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Day 125, A Question: What do you Think of the Christ?

Posted in Under-the-Influence, Devo Shorts 2011, tagged , , , , , , on September 11, 2019| Leave a Comment »

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“[The Gospel] regarding His Son, Who as to the flesh (His human nature) was descended from David, and [as to His divine nature] according to the Spirit of holiness was openly designated the Son of God in power [in a striking, triumphant and miraculous manner] by His resurrection from the dead, even Jesus Christ our Lord (the Messiah, the Anointed One).” Rom 1:3-4 AMP

“Now while the Pharisees were still assembled there, Jesus asked them a question, saying, What do you think of the Christ? Whose Son is He? They said to Him, The Son of David.” Mt 22:41-42 AMP

There is almost no greater question in the world to ponder, than this:  “What do you think of the Christ?  Whose Son is He?”

To be reading the Word of God, is to be connecting with the thought of God.  And when your venture into the Word, and your connection to His thought, leads you to a question that He poses, it is a launching point of discovery … an excavation of divine mystery! Don’t go screaming past it … just trying to check off your reading for the day! Don’t just give the pat answer which has no anchor or platform in your own heart!

Stop!  Slow down!  Hear the Spirit as He elevates issues to ponder and explore! This is how you grow!

My desire is not to give you an exhaustive answer here – that would require more skill than I have, and would become itself a book!

But I want to present some reasons and lines of pursuit, for why this question is so provocative; Why it absolutely must be considered at length!

First, in becoming clear on “the Christ – whose Son is He”, you will find the underpinnings of truth for the most basic claims that Jesus Christ is 100% God and 100% Man, and how that could be…

Romans 1:3-4 reveals that Jesus has both a human nature, and a divine nature.  How can He be called the Son of David (from his seed), and still be the Son of God?  Jesus’ lineage in Luke is traced through Nathan (a son of David) to Mary the mother of Jesus.  Because sin is traced through the paternal line, having Mary as His physical birth parent did not present that sin nature issue. That is, Jesus was without sin, even though He had a physical birth.

You may recall, Joseph was assumed to be the father of Jesus, but the Word assures us over and over that the real Paternal line tracked from God the Father, Himself: Mt 3:17; Mt 17:5; Jn 3:16.

Interestingly enough, during the first century (85-95 A.D. when the Books of John were written), there were two false theories concerning Christ that were challenging His deity and human nature as coexisting.  The first, Docetism, regarded Jesus as only a ghost and claimed that He only seemed to have a physical body.  The second theory, Cerinthianism, claimed that Jesus was sometimes human, and sometimes divine – but didn’t allow for both simultaneously and continuously as is true.

Second reason why this is provocative, when the truth about Jesus Christ is settled in our hearts, we will not be subject to the sway and error of whatever is the current philosophy. We will have the truth for instance and the assurance that Jesus was 100% God and 100% Man. The impact of that certainty will not only mean we will fully lean on the Lord, but we will also fully apprehend His promises.

The structural integrity of our entire Christian faith can be at risk unless these truths are settled within us. They are foundational!

If I don’t understand that Jesus was 100% Man, I won’t understand the grandeur, cost, or perfection of His being a sacrifice for my sins.  But also, if I don’t understand that He is 100% God, I will fail to perceive and believe and apprehend that Jesus gave me a new nature, a new spiritual man that is heavenly-minded, and that is to be walked out in me instead of my old-man nature of the flesh that is fallen and cannot please God. (1Jn 3)

It is paramount that the Word dwells in us richly and brings us to a full understanding. As believers, you have the nature of God (His principle of life, the divine sperm) abiding in you!  On the day you received Jesus as Lord and Savior, you owed your birth neither to bloods nor to the will of flesh (physical impulse), nor to the will of man (that of a natural father), but to God – for you were born of God! (Jn 1:13) God’s principle of life remains permanently within you! This is why you are a new creation, the old is gone, the new has come! (2Cor 5:17)

Now as an agent of truth, The Lord does not fear anything. So when the Pharisees, the local experts, who should have known the truth were brought the question (by Jesus), What do you think of the Christ, whose Son is he? They didn’t think. They gave the answer that Scripture provides … but with no forethought. So Jesus continued His probing … asking them how could King David (who is His Father after the flesh) call Him Lord? 

This question was intended to shake them out of their rote stupor.  It was to provoke them to really consider.  In their Patriarchal society, no Father would call a son “Lord,” as David did.

Jesus didn’t want their mindless response. Yet He wasn’t afraid of the answer they would come to.  Nor is He afraid of the answer we will come to, as we give honest pursuit to finding truth. So go for it! Bring what you think are your hardest questions to Him!!! He is not afraid. But do bring them! And while you are there…meet at all costs the full presence of the God of the Bible.  Meet Him in quandary, meet Him in awe, meet Him in honest need, meet Him in love. But realize … He has All the answers!

 

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Background: The First Glimpse of Revelation

Posted in "The Greatness of His Plan, Jachin, Boaz, and the Heart, tagged , , , on December 8, 2017| Leave a Comment »

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The Greatness of

His Plan:

Jachin, Boaz,

and

The Heart of Man

Spring 2017

I was preparing for the Spring Quarter of Sunday School at our church, Cottonwood Christian Fellowship. God had so gotten ahold of me concerning the topic of the believer’s heart.  Beyond it’s importance as your identity before the Lord, it is the place where belief resides in you. 

As I launched into this study, I was provoked on so many levels, and expanded in my own understanding.  One place in particular:  the understanding that your heart trumps even your mind in importance.  In fact, it is the heart more than the mind that determines if corruption is in you (by way of the old man nature) – but it will be manifested in your thinking, and your posture and perspective concerning everything.  Everything will be colored by this!

But then the Lord began to stretch my understanding, and He opened before me a panoramic perspective that became an immensely broad place.  It is that understanding that I hope to share here… concerning the heart of man and God’s provision and plan for us all!

Be blessed, be provoked, be transformed – as He leads!

Sandra

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Day Ninety-Two, The Measure of My Maturity

Posted in Under-the-Influence, Devo Shorts 2011, tagged , , , , on February 8, 2016| Leave a Comment »

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“But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light.” Amp Eph 5:13

“Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion; bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul!” Amp Ps 103:22

Where the Lord’s dominion is, there is light and there is the reign of light. But where things have not been exposed to me and reproved by the light, that area persists and is ruled by darkness.

This is especially true in the hearts and minds of believers. Yes, darkness can have a welcome place in you… because you allow it.

This is the measure of maturity of me as a believer. How much of me is walking in light?  Am I in the light as He is in the light?

Interesting thing: pertaining to light and its rule in me…the more I filter God’s light through my reasoning and intellect…the less light I have. The more I respond to His light with submission and obedience… the more light I have.

Here’s an example. Say the Lord shows you by the light of His Word and conviction of the Holy Spirit that some attitude of yours or behavior is wrong. You then take that revelation knowledge and examine it, process it according to your own thinking and standards, and then take action to obey.  As you have parsed and diluted the force of this word based on your thinking and reasoning, you have chosen to modify the thrust of the word of God – and thus you have much less light than you could have.

You have elevated, through pride, your own thinking and power of reasoning, and made it more prominent than obedience to God.

So how would this have looked if say Abraham had reacted this way in reference to the command of God: “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, and offer him as a burnt offering…” (Gen 22:2)

Abraham went the very next day to do as God said. If he had “reasoned” with himself, he might have delayed and delayed, figuring and reasoning, projecting and waiting until he thought he knew what God was really doing. But  thankfully he didn’t.

The point is: He trusted God more than his own understanding of things. He believed God!

It is vital for us to come to maturity with the light of God leading us as well as exposing and reproving us – especially as it concerns our thoughts about the word, God’s expectations of us, and even our perceptions about ourselves.  It is not good for a believer to  exercise self-perception, or self-analysis.

Psalm 36:9 explains: “For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.”  Thus it is God’s light that is sufficient to lead us into all understanding and truth. Not own own light.

When Paul advocates for us to examine and test and evaluate as he does in 2Cor 13:5 – it is done on the basis of us first seeking such light from God. Otherwise we would be like the physician trying to heal himself—not a good thing as he lacks full perspective and full understanding.

The days of us walking at a glacial pace into the maturity and holiness God desires and has provisioned for are at an end…. He now tells us, “… Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine ( make day dawn) upon you and give you light.” Amp Eph 5:14

Awake! Choose to suspend further self-analysis, investigation, rational examination, and consuming self-sifting to try and arrive at a comfortable assessment concerning your spiritual maturity… your “Okayness” with God… or that you are acceptable to Him.

Instead, asking for His light… let Him confirm that you are loving in deed and truth.  Let His Truth reassure, quiet, and pacify your heart in His presence. (1Jn 3:18-20) Nothing is hidden from Him, but many things are still hidden from you!

And receive from Him all that is needful, because you are watchfully obeying His orders, observing His suggestions, following His plan for you, and practicing what is pleasing to Him…(1Jn 3:22-24)

Shalom

 

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Day Ninety-One, The Line of the Word is Being Drawn in the Sand

Posted in Under-the-Influence, Devo Shorts 2011, tagged , , , , , , , on January 27, 2016| 1 Comment »

“This they said to try(test) Him, hoping they might find a charge on which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger.” Jn 8:6

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Amazing! Before the eyes of all present to accuse this woman of adultery, the active, living word of God was being written before them!  The very finger of God was being used again but in a way of grace never before experienced! The effect was to bring conviction and freedom. It was to bring life and cover over judgment.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us the word is alive and full of power… that it penetrates to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul), and the immortal spirit. This is what Jesus was doing there. As He wrote in the dirt, He was truly writing in the very hearts of all the dirt in the form of man present. They each then had the opportunity to agree or disagree; to align with, or turn away from that truth.

It is the very same thing today. We live our lives ruled by passion and desire, pleasures and delights… and yet we think we are saved. We call ourselves believers in fact. But we are often every bit like that crowd, or even the disciples … not knowing what spirit we are of.

At that time, if the crowd had really known the word of God (which in fact was not yet written for them – but is for you and me), they would have seen in Galations 5 that a contrast is presented between the spirit and flesh, between the life of the Spirit residing in us (against which there is no charge), and the life of our own flesh…

At some point you see, there is a distinction. Light does not just blend out into darkness. Darkness certainly does not “evolve” into light. There is a place were dark is dark and light is light – within us. The big question is… given that, what rules within you? Light, or dark? Light thinking or dark thinking?(Rom 6:16)

Imagine that light has a positive charge, and darkness a negative charge. Given a powerful magnet, there would actually be a shakedown of reality in you. Your true condition would be revealed. The prevailing rule of your heart would be seen in all its truth – either the preponderance of light or dark would draw or repel you from the magnet. You would see the truth of your condition – for as a man thinks in his heart so he is!

The problem is: many don’t know their true condition. They are deceived. In fact the cares of this world have choked the word (read life of God or light) in them – so that darkness and their own flesh really rule.

The most dangerous thing about deception is when you yourself are deceived. It is a terminal error! Thinking you stand, your actually are sliding down the slippery slope.

True salvation is to allow the word of God to deal with us. It is Living and Active. It does divide between soul (flesh) and spirit. It does free us from the dominion of our own flesh, and sin, and darkness. But is requires that you remain ever in a place of humility and submission before your God, and that He reigns in you!

Many who have lived divided lives are experiencing today the Lord’s drawing a line in the dirt. He is separating that which is for Him, and that which is not. Let this process show you where you stand!

Let the spirit of repentance have its way in you today, bringing conviction, bringing life, bringing freedom in its fullness to you. Let life and light have the victory!!! The Word is a light and a lamp unto our feet! See clearly today!

 

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Day Seventy, UNSHAKEABLE

Posted in Under-the-Influence, Devo Shorts 2011, tagged , , , , , , on October 3, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Day Seventy

UNSHAKEABLE!

“So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.” Mt 7:24 Amp

“…Yet once more will I shake and make tremble not only the earth but also the [starry] heavens.” Heb 12:26 Amp

“…as He is, so are we in this world.” 1Jn 4:17 Amp

“Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven [stands firm as the heavens]. Ps 119:89 Amp

            The person that is hidden in Christ Jesus, is obedient to Him and His word,  has their very substance in Him and is “as He is” – that one is unshakeable!  They have heard His word and it moves them to action and change — even a great change in their perspectives on things. They are being built upon the rock that is higher than I — Christ Jesus.  All that is of Christ in them – of faith, hope, and love… is unshakeable!  Our growth in Him, our maturity in Christlikeness – makes us unshakeable.

            To be unshakeable – is to be settled!  Like His word in heaven – which cannot be moved – the person built on Christ and His truth is settled, and thus unshakeable.

            Why is this important to me? Because where I let His word invade me, bring light and change, renew my thinking – I am settled! I no longer have a place for darkness to bring doubt – I am settled!

            The application of this was brought to bear powerfully as I was teaching a class to discuss according to Scripture: “Can the enemy read our thoughts?”  For as long as I have been a believer I have been told the enemy cannot read our thoughts.  But I had never relied solely on what the Bible explicitly said, or revealed by implication to be true.  So our class pursued this topic. But an interesting question arose, “Why does this even matter? Why do we need to know this if God can use every opportunity to overcome and leverage the enemy’s ability – so what if the enemy can read our minds?”

            First off – I will tell you my conclusion after much study and waiting before the Lord – was that indeed the enemy cannot read our thoughts.  But I believe he is legally able to access the quality of our thought patterns – whether they be of light or dark.  And of course he can plant many thoughts.  And does – which is our battle to overcome.  But this derivative question of why pursue such a course of inquiry if God has got it covered, provoked me.  I want to share why.

            To start, this is something that frequently happens in my life.  I study something.  I gain some insight and estimate that the issue is reasonably resolved.  It gets shelved.  But later, I may actually have to reinvestigate the whole thing if my thinking has not actually been renewed on the subject – if the Truth has not fully possessed me.

However, if I have investigated deeply enough and my thinking is actually renewed – then the issue becomes “settled” along the lines of truth.  In this place my thinking has so changed that it is not that I simply agree with the new information – but rather that that becomes my thinking.  It is here that my thoughts have come into agreement with the will of God and His truth.  They have become submitted to truth, and truth has invaded them.  I no longer have to check with my “Christian party line” so to speak.  But rather, my thoughts have been flooded with the light of truth.  In this place – Christlikeness now reigns.  In this area – as He is, so am I in the world.  In this place – I am unshakeable!

            Now it is one thing for me to have the mind of Christ about a topic or issue – such as the enemy’s ability or inability.  This is a wonderful thing.  But it is something very different for me to begin to have the mind of Christ about God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Lord Jesus Himself in the context of this issue!

In the investigation of whether the enemy can read our thoughts, I gained not just what I think is the Biblical truth on this question, but serendipitously I gained way more!  By excavating the word of God on this topic I was not only brought to a new level of “settledness” over this question, but more importantly I was advanced in my “settleness” and actual “unshakeability” concerning the very nature of God! This is something I did not calculate gaining, but it so supersedes the value of the reason for the study to begin with as to be of exponential value to me as a believer!

God’s goal for us is unity with Him – in every area.  Total submission– because we trust Him with a trust like Job’s (“though He slay me yet will I trust Him.”)  Sometimes it is a stepping stone leap into this kind of trust.  We are not pursuing it directly – we don’t know how to do that.  But God in His graciousness will provoke us to pursue a line of questioning – and it ends up pursuing Him!  This is His inestimable grace at work! I can only stand amazed at it.

So why look for Bible truth for our Biblical questions? Because on the way to finding answers, sometimes God shows up and reveals that He Is!  What started as a search for doctrinal truth ends up as a God ordained renovation project where He shows us Himself and ushers us into a state of being ‘UNSHAKEABLE” in Him. HUA!

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Spurious Record

Posted in Poetry, tagged , , , on September 30, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Spurious Records

 

A tree falls down in the forest,

Yet there is not one to see.

Has this moment then actually happened,

When no record is made for me?

 

Jesus takes our fall on a tree,

And there are many who see.

A moment that truly did happen,

Recorded for eternity.

 

Tho’ I was not there as a witness,

Nor had a breath even mine.

This event is one I am certain,

Divides more than history of time

 

So Who then establishes truth?

On Whom can we lean with our mind?

What Anchor prevails against falsehood?

Who frames the very span of time?

 

☼

 

Only One holds Words of all knowledge.

Only One laid footings for Earth.

On the day morning stars sang together,

His commands flow forth as at first.

 

©2011 Sandra Gilloth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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