rest "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me "
(Psalm 23:6, 62:1), and
believe "Jesus answered them, 'Have the faith of God'"
(Mark 11:22-24) (Greek: exete pisto
Theou)
Here Mark is talking about the God kind of faith. In the beginning when God
spoke, He knew that the Creation would emerge. This is the same God
and Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. He is in me, and in you (John
14:17,20; Hebrews 3:6). God, our Father, gives His faith to us so we can draw
close to Him, and learn personally and experientially who He is, and how we can
have a share in His work on Earth. Osmosis.
This kind of faith requires nothing from us except our hearts desire to
participate, to "enter in". It is all God, from our Father through
Jesus by the Holy Spirit. We can not pump up our faith, we simply learn to
know who it is that we believe.
Abraham knew this kind of faith. He spent many years walking and waiting and
taking risks: "As it is written, 'I have made you a father of many
nations' .. being fully assured that what He had promised, God was also able to
perform" (Romans 4:17-21).
And so can we:
"We ... have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand ...
we rejoice in hope of the glory of God ... we also rejoice in our sufferings,
knowing that suffering works perseverance; and perseverance, proven character;
and proven character, hope" (Romans
5:1-4).
Names Had Real Substance In Biblical Times:
Abram: High father
Abraham: Father of many nations
John: The Lord is gracious
Mary: Beloved
Jesus: Saviour, deliverer, the Lord is salvation (Yeshua, Joshua)
Christ: Anointed (Messiah)
Some Of God's Names For Himself:
Jehovah-Jireh: "The
Lord our provider" (Genesis 22:14)
Jehovah-Nissi: "Our banner, a
banner of love and protection" (Exodus 17:15)
Jehovah-Shalom: "The Lord your
perfect peace" (Judges 6:24)
Jehovah-Tsid-Kenu: "The Lord
is our righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6, 33:16)
Jehovah-Shammah: "The One Who
is with us everywhere", (Ezekiel 48:35, Isaiah 60:19)
Jehovah-Sabaoth: "The Lord of
Hosts, our Protector" (Psalm 46:7)
Jehovah-Raah: "Our Shepherd,
feeder, companion, friend, pastor, herdsman. He who tenderly leads us, loves us
and will keep us safe" (Psalm 23)
Jehovah-Rapha: "I am the Lord
Your Healer" (Exodus 15:26)
(All the Divine Names And Titles In The Bible, Herbert Lockyer, Zondervan,
1988)
Jehovah is "The One who is our
Father". Everything. Can we come to terms with this?
The Persistent Neighbour (Luke 11:2-8)
After Jesus teaches his twelve disciples the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:2-4), He goes on to tell about the "one of you", the friend, who goes to his neighbour late at night, to ask for bread for a surprise visitor. The neighbour says: "Don't bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give it to you".
Eventually, because the "one of you" is very
persistent, the neighbour gets up and gives the bread (Luke 11:5-8) .
Many Christians identify with these verses; they are familiar with, again and
again, persistently praying to God, seeking answers and solutions ...
This story is from Bible times. The people Jesus was talking to knew what He
was saying. They knew the Old Covenant promises to Abraham and how, decades
later, after great struggle and much strife, Isaac was borne. They knew about
the glory of David's reign. They knew about the prophets, watchmen on the walls
of Jerusalem, reminding God of His promises, day and night (Isaiah 62:6). They
knew about the 400 years of silence; waiting for answers to God's promise of a
Messiah, with no sign or word.
Jesus was teaching in an Old Covenant context, but He was talking about the New
Covenant.
We can look forward in complete confidence to the formation and the
unfolding of our lives.
We can say "Abba", Daddy. "Abba" was an
intimate name of an adult for the father he or she loves and trusts.
"And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into
your hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a
bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ" (Galatians 4:6-7). An heir of
God! With Christ and through Christ!
"Behold, what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we
should be called the children of God" (1John 3:1 KJV).
This simple yet profound Bible verse is now a song:
Behold what manner of love the Father has given
unto us
Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us
That we should be called a child of God
That we should be called a child of God
Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us.
(Patricia Van Tine (I believe))
Intimacy - My Testimony - So Little Fruit
Why am I writing this? God's faithfulness towards me has won my heart.
I seemed not to be growing as a Christian. I was so keen, so committed. But for
years and years there was so little fruit. Nobody had any clue how to improve
or fix this. One said "Just believe, where is your faith?" Another:
"God loves you John! Jesus died to forgive your sins". My response
was to clam up. Couldn't they see that what they were saying had nothing to do
with me. They were talking from there. They were there, wherever
"there" was, and I most certainly was not!
It was very clear to me that God had favourites. These were the ones who got
stuff. They got a word or a touch from the Lord, anointing during worship,
understanding, favour, guidance. They got jobs and a level of economic freedom.
They got friends. They got God's tangible love. It was manifest for them; they
were aware of being loved. God's love was not just a concept.
I knew that I was not a favourite. I just got the biblical
minimum: I was saved and had some church fellowship. But barely enough provision.
For years I had no job. We didn't starve, but we definitely did do it tough
through our children's school years. We have scars.
Good News
Then I came into intimate relationship with Jesus. He brought me to our
Father. "If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From
now on, you know him, and have seen him" (John 14:7).
"You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with
all your heart" (John 12:21).
Yes! that was what I longed for. So I decided I would do just what Priscilla
had done. I would wait for a gap, a quiet time in my day, then settle down
somewhere and say: "Jesus, Lord, I'm here. Will you come so we can be
together? Please Jesus?"
After a while He did start to come! For me! My Jesus! Just as Priscilla told
it. Now He and I often spend time together in our own special and intimate way.
Jesus and I have a long way to go with this, sometimes the cares and
business "among the thorns" get in my way (Matthew
13:22). But He is my beloved, I have so very many glorious, touches, hugs, encouragements,
Jesus’ very presence.
Jesus gives me help, comfort, direction, answers, dreams, visions, prophesies
and work. I believe I'll have these memories forever. Best of all, He brought
me into relationships.
Where I was once very far off I am now inside, safe, fed, warm, in bed with my spiritual
family and my Abba Father while others bang on outside.
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the
blood of Christ" (Ephesians
2:13).
"For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are
far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself" (Acts 2:39).
Now, decades after being saved, I see Jesus' plans for me, for Trish, our
marriage, our family, his Church and His Kingdom, all working out. There was
never no progress. But it was always His progress. It is His plan, He equips
and makes ready in His own time. Patience and perseverance are fruits of Holy
Spirit (Galatians 5:22). We do not grow and become patient by living only in
gratification. God is love (1 John 4:16), Jesus is Lord (Romans
10:9).
(Song of Solomon 2:3-6 NIV) - This is the saved person speaking, the beloved.
Jesus is our Love!
"Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the
young men.
I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.
Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.
His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me".
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