Phil 4), “In whatever state … “ Matt 13:20-21

Moses to Israel at entrance to Promised Land: He refers to Blessings & Curses, Obedience in Deut 27-28. Read 28:47. 21 vss of curses follow: World experiences.

Prov 26:2, ‘curse causeless shall not come’, it finds its resting place as a result. Remember: In the Fall [Gen 3], the enemy & the ground are cursed, not Man.

JOY & DAVID

Read Psa 51:10-11. David knows and has the Holy Spirit, the Joy of the Spirit. Does not want to end up like Samson or Saul!

David & Goliath: Anointed in 1 Sam 16, faces Goliath in 1 Sam 17: Goliath ‘cursed David by his gods’ (vs 43). Read 1 Sam 18:6-9, ‘with joy’ [OT joy].

David is chased around the Wilderness for 5-10 yrs [where he wrote most of his Psalms, Joy a prevailing topic]. He’s finally recognized & anointed by the Nation as their King. The Army grows, is victorious; the Decision is made to bring the Ark to Jerusalem.

Read 1 Chron 13:7-12.

The ‘new cart’ was not the Way [1 Sam 6:7 Philistines way]! The ox stumble by the ‘threshing floor’, they’re hungry! Uzza tries to keep the Philistine parade going and dies. David gets angry & confused (Matt 7:23, ‘Did we not prophesy, cast out demons … 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!') – This was about the Law, ‘touching holy [unique] things’, the Instructions nobody seemed to care about.

Relationship had not been restored yet, opted out for Laws & Religion.

The New Cart: There was a ‘Way’ to carry the Presence of God prescribed by God.

Illustration: Al, “Isn’t the Gospel good enough?”

Q: Are we trying to reach the ‘next generation’ and the world with worldly joy, a ‘new cart’, their cart, instead of the Joy of the Lord resident at all times, ‘always’, which is what is needed? Where are we getting our Joy from? Endorphin Christianity!

The Issue: ‘How to carry the Presence of God, the Ark/Word covered with Mercy’.

Read 1 Chron 15:14-15 & 26, David’s second attempt. Notice anything?

WITH GOD’S HELP! HIS JOY! BRING & BEAR TOGETHER!

Let’s go back & compare 1 Chron 13:8 & 1 Chron 15:16 & 25. Notice a difference?

“WITH JOY!”

Note: You can go to 2 Sam 6:5 & 12, the same reference, the same difference!

Conclude

Neh 8:10, “The Joy of the Lord is your strength”! (Psa 21:1, David)

The Return: The Law is read. Their shortcomings evident. They weep. Rightfully so, but their sorrow, shame & guilt, cannot be their ‘strength’. The Shame & Guilt constantly being cultivated in the Church is not a strength to reach anybody! What we receive, His Joy, the Joy of the Spirit, is our Strength!

“This day is holy to the Lord your God” (vss 9-11, 3 times ‘holiness’ is stressed). Joy is imparted ‘not like the world’. ‘Peace I give you, not as the world’ (Jn 14:27).

Heb 1:9 regarding Jesus, “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

The Fruit of the Spirit, Joy! Obviously noticeable, a Strength observed by others.

And ‘keeping His eyes on the Joy set before Him’ (Heb 12:2), Joy within helps to remain focused the Fruit (Joy) of His labor, People!

David knew when he prayed in Psa 51 ‘what’ and ‘who’ his Strength was. Resident Joy!

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(05/13/18) Characteristics of Love (Fruit wk 2)

For mother's day, Steve discusses four characteristics of love as demonstrated by the story of Ruth

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Last week: ‘The Spirit of Gentleness’ (Gal 6:1), Reconciliation & Restoration, the ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ from Gal 5:22-25, led us to Moses, a man of Intercession.

Next few weeks: The Fruit seen in OT Saints, who ‘walk, are led, live in the Spirit’.

Today: LOVE, on Mother’s Day. RUTH

Who (together) can tell the story?

LOVE of Ruth: 4 Points

Read 1:14 ‘Orpah kissed, Ruth clung’, what’s lacking in Marriages today. Elisha & Elijah (2

Kgs 2:2), Mary & Jesus (Jn 20:17).

It’s not the ‘clinging’. Love is Unconditional (vss 16-17 at weddings), nothing to gain (11-13), not in it for self, Loves even when it’s Mara (vss 20-21).

Read 2:2. Love Works, ‘goes & gathers’, then ‘rests in the house’ (vs 7). Love & Grace work

Together ‘out’ and ‘in’!

Boaz in the field, “Stay close, keep your eyes on the field, (stay under His) wings” (vss 8-9, 12) as you work. ‘Wings’ of cherubim [mercy seat]; or. ‘mother hen’ (Matt 23:37)

Naomi in the house, “Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” (vs 20). Heb 12:2, ‘Author & Finisher’, Phil 1:6-7, “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it … you all are partakers with me of grace.”

Read 3:3, ‘wash yourself, anoint yourself, (you) put on your best garment, and (you) go’

[reminds me of Rev 19:7 & 21:2]. Love is Faithful & Obedient: Accepts Responsibility.

Boaz at the threshing floor, where the harvest is ground. Read vss 10-11, a Witness as a Virtuous Woman. She was working among ‘young women’, but the ‘young men’ were around, ‘drew the water’; and she did not go after them. Prov 31:10, “Who can find a virtuous woman?” Faithful to Boaz. Obedient to Naomi. Accepts Responsibility for herself, known as Virtuous (seen as forceful, resourceful, valor, strength).

Read 4:13-15. Love Blesses (praises & pleases) the Lord! Love redeems! ‘Love never fails!’

(‘to fall away’ without influence). Everyone wins! ‘Brings together’, ‘bears together’!

Q: So what do these 4 Traits of Love have to do with Mothering?

They made Ruth the mother she became.

But more than that, they revealed the mother Naomi had been!

Chap 1 – Selfless love, not Gehazi. Releasing the girls when she ‘could use’ [needs] them.

Chap 2 – Lets Ruth learn, go to work in building both a Reputation and being Responsible

‘Follows up’ in vs 19, “How’d it go?” (paraphrased). “Stick to what he said, ‘no other field’” (vs 22), like Dinah (Gen 34). She Confirms the Word [Boaz] of Authority.

Chap 3 – Instructs when Ruth is going into the unknown (a Moabitess in Bethlehem) and needs

Wisdom & Knowledge. Read Prov 1:8 & 6:20 (10:1 & 29:15 are not so good)

Chap 4 – Read vss 13-17. Names of vs 17:

Naomi – ‘pleasant, a delight’ wants to be called Mara in chap 2 when she returns to the House of Bread, contrary to her name based on circumstances [like Jabez] BUT 2:20!

Obed – ‘to work, serve’

Jesse – ‘still exists, not destroyed or lost’

David – ‘loving’, the Beloved

Vs 16, Naomi nurses her grandson, the generations to come beyond herself! She’s been nursing the line of Jesus, of Love, all along without knowing it!

HAPPY MOTHER’S LOVE DAY!

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(05/06/18) "The Spirit of Meekness" (Fruit wk 1)

An in-depth study on the fruits of the spirit, this week looking at the spirit of meekness/gentleness

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After spending 3 wks on the Parakletos Holy Spirit Comforter [7 P’s, Spirits ‘of’ Jn 14-16], let’s go to Galatians, Paul’s first letter. Q: How many letters did he write?

Date: 48-58 AD, very early [James only earlier book, no Gospels yet].

Why did he write: Judaizers infiltrated [you must become a Jew to become a Christian], ‘a different Gospel’ [1:6; 2 Cor 11], Law [works] vs Spirit. Early Church had Challenges re: understanding Grace through Faith & the Person of the Holy Spirit.

Read Gal 1:1-2. Q: What do you think Paul is ‘saying’/insinuating?

Gal 2: Tells about Peter in Antioch when the Jews came from Jerusalem, etc. Read 2:19-21. Crucified with Christ [5:24] or Circumcised in the Flesh [6:15]?

Gal 3-4: Justified by Grace through Faith! The Two Covenants, Two Sons. Read 3:1-3.

Gal 5: “Faith works through love … Love fulfils the law” (vss 6 & 14). Read 4:31-5:2, 13-14. “Walk in … Led by … Live in the Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit (vss 22-23).

Today: GAL 6:1, “the spirit of gentleness”. Let’s read it.

Judaizers, ‘the Circumcision’ [2:12; Acts 15:1]. Read 4:17, 5:10 & 12, 5:26 & 6:12-15 [‘a new creation’]. A New Creation with new ways & a ‘new’ Helper.

‘Spirit of Gentleness (‘meekness’, prautes means ‘mildly, in humility’ (Gal 5:23 ‘fruit’).

The Spirit gives us ‘fruit’ to bear, fruit ‘of’ the Spirit, His harvest, the ‘what’; Spirit ‘of the fruit’ is referred to here, the ‘Who’ gives us the ‘what’ to bear.

Last week: ‘Bring & bear together’, ‘advantage’ we have the Parakletos to help us, as Eve helped Adam to ‘bear fruit’ [‘be fruitful’], bear the fruit of the Spirit together!

7 Things to Consider in 6:1

‘A Man’: Whether Judaizers, Seduced Followers, the Faithful Seed (Isaac), Ishmael, Gentiles

no matter, Restoration is always our Response.

Overtaken [caught ‘unprepared’, David in 2 Sam 11]. Preparation was one of our 7 P’s, the

Spirit of Holiness.

Trespass [not pre-meditated or willful sin, like stepping on someone’s lawn], ‘any’ trespass.

Spiritual [not legalists, lawyers & judges, but Lovers who ‘care to bear’ the Spirit’s fruit]

Restore [‘to mend, repair’, like Matt 4:21; adjust & equip; strengthen as one ought to be.

Q: Why do you think Jesus calls them before they can mend ‘their’ nets?]

Humility [prautes, ‘meekness’, ‘gentleness’ above].

The spirit of the world ‘kicks a man when he’s down’.

Belisarius, 555 AD, Roman general guilty of crimes against Rome.

The Spirit of meekness restores, to bring and bear together, loves as one. The Law cannot do this (Gal 2:21 above).

Read 2 Cor 2:5-11 [ref back to 1 Cor 5]. Satan’s ‘advantage’ when we do not forgive and comfort, which is love the penitent ‘gently, meekly’.

Considering yourself lest you be tempted [tried, tested]. Q: What do you think this means?

“Spirit of meekness”

Q: Why not the Spirit of Love, or Peace, or Goodness? Why ‘meekness’?

Moses: “very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth” (Num 12:3), always interceding for His people, like Jesus' intercession.

‘Sons of Thunder’ in Lk 9:54 [‘mending their nets’ above].

Moses: Raised in Egypt, started his deliverance ministry by killing an Egyptian, violent.

Brought out by the blood of the Lamb. The Atonement. Q: How did Jesus restore us?

Phil 2:6-8, “He humbled Himself and became obedient to death”.

The Atonement

Reconciled to & Restored by God, Vertically (the Prodigal). Read 2 Cor 5:17-20.

If we are to ‘be like Him’, love & holy, how will this word of reconciliation be best spoken? Reconciliation & Restoration is both Vertical & Horizontal, no more violence!

Q: How can the Parakletos bring & bear together, our ‘advantage’, when we’re giving Satan the advantage by refusing R & R, refusing to Forgive & Comfort, refusing to Love & Be Holy?

The Father of the Prodigal goes out to the Elder Son, Horizontal R & R! Q: Will the elder humble himself and restore his brother the way his father does?

In Num 12: Miriam & Aaron come against Moses [‘very humble’, vs 3], because he married an Ethiopian woman. “The Lord came down”, called them out, challenges their words & actions – we read these verses in our Glory series, “I speak with him face to face … and he sees the form of the Lord” (vs 8). Miriam becomes leprous. Aaron appeals to Moses. Moses intercedes for Miriam’s healing.

Conclusion

Read Gal 6:11-end.

‘See my work of the flesh’?! Sarcasm? It’s easy to tell someone else what to do, ‘works’ instead of suffering ourselves. It’s easy to ‘become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another’ (5:26), like a Judaizer, instead of humbling ourselves, allowing the Spirit of Meekness to restore. Circumcision, our work of the flesh, is not where it’s at. Crucifixion (2:20) is where it’s at, the New Creation, the Ambassador of Reconciliation.

“From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” Q: Is Paul ending where he started?

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to take a Fruit and relate it to a corresponding Saint & situation. Next week: LOVE

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(04/29/18) "The Holy Advocate" (Comfort wk 3)

The conclusion to "The Seven Ps of Comfort" looking at the last two Ps in John 16

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‘The 7 P’s of Comfort’, John 14-16 [conclusion]

The Holy Spirit Comforter = another ‘Helper [parakletos ‘called to one’s side’, an Advocate, Intercessor = to strengthen by encouraging + consoling, alleviating grief!].

John 14: Promises, Spirit of Truth. Prayer, Spirit of Supplication. Presence [Paternally],

Spirit of Adoption. FAITH.

John 15 [on the road]: Producing [Vine & Branches], Spirit of Life. Persecution [suffering],

Spirit of Glory. LOVE. Both Producing Fruit & Persecution are a matter of LOVE.

TODAY: JOHN 16

Chap 16

Last week, we left off with Persecution (Jn 15:18-16:6; we read 15:18-20, 26-27 & 16:1-2).

Vss 5-16: The Work of the Parakletos. Go back and read Jn 14:16 & 26 [‘another’, first mention] & 16:5-13. His Word + the Work of the Spirit.

Vs 7 ‘expedient’, ‘profitable’, ‘advantage’: sumphero = to bring together & bear together. A HELPER [like Eve]!

Marriage of Convenience: Get/help me get what I want

Expedience: Help us get what He wants, what we & the world need, together

Jn 14-16: He will Reprove, Guide, Speak, Teach, Reveal & Glorify!

Comforts in PREPARATION

“I go to prepare a place for you” – Holy Spirit comes to prepare you for that place!

Jesus: Our Advocate in Heaven (1 Jn 2:1, Heb 7:25). HS is our Advocate on Earth!

Our Parakletos Comforter

Emotions: Can be ‘grieved, vexed, offended, quenched, tempted, lied to, defrauded, resisted,

rejected, disobeyed, ignored & blasphemed’; can also be ‘believed, yielded to, obeyed, honored, heard, pleased & delighted’

Mind: Convicts, Counsels [teaches], Communion [7 kinds of Prayer], Compassion [feels

burdens], Cleanses, Commands & Conquers over!

‘Sanctification of the Believer’ [becoming like Jesus, ultimate ‘holy’ union]: Holy Spirit

Strengthens & Prepares us --- not just for Heaven [a place unlike earth]! But for today!

Sanctification: Word, Spirit, Faith, Prayer, Name, Blood (which was shed through His suffering) and Trials & Tribulation (see 1 Pet 1:6-7). He is the HOLY Spirit.

Spirit of Holiness

‘Testify, bear witness’ during persecution [15:26-27] is one of Holiness! UNIQUE.

The early Church had nothing! No buildings, no Bibles, no tech – just people who were not discriminated against, who lived & loved together as the Holy Spirit Helper brought them together to bear one another reminding them of His Word. This was Unique [Holy]! Romans stuck together. Jews stuck together. Social status. Gender. etc. Holy Spirit brought together fishermen, tax collectors, men & women, free & slaves, the poor, lepers, Samaritans, Gentiles, etc.

Ex 19:5-6 ‘holy nation’, 1 Pet 2:9 repeats. But read 1 Pet 1:15-16, ‘conduct’! 1 Pet 3.

Read p. 136 from ‘The Bigger Table’

Read Rom 1:4-5. Relationship between ‘power’ & ‘holiness’. Read Jn 12:31 & 14:30.

Preparing us for Each ‘unique’ day (the ‘rest’) & Eternity!

Vss 17-end. Let’s read 33, then back 14:27-28.

Comforts with PEACE. Jn 20:19, 21, 26, every time He arrives or ‘reveals’ Himself?

Jn 14:27 + Jn 20:19. Was He there all the time?

Chap 14-16: Faith, Love, and HOPE throughout [never says it] in the form of JOY!

JOY is something we can experience in HOPE, not just from results! Faith in Love that brings PEACE releases us to Rejoice in Hope!

Central Thought: The Holy Spirit Strengthens & Comforts [“Let not your heart be troubled”] by receiving Peace [Jesus!] through His Promises, through Prayer [Phil 4], His Presence, in Producing, in Persecution [‘all experience’, 2 Tim 3] & in Preparation ---

Know Peace: With the Father/Himself, within ourselves [soul & spirit], among ourselves, together! And know Joy in Hope! “In the world … “ (vs 33) due to vss 8-11

BY HIS GRACE in the SPIRIT of GRACE!

Spirit of Grace. Read Rom 5:1-2!

Prophecy of Zech 4:6 (“Not by might, nor by power”) & 12:10 “poured out” GRACE!

Note: In Grk, ‘GRACE’ & ‘JOY’ come from the same word, chara. 6 Times Jesus refers to ‘joy’(Jn 14:28, 15:11, 16:20, 22, 24, 33); and in the middle of His High Priest’s prayer, Jn 17:13, He prays for His joy to fill us!

7 P’s of Parakletos: Promises, Prayer, Presence, Produce, Persecution, Preparation, Peace.

Spirit of: Truth, Supplication, Adoption, Life, Glory, Holiness, Grace.

The Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Supplication, Adoption, Life, Glory, Holiness & Grace longs to strengthen/comfort us through the Word & Prayer, fill us with His Presence to Bear Fruit through Suffering, in Preparation for today and Eternity!

Read John’s Greeting in Rev 1:4-6.

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(04/22/18)"I Call You Friends" (7Ps wk 2)

Steve continues his series on the Seven Ps of Comfort (there's no video for the first week, but his notes can be viewed here ) this week examining John 15

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Title: “The Seven P’s of Comfort” [part 2]

Last week: Day of Pentecost is coming. Pentecostals & Charismatics use ‘Spirit-filled’ terminology & stress 3 points:

Acts 1:8 ‘power poured out, filled, baptized in’ Acts 2 manifestations, Witnesses.

Jn 18:37 before Pilate.

‘Gifts of the Spirit’ (resident in the Holy Spirit, i.e., He arrives with them (1 Cor 12) upon conversion (Matt 25 Talents “according to ability [born with]”, Matt 25:15)

The ‘Anointing’, used only by John in 1 John 2; OT for priests & kings (Rev 1:6), consecrated for Office or Service.

There’s a lot more to all of this . . .

COMFORT

JOHN 14-16, the Holy Spirit Comforter is a central thought = another ‘Helper [parakletos ‘called to one’s side’, an Advocate, Intercessor = to strengthen by encouraging + consoling, alleviating grief!]. Important: ‘Another’, like He was, not different.

Last week, John 14: First 3 P’s. Promises, Spirit of Truth. Prayer, Spirit of Supplication.

Presence [Paternally], Spirit of Adoption. FAITH [at least 5 times in chap].

TODAY, JOHN 15: Two more P’s

Chap 15: On the Road to the Garden

Jn 14:31, “Arise, let us go from here.” Jn 15-17 on the road, arriving at the garden in Jn 18.

Vss 1-17: Vine & Branches

Begins the walk with the last [7th] compound ‘I AM’, continuing to stress Abiding Presence [not ‘visitation’] & their Relationship (see 14:3, 9, 16-18, 20, 23).

Now stresses ‘bearing [carrying]’ fruit 7 times! Read vss 4-5, 8-9, 16-17. Two things:

‘Good works’ has been a theme since Matt 5:16 [Matt 7 &12, ‘good trees, good fruit’]. Jesus in Jn 10:25-33 & 14:10-11. Read Eph 2:10 & Col 1:9-10. 5 times in Titus ‘good works’. Read Titus 3:8 & 14.

Gal 5:19-25: ‘Works of the Flesh’ & Fruit of the Spirit [vss 22-25], not ‘gifts’.

Gift vs Fruit. Children are always ready to receive a gift rather than ‘work’, ‘carry’. Servants ‘bear fruit’. Read Jn 2:7-8!

Comfort in PRODUCING [bearing fruit]. Ever felt good about doing something good? Ever

felt lousy even though you did something good? Because you had to! No love involved.

Chap 14 = Personal Faith in Him

Chap 15 = Relationships of LOVE, introduced in 14. Friends ‘if you do’ (vs 14)!

Spirit of Life: Jn 1 begins, “In Him was Life!”, like Gen 1:2-3. Read Rom 8:1-2.

Life producing Life [Gen 1-2] vs Dead, Hibernating [asleep], or Barren [not ‘in’].

15:18-16:6. Read vss 18-20, 26-27, 16:1-2. PERSECUTION in the World & from the Church!

Suffering: Earlier, ‘pruning to produce more’ (15:2).

1 Peter: ‘Suffering’ theme, identifying with & becoming like Jesus! Read Phil 3:8 & 10

Job 23:10, “When He has tried [tested] me, I shall come forth as gold!”

Rom 8:17 ‘children, heirs, suffer, glory’; (from ‘glory to glory’ 2 Cor 3)

Heb 5:7-8, “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered” – Personally, obedience by ‘doing’ and ‘not doing’, that does not always relieve the suffering of others but lives it with them.

Comfort in PERSECUTION [on the road]

John Wesley’s memoirs, “My prayers must not have been effective today; for my neighbour did not throw a brick over the wall at me.”

Producing Wine: In Jn 2, servants ‘bear’ wine. Jn 15, servants ‘become’ the wine, friends who are crushed to become wine at a wedding on the third day where there is no wine [like the woman in Jn 4 who left her water pot to become one!].

Spirit of Glory: Read 1 Pet 4:12-14 & 19, Production in Persecution.

John: ‘We beheld His glory’ [1:14]; “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified” (Jn 12:23). Read Jn 13:31. The Cross. Jn 9 & 11, ‘for the glory of God!’

Both Producing Fruit & Persecution are a matter of LOVE.

Love produces & is strengthened by it!

Love ‘suffers long’ & ‘never fails’!

NEXT WEEK: CHAPTER 16, the last 2 P’s.

[churchatthewell]

(04/15/18) “The Seven P’s of Comfort”

Title: “The Seven P’s of Comfort”

Day of Pentecost, 50 days after Easter [Feast of Weeks, Sinai] is May 20, ’18.

Pentecostals & Charismatics (‘Spirit-filled’ terminology) stress 3 points:

Acts 1:8 ‘poured out, power, filled, baptized in,’ Acts 2 manifestations

Witnesses [martus] in 4 Spheres; spoke to them in Jn 15:27, in Jn 20:22 they receive the Holy Spirit. Abiding Presence & ‘coming upon’ receive power.

Read Jn 18:37. Not just ‘telling’, living the Truth for others to see & hear. This was one of our Incarnation points, revealing the Truth.

‘Gifts of the Spirit’ (not Acts 1-2, but resident in the Holy Spirit, i.e., He arrives with them upon conversion [1 Cor 12:11, ‘as He wills’]. Matt 25 Talents “according to his own ability [born with]”, Matt 25:15)

The ‘Anointing’, used only by John in 1 John 2; OT for priests & kings (Rev 1:6), consecrated for Office or Service.

There’s a lot to all of this . . . too much for this morning!

JOHN 14-16, the Holy Spirit is a central thought = another ‘Helper, Comforter’ [Advocate, Intercessor, parakletos, ‘called to one’s side’ = to strengthen by encouraging + consoling, alleviating grief!]. ‘Another’, like He was, not different.

Jesus: Trying to ‘comfort’ them in a way they can comprehend & appreciate . . .

Ex: Like trying to explain the addition of another child in a family.

Chap 14: First 3 P’s

Read vss 1-6: Comforts with His Word = PROMISES!

Jn 18:37 above, ‘bear witness to the truth’. Read vs 38. Jn 14:6, ‘I AM’ & Jn 17:17, “Sanctify them by Your Truth. Your Word is Truth”.

Truth changes/sanctifies US, not necessarily our circumstances.

Spirit of Truth: Jn 14:6 followed by ‘Spirit of’ in vs 17, 15:26 (just before ‘bear witness’ in vs 27 above) & 16:13. Read Rom 15:8!

Read vss 5-16: Comforts in PRAYER (in all 3 chapters, then He prays in Jn 17).

Jn 13-16, they ask at least 8 questions, ‘praying’, and Jesus responds to all! Jn 16:18, “We do not know what He is saying!”

We focus on ‘what’, ‘why’, ‘when’ and miss the essence of what Jesus is saying: He is approachable! ‘Ask’ anything! We have a relationship.

People do not ‘ask’ due to pride, unbelief or bad doctrine. Jas 4:1-3.

“Whatever you ask in My name, I will do (ask the Father). Ask anything, and I will ask! And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, the Spirit of Truth. He will show you what to ask!”

Spirit of Supplication [prayer]: Remember Lk 9:51-56, “You know not what spirit … “? Read Rom 8:26-27 (1 Cor 14 ‘prayer language’).

Read vss 15-18, 21-23, 25-26: Comforts with His PRESENCE, both Abiding & ‘Manifest’ Paternally

‘Another’ [vs 16], who ‘dwells with … will be in’; ‘I will manifest Myself to’.

Illustration: Giving a very special gift to a very special person ---

Context: “Another, as I”, the Father and your Brother.

“I will not leave you comfortless [orphanos]” [vs 18], “I will come to you”. The Comfort of a Parent, from ‘born again’ to ‘sonship’, every age on earth’ never leave you and come in greater measure/manifest as needed.

Spirit of Adoption (earlier in Jn 1:12)

Read Rom 8:14-15, ‘bondage in fear’, Abba – Love, Trust, Confidence

What are some of the feelings a childless person may have?

How about an orphan, no mother or father?

What 2 things does Jesus stress? Love & Keep, Me & both My Commandments & Words [Past & Present Paternal Presence]:

Commandment [entale, an injunction, ‘prescription’] “Love one another”, Principles.

Words [logos], Promises, Prophecies & Words of Comfort, Truth, “If you continue (live) in My logos … you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free” (Jn 8:31-32)

Read Gal 4:4-6, Eph 1:4-5 & Rom 8:23!

Conclusion

Chap 14: FAITH is a key, in vss 1, 10-12 & 29. He will end in 16:30-31, “Do you now believe?” and the entire Gospel in Jn 20:31, “written that you may believe”.

NEXT WEEK: CHAPTER 15, 2 more.

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(04/08/18) "Whose Are You?"

Steve talks about John the Baptist

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Begin with the illustration of the crumpled up $20 bill. Why does everyone want it?

Because it is valuable! It’s only paper & ink, worth less than a dime!

LET’S READ JOHN 1:1-8, 14-28

John begins with the Word [Logos]: Originally meant ground, plea, opinion,

expectation, word, speech, account, reason, discourse. By the time of John: ‘Principle of order & knowledge, logic behind an argument, persuade an audience with evidence & arguments (not just ‘words’)

John the B: A type of a New Covenant believer. In what ways?

Vss 19-23

John knew who he was NOT [Christ; the Prophet of Deut 18]

Didn't know WHO he was [Elijah, Matt 17 of Mal 4]

Knew something of who he WAS [Isa 40's prophet, ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness’; though in Matt 11, Jesus says ‘more than a prophet!’]

The Issue for John was not WHO he was or was NOT, but WHOSE he was!

Temptations of Jesus, the devil tries to confuse Jesus about who He is, “If …”

Important = Who we are in Christ. More important who CHRIST IS in me! WHOSE I am is more important than who I am!

THE WORD is WHOSE, PERSONAL & RELATIONAL

Whose: ‘The Father’ & Son

WHOSE in John, more than the other 3 combined, over 100x, the Father & Son!

Not unique: OT is big on lineage. Two reasons: 1) To follow/validate Messianic lineage. 2) For Identifying your ‘father’, WHOSE you were!

Gen 5:1-5 describes a huge change from Gen 1-2 in ‘whose’ son.

“Is this not Joseph's son?” (Lk 4:22). Read Jn 6:42.

Jn 1:14 & 18, “In the beginning … “, Revelation of WHOSE! In the end, read Jn 20:21! And in Jn 21:5, “Children, do you have any food?”

His/Our Mission: To identify & reveal our Father, His Love in words & works; that we can Trust Him, WHOSE He/we are! This is Good News! The Cross & Resurrection reveal the Truth of the Gospel.

‘Flawed’ Discipleship: Most totally miss the mark by stressing ‘doing’, as if we are transformed by ‘works’. The emphasis must be His work, WHOSE! Read Mk 3:14!

Vs 24: The Pharisees [‘to separate, separatists’]

Parable of the Prodigal [Lk 15], ‘Two Sons’. The Elder shows Pharisee tendencies.

It is easy to become a Pharisee, “I’m glad I’m not like … “ (Lk 18:9-14), i.e., “I’m glad I’m WHO I am! [see vss 11-12]”. Preservers of the Law!

From Fishermen [who He is] to Pharisees [who I am!]

From ‘Come & see’ [Phillip in Jn 1] to ‘Just show us the Father’ [in Jn 14]

Jesus warned regarding Pharisees:

‘Greater sin’ (Jn 19:11)  Judgement without Him!

‘Greater damnation’ (Mk 12:40)  Not ‘lack of representing’ Him, but

MISrepresenting Him . . . disgracing His grace!

Doctrine: In Matt 16:11-12 [following the feeding of the 4K], like ‘leaven’ in a loaf, testing instead of exercising Faith, Unbelief. In Mk 7:7-8, lay aside God’s Commandments, teaching as Doctrine their traditions & ‘doing’.

In Lk 12:1, “Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is HYPOCRISY”

Read Jn 7:3-6, “seeks to be known openly … Your time is always ready”. Who YOU are, not WHOSE. Read vss 10, 16-18.

Back to John the Baptist

Luke 1 introduces us to John’s father, Zacharias. This is a message in itself:

Righteous & Blameless, Doing, did not believe the Revelation. Result? ‘Could not speak’ [had no message, no Good News], but it came to pass and when he wrote the name ‘John’, could speak & prophecy!

The Point: John was supposed to be serving in the Temple, as a priest [vs 19], a descendant of Eleazar, of Aaron. But that’s not WHOSE I am. ‘My WHOSE comes before me, before my father, before ministry & lineage’.

Read Jn 1:8-18 . . . “the world did not know Him, the True Light”. And they still don’t! John’s Mission: TO MAKE HIM KNOWN. “I’m just a ‘voice’!”

WE WILL NEVER ‘MAKE HIM KNOWN’ BY MAKING US KNOWN!

Q: What's my Life & Ministry all about?! Who I am or Whose I am? BOTH!

Who I am? A Parent, an Offspring, a Neighbor, a Friend, a Worker/Servant.

Who I’m not? There is value to our Testimony, who I’m not any longer.

Who I’m becoming? There is value in sharing the Change I’m experiencing.

Who I will be? It is important to share the Hope that is in us!

BUT THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF WHOSE I AM, WHOSE ‘WORD’!

All the great men & women of God throughout the ages, the Issue was never who THEY were or were NOT . . . but WHOSE they were!

A tough message in the Western Church where everyone is trying to make room for and a name for themselves.

And where the Bible has hijacked the Word of God.

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The $20 bill? Yes, it is valuable . . . only because it represents and belongs to the Federal Reserve of the USA! If it became like this [phoney bill]:

No one would want it, it’d be worthless, no bank in the world would honor it.

It’s not about you or me [the bill]! It’s all about Jesus! As John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” Read Rev 5:6-7 & 22:1-5!

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(04/01/18) "Questions At The Tomb" *Easter Sunday*

For Easter Sunday, Steve looks at four questions at the tomb on the day of His resurrection

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Easter!

So many different Messages & Topics, as well as Doctrine [Resurrection].

All 4 Gospel accounts run in parallel but are quite different with different emphases.

Today: The 4 Questions at the Tomb, based on 3 of the Gospels.

MARK

Read 16:1-5. “WHO”. They ask themselves as they walk to, not away. Faith & Love.

We ask ‘ourselves’ and those around us so many questions at the tomb that holds our Hopes & Dreams. All 3 saw Him crucified & buried, with a large stone over the door.

Jn 11: “I AM the Resurrection and the Life.” Vs 34, “Where have you laid him?” Read vs 37, the question. That is usually the question. Read vss 38-40.

“WHO” will? YOU will! “Believe!” We come out stinky, needing to have our grave clothes removed by others who have come out by His Word & Spirit! We are on one side or the other of the Resurrection, of Faith & Love, inside or outside of the tomb.

LUKE

Read 24:1-8. “WHY”. Asked to them, not ‘among themselves’, but inside from the ‘outside’, like the Hope of Heb 11:1!

Later, on the Rd to Emmaus. Read Lk 24:21-24, “we were hoping”!

Key: “Remember what He said?” The Word, the Spirit. Q: Is it Truth?

‘Dead Things’: Religion, Entertainment, Systems [Gov’t, ‘methods’], Philosophies, Education, Drugs & Alcohol, et al! Why?! Faith & Hope. Read Col 2:20-3:3.

JOHN: Last 2 Questions

Read 20:11-13. “WHY”, again. Not ‘why do’ we but ‘why are’ we. Being.

Psychology. ‘Are/Be’ is at the root of ‘do’, which is why Religion fails.

‘What’ causes us to weep in sorrow? What causes a lot of our emotions? Love & Fear.

But, ‘WHY’? Answers: “I am … “, or “Because … “

Whether sound or unsound, “He restores my soul” either way! Read Psa 34:18, 51:16-17, Isa 57:15. Later in Isa 61:4, WE the Anointed ones, restore each other! “Loose him!” (Jn 11). They were coming to anoint Him and get anointed to loose!

Read 20:14-16. Jesus, the Life, Love, Truth, and Light speaks. “WHY + WHO!” They asked each other in Mark ‘Who will’, John 11 says, “YOU will”. Jesus leaves no room between ‘Why’ and ‘Who’ because they are intrinsically connected. Read 1 Pet 3:15.

“WHO”. Whatever stone is rolled across the door to our Hearts is removed by Him & us! HE’s the One I’m looking for!!! That’s my part! Read 1 Cor 13:13.

The tomb can become a womb … of Life, Love, Light, and Truth! Faith & Hope, our part. The greatest is LOVE! LOVE rolls away the stone!

WHO will? WHY do I seek any other? WHY is my soul disturbed?

WHO am I seeking [the first question in John, exact same words, Beginning & the End].

The Resurrection answers all! In Faith & Hope? LOVE.

[churchatthewell]

(03/25/18) "From Glory To Glory" (Glory wk 5)

The conclusion to Steve's series on The Glory of God

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The Glory of the Lord – conclusion [part 4, but 5th week]

Our Journey: The Revelation of the Glory of the Lord is Progressive & Present

From: The ‘Hand’ to the ‘Face’, the Veil to Possession, Moses to Jesus, and more!

Review of the Revelation

In Scripture, on Earth. ‘On earth’ from Eternity. Read Psa 8:1, 19:1, 113:4, 148:13, Jn 17:5!

First ‘Appearance’: In the Wilderness

Ex 16, Manna from Heaven: The Glory of God the Father, “Our Father, who art in Heaven … Give us this day, our Daily Bread” Read Jn 3:16, 6:32 & 41.

When Paul writes about the Exaltation of Jesus Christ, he ends, “to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:11).

Ex 24, Law (Word) from Heaven: The Glory of God the Son. Jn 1:1-5, 14 ‘Word’; Jn 14:6 & 17:17 ‘Truth’

Ex 34, The Glory of God in the Indwelling Spirit. Read Ex 34:5-6 & 34-35 and 2 Cor 3:12-18.

Unveiled face. To ‘Mirror’ [verb ‘to reflect like a mirror’], but Transformation ‘into the same image from glory to glory’ is taking place, from within!

The Mirror: Read 1 Cor 13:12. James likens the Word to a mirror (1:22-25. Read 1 Jn 3:1-3, “We shall be … (because) we shall see Him!”

Moses ‘radiated’ from within (vss 29-35, qaran), repeatedly! Read Isa 60:1-5 [Note: ‘Wealth’ is not necessarily ‘material wealth, rich’; but ‘strength, force, virtue, valor’, i.e., whatever they’ve relied on]. ‘Every knee shall bow … to the Glory of God the Father’

Last Wilderness Revelation of the Glory in Exodus

Ex 35-40, they complete the building program, erecting the Tab [Ex 25-31; Heb 8:5], making all the furniture & artifacts, etc. Read Ex 40:16, 33-38.

Exodus began in Suffering [‘dark times’] & ends in Glory [Light]! What’s the emphasis?

Vs 33: ‘Finished work’ is like Gen 2:1-3; and like, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30)!

Vs 35: ‘Was not able’, not called? Cloud so thick he could not see? 34 + 35 = 1 thought.

The Cloud & the Glory, ‘On’ & ‘In’: Encounter & Abiding Presence!

Jn 1:14, “The Word became flesh and ‘dwelled, lived, took up residence, made his home’ among us” = ‘pitched His tent as a tabernacle among us’ (and we beheld His, of the Father’s glory), of Grace & Truth … Law was given through Moses, Grace & Truth came through Jesus Christ”

Numbers records other instances of the Glory of the Lord (Num 14, 16, 20, times of unbelief, rebellion, and complaining); but once we get to Joshua, the Glory is not mentioned until 1 Sam 4:21, “The glory has departed from Israel!”. Solomon’s Temple [1 Kgs 8:10-11] over 500 yrs after Ex 40, we see the Glory of the Lord. 500 yrs later Hag 2:6-9 prophesies ‘latter house’ [Isa 56:7, Jn 2 & Palm Sunday], which Heb 12:27-28 verifies is currently happening.

‘With’ – Externally & Internally, Encounter & Abiding Presence

All along it’s been about Habitation, not visitation. A Tent, Tabernacle, Temple. A House! Read Psa 26:8 & 27:4.

The Wilderness Journey was always about a Cloud (‘on’, encounters, His ways, of Witnesses & Community) & the Indwelling Abiding Glory, from Eternity to Earth, Jesus Christ!

MORE!

From Eternity to Earth to Eternity

Read Jn 17:24 & Rev 1:4-6, the Glory of the Godhead!

A lot happens in Heaven & on Earth in Rev 4-19, a Revelation of His Glory (worship, the Lamb revealed, the 7 Seals, the 7 Trumpets, the 7 Bowls, etc.). In Rev 19, we get to the Marriage of the Lamb. Read Rev 19:7-8 [‘wife’ gune, ‘a woman’], “prepared herself”. Psa 45:13, “all glorious within”, has turned her ‘face’ … toward the Glory!

The King of Kings & Lord of Lords wraps everything up in Rev 19-20 (first & second death, great white throne judgment). Read Rev 21:1-5 & 9-11 [‘bride’ numphe, ‘betrothed bride, or young wife, by implication ‘a son’s wife’, from nupto, a verb, ‘to veil as a bride’].

Living in the House God has created for Himself to live in, His Glory fills and transforms! Rom 12:1-3 is about ‘presenting’ ourselves to be ‘prepared’

[a pic of the shewbread in the Temple]. 

Palm Sunday: HOPE (Rom 8:24-25)

Read Zech 9:9 & 12, 2 Cor 3:11-12 & 1 Jn 3:2-3. Hope for tomorrow is lived today!

[churchatthewell]

(03/18/18)"Show Me Your Glory" (Glory wk 4)

Steve continues his discussion about Moses and his desire for the Glory of The Lord

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Today: “Show me Your glory!” (Ex 33:18), conclusion of part 3

We cannot Know God or Ourselves (to be) without a Personal relationship with God that grows, from ‘hand to face’, from what He’s ‘done’ (signs) to who He IS.

“SHOW ME YOUR GLORY!”

Last week: The Context of “Show me Your glory”, Exodus 32-34

EXODUS 32: The Golden Calf, a Lifestyle, ‘the way’. God & Moses responses to Idolatry.

Note: ‘Great sin’ [Heb] is a legal term for Adultery. Implications of Law & Covenant. Read Jer 31:31-32.

EXODUS 33:

“I will not go with you … “ Moses moves his tent to outside the camp.

Read vss 9-11, ‘face to face as a man speaks to his friend’, an expression. BUT …

NUM 12 & DEUT 4, the “FORM of the Lord”, Jesus. More than a Voice or Cloud!

“Show ME YOUR Glory!” The Essence & Nature of Your Glory!

I want to KNOW YOU more! PERSONAL.

At the heart of this 3rd Appearance is our Lifestyle, i.e., Worship: Soul & Separation dealt with, Refreshed & Restored, what & who will be at the center of our lives, our Worship?

Israel turned to Idolatry, the ‘way’ of the world [Egypt, though their ‘gods’ were revealed by the plagues]: Graven images or ‘likenesses’, worshiping the ‘works of our hands’, forms, making God in our image, still a big problem in the Church today!

LIFESTYLE [where we ended last week]

Read vss 13-18. The Q: What demonstrates and manifests God’s grace [Eph 2:7, 3:8-12]? People who worship the works of their own hands, their own glory? Or, those who ‘Christ is (being) formed in’ [Gal 4:19, Rom 8:29; Phil 2], His ‘form’ being seen as we are not ‘conformed’ to this world [Rom 12] but are ‘interceding’ to the point of ‘laying down their own lives’, who are not moved by the ‘hand’ as much as the ‘face’ of God?

Word for 2018: “Go. Breakthrough into the New Thing”. Part of the series was Elisha, a demonstration of Grace (Jan 28), not a doctrine.

Moses, “How will it (Grace) be known if You are not with us?” People of Grace are different from the ‘other nations.’ They resist “It’s all about me” (Gehazi). They intercede to the point of laying down their own desires & lives. They are not as moved by the ‘hand’ as the ‘face’ and encourage others to seek and know both His hand and face.

The Lord’s Reply: Read vss 19-23.

Two Immutable Attributes will pass by: “My Goodness & the Name of the Lord”

Illustration: A can of stewed toms, covered, ingredients cannot be read from afar, etc.

EXODUS 34:

As we go to Chap 34, the ‘Glory [Goodness & Name] passing by’ (Mk 6:48), something ‘NEW’ is happening. The Revelation of the Glory is Progressive & Present.

Moses is told to cut 2 new Tabs for the Decalogue, come to the Mt alone, and the Lord will write, with the ‘finger of God’ [His ‘hand’] again.

Jn 12, Jesus prays, Father responds, “I have … will glorify it again … but for your sake.”

Read vss 5-9. The Appearance, Grace, Moses worships, and asks, “Possess us [inherit].”

The Children will be ‘inheriting’ the Land. Moses asks for the Lord to possess them!

Vss 10-28: The Covenant is restated [‘awesome’ things, drive out, feast days, etc.]. Read vs 28.

In the middle of the ‘Renewal’ [not ‘new’], the Lord reminds Moses He is/Name a ‘Jealous’ God (vs 14; Ex 20), comes from ‘zealous’ [good or bad; here, ‘all My goodness’], ‘inseparable from love’. Isa 9:6-7, ‘the zeal’!

Some ‘NEW’ Progressive & Present Revelations of His Glory:

The Covenant & the Decalogue were not ‘new’ [above], but Renewed & Repeated.

Note: Ex 19:5 at Sinai before the giving of Law, 24:7 “I do!” Adultery, Renewal.

Hiding in the cleft covered with His ‘hand’ instead of ‘face to face’ (33:22)

Participation in cutting the tabs for the ‘finger’ to write on (31:18 & 34:1-4)

Vs 5, the ‘Lord (the ‘form’?) descended in the cloud and stood’ (33:9 ‘pillar stood’)

“Possess us!” (34:9). Hold that thought.

Read vss 29-end.

Moses didn’t know his face radiated the Glory, like the Manna, “What is it?!” Once he does, he uses a Veil. Not between him & God [wives do not wear veils], but between him & the people.

In Ex 26, the Veil between the Holy Place & Most Holy Place, where the Ark would be.

We could see the Veil as representing New Glory, the Bride being prepared by God [in His Presence, in His face] for His Son. The veiled Glory of a Wedding to come!

Let’s read 2 COR 3:7-end.

Paul’s uses a ‘Mirror’ [Reflection], but then Expression [from within]!

Heb wd ‘qaran’: ‘To ‘shoot out horns, dart forth, shine out’ from within, like rays

Illustration: A light bulb, light ‘darts out’ because of its connection, electricity. It does not ‘reflect’, it manifests its source. 2 Cor 3:18!!!

Ex 19:16, 20:18, now in the face of Moses. From Mt to face. ‘Show me! Possess us!’ Live IN, not ‘with’. 1st time ‘indwelling Presence’ is revealed, the Spirit IN us, ‘glory’!

Not just transformed ‘likeness’ on earth, but into the IMAGE, becoming one in Eternal Glory, the ‘Form’ beyond the Veil! The Veil is removed in Christ, 2 Cor 3:16-18!

The Veil of the Bride: Chastity [virginity, pure, undefiled], modesty [humility], subjection. A Lifestyle of Worship! The Bride is making herself ready (Rev 19) as we are being transformed into the likeness NOW and the Eternal image.

Moses before God wears no veil. Married! The Veil is removed. Heb 4:12-13 [Deut 8:3]. Moses is possessed by both the Word & Spirit, naked before God, fully exposed and shining!

Conclusion

Refreshed Souls, Restored Righteousness & Removal of Separation. They get the system they wanted. The Golden Calf [Egyptian], their own Worship, was already being formed in their hearts before “this calf came out” (Ex 32:24). This was not about separating themselves from God, but joining with another god, adultery, another Glory; which God is very serious about, Jealous Love. But Moses entered the ‘dark cloud’, seeks the ‘face’, sees the ‘form’; and the Veil is removed, the Glory imparted! He lets the ‘passing’ glory of the Law pass by, and embraces the Glory of the Lord, becoming ‘the same image from glory to glory’, as we are today, ‘by the Spirit of the Lord’.

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(03/11/18) "From The Hand To The Face" (Glory wk 3)

Steve continues his series on the glory of God this week focusing on Moses relationship with God

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‘The Glory of the Lord’ part 3

Review parts 1-2

Refreshing of the Soul in Ex 16 & Jn 6, Manna & the Glory come down.

Restoring Righteousness & Removing Separation in Ex 24 [Ex 19-20 ‘fear’, pulled back, from

pillar to dark cloud], the Word & Glory come down in the form of the Law. Read Phil 3:6-9.

The Lawgiver (our Father) gives the Law (not ‘stone’; Deut 4:11-14) to His children (Gal 3), that they might Know Him & His Love (Gal 3:21-25, Rom 13:8-10, Jas 2:8). Mt of Transfiguration, “Hear Him!”, the Sermon on the Mount.

Today: “Show me Your glory!” (Ex 33:18). Two emphases: Me & Your glory [personal]!

In Part 1, we ref “All My goodness … “, ended the Incarnation series with this, “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor 4:6).

After all the Miracles, Deliverance & parting of the Red Sea, the Pillars, Manna & Quail, Waters sweetened & Water coming from a Rock, the Cloud on Mt Sinai, 40 days, “I want to know YOU more! Show me YOU!” We cannot Know God without a Personal relationship that grows, from ‘hand to face’, what He’s ‘done’ to who He IS.

First words of Jesus in John, “What do you seek/want?” “Where … Come and see!” (1:38-39). ‘We beheld His Glory … full of grace and truth!’ From ‘hand’ to ‘face’.

We cannot Know Ourselves without a Personal relationship with God that grows, from ‘hand to face’, from what He’s ‘done’ (signs) to who He IS.

“SHOW ME YOUR GLORY!”

The Context of “Show me Your glory”: Exodus 32-34

EXODUS 32: The Golden Calf debacle (which Moses reminds them of in Deut 9, et al)

Moses [their ‘god’ figure] was gone for weeks [40 days] ‘in the 3rd month’. Lost? Maybe dead? They had only been in the wilderness 4-5 mos and they create another ‘god’ from the spoils of Egypt [Ex 3:22, 11:2, 12:35], give it credit for their deliverance, to ‘go before us’ [vs 1].

Read vss 6-8 [1 Cor 10:7]. The ‘Lifestyle’ of ‘your people, you brought out, from the way’

Read vss 9-10, “Leave Me alone! I will make of you (not this ‘people’) a great nation!”

Stiff-necked: A farming term for animals who don’t turn the way they should due to a stiff neck; you can’t people can’t see in the various directions, particularly UP.

Not a temptation … a Love test. Hand or Face?

Moses intercedes (vss 11-14, “Your people”) and the Lord ‘relents/repents’: A change of Mind, of Purpose & Emphasis, moved by the Heart, by sorrow. The Lord changes His mind re: the Discipline He was going to administer. HUGE subject.

Q: Who is this about, Moses? ‘The people’? The situation? “Love one another as I … “

Moses & Joshua go down with the Tabs: Josh hears ‘war cries’, but Moses already knows vs 7, and hears them ‘singing’ about their idolatry. Moses breaks the Tabs in anger [vs 19], destroys calf, and takes issue with Aaron about bringing a ‘great sin’ upon the people.

Note: ‘great sin’ [Heb] is a legal term for Adultery. Moses uses it again in vss 30-31. The ‘people’ have committed adultery. The essence of the Law was Paternal, for raising His children [Ex 4:22]. The Covenant He made of His Presence was to His Wife, Israel.

Moses asks, “Who’s on the Lord’s side?” The Levites [Mose’s family] respond and kill 3000 of their brothers. This is the first official act of the Levitical priesthood [est Ex 28].

Moses intercedes again. Read vss 31-33. This is beyond intercession. Read Jn 15:12-13 & Rom 9:1-5. Laying down his life for ‘the people’.

Moses: Deliverer, Prophet, Interceder [Priest], the Sacrificial Lamb for Sin.

EXODUS 33:

God tells Moses to go to ‘the land’ He promised, He’ll send an Angel before them, drive out their enemies, but “I will not go up in your midst … a stiff-necked people”. The people grieve.

Moses pitches his ‘tent of meeting’ outside the camp. Read vss 9-11, ‘face to face as a man speaks to his friend’, an expression, not ‘the face of God no man can see and live’ (vs 20).

NUM 12: The Dissension of Aaron & Miriam. Read Num 12:4-8! Nothing between, no dreams or visions, direct, no ‘go between’ (Levitical ministry), ‘face to face’ with the “FORM of the Lord”, Jesus. PERSONAL. More than a Voice or Cloud!

Form: Job 4:16, David in Psa 17:15!

DEUT 4: Moses reminds them of Mt Sinai. Read vss 11-12, 15-17 etc., 23, “the work of men’s hands” (vs 28). First 2 Commandments! No other ‘gods’. No graven images! No other glory!

Moses intercedes again, taking issue with God like Ex 3-4 re: the Angel, Grace, the Way [back in 32:8], and “Your people”. Read vss 13-18. “My Presence”, paniym, ‘face’, like in Gen 1:2. Also, that which ‘goes before’. Read Phil 3:8-10 (“Be found”)!

“Show Me Your Glory!”

The Essence & Nature of Your Glory!

I want to KNOW YOU more!

At the heart of this 3rd Appearance is our Lifestyle, i.e., Worship: Soul & Separation dealt with, Refreshed & Restored, what & who will be at the center of our lives, our worship?

The Nation turns to Idolatry [Egypt, though their ‘gods’ were revealed by the plagues]: Graven images or ‘likenesses’, worshiping the ‘works of our hands’, forms, making God in our image, the biggest problem the Church has today! Paul & John warned the Church of their day: 1 Cor 10:14 (‘flee from’) & 1 Jn 5:21 (‘keep yourselves from’).

“Show me Your glory!”

LIFESTYLE

The Q: What demonstrates and manifests God’s grace [Eph 2:7]? People who worship the works of their own hands, their own glory? Or, those who ‘Christ is (being) formed in’ [Gal 4:19, Rom 8:29; Phil 2], His ‘form’ being seen as we are not ‘conformed’ to this world [Rom 12] but are ‘interceding’ to the point of ‘laying down their own lives’, who are not moved by the ‘hand’ as much as the ‘face’ of God?

Know God, Know Ourselves. To be continued.

[churchatthewell]

(03/04/18) “A God of Love Not A God of Stone” (Glory wk 2)

Steve continues his series on The Glory of God, this week focusing on Exodus 24

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‘The Glory of God’, part 2.

Last week [part 1]: Law of the First, Ex 16 & Jn 6

The first time the Glory of the Lord is demonstrated is in the Wilderness. God’s desire to reveal His Goodness, Honor His children by revealing His Glory [honor], encouraging a Relationship where they would Obey [“Children obey your parents” Eph 6:1], Trust, that ‘these may eat’ [‘cast bread on the waters, cast cares on Him’]

Refreshing the Soul (Isa 55), came down from Heaven [not from here, ‘What is it?!]!

Today: Exodus 24, the 2nd reference [appearance] of the ‘Glory of God’.

Crossed the Red Sea, 3 days later Marah, to Elim (12 wells, 70 palm trees), 45 days later Bread from Heaven, to Meribah (‘no water … water from the rock’, tested God, “Is the Lord among us or not?”, Ex 17:7), the Amalekites attack, “in the third month” they arrive at Sinai, ‘the mountain’ (Ex 19).

Read Ex 19:3-8. Since Ex 13 and through the Wilderness, ‘pillar of cloud by day, of fire by night’ was His Presence. Ex 16, ‘glory of the Lord’ appears in a ‘cloud’. Intimacy.

Read vss 8-12 (Heb 12:18-29 contrasts this scene to ours). Jn 20:17, with Mary!

Read vss 21-24. Moses reminds God He warned them, they can’t touch it, and they said they would obey. God knows the heart of man [Jn 2:24-25, “He knew what was in man”]. The Glory refreshed their Soul. Now, something else is about to be the emphasis.

The Decalogue [10 Commandments] in Ex 20:1-17.

Read vss 18-21, “that you may not sin”. Termination & Separation of relationship due to Fear, “You speak … not God”. Religion over Relationship due to Fear. Deut 5:5.

‘Sin’: How did they process this without the Law? Rom 5:12 & 19, ‘sin entered’

Gen 4:7 - God warns Cain re: his Anger [soul]. He kills his brother.

Gen 13:13 & 18:20 - Sodom’s activities [Ezek 16:49-50, 6 things; Rom 1:18-25]

Gen 20 - God to Abimelech, ‘sinning against Me’; then, Abimelech to Abraham

Gen 31 - Jacob asks Laban what ‘sin’ he’s done after Laban does not find his ‘gods’ Gen 39 - Joseph to Potiphar’s wife, ‘against God’

Gen 42 - Reuben to his brothers when Joe sends them back to Canaan to get Ben, how

they ‘sinned against’ Joe

Gen 50 - The boys ask forgiveness of Joe through messengers for their ‘sin’ [Gen 37]

Exodus 9 [their present], before the 7th Plague [hail – Each plague was a judgment against a specific ‘god(s)’].

Read vs 16 Pharaoh’s purpose [Rom 9:17, Rom 13]. Read vss 27-28 & 33-35 [Ex 4:21 before the Plagues, ‘I will harden his heart’].

Illustration: Water becoming ice.

Ex 10:16-20, following 8th Plague [locusts]. Read these verses.

All of the above are BEFORE the Decalogue. Many have an aspect of the Decalogue.

“Sin is lawlessness” (1 Jn 3:4; Gal 2:19-21, 3:19-25, Jas 2:10-12), then adds, “All unrighteousness is sin” (1 Jn 5:17)! They knew this by their history, ‘without the Law’ (Rom 2, ‘conscience’).

Chaps 20-23 Laws: Moral [personal], Civil [communal], and Worship [based on Obedience, not Love]!

EXODUS 24

Read vss 1-2, 13-18. The Manna, the Refreshing of the Soul, came down in the Glory of the Lord. The Law, the Word, descends in the Glory: Restoration of Righteousness & Removal of Separation due to Fear.

Religion: A ‘system’ is opted for where there is no Righteousness. It is Fear based. “There is no fear in Love” (1 Jn 4:18). Religion would never be chosen or preferred in the place of His Presence if one knows the Love of the Father. Rom 3:20-22.

Righteousness & Relationship were the Issues all along. “Will they obey My voice, spoken Word, ‘come near’? Or opt for a ‘stone’ relationship?” 2 Cor 3:7-18.

Mt of Transfiguration in Synoptics, as well as 2 Pet 1:16-18. Read Matt 17:5-8. “Hear Him”, the Sermon on the Mount. In Matt 5-7, 109 verses, ‘sin’ is mentioned once, our ‘Father’ 17 times!

‘Blessed … You are … ‘You have heard it was said to those of old, but I say’ … [concluding] Whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them’

The Glory of God Refreshes our Soul & Restores Righteousness, a Relationship based on Love in Jesus Christ, removing Separation due to Fear & Sin. “Perfect Love casts out fear” (1 Jn 4:18 above).

God’s Plan was the Word all along, a Word that says Love and leads us to the Father.

[churchatthewell]

(02/25/18) "Will They Be Content" (Glory wk 1)

Steve begins a new series looking at the Glory of God

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New series! The Glory of the Lord

‘Glory’ is a huge subject! We are specifically going to look at the ‘Glory of the Lord, God’.

What is it? Abstract, difficult to put in terms and words … best to appear, not just ‘do’ and ‘say’! John says, “The Word [glory] became flesh, lived among us, we beheld … the Begotten [glory], full of Grace & Truth” (1:14).

The Incarnation was instrumental & necessary in revealing His Glory in the Son of God & Son of Man [Jn 1-2]. Ended series with Ex 33:18-23 [‘My back, not My face’] + 2 Cor 2 Cor 3:17-18. Read 2 Cor 3:17-18 & 4:6.

Hag 2:7-9, “I will fill this temple with glory … The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former” Hab 2:14, “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” [Num 14 Moses intercedes, vs 21, “But”].

What is it?

In Ex 33, “Show me”. Read vs 19, “All My goodness and Name”; Ex 34:5-7.

Abstract: ‘Manifestations of His divine perfections’, ‘Splendor, brightness, majesty; His divine moral attributes, infinite perfections’, ‘perfection of His character, presence, power, and honor’

Hebrew word, kabowd [Strong’s #3519] means ‘weight in a good sense, splendor, abundance, riches, dignity, HONOR [to count as precious, valuable].

Another Heb wd for glory is tiperet [#8597] – beauty, not used for the ‘glory of the Lord’

OT Law of Firsts:

In Creation, but never mentioned in Genesis: Psa 8:1, 19:1, et al; Rom 1:20-23.

Book of Exodus: 4 Major Times in chaps 16, 24, 33, 40.

EXODUS 16 [Jn 6, the Bead of Life]:

Read vss 1-5. The test?

Will they obey or gather more than the day’s quota?

Will they trust Me for daily [‘every day’] provision? “Give us this day, our daily bread”.

Will they be content with the same provision?

Will they remain grateful when there is no effort on their part or become complacent?

There are 3 other elements here: The ‘double portion’, Miraculous Provision, the Abundance of the Glory (miraculous to us, the Glory & Power of His Word!), and the Sabbath Rest God has for those who trust in Him.

Read vss 6-7, 9-10, 15. “You shall see [even though you complain] … Come near [the next time the glory appears they are invited again, but don’t] … in the cloud [His plan, the ‘cloud of witnesses’, Elijah in 1 Kgs 18] … the Lord has given” Deut 8:3. FF to JOHN 6.

JOHN 6

Another ‘First’, the first ‘compound’ I AM!

Vss 1-14: Feeding of 5k, a ‘test’ for Phil, conclusion “This is the Prophet”. MORE!

Philip gives a Gen 3 & 42 [‘grain in Egypt’] answer, instead of Isa 55:1-3! Read it.

“Come, buy and eat was is GOOD, without money or price, so that your SOUL is satisfied and delights itself in Abundance! The Glory!” Abundance vs Lack [last week]

Vss 15-21, Jesus walks on water, deals with their ‘fear’, and immediately they ‘land where they were going’. “TRUST ME!”

Vss 22-59 ‘the following day’:

Read vs 26: “You’re only in it for the Egyptian food, the food that perishes, feeding your faces!”

Egyptian ‘bread’. Read Ex 16:3! The bread of the world!

In 30-35: They compare Jesus to Moses, i.e., 1 feeding [the day before] vs 40 yrs! For them, this

is all boiling down to the ‘natural’, the ‘physical’, the wrong need.

Read vss 32-33. “True bread from Heaven, of God, gives Life to the world [Jn 10:10, ‘Life more abundantly’. Not Egyptian bread! An abundant, satiated SOUL!] … I AM the Bread of Life more abundantly, living Bread (He) that came down! More than Manna (‘it’, miracles)! They ate and died. True, Living Bread of the I AM God! The Glory of God!”

Jesus does not declare I AM until the Wilderness Mentality presents itself; a Mindset lacking Faith that does not enter the Promises of God.

The Glory of God & the Unrest of the Soul

God is Good. His Glory is ‘all His Goodness’!

Trust & Obey: Gather as He says (what we can) & Trust for what we need but can’t supply!

Come! Buy without money! Daily! Be content! Be grateful!

The Wilderness: Yes, they needed food to eat [natural & supernatural]; but the complaining! The negativity! The moaning! Soul problem.

Wrong value system, Lack of trust, Unrest, due to not recognizing God is Good, you can trust Him, He honors us with every good thing, provides the food for an abundant soul, not thorns and thistles. Bread! “Where shall we buy bread? From Heaven or Egypt?” Big question: For ‘who’, i.e., “that these (the 5K) may eat?” (Jn 6:6). It was a test.

To enter the Rest requires Faith in all His Goodness, His Word, the Glory of the Lord revealed in Jesus Christ! But to bring someone else along requires a refreshed & restored, abundant soul!

“Cast your bread upon the waters (‘waters that cover the sea’, Hab 2)” and “Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (Eccles 11:1 & 1 Pet 5:7). “Cast your net on the right side of the boat” … they were not able to draw it in” (Jn 21:6-7).

The Glory of God: His Honor presents itself in Honoring His Love & Faithfulness to Us.

So, what’s more important, more precious, more valuable? Back to Gehazi, the things of this world. “Come. Buy. Gather & Trust. God is Good!”