Boneheads?

John 13:36-14:14 (The Message) says, "Simon Peter asked, "Master, just where are you going?" Jesus answered, "You can't now follow me where I'm going. You will follow later."

"Master," said Peter, "why can't I follow now? I'll lay down my life for you!"

"Really? You'll lay down your life for me? The truth is that before the rooster crows, you'll deny me three times."

"Don't let this throw you. You trust God, don't you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father's home. If that weren't so, would I have told you that I'm on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I'm on my way to get your room ready, I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I'm taking."

Thomas said, "Master, we have no idea where you're going. How do you expect us to know the road?"

Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him!"

Philip said, "Master, show us the Father; then we'll be content."

"You've been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don't understand? To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, 'Where is the Father?' Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you aren't mere words. I don't just make them up on my own. The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act.

"Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can't believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it. That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I'll do."


We looked at these passages this past Wednesday. I am thankful that we can look at these passages in hindsight. I can only imagine if I had been present with Jesus and the disciples that I would have been just as confused as they were.


First, Peter says he will follow Jesus to where He is going and give his life if necessary for Jesus' sake. Jesus says Peter will not only NOT give his life but will deny that he even knows Him. Peter didn't realize the limits of his own will. He was acting on his own "power" not the Power that comes from weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Next we see Thomas. Jesus says that He will be preparing a place for them and come back for them. He says they know where He is going and they know the way. Thomas said, "Master, we have no idea where you're going. How do you expect us to know the road?" Jesus explains that He is the Road (the Way).

Many teachers and philosophers have come and gone. They want their followers to be lead by their teachings or philosophies. Not Jesus. He says , "Follow Me." We not only follow what He taught but we have to have a relationship with Him because He is ALIVE! HE IS THE WAY! (Read "A Jesus Manifesto" by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola.)

Finally Jesus says that if they know Him they know the Father and have seen the Father. Phillip then says, "Master, show us the Father; then we'll be content."

At this point we all laugh and think these guys are boneheads! We can only do that because we have the advantage of hindsight through the Scriptures, not to mention, the Holy Spirit. I'm sure we would be the boneheads if we were present there that day.

All these "boneheads" eventually do give their lives for Jesus' sake. Eventually they do find their way to where Jesus was going. Now they not only see the Father but live in His house.

Press on and be encouraged.

Testimony

I can't stop thinking about our last meeting! What an evening! Every week I am becoming more encouraged by what I see. I see us drawing closer together. I see us eager to draw closer to the Lord.

We had a guest who wanted prayer for himself and his daughter. Bernard is a former Jehovah's Witness (JW). His daughter, Jasmine, is suffering from sickle cell anemia. (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Sca/SCA_WhatIs.html)

Jasmine became a Christian through the witness of a nurse. Bernard came to faith through Jasmine's witness. He had been a JW his whole life. Both have suffered rejection from family members and the congregation.

Bernard's testimony really encouraged me. Even though life is difficult for him, he remains faithful. Jasmine also remains strong even in this time of suffering. How can we not be encouraged through their testimony?

We have been looking at 2 Corinthians. Paul talks a great deal about what he's had to endure and the comfort he's found.

2 Corinthians 1:3-10, " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again."

2 Corinthians 11:24-28, " Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches."

One of the definitions for testimony in the Cassel Compact Dictionary is, " evidence, proof, comfirmation." A testimony can keep you going at a time when the journey is getting difficult. This journey is not easy folks! It's hard! That's why we need each other! That's why we need to hear testimonies! They are evidence of God's work! They are proof of His faithfulness! They confirm His Word! They keep us focused on the finish line! They keep us going!!

Bernard came to us for a blessing and ends up being a blessing to us! Continue to pray for Bernard and Jasmine.
Let's be encouraged by their testimony and the Word of God.

Walnut Springs Home

The following was written by a friend on her blog, "Walnut Springs Home". The first sentence in the last paragraph really touched me. "I fear that I have been for too long a foolish Galatian, and that my journey has been in far too great a measure by the flesh and not by the Spirit." It caused me to reflect on my walk and encouraged me to stay the course. Enjoy.

The Mystery, in me and out of me.
Christ in me, I in Christ. Both are truths for those who have called upon his name, laid down their lives, to take on His.

"....this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Col 1:27

"....And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” I Cor 1:30

It is indeed a mystery, the depths of which will be explored for the remaining days He gives this one. I have been "in Christ" for 30 years now, and yet I am but a babe in knowing and understanding even a bit of what it means to be in Christ and that He is in me. Thinking on it lately is changing my heart, awakening my spirit ...which has been lazy. I want to welcome the Holy Spirit to move in my life. I love the Word... it's riches are truly what is awakening my spirit, as "faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Rom 10:17)

"Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? " Gal. 3:2

I fear that I have been for too long a foolish Galatian, and that my journey has been in far too great a measure by the flesh and not by the Spirit. This is sin and requires a turning and I am grateful that the Lord has been merciful to show it as it is. When He is in, then He should also be out: displayed in my life in service for His Glory. As I hear His Word and walk this road, allowing His Spirit to have His way, I will be made into His image for His Glory. Christ in me the hope of Glory.

I have linked to "Walnut Springs Home" if you would like to read more. Be encouraged.

Suffering

Suffering and persecution! Will it ever go away? Not in this life and definitely not for the Christian. If that scares you, I'm sorry, it shouldn't. If it causes you to despair than you're not alone. Even Paul despaired according to 2 Corinthians 1:8.

In Acts 5 Peter and some other apostles were whipped. They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus. Paul writes of all he suffered in 2 Corinthians chapter 11. Hebrews chapter 11 (known as the faith chapter) mentions all kind of people who suffered for their faith before Jesus' birth.

I know it's hard to see people that we love suffering physically. We don't see the point. Let me ask, is God some kind of sadist that likes to see others suffer? Just because we don't understand doesn't mean there isn't a purpose.

Paul refers to it in 2 Corinthians chapter 1. Read verses 4 and 9. There are two good reasons.

Let me close with this thought. Wouldn't knowing the truth about suffering make it a little more bearable? Do you see the importance of knowing God's Word, the Scriptures? Read 1 Peter 4:12, 13. He tells us not to be surprised by suffering. He also tells us not to act as though something strange is happening.

When we suffer we are in good company. When your time to suffer comes, and it will, be ready, armed with the Word of God. Be encouraged.

The Woman At The Well

The Samaritan woman at the well, found in John 4: 7-43, is one of the most popular women in the Bible. Her encounter with Jesus was life changing. It also is a source of encouragement for us.

First Jesus offers her "living water" in spite of her nationality. Jesus was a Jew and she was a Samaritan. Verse 9 says, "For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans". The fact that Jesus was even talking to her was amazing.

Second, He knows her history. She has had five husbands and the man she was currently living with was not her husband. Again this didn't stop Jesus from offering her the water that will become "a spring of water welling up to eternal life." He didn't tell her to change her lifestyle. I am going to assume that the changes came later. As we grow in our faith, the Holy Spirit will convict us of sin and the need for repentance.

Third, He points out that one day all (regardless of heritage) "true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him". Paul says in Romans 10:12, "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him".

The woman leaves her water jar and goes back to the city and tells the people what took place. They go to where Jesus is. Verses 39-42 says, "Many Samaritans from the city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two more days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." She is doing the work of an evangelist!

Jesus meets us where we are. It doesn't matter your sex, lifestyle, or heritage. He is seeking true worshipers. The lifestyle changes will happen. You cannot follow Jesus and not be changed! There is so much more to be gleaned from these verses. I hope you are encouraged.