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Responding in Faith to God’s Invitation of Life and Peace
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God has been extending His heart and hand to those who will place trusting faith in Him since He began relating with them. To Adam and Eve He offered the fruit of His wisdom and eternal life. To Noah He offered an opportunity of safety and preservation of life. To Abraham He offered friendship and a covenant of blessings to future generations who would embrace His kind of trusting faith and way of life. Over the centuries a countless number of people have accepted God’s gracious invitations to enter into relationship with Him. He has revealed through many stories recorded in the Bible His awesome power and amazing love. He has further expressed His desire to relate and engage in active dynamic relationship with all His children. In order to help us understand the full value of His grace and partake in its richness, God designed a series of ways to interact and relate with Him. They are the appointed times of the LORD. Imbedded in them are measures of grace concealed but dynamically revealed as amazing grace in Messiah Jesus, who came to reveal the fullness of God’s purposes. They, therefore, are visual aids that can help you relate with God in meaningful and relevant ways, and see the significance of what the LORD accomplished on your behalf. As you do, you will be blessed by His truly amazing grace! |
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New Birth
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TRUTH AND PURPOSE
The Passover feast was prescribed to mark a critical transition from the bondage of Egypt to freedom found in a life based on faith and trust in God. As the children of Israel prepared to leave Egypt, the blood of the sacrificial lamb was washed over the doorposts of the home to spare its inhabitants from the angel of death which would strike the first born of Egypt.
God was preparing the people for a whole new way of life. He had some good surprises in store for them. He wanted to give them a new perspective on life. He would be revealing a new way to receive His amazing grace and experience life in His awesome presence. He was about to demonstrate to them a new dimension of life whereby they would find favor by actively trusting Him. He has the same message for us today!
Upon crossing the Red Sea, the children of Israel had truly entered into a new kind of relationship with God. God would begin the process of renewing and proving their heart. Through this process, God would reveal His presence, and demonstrate His awesome power, provision, and divine protection.
Through the 40 year journey, God would demonstrate His love and way to walk with Him in the new life, ”that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 8:3 NKJV)
RELEVANCE
The LORD, likewise, began His ministry by spending 40 days in the wilderness. At the end of that period, He quoted this very Scripture when tempted. When questioned by the Jewish leader, Nicodemus, the LORD uttered a profound statement:
Yes, indeed, I tell you that unless a person is born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. 6 What is born from the flesh is flesh, and what is born from the Spirit is spirit. 7 Stop being amazed at my telling you that you must be born again from above! 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going. That’s how it is with everyone who has been born from the Spirit. (John 3:5-8 JNT)
Being “born again” is a gift of God’s grace. It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, changing the disposition of one’s soul, inclining the heart to God. The “new nature” of this renewed heart has a new set of values and motivations; but must be cultivated and nurtured by a deliberate choice to grow in this new life.
Effective spiritual growth is accomplished through Bible study, prayer, meditation on God’s Word, active fellowship, faithfulness, a willingness to yield to the Holy Spirit, and a heart inclined to worshiping God in spirit and truth.
The message of a time of a new birthing has great relevance to all with an ear to hear, eye to see and heart to believe new things God is doing! A wise person maintains a posture of being observant and attentive to new and emerging things God may be doing in this season. As Creator, God is always birthing new things: creative ideas, character traits, ways of doing things, new opportunities, etc.
God truly watches over our affairs and has foreordained plans and purposes in which we have opportunity to participate. He, therefore, desires that we be mindful of changes in seasons, seek Him, and engage with Him to discover and discern such new things and opportunities that may bless us.
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
How are you cultivating and nurturing your new nature as a born again believer?
With whom do you fellowship to build yourself up in faith?
How are you ordering your time to include God in the equation of your life?
In what ways can you lock in a posture to be observant and perceive and discern new things God may be doing?
REFERENCES
John 3:5-8; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17
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Immersion
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TRUTH AND PURPOSE
The appointed time of Unleavened Bread was prescribed to serve as a reminder of the old life of bondage, and value of leaving it behind. The family was to engage in a process of thoroughly removing all the leaven from the home, and cleansing it. What is the issue with leaven? It is a fermenting substance; a turbulent form of bacterium that is permeating and pervasive in nature. It spreads like a cancer or virus, contaminating, polluting and corrupting what it touches. As it spreads, it compromises and destroys what is true, good and otherwise pure. It therefore is used as a metaphor for sin and falsehood. There are many ways we can benefit from this truth today!
RELEVANCE
Unleavened Bread points forward to the LORD’s ongoing process of cleansing by the Holy Spirit; from the effects of sin and the corrupting and contaminating influences of the world, and establishing in us a pure heart and cleansed life before God.
In another sense, it is a reflection of the outward practice of water immersion, or baptism, which expresses what God has already done in the heart by burying the “old nature of the flesh.”
Messiah Jesus fulfilled all righteousness by allowing John the Immerser, or Baptist, to baptize Him in the Jordan. As He came up from the water, a dove descended upon Him.
This marked Him as the bearer of the Holy Spirit, and identified Him as the Servant Isaiah prophesied of. “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him...” (Isaiah 42:1 NKJV) John declared the LORD would thereafter baptize believers, “with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11)
Paul, therefore, affirmed that once immersed, or baptized, the believer should walk in the LORD’s grace, expressing this new nature.
Through immersion into his death we were buried with him; so that just as, through the glory of the Father, the Messiah was raised from the dead, likewise we too might live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:4-5 JNT)
The Lord would have us live the new life fully immersed in His love and identified in Him, experiencing the strength of His love, peace and joy! It is what He meant by “abiding in Him.” As He shared with His disciples…
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. (John 15:7-10)
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
Have you participated in an outward immersion, or baptism?
How does your life reflect the inward change of your “new nature” in the LORD?
What other areas of the Lord’s character and nature might He be working in you this season?
REFERENCES
Isaiah 42:1-4; Matthew 3:11; John 1:26-34; Romans 6; Matthew 5:3-10; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; Galatians 5:22-26
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Advance
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TRUTH AND PURPOSE
God instructed the Hebrew people to bring an offering from the first fruits harvested of the crop. It signified recognition that all belongs to God, and served to honor the LORD’s headship. In addition, inspecting the first fruits of the harvest provided for affirming that if the first fruits were good so would be the rest. First-Fruits, therefore, points forward to God’s way concerning the order of advancement in the Kingdom of God.
Jesus revealed the way, the truth and the life of God. The first way to the new life in God began with His resurrection from the dead. He became the first soul arisen in the newness of His eternal life, arising as our representative, establishing God’s order of raising up believers spiritually, and ultimately eternally.
But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. 21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NLT)
God desires that we continuously advance forward in life, progressively growing trusting faith in God. This is accomplished as the Holy Spirit continues to strengthen our heart and renew our mind, helping us grow in the new life—our renewed nature—the nature and character of Messiah Jesus.
God works this renewing in us through a process of exchange: adding and deleting. Just as John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30), God grows His nature in us by continuously adding aspects of His spiritual nature—His virtue and character; while simultaneously deleting aspects of our old carnal nature. Paul described this as “our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Such a process requires the cooperation and participation of our will. As we receive God's love and grace the Holy Spirit enlightens us and convinces us of aspects of wrong tendencies—sin—and helps us see God’s truths, the grace of God flows to delete such aspects of our disposition, transforming our nature and enabling us to advance forward in His strength!
One way we facilitate this process is by giving of the blessings of God—our first fruits—back to God. By resisting our carnal nature to hoard, we take authority over the power of greed and mammon, and gratefully give back to God. It frees up our conscience and gives God permission, so to say, to bless us even further!
God, as Creator, is always doing new things. This perspective, therefore, blesses us by keeping our minds open to new things God may be doing. It, therefore, becomes easier to receive new insights by the Holy Spirit—even new instruction—as God opens doors of opportunity.
Truly, as you continue to engage with God over time, He will nurture your faith and cultivate His nature in you from faith-to-faith and glory-to-glory! (Romans 1:17 and 2 Corinthians 3:18)
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
In what ways do you affirm the LORD’s headship and permit His Lordship in your life, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal new truths?
How is your new nature reflected in your life?
In what ways may God be preparing you to advance forward in your life?
REFERENCES
Ephesians 4:17-32; Colossians 3:1-17
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Indwelling and Infilling of the Holy Spirit |
TRUTH AND PURPOSE
The time of Shavuot—Pentecost was appointed to celebrate the fullness of the harvest. It also represents the fullness of God’s covenant—His Word and Spirit. In a very real way, Pentecost reminds us that we have an opportunity to participate in the dynamic work of God and experience His incredible love and awesome presence and power!
RELEVANCE
As the disciples were celebrating this feast 50 days after the LORD’s ascension, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. John the Immerser, or Baptist, said that the LORD would baptize “with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Upon receiving the LORD in your heart, you receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Paul admonishes believers to understand what the will of the Lord is and, therefore, “keep on being filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:17 JNT)
How is this accomplished? Paul explains in Colossians 3:16-17, it comes as we allow the richness of God’s word to live fully inside, as we teach and counsel each other in His wisdom, and as we sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in our hearts.
You are, therefore, continuously filled with the Spirit by filling yourself with God’s Word, communing with God, and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in you by yielding to Him in faith and obedience. It’s like driving your car. Upon filling your tank, you move forward, go places, and eventually need to replenish your tank! Such a repeated infilling should result in character growth that reflects the qualities of the fruit of the Spirit.
It should also open up your heart to receiving measures of His love and grace, your mind to God’s continuous enlightenment and revelation of truth and your spirit to the manifestation and realization of the various gifts of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12)
FOCUS ON VALUES, VISION AND VIRTUES
The Holy Spirit imparts insight that strengthens our vision, bringing what was obscure to clarity, and what seemed so complex to simplicity. In order to do so God brings our values into alignment with His. When our values are congruent with God’s, we see things we never saw before! The Holy Spirit imparts new and greater measures of the virtue of Christ; His love, character and power, producing the fruit of the Spirit. Through grace, God’s works His process of transformation within us.
What new values has God impressed you to embrace this season?
What new vision has God imparted in you to give you greater insights?
What virtues of Christ have you received to walk in the new life in Him?
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
In what ways do you seek God’s continuous infilling of the Holy Spirit?
How has your life been a reflection of this infilling?
REFERENCES
Romans 12; Ephesians 5:17; Colossians 3:16-17; Hebrews 2:1-4
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Preparation
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TRUTH AND PURPOSE
Trumpets (also Rosh Hashana; Head of the Year) was prescribed to call the people to alarm, and raise the level of one’s consciousness to self-examination, in preparation for the coming Day of Atonement. The finished work of Messiah Jesus, however, has permanently opened the door to GRACE and granted believers an invitation to participate in His victory over the power of sin and death in a new and exciting way! How we prepare to do so makes all the difference!
RELEVANCE
In Daniel 10:10-21, Scripture reveals an element of spiritual warfare. An angel was sent to Daniel as an answer to his prayer. He told Daniel about a war in the heavenly places that was being waged, and how it related to earthly events.
Paul taught the disciples more about waging spiritual warfare. He proclaimed, “For although we do live in the world, we do not wage war in a worldly way; 4 because the weapons we use to wage war are not worldly. On the contrary, they have God’s power for demolishing strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every arrogance that raises itself up against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey the Messiah.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 JNT)
What are spiritual strongholds? They are spiritual fortresses founded on lies. They give place to demonic opposition of God’s truth and kingdom purposes. They keep us in tight places and traps, constraining us in subtle ways. They restrain our growth and freedom. We, therefore, have the opportunity to awaken in truth and confess lies we have believed, renounce them, and pull our minds and thoughts into compliance with God’s truth, obeying His Word in faith.
Peter spoke more about the issue of demonic opposition, and provided this exhortation. “Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand against him, firm in your trust, knowing that your brothers throughout the world are going through the same kinds of suffering.” (1 Peter 5:8-9 JNT)
James added more on the subject. “Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Clean your hands, sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded people!” (James 4:8 JNT)
The LORD defeated Satan and the authority of the powers of darkness on Calvary’s Cross. Satan, and his host of demons, however, are sore losers! They regain limited power as people agree with and subscribe to lies against the knowledge of God’s truth by maintaining prideful attitudes, pursuing lustful desires, and exalting vain images—the worship of idols.
Revelation 12:11-12 addresses the issue and final outcome. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
How have you positioned yourself to wage spiritual warfare?
How do you appropriate your “armor” daily in humility and faith, and engage in the LORD’s way of fighting spiritual battles?
See Ephesians 6:10-18 and 2 Corinthians 10:2-6.
Do you have prayer and accountability partners to support you in fighting spiritual battles?
REFERENCES
Daniel 10:10-21; Luke 10; Matthew 16:17-19; 1 Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7-8; Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:2-6.
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Law of the Spirit vs. Law of Sin and Death |
TRUTH AND PURPOSE
The LORD became the atonement for our sins; and is the atonement. We appropriate His atonement by receiving His love and sacrificial blood for the remission of our sins. We then come under the law of grace, and receive the operative power of the Holy Spirit; thus living in the freedom of the law of the Spirit.
RELEVANCE
Our natural fleshly tendencies, however, are inclined towards satisfying carnal desires, and therefore subject to the sway of sin and worldly ways. Giving into sin—lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life—brings guilt upon us, and puts us under the operative power and consequences of the law of sin; which leads to spiritual death.
Repentance—the purposeful and deliberate turning back towards God's ways—and receiving His mercy and forgiveness, restores the operative powers of the law of grace—the liberty of God’s Spirit—to be effective and bear fruit in your life.
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
Review Paul’s monologue in Romans 7. How do you relate to what he is describing?
Then read Romans 8. Meditate about what Paul is relating. Compare the benefits and values of life as a child of God vs. life under the sway of sin and pulls of worldly ways.
REFERENCES
Romans 7-8; Galatians 3:21-29; 5:16-26
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Fellowship
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TRUTH AND PURPOSE
God appointed a special time to have a special kind of fellowship with Him and our fellow man. He called it Sukkot, Tabernacles. It was prescribed to be a most joyous time to celebrate life for eight days, recalling the awesome things God did that year. It marked a special time to be grateful for God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises and sustaining life through times of trial and conflict. It points forward to an awesome way of gathering with fellow believers in a feast of God's love, sharing testimonies of God’s goodness and doing life together!
RELEVANCE
After the LORD had ascended to heaven, the disciples remained in a state of worship and fellowship, meeting often in an upper room. “These all devoted themselves single-mindedly to prayer.” (Acts 1:14 JNT)
Scripture also reports in Acts 2:44-45 the magnitude of their cooperation with one another. They became “their brother’s keeper.” (Genesis 4:9) They continued living faithfully towards God and one another with singleness of purpose, in a state reflecting the genuine love of God.
The context of Scripture truly has in view a spirit of real covenant love; intimacy, mutual affection, care, and concern for one another. They shared what they had. They supported one another. They lived with a genuine sense of community. The glimpse we have from their engagement, in essence, is a real knitting of hearts: between God and man; and one another.
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
What kind of fellowship do you maintain with other believers?
Are you part of a small group that prays for one another, supports one another—emotionally and physically, and fellowships in God’s Word and His Spirit, testifying of His works?
What opportunities do you have to witness the working of God’s power?
What kind of relationships do you maintain that build your faith and nurture your relationship with God?
For more insight, see the article, "Real Stress and Anxiety Relief God’s Way"
REFERENCES
Acts 1-2; 5:42; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Philemon 2
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