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Apr

2011

There really are two worlds

“Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.’

“Therefore Pilate said to Him, ‘So You are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.'” (Joh 18:35-37)

Journal,

For the past few days I’ve had this feeling that I was to write a blog on the other world Jesus spoke to Pilate about. Then I remembered a blog I shared last year entitled, ‘Made in the Divine Image.’ So I decided to use that blog as a backdrop and share more insights that hopefully will bless my readers.

Here is the bottom line issue. While the angels of God continue with their nature intact, our spiritual nature and personal identity with God was displaced in the fall of Adam. We forfeited our unique relationship with all of creation. We lost something of our original nature.

I realize that the idea of humans having something of the divine is difficult to grasp. Yet a restoration of Adam’s lost glory is at the very heart of our redemption in Christ Jesus. And this restoration includes something of the divine nature.

Pay attention to these Scriptures —

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom3:23)

Another,

“For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” (Heb 2:10-11 NASB)

And again,

“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” (2Pe 1:4)

Jesus entered the fallen world of Adam

Jesus took to Himself the fallen human race. Satan’s authority over all humanity was broken at the cross. From that moment on any person who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Calling on Jesus relates to His becoming Lord and Savior to the one calling on Him.)

But it doesn’t stop there. Peter gave more insight:

“… seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” (2Pe 1:3 NASB)

That which was lost in the fall of Adam, has been restored in Jesus Christ.

The point is that Satan was able to take advantage of Adam’s fallen state and build his earthly kingdom around this aspect of disrepair. Satan is called the god of this world, the ruler of this world, the prince of the power of the air, and the authority of ‘the domain of darkness.’ All that changed with the coming of Jesus Christ.

The two worlds and the two kinds of humans…

So now there actually are two kinds of humans on this planet. You have the ‘in Adam’ human. And you have the ‘in Christ’ human. Those who are in Christ, have turned to Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Savior. They belong to a new creation. Those who have not turned to Jesus still yet remain under the domain of the old creation. They are still under Satan’s jurisdiction.

Listen to these Scriptures that describe the two kinds of humans on planet earth today:

“[We all] formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were BY NATURE CHILDREN OF WRATH, even as the rest.” (Eph2:2,3)

In speaking to the Jewish leaders in the temple, He said,

“‘I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.’ So the Jews were saying, ‘Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, “Where I am going, you cannot come’?”‘ And He was saying to them, ‘You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.‘” (Joh 8:21-23)

Again,

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (Joh 8:44)

Here is the description of those who have turned to Jesus Christ:

“For we are [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we would walk in them.” (Eph2:10)

Again,

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away, new things have come.” (2Co5:17)

To the disciples and by extension to all believers through the age.,

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” (Joh 15:19)

See the distinction?

You have humans in disrepair and you have humans who have been restored to their proper nature and in right relationship with God.

Once the human nature has been repaired this brings the principle of godliness back in place, and that which most closely relates to the divine. We now have a heart that is very much like God’s heart.

This does not mean that the repaired Christian cannot sin. No person on this planet has as sensitive a conscience as that of a person who has been born again. It is the nature of a Christian to seek cleansing from sin.

Born from above…

With that being said let’s take a closer look at the believer’s new status with God. Jesus said,

“The thief [Satan’s environs and activities] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (Jn10:10)

The true believer is born from above. When a person is born from above their human nature has undergone a spiritual repair, and is in the process of being restored to its proper purpose.

The born again person is now a very child of God. The child of God once again has something of the divine within him. He belongs to the family of God.

The heavenly Father spoke life to him. This is what Jesus meant when he said,

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the word that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” (John 6:63)

Through our journey in this world, the Lord gives us life words. He speaks to us as our Father. But He also brings healing where healing is needed.

Repairing the broken…

The disrepair of our humanity can only be corrected one way. It is found in the working principle of the cross. Jesus alone is the One who repairs us. It is to Him alone that we bring our broken humanity. It is to Him that we make our appeal to His Lordship and to His saving grace. This is why the true apostolic message never changes, which says,

“And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved [repaired].”

The word salvation [soteria] in Greek speaks of preservation and deliverance. The word ‘save’ [sozo] means, to bring safely, get well, to restore, etc.

Listen to angel’s message to Joseph about Mary having a Son:

“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Mark 1:21)

Being saved from our sins is not a one time event. It is the maxim of the cross. Being saved from our sins is a process of life. The Lord saved us, He is saving us, He will save us. Jesus came to save us from all our sins, past, present and future.

“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.” (Tit 3:5 NASB)

The glory to be revealed…

Here is the Scripture that troubles some folk:

“What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty!“ (Psa 8:4-5 NASB)

Yes, Adam did share in the divine nature, that is, in those godly traits that are found in God Himself. Adam was God’s very child and he carried in his person something of the nature of his Father.
I hope you are seeing the picture. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you also are God’s very child.

We have yet to receive our full glory, but it will happen.

Paul said this:

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” (Rom 8:29-30)

In all this always keep in mind that you do have authority over Satan. How to use this authority properly is a way of learning the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Think about these things. In the meantime here is a song what will minister to your heart, “The Glorious Impossible,” by the Gaither Band:

May the Lord ‘s richest blessing overflow your life as you seek His face,

Buddy

Apr

2011

The Mystery of The Marriage

“Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.’

“It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, ‘Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'” And he said to me, ‘These are true words of God.'” (Rev 19:6-9)

Journal,

It was the first wedding for one of our grandchildren. Wesley asked her uncle Nathan to do the wedding and she wanted grandpa to bring a blessing. Here we are on the platform, Nathan and myself, and the groom. The groomsmen and bridesmaids are in place. All we needed was the bride.

The bridal music began and suddenly everyone’s gaze is fixed on the top of the plantation stairs. There she was. I think my heart literally skipped a beat. But I don’t think it was my heart only. All eyes were transfixed. Never had I seen a more beautiful bride. (All brides are beautiful.) There was our granddaughter Wesley with her raven black hair at the top of the stairs. The evening sun was lowering and its rays seemed fixed on our grandchild. It was pure radiance.

It was at that time that a thought rose up in my mind. My mind went to the bride of Christ. No, I wasn’t calling Wesley the bride of Christ. It was the scene. The tears began to fill my eyes. It was a moment of heaven as I stood transfixed with pure love in my heart. How I long for the day when we shall be joined fully with Jesus in our heavenly home.

Anyway, when Wesley and Joshua stood before me, the first words I spoke were, “Wesley, you are so beautiful.” Then I began to share the blessings of the Lord over them.

Yes, it was a family moment. My oldest son, Nathan, performed the wedding. My youngest son, André, gave the bride away.

(By the way, how do you give your daughter away? I only have one daughter, and I refuse to give her away.)

Before I go any further, there is one more picture to share. Here are our two great-grandchildren Aiden and Cadence. Like everyone else, Aiden was feeling the moment.

Well, that brings me to the most beautiful story ever told. It is about…

The mystery of the Lamb’s marriage

In all that the Bible has it is important to bear in mind that it is both a book of redemption and a book of marriage. The Bible opens its pages with a marriage and the book closes with the marriage of the Lamb and His Bride. And the story of redemption is interwoven throughout its pages. The bridal price was paid at the cross. (Called the ‘ketubah’ in ancient Israel.)

And so we take up our name ‘Christian.’ We take to ourselves the new covenant representative title of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. The prophet Isaiah said that God’s people would be given a new name. The apostle Peter said that we are to glorify God in the name Christian. It is important to understand this. Anything else a believer may wish to call himself is of little importance. Unless you can call yourself a Christian, you have not fully identified with the Christ of God in a proper way.

“If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.” (1Pe 4:14-16)

Did you catch it? We Christians have taken the name of Christ to ourselves. This is because we are espoused to the Lord Jesus. We are to glorify God in the name Christian.

Let me say it another way – The Baptist Church did not die for you. Nor the Catholic Church, not the Pentecostal Church, nor the Episcopalian Church, and so on. Those designations are meaningless when it comes to who believers really are. We are Christians. So, why don’t we began to drop all the other titles and simply say, “I am a Christian.”

A marriage covenant of the Spirit

Now for the heart of the matter. The new covenant is a marriage covenant of the Spirit and not of the letter. The letter was written on stone. The new covenant is a love letter of Christ written in our hearts. In the new covenant our hearts are filled with the very presence of Jesus Christ. Who is adequate for this? The mystery of our espousal to Jesus Christ is beyond words.

The apostle said it well enough:

“… being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2Co 3:3)

“Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2Co 3:5-6)

Take note that the essence of our covenant in Christ is found in the ‘new.’ New covenant believers are given a new ability to live in and experience the very love of God. Everything in the new covenant is new, not renewed, or refurbished, or modified. It is entirely new.

A marriage based on blessings not curses

The Old Covenant was also a marriage covenant but it had curses attached to it. It ended in a death. The new covenant has no curses. In the new covenant every believer’s life is overseen by, indwelt by, enriched by, guided by, corrected by, and governed by the Holy Spirit. It is a covenant of life. It is a covenant of love.

The new covenant is a covenant of forgiveness and mercy. It is a covenant where all believers are guaranteed a future together with Christ. Upon each believer’s heart is placed a redeeming seal of love. The seal cannot be broken. God allows no separation from His love for us in Christ.

The new covenant overrules death. The new covenant is a covenant where no believer can ever received a damnatory sentence. This is what the statement means, which says,

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law [the new covenant marriage contract and all its spiritual ramifications] of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law [former marriage covenant with its curses] of sin and death.” (Rom8:1,2)

So, there you have it in short measure.

As for my granddaughter, Wesley. Well she is the first of fifteen grandchildren. We have fourteen more to see at the altar of wedding. I’ll probably enjoy an epiphany [a divine manifestation] experience with each wedding. But who knows — Hopefully our journey to our heavenly home will be in the short run.

In the meantime here is a song for your meditation —

In Christ always,
Buddy

Apr

2011

Don’t Check Your Brain at the Door

“…His disciples came to Him and said, ‘Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.’ And He said, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.’

“So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Mat 13:36-43)

Journal,

Some of my readers may not take lightly to this journal entry. Rarely do I share an entry that deals with the negatives. However, it is always best to be forewarned when it comes to the false movements that are abounding today. So, here goes. Please consider what I have to share. You can judge for yourself if it is of the Lord.

In Matthew 13, there are seven kingdom parables. Each parable addresses an essential truth. The parable of the tares is second of the kingdom parables.

The Lord explains that there *will* be tares planted among the wheat. (Cf. Matt13:24-30) The wheat represents the children of God. The tares are the sons of the evil one. Throughout the church age this battle will continue.

That doesn’t sound so difficult, does it? After all, all we just need to do is look for a son of evil one? Surely someone of this caliber would stand out from everyone else!?

Well, it isn’t as easy as it may seem. And this goes to the heart of the parable.

The tare instills ruinous heresy

The disciples were familiar with the symbols Jesus used. The tares in the parable would be the ‘bearded’ tare, or darnell tare. This tare looks very much wheat, especially while it is growing. It takes a trained eye to recognize the difference. In the parable the workers went to sleep. When a flock lacks proper Biblical guidance and ‘alert’ mature spiritual leadership, this is where the tare can begin to do his damage.

The bearded tare is poisonous. If it is mixed with wheat, and ingested, it can cause sickness, and possibly death. This is why the tares have to be harvested out of the wheat, before the wheat can be harvested. But who can do it properly? Only the Lord. And He uses angels for this work.

The tares and their false doctrines have always been a major cause for spiritual weakness among believers. False doctrines are man centered. Rather than produce a genuine maturing in a believer’s life, they create a false bond between the believer and the false teacher.

It is because of these false bonds that you find some believers who chase after various teachers, prophets, and movements. They reach for every new ism that moves with the wind. These weak believers have never learned what Biblical spirituality and maturity is about.

Paul address this issue:

“As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.” (Eph 4:14,15)

The original godhood lie

Here is an example of a noted Charismatic teacher making pure mockery of God. If you are unable to see the mockery here then I pray that the Lord opens your eyes. This man makes God out to be a fool. He twists and turns the Scriptures to mean something that they do not mean. He has Adam giving life to the animals, and not God. This kind of teaching abounds in the ‘We are gods’ teachings that are making rounds in certain movements today. Judge for yourself.

What you heard in the afore video are elements of the original lie that Satan used on Eve. It can be considered the mother of all lies. Understand this and you are on your way to realizing how this same lie is making its rounds in large portions of the Charismatic movement today.

‘The lie’ was that Adam and Eve could be exactly what God is, therefore they would have no need for God. They themselves would be gods. And this is the very lie being pushed today. It is insidious because people do not realize that it actually undermines the Lordship of Jesus Christ in a person’s life. If I can do everything Jesus does, then why would I need Jesus. (Think about it.)

Most false-doctrine groups have the godhood lie built into them.

The power of the tare and of false doctrine

In Samaria there was a man named Simon, who claimed to be someone great. Everyone gave attention to him. They thought he was from God. After all, he could do supernatural things. When Philip came to town and began preaching the gospel, people began to turn to Jesus by the multitudes. Guess who gets baptized? You got it. Simon the sorcerer.

Simon was a false believer. He had no intention of turning from his occult works. As Simon sees the wonders done by Philip, he needs to associate with that power. And when he sees people being filled with the Holy Spirit through the hands of the apostles. He wants that power! He has to have it. So Simon begins with the money exchange.

Peter recognizes right away that Simon is a ‘tare.’ He says,

“May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.” (For full story see Acts 8:4-24)

Church history tells us that Simon never repented. He continued in his sorcery, and came to beguile of many souls. Simon began a gnostic group that tried to undermine the Christian faith. His followers began to call on him as a god. (According to Justin Martyr.)

Do not ignore the warnings

There is a Scriptural setting that is easy to misunderstand and yet it provides a special warning that Jesus gives for end time events. It centers on what the term ‘Christ’ actually means. Christ and Messiah both mean ‘the anointed one.’

The Lord warns about ‘special anointed places,’ and ‘special anointed ones.’ These anointed ones claim to speak for God. Yet they are producing chains of bondage that the misguided and immature is unable to recognize. Think about it for a moment and you will find where the pieces fit.

Now the warning –

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ [the anointed one],’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. For false Christs [anointed ones] and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to misled, if possible, even the elect.” (Mat24:23,24)

The Lord goes on …

“Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ to not believe them.” (At this point the Lord begins to speak of His second coming.)

Not only did Jesus warn that there would be a sweeping move of a false anointing in the last days, but the Old Testament prophets also warned of this. Listen carefully to Jeremiah;

“…In the last days you will clearly understand it. I did not send these prophets, but they ran. I did not speak to them, but they prophesied.” (Jer23:20,21)

Then Jeremiah explains the message of a false prophet. He says these prophets lead God’s people astray by their “falsehoods” and “reckless boasting.” (Jer23:32)

What is the false prophet doing?

“But had they (the false prophet) stood in My council, then they would have announced My words to My people, and would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds.” (Jer23:22)

The false prophet speaks with a voice of authority, but their message reeks of earthly treasures and pleasures. Peter and Jude tell us that they merchandise God’s people. With flattery (often by personal prophecies, a form of fortune-telling) they deceive the hearts of the simple.

The spirit of sorcery is powerful. Unless it is arrested in some way, it can take on the feeling of a flowing river, of great euphoria, and even sensations in the body. And this is how it deceives someone with appearance of being the Holy Spirit. But the happiness is misleading. It is hypnotic and dangerous. It is merely an eroding of a person’s foundation. The result can be a mental institution.

The masquerade

We think that just because a person is speaking in the name of Jesus, and because supernatural things are happening, that it has to be from God. This is a mistake no believer should ever make. Keep in mind that a false gospel produces false converts

It appears that the Corinthian Church was bordering on the occult. You find this in both of Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. Paul explains this, when he says,

“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” (2Co11:3)

Notice how Paul describes the true Christian walk. It is based on a simple devotion to Jesus Christ. No more. No less. It is not based on supernatural experiences.

Now for the occult –

“For if one comes and *preaches* another Jesus who we have not preached, or you *receive* a different spirit which you have not received, or a *different gospel* which you have
not accepted, you bear this beautifully.” (2Co11:4)

Do you see the occult warning? Another Jesus! Another spirit! Another gospel!

If someone doesn’t understand the true gospel, how easy it is for the enemy to give a replacement.

The last thing I wish to share is that it is possible even for a child of God to be misguided for a time, and to get caught up on these false movements. But once your eyes are fully opened to the deception at work, that is when you make your departure. My advise is simple — Don’t ignore the cautions in your own heart.

And get your eyes back on the glory of the cross.

I hope some of what I shared will be of help to others.

In Christ always

Buddy

Apr

2011

The Secret Place of God

“One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;

“In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.” (Psa 27:4-6)

Journal,

David speaks of God’s secret place, of God’s hiding place, and the place of God’s shelter. Often when he uses these terms, David is referring to the holiest of holies in which only the high priest was allowed to enter but once a year. But behind the symbol lies the reality.

So, why would David say that the secret place is where God hides His people? And David isn’t the only one who speaks of this secret dwelling place.

Listen to Moses:

“Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” (Psa 90:1-2)

All the prophets shared insights into the wonders of redemption. Their full understanding had limitations. Some things were kept in store for the times of Messiah.

Note the apostle Peter:

“As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

“It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven

“–things into which angels long to look.” (1Pe 1:10-12)

God’s blue print of redemption

Between the angels and over the mercy seat was a Light. In the Light was a form. The form was Jesus Himself. God spoke to Miriam and Aaron, concerning the form:

“With [Moses] I speak mouth to mouth, even openly, and not in dark sayings, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?” (Num12:8

Now Paul:

“… who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking on the form of a bond-servant … ” (Phil2:6,7)

The blue print of our redemption is in the Old Testament tabernacle plan. The holiest of holies was the most sacred part of the tabernacle. It represented heaven and the throne of God. No one was allowed to entered there except the high priest, and that only once a year. He carried over his breast the tribes of Israel.

In the holiest of holies was the Ark of the Covenant. On each side of the lid were two angels. Their gaze was fixed on the mercy-seat.

This is what Peter is calling attention to. The angels speak of the wonder of heaven about the incarnation of the Son of God, and in His work of redemption. The Light over the mercy-seat was the same Light that blinded Paul on the road to Damascus.

But the angels saw something else. In looking at the mercy of redemption they saw the children of God, seated with Christ in the heavenly places. This is their wonderment.

Our secret hiddenness

David often breaks forth into praise when he speaks God’s love for His people.

“How great is Your goodness, which You have stored for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men! You hide them in the secret place of Your presence, from the conspiracies of man; You keep them in the shelter from the strife of tongues.” (Psalm 31:19,20 nasb.)

The lives of all believers are hidden with God in Christ.

David could speak of the holiest of holies as the hiding place for God’s people because he saw passed the veil, and into God’s redemption plan that stretched from eternity past to eternity future.

David saw the Lord Jesus. In fact, David called Jesus, his Lord. (Ask me if you don’t know where this is.)

The secret place of God would take in all His people from ancient time on. The tabernacle was a picture-perfect symbol of God’s eternal purpose for all His people.

The ever-present One

Even the Old Testament saints knew in their hearts that the Lord was their ever-present security in life. The Psalmist Asaph speaks of God’s people as His ‘treasured ones.’ He writes,

“They make shrewd plans against Your people, and conspire together against Your treasured ones [tsaw-fan’].” (Ps83:3)

These treasured ones are God’s people of the ages. The Hebrew for ‘treasured ones’ speaks of that which is covered by God, or, that which is hidden, or, that which is kept secret. It especially speaks of the secret of one’s heart. God’s treasured ones are the secret love of His heart.

All who are ever going to be saved have their names already recorded in God’s book of redemption. Their point of salvation in this life is determined in Christ. Jesus said that everyone the Father gives to Him, will come to Him. He also said that all who come to Him, He will raise up on the last day.

Such a mystery this.

The psalmist puts things together when he writes,

“For in the day of trouble He will conceal [tsaw-fan’] me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock [the Rock is Christ]. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.” (Psalm 27:5,6)

Sealed and concealed for eternity

The Hebrew for ‘conceal‘ [tsaw-fan’]is the same Hebrew word used for God’s ‘treasured ones’. God’s people are His treasures in the earth and for all eternity. This allows us to have a better understanding of a kingdom parable about a treasure. Jesus said,

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field [world], which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matt13:44)

The story is the story of the cross. Jesus Christ gave His life for the hidden treasure. Jesus came to seek that which was lost. Now the treasure is hidden again, but this time it is hidden in Christ.

Paul said,

“For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” (Col3:3,4)

Being hidden in Christ means that every believer is eternally secured from the power of darkness. We can never be separated from God’s love. Our life is placed in the Light of God’s very being. Peter said that our calling was into “His marvelous light.”

Secured eternally

Our place in Christ was secured at the cross. We have already been raised up and seated with Him in the heavenly places. We are to live out our present life with the knowledge of our eternal placement. God gives us heavenly life as a foretaste of eternity. Heavenly life is God’s oversight of our lives. Heavenly life is also the working of heaven in our hearts.

God never takes His eyes off any who belong to Him. Listen to this conversation between David and the Lord:

[David] “You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.”
[Lord] “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” (Ps27:7,8)

Jesus said,

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. … This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:37,39,40)

What say ye Christians? Is your heart in tune with heaven. Are you looking and longing for you final redemption?

Take time to listen once again to this song.

In Christ always,

Buddy

Think about it.

Apr

2011

Invisibility and Power

“Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2Co 12:8-10)

Journal,

Did you know that a believer’s greatest weakness can become their greatest strength? Yes, this is Biblical language. It has to do with something that God does in our lives. Turning weaknesses into strength is one of the great wonders of the new covenant walk. It is the secret to what beautifies a believer’s life. Yes indeed, God wants to add beauty to your life.

Listen as the Lord speaks through the prophet Isaiah;

“[I will] grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” (Isa 61:3)

We need a good starting place. Let’s begin with the word ‘spiritual‘.

I can do all things through Christ

The New Testament term so often misunderstood is the term ‘spiritual. The Greek term for spiritual [pneumatikós] comes from two words that have to do with invisibility and power, or that which proceeds from the Holy Spirit. So, whether it is a spiritual song, a spiritual gift, or a spiritual enlightenment, it will always be of the Spirit and never of the flesh or by natural tendency.

Spirituality is not something to be earned. It comes to us by way of the cross. And yet spirituality is something that the believer learns to draw on. The reason is in every believer there is a spiritual fountain of life.

Listen to Jesus explain this to the Samaritan woman:

“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

“She said to Him, ‘Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?”

“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.'” (John 4:10-14)

From grace to grace

Spirituality is the outflow of God’s grace. Grace is not something that is measured to us on the basis of our merits. No one earns grace. And there will never be a day in a believer’s life where they are unable to draw on grace. (Cf. John 1:16)

God’s grace will always be amazing. It seems to come to us out of nowhere. Paul said it this way:

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Gal 2:20)

The apostle also said,

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Php 4:11-13)

A secret to be learned

Paul said he had ‘learned’ the secret. The word ‘learned’ in the Greek context speaks of an entrance into a new condition of living.

Paul had been taught by the Lord how to be independent of outside considerations. What he learned was that the Lord can infuse His strength into any every need that Paul the believer had. Paul’s weakness could become his strengths. However, it would be important for Paul to recognize his own weakness before the power of God’s grace could become his source of strength.

Another way of saying this is that Christ is living His life in each believer.

This is where we hear Paul say,

“…Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2Co 12:9-10)

You don’t put new wine in old wine skins

A problem for some today is that they try to live new covenant life on an old covenant level. While there are defined callings in the new covenant, in no sense is one believer granted a higher spiritual life than any other. Certainly we should thank the Lord for pastors and other ministers, however, these ministers should never be given a place where they become the voice of God in our lives.

And in no case should a believe be running to and fro, trying to find someone who can give them a word from the Lord. The era of the Old Testament prophet is over. His job was fulfilled in John the Baptist. Jesus specifically said that the law and the prophets concluded with John. The new covenant is a covenant of spiritual life. This spiritual life is resident in each believer.

It is not that the Lord can’t speak to us through others. He can and He does. The Lord can speak to us through nature or even by way of a sinner. But none of this precludes the essence of spiritual life in the new covenant.

Hear what Jesus had to say about the new covenant:

“When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” (Joh 10:4-5)

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (Joh 10:27-28)

The Way of the Cross

After Jesus took His place in heaven as the resurrected ‘Lord of glory,’ the Spirit then came to fill the new covenant church. The purpose of the cross was a new creation wherein each believer would be God-indwelt. This is why Jesus told the apostles that it was to their advantage that He went away.

The Lord went on to speak of the cross to the disciples:

“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” [The term ‘truth’ in in the Greek speaks of the realities of God that comes to us by the cross.]

And again,

“He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said to you that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.” (Cf. John 16:12-15) [He would take of the finished work of the cross and will disclose it to you.]

Out of the cross would come a new kind of man and woman, a people of the Spirit. These spiritual people would also be ‘heavenly’ born, that is, they would be heavenly citizens in earthly bodies. They would also be given the mind of Christ.

Our spirituality is the working of the cross in us. It is also the working of heaven in us. If we keep the term ‘the finished work of the cross’ in view, this will disallow confusion about what it means to be a person of the Spirit in the new covenant.

Jesus Christ is not only Lord and God, He is also the firstborn of many brothers and sisters. John said that His fullness has been given to all believers. Thus we have become men of Christ and women of Christ, that is, we are Christians.

Listen to the gospel story in this song, ‘He Came Down to My Level’, by the Gaither Vocal Band

Much love in Christ always,

Buddy

Apr

2011

Lord, Send Your Angels

For interested readers here are my top journal entries that are receiving the most traffic:

(1) The Battle of Temptations: http://buddymartin.net/blog/2011/04/the-battle-of-temptations/

(2) The Gospel is like a Caged Lion: http://buddymartin.net/blog/2011/04/the-gospel-is-like-a-caged-lion/

(3) My Testimony: http://buddymartin.net/blog/testimony/

(4) Salvation: http://buddymartin.net/blog/salvation/

Journal,

There is so much in the Scriptures that relates to the well-being of believers. Included in our well-being we have, the blood covenant, our eternal seal of security in Christ, our heavenly citizenship, the Holy Spirit of God, the promises of God, the ‘catching away’ promise, the very armor of God Himself, and much more. Yet there is one aspect of our well-being that we don’t hear much about. It has to do with the ministry of angels. There are tons of books about the demonic. What gives?

Who are these holy angels of God, and what is their special role among believers? In this entry we will consider some of the basic issues that relate to God’s holy angels. However, the study of angels is a vast domain. I simply wish to let you see just how wonderful these heavenly creatures are and how they affect your life.

Note: Place your cursor over a Scripture reference and it will appear.

Messengers of the Throne

The Hebrew word for angel is mal’ak. Greek is ággelos. These terms carry the meaning of, ‘to dispatch as a messenger’. While they can be applied to a human messenger, most often in the Scriptures they have to do with God’s holy and majestic angels. One of their duties is to be a messenger of the throne, and in many other ways to carry out the will of God.

Angels are commissioned servants of God. There are various orders of angels but I’ll keep things simple and just talk about angels in a general sense.

Let’s begin here:

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all. Bless the LORD, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word!” (Psa 103:19-22)

In the book of Hebrews, angels are said to be ‘ministering spirits.’ With this in mind they have a very unique role with regard to the people of salvation. Listen:

“But to which of the angels has He ever said, ‘Sit at My right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for Your feet’? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” (Heb 1:13-14)

Heavenly involvement

Angels are much more involved in our lives than we realize. Notice carefully that it says the angels render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation. God knew every one of His people from eternity long past. Today the angels also know every child of God. Fact of the matter is that every person who is ever going to be saved, their name is already written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Cf. Rev13:8; 17:8

As for being ministering spirits, angels don’t often take on human form, but they can. Angels are awesome in their natural state. However, the Lord knows that seeing angels in all their majesty could be somewhat disconcerting to believers. So angels for the most part always keep a low profile. Most often they are the unseen servants who attend to that which God assigns them.

The list is endless about how angels attend to our lives. It appears that their realm of being is deeply affected by God’s children on earth. Jesus said that there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner repents. (Cf. Luke15:10)

We also know that angels attest to a believer’s confession of Jesus Christ. (Luke12:8) Angels go with believers to heaven. (Luke16:22) They gather all God’s elect at the proper time. (Mark13:27) Angels are involved in the judgments of God. (2Th1:7; 2Kings19:35) Angels do every deed that the voice of God speaks.

Spiritual strength

A very interesting aspect of angels is that believers most likely have drawn on the strength of angels without realizing it. We see this in the life of Jesus. There are two particular instances where Jesus as a man actually receives strength from an angel. Once is following His temptation. The other is in the garden.

Here they are:

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”‘ Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.” (Mat 4:10-11)

“…saying, ‘Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.’ Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.” (Luk 22:42-43)

If Jesus in His humanity needed extra spiritual strength, could it be that we also need that strength? Jesus is noted as the firstborn of many brothers, and of course, sisters. We are heirs and joint-heirs with Christ. A major difference is that angels had been in the company of Jesus from the time of their creation. He is Lord and God. While we don’t have that level of experience, yet we are the very children that Jesus came to redeem. Cf. Rom8:16-19.

As messengers of God, here are some references: Cf. Heb1:13,14; Gen28:12,13; Psa91:11; Luke 1:12,13; 1:28-33; Mat1:19-23; 2:13.

Do we have special angels

The angels of the Lord go to and fro from His throne. In the ancient Hebrew tradition there was a belief that every nation had a special angel, and that a certain class of angels nearest to the throne of God, had charge over God’s children. These angels were called, ‘Angels of the Presence’, or, ‘Angels of the Face.’ (mal’aki panim) They had constant contact with the Father. It appears that Gabriel was of that class. (Cf. Luke1:19)

In the book of Revelation, there are angels assigned to churches. It is also possible that each child of God has an attending angel, or at least an angel that would come from the throne of God to aid the believer at special times. The Lord drew attention to this in a warning to the world:

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” (Mat 18:10)

Lord, send your angels

Is it alright to ask the Lord to send His angels to meet a special need? I don’t know why not. I also think this is an area where we can ask the Lord to guide us in our prayers. We do know that when Jesus told the disciple to withdraw his sword, He said:

“Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Mat 26:53)

Yes, we are heirs and joint-heirs with Christ. And always remember what the Prophet Elisha said to his servant:

“Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’

“So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2Ki 6:15-17)

Think about it. There is so much more to be said. Let the Lord fill your heart and mind with the good things of His kingdom.

In the meantime, listen to this wonderful song. ‘Lord Send Your Angels’ by Candy Christmas.

Always your friend in Christ,

Buddy

Apr

2011

The Battle of Temptations

“And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’” (Mat 26:40-41)

Journal,

In this entry we want to look at what temptations are, how they work in a believer’s, life, and how to deal with issues of temptations.

Where Jesus says, “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,” this statement is very telling with regard to temptations. It allows us to see up front that a temptation is not something we want to enter into . Secondly, it tells us that temptations have their strongest avenue through our flesh life. (The flesh life refers to that part of our lives that is not under the influence of the Holy Spirit.)

Solicitations to Evil

Solicitations to evil come in many forms, but the source is the same, and the goal is pretty much the same. The word ‘temptation‘ (peirasmos) speaks of an enticement to sin. The purpose of a temptation is to distort a believer’s faith, that is, to pull a believer away from the Lord’s spiritual oversight.

Keep in mind that a temptation is Satan’s working power. When we are in a temptation it means that Satan is seeking to bring us under his influence. A temptation from Satan, is his invitation to take part in what he has for us.

While it should be understood that a temptation of itself is not a sin, it should also be understood that a temptation can be very powerful. This is why Jesus said we must pray so that we won’t enter into a temptation.

In the Greek text, “enter into temptation” is ‘eiserchomai eis peirasmos.’ The ‘eis‘ denotes a movement from one realm of reality into another. When we enter ‘into‘ a temptation, we are actually passing into another reality. The reality in this case proves to be Satan’s doing. But once the temptation has completed its work, the one who has fallen into this ‘alternate‘ reality, and afterwards returns to their right mind, they then wonder how it could ever have happened. This shows the power of a temptation.

A false reality

Remember that a temptation has to do with a false reality. In the realm of darkness, black becomes white, and sin is not sinful. In the temptation there is a distortion of God Himself. It is in this realm of false reality that we find the false prophet. The false prophet manipulates and distorts the truths of God.

It cannot be emphasized enough – This false reality is an issue of spiritual warfare. Satan is trying to place chains on the believer’s life that will make the believer unable to serve the Lord in a worthy way.

Paul explained it this way:

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” (Rom 6:15-16)

The prophet Malachi gave the warning about believing what is not true about God:

“You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, ‘How have we wearied Him?’ In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them,’ or, ‘Where is the God of justice?'” (Mal 2:17)

Did you catch it? The false prophet and the false reality says that sin doesn’t really matter because everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord. Do you see anything wrong with this picture? I hope so.

The process of deception

James gives us the process of a temptation. Listen carefully;

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted (tested) by God’ (or, ‘God is in this.’); for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone (with evil). But each one is tempted when he is carried away (demonic allurement) and enticed by his own lust (strong desire). Then when lust has conceived (the door has been walked through), it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished it brings forth death. (Something always dies. Only God can restore life.) Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren” (James 1:13-16)

Where James says, ‘Do not be deceived,’ the word ‘deceived’ is ‘planao.’ It speaks of something that causes a wandering, or a misleading. The idea behind the word ‘deceive‘, in the Hebrew includes the thought of ‘stealing the heart.‘

Satan’s goal is to twist and turn a person’s heart. And Satan has a way of working a temptation where the person is convinced that the thing being offered is actually of God.

This even extends to the believer’s testimony. Paul tells us not to become like the world. The way to win the lost is to offer them something that they don’t already have. The strongest attraction that a Christian has is that sense of the holy that overflows throughout their life.

It was the sense of holy that drew people to the Lord Jesus.

The apostle Paul give us our instructions:

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom 12:1-2)

Where nothing is sacred

As I shared earlier, a temptation is the working power of sin. Before the fall, Adam and Eve did not know about the power of sin. After the fall they became well acquainted. And through the fall the human race became even more acquainted with the working of sin.

My point is that Satan doesn’t always spring a temptation on us where we instantly fall. Most often he works the pieces together in a way that when the proper moment comes, we step right through the door. Satan reasons us into sin where the forbidden doesn’t really mean forbidden, and sacred doesn’t really mean sacred.

Remember the temptation of Eve? The serpent said to her,

“Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?'”

Satan draws Eve into an area of reasoning, and by this process she comes under his power.

Satan is good at using words to paint a picture or working a puzzle. He does it stroke by stroke, piece by piece, thought by thought. All the while Satan is undermining the believer’s sense of the holy. This is why the apostle warns us about the “schemes of the devil.” (A scheme is a well thought out plan. ‘Methodeia‘ means to use craft.)

Making a defense

There is a principle in hermeneutics that says the first time you see a word or concept in Scripture, that setting will carry the definitive idea of what that word or concept means throughout Scripture. The first time we come across the word ‘deceive’ in the Scriptures, is when Eve says to the Lord,

“The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Gen3:13)

The temptation of Eve, can serve as sort of a background for how temptations work in our lives.

The Scriptures tell us how to deal with temptations with regard to the power that we have in Christ Jesus:

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:11-12)

Then we have this with regard to our thought life. Remember that all temptations begin with our thought life. If the enemy can gain control over our thinking, he can gain control over the rest of our life.

Listen to Paul:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” (2Co 10:3-5)

And finally we have the most important element in learning to live out our victory of Jesus Christ. It all has to do with the heart.

Peter gives us this remedy:

“Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,

“…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” (1Pe 3:13-15)

Are you ready to take the high road of faith and sanctification?

Here is your song. As you listen to this song, use the words that you see as your prayer to the Lord. Make it personal.

It is never too late to sanctify your heart before the Lord. This moment is for you.

Much love to you in Jesus,

Buddy

Apr

2011

The Gospel is like a Caged Lion

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jud 1:20-25)

Journal,

I’ve been in and out of Latin America countries on a number of mission trips. This time we were among the Mayan Indians in the mountains of Belize. Walking down a mountain trail with some of our group, I noticed that an old Indian gentleman had stopped at the side of the trail to let us pass. That’s when it happened.

I stop and said to the old Indian, “Sabes tu que Christo te ama?” The elderly gentleman put his hands over his face and began to weep. I could hardly believe my eyes. My Spanish was so meager that I felt at a loss. I assured him of God’s love. His eyes were still wet with tears as we parted. (I slaughter Spanish fluently.)

Now my heart was broken. How can one simple statement have such an effect on any one. But now I also understood why the Holy Spirit impressed me to use that phrase. The love of Jesus is the message of the cross. The old Indian did not need to hear a message of condemnation. He lived in a state of condemnation. He needed to know that God really truly loved him.

Fear controlled lives

These Indians were steeped in idolatry. Fear controlled their lives. They had mountain gods, and witches, and dark spirits at work in their lives. As I preached that evening in the open building I was aware of the oppressing spirits. The darkness felt so strong that I left the building for a moment just for fresh air. Yet the message had to go forth, and it did. More people were added to God’s holy kingdom. Was Satan mad? You bet. Could he do anything about it? Not a thing in the world.

This was only one of some instances where the Lord had me speak to the Latin-American people about God’s love for them. There were more moments. We were in a barrio (village) south of Reynosa. I had a Mexican-American singing group with me. We walked through the barrio inviting the people to a service that evening. A wealthy Christian woman had made her courtyard available for our use.

The courtyard filled up. This time I am startled but for a different reason. I had never seen physical conditions of that nature. One person literally had tumors hanging from her body. I asked the Lord what He wanted me to say. He said that I was to tell them three things. First, tell them that He loved them. Then tell them that He wanted to heal their lives. And finally tell them that they must learn to walk in His ways and not in the ways of darkness.

That barrio saw our first church raised up in Mexico. It was all a result of telling the people that Jesus Christ truly loved them. We also saw a deaf-mute in a wheel chair speak for the first time. On a later trip to the village the people told me that the deaf-mute was singing in the school yard. (He wasn’t in the village on that trip.)

Speak as an ambassador

We were again in Honduras in a village near the border of Guatemala. It was during the time that war was going on in El Salvador. (We could hear the cannons firing.) Again I ask the Lord what He wanted me to say. He said, “Tell them that you come as an ambassador from the kingdom of God and that you have a message for them from the King.”

The building packed out. Men were in the windows and bunched up around the entry area. Children pressed to the front. Mothers with their babies filled the seating. No seats were left. It happened again. The moment I said, “I come as an ambassador from the kingdom of God, and I have a message for you from the King,” it became totally silent. You could hear a pin drop.

What message did I have? You guessed it. I preached to them about God’s love through the cross. It happened again. At the end of my message, and old Indian gentleman stood up, began walking to the front. He was coming to meet his King. He heard. He believe. He came. The altar area packed with people. The kingdom was enlarging.

I have many more such stories about the power of the gospel and of God’s love. We were in another mountain village in Honduras. I began to preach the message of the cross. At the end of the message I saw the crowd parting. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on an elderly woman.

What was happening? The elderly woman was a witch who had held much sway over the non-Christian people of that village. This night it was to be different. She was coming to meet her King. She heard the message that God loved her too.

The gospel is the message of God’s love

Shall I go on? I stood behind the casket of a young man who had died. It was at one of the larger churches also in Honduras. Again I preached the simple message of God’s love. And again the people lined up across the front. They were presenting themselves to the King. He accepted them all.

I think you are getting the picture. What is it we need to understand? It is this. If the gospel of Jesus Christ is not about the love of God, it is no gospel at all. The gospel is good news. It is happy tidings. Why would God send His Son into the world to die for our sins, if it was not because He loved us so much. There is no other gospel.

It is the gospel of God’s love that melts the human heart. Yes, judgment has its place in the message. Sin must be dealt with. For those who reject Jesus Christ, the message must become clear on the issue of judgment. But the message must be imbued with the purpose of the cross. The cross is the measure and message of God’s love.

The Gospel is like a caged lion

Yes, I’ve seen times where mockery was clear. We were holding meetings at a banana plantation. This time the crowd had a strong mixture of homosexuals. Their intent was to keep the gospel from going forth. They began mocking me as I preached. Then in a moment of time everything became suddenly silent. The presence of the Lord manifested. This always happens when the King has something to say. I don’t know how many came to the Lord that night. I certainly hope the bondage of homosexuality was broken over the people.

Yes, my son Nathan has been shot at and has had rocks thrown at him while doing mission work in Latin America. Yet in all this he helped start thirteen churches in the most troublesome areas of south Mexico. Nathan and his missionary buddy, Joel, were not black-top missionaries. They went where the black top stopped. They went on donkeys, and then further on foot. Was it worth it? A thousands times more. Eternity will tell the story.

Don’t miss the point

If it seems that I am bragging in any of this, please be sure that you are missing the point. This is to testify to the love of God. Any boasting to be done is to be directed to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have seen the power of God’s transforming love in the most sinful of lives. Never can I take credit for any of this. I will always love the statement Charles H. Spurgeon made when he was asked to write a defense of the gospel. He said, “The gospel does not need to be defended. It is like a caged lion. Turn it lose. It can take care of itself.”

Does all this mean there is no judgment to come, that there is no eternal damnation, that we should just overlook sin? Never. Eternal judgment is also part of the gospel message. Judgment is coming much more swiftly that we realize. This is why the brother of Jesus gave us our instructions. Listen to them again.

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.”

Perhaps I do have another point after all —

It disturbs me greatly when I hear of preachers treating sinners as though they were dogs, and abusing God’s people as though their lives had little value to God. Who is the man who would abuse the very ones that God loves so deeply? Jesus did not tell Peter to beat His sheep. He told Peter to love them, to care for them, to feed them.

My point is that God has given us a message. The message is the message of the cross. One thing must always be made clear. The people need to know that Jesus loves them. He loves them enough to come and live with them, in their heart, and all the days of their life.

Jesus is a great Savior. He is a Savior that finishes what He begins. This is why the Bible says that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.

Think about it.

Here is your song for today. Let it reach into the deep of your heart. It tells why I preach the gospel. – ‘Yes, I Know,’ by the Gaither Vocal Band.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5T2XED-0sE[/youtube]

Much love,

Buddy

Apr

2011

The Story of the Little Eagle’s Heart

Journal,

I felt it would be good to show the ten subjects that have received the most visitors since I began my online journal. (Keep in mind that I’ve written 120+ entries with over 60,000 page views.) Perhaps there is something here that you would enjoy reading.

Here they are beginning with the entry with the highest volume of readers and following through to the tenth.

Top Ten Journal Entries

(1) Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment: http://buddymartin.net/blog/2009/11/mercy-triumphs-over-judgment/

(2) Passing Through the Valley of Baca: http://buddymartin.net/blog/2010/01/passing-through-the-valley-of-baca/

(3) Speaking in Other Languages: http://buddymartin.net/blog/2009/12/speaking-in-other-languages/

(4) Which Translation is Best: http://buddymartin.net/blog/2010/01/which-bible-translation-is-the-best/

(5) My Testimony: http://buddymartin.net/blog/testimony/

(6) Salvation: http://buddymartin.net/blog/salvation/

(7) How Do You Know You Are Saved: http://buddymartin.net/blog/2010/02/how-do-you-know-that-you-are-saved/

(8) Understanding Biblical Salvation: http://buddymartin.net/blog/2009/12/understanding-biblical-salvation/

(9) How Secure Are You In Christ: http://buddymartin.net/blog/2010/03/how-secure-are-you-in-christ/

(10) Honoring God With First Fruits: http://buddymartin.net/blog/2009/12/honoring-god-with-first-fruits/

And now once again, the story of the young eaglet who didn’t know she was an eagle.

The Story of the Little Eagle’s Heart

Somehow an eagle’s egg became mixed with a number of chicken eggs that had been set aside to be hatched. The little eaglet hatched right along with a brood of chicks. The eagle looked a bit different, but for all she knew she was just another chicken.

But something deep in the eaglet’s heart was restless. She had this tugging in her heart that could not be explained. The eaglet kept stretching her wings. It made the other chicks look at her as an odd ball. But since chickens do very limited flying, the eaglet simply had to accept things as they were.

It wasn’t just the stretching of her wings. For some strange reason she didn’t like the food that the chickens were eating.

Now that was a real problem. All the other chickens continuously looked at the ground for bugs or corn or whatever they could find. But this growing young eagle couldn’t keep her eyes off the sky.

So it happened. As was her habit, one day while looking up at the sky, behold the young eaglet saw these majestic birds soaring on the air currents. She couldn’t explain her feelings. Tears filled her eyes. Her heart-strings were being tugged at.

What kind of chickens were they? None of the chickens she knew could fly. In fact the farmer kept their wings clipped so that they could not fly. And it was getting close to the time for the young eagle’s wings to be clipped.

That’s when it happened. One of the majestic birds spotted the young eagle and flew down to check things out. The great eagle said, ‘What are you doing in that chicken pen?’ The young eagle said, ‘This is where all the chickens that I know, live.’ The great bird said, ‘You are not a chicken. You are an eagle.’

Something went off inside the young eagle’s heart. It was like an eruption of all her pent-up emotions. ‘Is it possible that I am not a chicken?!’

She began flapping her wings as hard as she could. Her feet lifted off the ground but not enough for flying. The majestic eagle said, ‘You are doing it wrong. Come here. Climb on my back. I’ll show you how its done.’

Boy was she nervous. On the majestic eagle’s back she climbed. He spread out his mighty pinions and with a lifting of his wings, off they soared, higher, and higher. The wind flushed through her feathers. How wonderful it felt.

‘Don’t be afraid. It’s your turn. You were designed to fly.’ The majestic eagle did a backward flip and off into nothing went the young eagle. ‘I’m falling! I’m falling!’

‘No you aren’t. Just spread out your wings! You’ll see.’

She spread out her wings and fly she did. She soared and soared and soared. The young eaglet could not believe it. She could not get enough flying. On top of things, she had also found a great family of eagles to be with. They were just like her.

OK, so now you know the story of the eaglet who thought she was a chicken.

No, she never went back to the chicken pen. After all, she was an eagle and eagles are birds of majesty. They are designed to soar in the heavenly places.

Note: The eagle story has been told many ways. In this case I’ve re-adapted it to better fit what I see as the Christian’s call to live in his or her upward spiritual life.

How about you? Do you feel the call of the eagle’s heart?

Are you longing to fly? Take time to listen to this song. It describes the eagle Christian’s life. It is titled, ‘The Power of Your Love.’ Let it minister to your eagle heart.

In Christ always,

Buddy

Mar

2011

Reflections on Love

“Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” (Joh 13:1 nasb)

Note: This entry is a contemplation from an entry I shared in February 4, 2010, entitled, ‘The Great Mystery of the Christian Faith.’ In view of the times I wanted to give an encouragement to my readers about the depth of God’s love. The apostle said that God’s love in its perfect work will cast out all our fears. Yes, the love of God is both a mystery and wondrous indeed. And nothing in all of creation will ever be able to separate believers from the love of God that is found in Jesus Christ.

Journal,

John chapter 13 through 17 is a stand alone part of the gospels. These chapters can be called the ‘holiest of holies’ of God Word. There are no crowds. No blind men. No lame men. No woman at the well. No John the Baptist. No debates with Pharisees and Sadducees. There are only a handful of Hebrew men chosen to be the apostles of the Lamb. It is now time for the Lord to pour His heart into these men. The journey of the cross is near at hand.

It is in these chapters that we hear the heart of the new covenant. Thus when we read John 13:1, we hear, “Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”

Did you catch it? “He loved them to the end.” Did you know that this statement applies to every believer. The apostle said that nothing would ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is found in Jesus Christ. Let’s talk about it.

What began as a fledgling movement…

… in a tiny country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea mushroomed into the largest in-gathering of people this planet has ever known. Even in all its diversity, there is one thing that makes Christianity unique in the world. The love of God is the secret to the phenomena of Christianity. To discover Jesus Christ is to discover God’s love.

Most believers can quote John 3:16, which says,

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

But John 3:17 is equally important. It says,

“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

But can we leave it there? John 3:18 continues with,

“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

The apostles were given a message

The apostles were given a message to carry into all the world. The message was a message of love. This is why the subject of ‘love’ is found so much in their writings. Paul says it best when he wrote,

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom8:38,39)

So, the great mystery of the Christian faith is really the mystery of God’s love

He loved us before we ever knew Him. He never stops loving us. This is why our faith can rest firmly on John 13:1, which says, “He loved them to the end.” God’s love is an eternal love.

We catch a tiny reflection of God’s love when we think of our love for our children. Stop and consider. Did you love your baby the first time you saw him or her? Why? The love was in your heart. This baby belonged to you.

Did you love your baby before it was actually born? Sure you did. And how about when you and your spouse were talking about having a baby? Did you love the very thought of having a baby? The answer to all these questions is ‘yes.’

These thoughts are miniature reflections on God’s love for us. The Bible says that God is love. The apostle said that we were not saved because we loved God, but because He loved us. All of this belongs to the mystery of God’s love.

When Paul said that nothing can separate us from the love of God, he may have reflected off of something the prophet said. The prophet Isaiah gives us a glimpse into the very heart of God. The Lord said,

“Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will never forget you.” (Isa49:15)

Notice that the Lord said His love far exceeds the love that a mother has for her nursing child. There is no greater picture of love on this planet than that of a mother for her child.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me

The more you study the gospels the more your understanding will be opened to the love of God and to the wonders of redemption. Not only were we chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, but our entire life was set before God at that time. And not only that, but our times on earth – where we would be born, what our nationality would be, and many more factors – were determined beforehand. And behind all this stands the love of God.

The Lord gave David insight into this awesome area of spiritual realities. What is said by David is to be said by every child of God. David said,

“Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it.” (Psa139:4-6)

A love that is incomprehensible

Paul concurs in saying that God’s love for us is incomprehensible. Incomprehensible simply means that the mind cannot grasp it. Believers soon come to realize that there are things we can perceive with our hearts, that cannot be fully expressed to others. Why? They are things of the heart, incomprehensible things. Paul said,

“Who knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.” (1Co2:11)

Things of the heart are things that God opens our hearts to perceive. They are instilled within us by the Holy Spirit.

But what is it about God’s love that is so incomprehensible? We know the answer to that only so well. We have all found that God’s love is not static. His love surrounds us. God’s love reaches into our pits and draws us out. How often have we been ashamed of a misdeed, wondering how God could ever love us still, and yet, in our turning to Him, we found Him ever there.

I have never met a Christian who could not look back on their childhood, and say, “Lord, You were there even then.” Not even the prophets understood this. And even when they were issuing stern pronouncements, in a moment of time a love song would burst forth. This song was about God and His children.

A good example is with the prophet Micah. After dealing with issues of judgments, the prophet writes,

“Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love … You will give truth to Jacob and unchanging love to Abraham…” (Micah 7:18-20)

God’s unchanging love in Christ Jesus

Unchanging love to Abraham is the catch phrase. All true believers have been made children of Abraham through our faith in Jesus Christ. Paul says that we are the children of promise.

Then we have this from Jeremiah, which again speaks of God’s love for His people;

“The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.'” (Jer31:3)

Again we hear a call of eternity. Jesus expresses this eternal call in saying,

“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you, abide in My love.” (John 15:9)

Did you know that the single greatest testimony that God is your very own Father is the testimony of your love for Jesus Christ? Jesus said to certain of the Jews,

“If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.” (John 8:42)

Now couple this with how the apostle Peter described the heart of a true believer;

“And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” (1Pet1:8)

The greatest love story ever told

And so the gospel is actually the greatest love story ever told. This is why Christians sing love songs to Jesus. We sing love songs to the Father. We sing of His love to us. We sing, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.” We sing, “Love lifted me. Love lifted me.” We sing, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

But why? Why do we Christians have such passion over the love of God. After all, you don’t hear Muslims singing, ‘Mohammed, lover of my soul.’ It can be summed up in the cry of the human heart. This cry can only be met in an encounter with Jesus. Paul describes it as the ‘Abba! Father!‘ cry. ‘We have found our Father!’

Abba, Father, is an expression of true sonship. It speaks of intimacy. It is a cry of recognition. It is a cry that goes far beyond religion. It is the cry of a child’s whose heart has been filled with ‘Father consciousness.’ But it is a cry that goes both ways. We say, “My Father.” God says, “My beloved child.”

Did you know that more and more Jews are discovering the Father’s love in Jesus. I must not leave this journal entry without a song from the heart of the Hebrew believer, Jonathan Settel. Listen as he sings, ‘Amen.’ It carries the heart of the gospel in Hebrew. (Subtitled in English.)

So we ask, ‘How much to you love me, Jesus.’

He stretches out His arms, and says, ‘This much.’

What do you think?

Does He love us to the end?

I say, yes, a thousand times yes. The Lord said that He would never leave us or forsake us.

In fact Jesus said it this way,

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (Joh 10:27-29)

Always in Christ,

Buddy

Uncategorized

There really are two worlds

The Mystery of The Marriage

Don’t Check Your Brain at the Door

The Secret Place of God

Invisibility and Power

Lord, Send Your Angels

The Battle of Temptations

The Gospel is like a Caged Lion

The Story of the Little Eagle’s Heart

Reflections on Love

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