9/13/13

From Gary... Something more than "flower power"

















I would classify this as a truly magnificent photo!!!  I know, its JUST A FLOWER!!!  But look at the beauty of the thing!!!  The black background makes it "POP" and the colors contrast in such a way as to etch it in your memory (at least it does mine, anyway).  I love it!!! And 
I guess that classifies me as a lover of flowers.  With a last name like "Rose", its hard NOT to think about flowers from time to time. But, as usual, I am rambling, but there is a point to this: YOU ARE WHAT YOU LOVE!!!  The apostle John puts it this way...

1 John, Chapter 2
15  Don’t love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.  16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s.  17 The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever. 

You are what you love!!!  A statement worth remembering!!!!  Those who love the world and the things in it will pass away, those whose life is spent in obedience to God (through love) will remain forever!!! Quite a contrast there; which is why the picture and John's quotation means so much to me.  I pray that they will mean something to you as well!!!  Now, that's flower power...

From Jim McGuiggan... Matthew 16.28 and AD 70

Matthew 16.28 and AD 70

In numerous ways the cross of Jesus is the judgement of the world. It was the judgement of the world prior to the incarnation (compare Revelation 13.8), it is the judgement of the world during the personal ministry of Jesus (see John 12:31) and it stands today as the judgement of the world. Those who used the cross as a judgement against Jesus sided with the satanic agenda which is at the heart of "the world" but they did it without knowing that it was a judgement against themselves. Hester Cholmondeley got it right:
"Man as of old by himself is priced. 
For thirty pieces Judas sold himself, not Christ."

The cross was the instrument that the Romans reserved especially for rebels, for people who would not accept their authority and Jesus came to inaugurate the (Messianic) kingdom of God. Since that was true he came as one who was born to be king and that meant there had to be a clash of empires.
He would make no Herodian compromise with Rome, there'd be no asking Rome for a piece of the action or permission to exist—it was all out war; it was him or them.
Of course Jesus was opposed to Rome but he was opposed to something vaster, something of which Rome was the current expression—the world spirit; the anti-God, anti-holiness and anti-life driving force that constitutes "the world".
The humiliating and death-bringing cross was the expression of Rome's heart but it was also the final weapon of Rome—they had nothing else. If their coercive power, which was fully and definitively expressed in the cross couldn't gain for them what they sought they were beaten. Christ absorbed it, embraced death on a cross and conquered it by rising to glory and immortality. This was the method by which he defeated Rome and "the world" that corrupt and ruthless Rome made visible.
In Matthew 16:21-23 Jesus spoke of his death and Peter refused to accept "defeatist talk" even from Jesus but the Master rebuked him with unbridled severity because Peter would have used the instruments of Rome (and "the world") to bring about the Messianic kingdom, which in that case would not have been the kingdom of God (see John 18:36).
Christ's view of the cross was not Peter's even though the views intersected. Jesus knew what the cross stood for but he also knew that the only way to defeat what the cross stood for was to embrace it and defeat it. Peter saw the cross as defeat by Roman hands and thought the way to defeat it was to avoid it and the way to avoid it was to bring death to the enemies. He didn't know—despite his devotion to Jesus—what Paul later knew, that in the cross the wilder powers and authorities were disarmed (Colossians 2:15).
But not all Jews were devoted to the Messiah so when they perceived him to be a threat to their lives and status (be sure to see John 11:47-53), to save themselves they made an alliance with Rome and rejected Jesus as King (be sure to see John 19:12-15 along with Matthew 16:25). Thus Israel joined Rome in rejecting the kingdom of God in the person of Jesus Christ which is why Peter in Acts 2:23 says they (the Jews) had by "lawless" hands crucified and slain the Messiah. The disciples make the same point in Acts 4:24-27. Israel and the Romans both used the cross against Jesus for the same reason: self-preservation! In both cases the cross expressed the heart of people who would not have this man to be king over them and in both cases they became the vehicle of the world-spirit. In seeking to destroy him they destroyed themselves.
The judgement of God on Rome is developed in the book of Revelation and the judgement on Israel is alluded to in many texts and there's one right here in Matthew 16 where Peter had confessed Jesus as Messiah but rejected Jesus' agenda and method. Israel to save its life would lose it. Israel to save its life joined Rome in killing Jesus but he warned that this would bring judgement on a nation that rejected the kingdom of God in the hands of Jesus.
That judgement would be publicly exhibited before that generation passed away. Jesus said that some of the people he was speaking to would still be alive to see the visible demonstration of his kingly power (Matthew 16:24-28 and Luke 9:23-27). We have the same story in Mark 8:31—9:1 where we're told that he said these things in the presence of the multitude (8:34). To refuse to align themselves with him as the Messiah in order to save themselves (8:35-37) would result in judgement and the irony of it is that Jesus would come in judgement on them through the very people they made their unholy alliance with (Rome).
The coming of Jesus in these Matthew, Mark and Luke texts is not the final coming of Jesus. It is one of his comings (see Revelation 2—3 for numerous "comings," some that would or would not take place depending on the response of the people), and he said it would occur soon and that some of the people listening to him would be alive to see it happening. [Note again that the book of Revelation develops the judgement rendered on the Roman Empire as Matthew 16:27-28; 24:1-34, Mark 8:38—9:1 and Luke 9:23-27 speak of the judgement on Israel.]
The cross was the Lord's victory over all the powers (see again Colossians 2:15) and his resurrection and exaltation made him Lord of All, but who saw the resurrected Jesus? Who saw him ascend in glory to immortality and to his place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Only a handful of people biased in his favour so who's going to believe them?
Judgement and blessing were to follow the exaltation of Jesus (compare Matthew 3:11-12). In Acts 2: 1-36, especially 33-36, we have the blessings poured out via the coming of the Holy Spirit as the prophets and the Baptist said would happen. Peter uses Joel and David to conclude this: "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made him whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." There is nothing future about this! The miracles these people were seeing and hearing were the objective proof that Jesus had already been exalted to God's throne.
Here was blessing poured out on the new Israel (that is, on believing Jews who placed their faith in Jesus; unbelieving Jews would be cut off from among the people—Acts 3:21-26). When judgement comes on unbelieving Israel it would be the proof that Jesus had been made Lord despite what Israel and the Gentiles conspired to do. The One who would render judgement on a nation that sought to save its own life would be the One that Peter in Acts 2 and Paul in Acts 17:5-8 proclaimed as King. The judgement in AD 70, which in my view is what Matthew 16 speaks about, is the public manifestation of Jesus' royal power—not the beginning of it. [Note that in the judgement on Rome, dealt with in the book of Revelation, Jesus is already ruler of the kings of the earth and King of Kings and Lord of Lords before the "battle of Armageddon" (see 1:5; 17:14 and 19:16).

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... That Which Has Power In Christ (Galatians 5:6)



                     "THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS"

                  That Which Has Power In Christ (5:6)

INTRODUCTION

1. The rite of circumcision was a major issue in the early church...
   a. Judaizing teachers taught it was necessary to be saved - Ac 15:1,5
   b. Paul argued that it had become irrelevant - Ga 5:6

2. Note that Paul wrote "neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails
   anything..."
   a. The Greek word translated 'avails' is transliterated ischuo
   b. As defined by Thayer, the word ischuo means:
      1) to be strong, such as to be strong in body, to be robust, to be
         in sound health
      2) to have power
         a) to have power as shown by extraordinary deeds; to exert,
            wield power, to have strength to overcome
         b) to be a force, avail

[If neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has power in Christ, what
does?  Paul reveals that there are three things working in conjunction
that have power.  The first is...]

I. FAITH

   A. THE DEFINITION OF FAITH...
      1. A Scriptural definition of faith is found in He 11:1
      2. The NIV is helpful:  "Now faith is being sure of what we hope
         for and certain of what we do not see."
      3. Vine describes faith as "a firm conviction"
      4. I like to think of faith as "a confident trust"

   B. THE IMPORTANCE OF "FAITH"...
      1. Faith in God is essential to pleasing Him - He 11:6
      2. Faith in Jesus is essential to finding forgiveness and eternal
         life - Jn 8:24; 20:30-31
      3. Without faith, the only alternative is doubt accompanied with
         fear - cf. Mt 14:30-31

   C. THE POWER OF FAITH...
      1. Faith in Christ has the power to produce:
         a. Hope - Ro 5:2
         b. Joy - 1Pe 1:8
         c. Peace - Ro 15:13
      2. Those with faith in Christ receive the power to:
         a. Live - Ga 2:20
         b. Overcome the world - 1Jn 5:4-5
         c. Overcome the devil - Ep 6:16

   D. THE DEVELOPMENT OF FAITH...
      1. Faith comes from the Word of God - Ro 10:17; Jn 20:30-31
      2. Faith involves a growth process - 2Th 1:3

[A thriving, growing faith in Christ has great power, to enable us to
live strong, vibrant spiritual lives.  Such a faith will naturally
involve the element of...]

II. WORKS

   A. THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WORKS...
      1. Works of merit
         a. These are works done to 'earn' something
         b. Those who have done such works believe they 'deserve'
         c. No one can be saved by such works - cf. Tit 3:4-5; Ep 2:8-9
      2. Works of faith
         a. These are things done to 'receive' something
         b. Those who have done such works believe they deserve nothing!
            - cf. Lk 17:10
      3. Works of faith can also be called works of God
         a. Of which faith itself is called by Jesus - Jn 6:28-29
         b. Other works of faith commanded by God include repentance,
            confession, and baptism - cf. Ac 17:30; Ro 10:9-10; Col 2:12-13
         c. Such works are those prepared beforehand by God - Ep 2:10

   B. THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FAITH...
      1. There is dead faith - Jm 2:14-17,20,26
         a. Faith without works
         b. Substituting words for deeds
      2. There is demonic faith - Jm 2:18,19
         a. Faith with the wrong kind of works
         b. Such as trembling instead of acting
      3. There is dynamic faith - Jm 2:20-26
         a. Faith that works the will of God
         b. An obedient faith, as required by the gospel - Ro 1:5; 6:17;
            16:25-26

   C. WITH THE RIGHT KIND OF FAITH AND WORKS...
      1. Salvation is possible - Ac 10:35
      2. We can bring glory to God - Mt 5:16; 1Pe 2:12
      3. We can receive glory, honor, and peace - Ro 2:10
      4. Our efforts to serve are strengthened by God! - cf. Php 2:12-13;
         4:13; Ep 3:16,20

[Faith without works is dead; faith with works has great power in
Christ!  Especially so, when faith and works are done in...]

III. LOVE

   A. LOVE TOWARD GOD...
      1. Love is what God desires from us more than anything - Mt 22:37
      2. Love is what inspires the noblest form of obedience - Jn 14:15,
         23a
         a. Some obey out of fear (of being punished)
         b. Others obey out of selfishness (for what they get out it)
         c. The highest form of obedience is out of love (glad to be of
            service)

   B. LOVE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER...
      1. The kind of love Jesus showed toward us - Jn 13:34-35
      2. Our liberty in Christ is for the very purpose of serving one
         another in love - Ga 5:13

CONCLUSION

1. When faith, works, and love are joined together, there is great
   synergy...
   a. There is salvation from sin
   b. There is power over the devil
   c. There is hope, joy, and peace for the children of God!

2. When faith, works, and love are not joined together, nothing works
   right...
   b. Faith without works is dead
   a. Works without faith cannot save
   c. Works without love produce a cold, heartless religion

Is our faith working through love?  May Paul's prayer for the
Thessalonians be our prayer for one another:

   Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count
   you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure
   of His goodness and THE WORK OF FAITH WITH POWER, that the name
   of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in
   Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus
   Christ. - 2Th 1:11-12


Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

eXTReMe Tracker