MARY & NEW BIRTH

Mary, the mother of Jesus ~ The Holy Spirit came upon her and created a new life of God in flesh.  When we are born again it is the Holy Spirit coming upon us and creating a new life of God in flesh.  We are just like Jesus when we become born again.  He was a baby having all the needs of a baby.  He needed someone to take care of him; providing his mental, emotional, spiritual, physical and social needs…until he could do for himself.  As a newborn Christian we need the same care until we learn how to love God our Father with all our heart (emotional), soul (spiritual), mind (mental), and strength (physical) and to love one another (social). 

We are given The Spirit of God to live within us to help us; but we also need others who are mature spiritually to help us learn how to live in the faith and discipline of a Child of God.

Jesus was 100% man and had all the temptations such as us, but he didn't sin.  He didn't sin because He listened to The Holy Spirit of God, His Father and said "no" to sin.  If we listen to the same Holy Spirit that lives within us, we also will not sin.

Do we truly believe that it is the same Holy Spirit of God that lived in Jesus that lives in us?  If so, what is the evidence?  Do we need some help?  Ask The Lord to bring you to someone who will nurture/mentor you.

My Prayer:  Thank You, Lord, for the new life in You – it is new with every new day.  Thank You that my sinful life is dead, and I don’t want to revisit it even in a memory. Thank You for bringing so many into my life to teach and nurture me.  I desire more intimacy with You and the joy it brings, so that I can be more like You.

February 18, 2013 My Daily Delight

PUT GOD FIRST!

My Daily Delight ~ May 31, 2014

Today as I delighted in time with my Lord, He shared some insight into trusting.  Using the words John recorded for us, He tells us that He trusted no man!    Life experience tells us that if we put our trust in human beings, we will end in despairing of everyone and become bitter.  Why?  Because I have insisted and believed that people will do what is absolutely right.  “Jesus knew what was in the heart of man.”

Jesus put God first and trusted absolutely in what God’s grace could do for anyone!  (See John 5:19; 8:28-29 for His Words.)  Our Lord’s obedience was to the will of His Father.  He only trusted God!

We must put God first!  We cannot trust God until we know Him; until we have a real and personal love relationship.  Jesus said:  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God…and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father.  He came unto His own, but His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God., even to them that believe in His name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”  (John 1:1; 14; 11-13.)

When we trust God, He trusts us!  God’s trust is that He gives me Himself by the indwelling life of the Son of God.  God’s ultimate purpose is that His Son might be manifested in my mortal flesh...born of the Holy Spirit of God!  He promises to be with all who trusts Him forever!  For assurance of this trust, read chapters 14-16 of John and learn all about the Holy Spirit and what He will do to, in and through you!

So, as I trust God and He directs my life, can I ever trust man?  I would say:  only the person that has His Holy Spirit.  Not the one who says he does, but the one who shows the evidence! 

My Life Handle of Trust:  Jesus said:  I will never leave you, nor forsake you, so that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”   (Read Hebrews 13:5-6)

Lord, empower me according to Your will to resist the clever tactics of the spirits of darkness.  Open my eyes to see and my heart to trust in Your will.  Bring Your glory fuller  into my life so that I can glorify You.

ABANDONMENT

My Daily Delight ~ April 28, 2014

*Notes from My Daily Delight for several years

"Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee."

Scriptures:  Mark 10:28; John 3:16; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 2:20; Jeremiah 45:5

ABANDON ~ A-BAND-ON ~ “A Band On” another life - Jesus!”

ABANDON ~ Leaving ALL; giving up ALL to be identified with another life!

“BRAND” ~ Mark of Ownership

THE MARKS OF A CHRISTIAN (Bro. Billy Southerland’s Sermon 3/1//2012 with my impressions)

 ~ BIRTHMARK (I.D.) ~ LOVE

 ~ BOOK MARK (Passport/Ownership) ~ BIBLE/GOD’S WORD

 ~ COLLAR MARK (Partner) ~ YOKE OF JESUS/HOLY SPIRIT

 ~ KNEE MARK (Power/Strength) ~ PRAYER

CHRISTIAN’S ABANDON ~ Romans 12:1-2

   “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Galatians 2:20 ~ “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless…”

Identified – Activated

“…nevertheless, I live…and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God.”

Set apart for God – Holy by the Holy Spirit

~The identical faith of the Son of God

~The life I now life

~The life man can see

~The Holy Spirit of God living in me ~ activated!

GOD’S ABANDON ~ John 3:16

 ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

   God so loved the world that He gave His only Son (ALL)!

   God gave up ALL of Heaven to be identified with another life!

   A BAND ON ~ Identifying Marks of Jesus:

      He was named JESUS  (Savior)

      He had all the marks of a Christian more profoundly because –

          HE IS LOVE  

          HE IS THE WORD OF GOD

          HE IS THE SPIRIT THAT WALKS WITH US & GIVES US POWER

      He was BRANDED with the nail prints in His hands and feet & pierced side.

      He ABANDONED Heaven to be identified with us and was branded so that we could be identified with Heaven/God/Jesus!

SEALED with Delightful Life!  ~ Jeremiah 45:5 HCSB

”Are you looking for great things for yourself? Do not look for such things. For I, the Lord, affirm that I am about to bring disaster on all humanity. But I will allow you to escape with your life wherever you go.”

Oswald Chambers says in My Utmost for His Highest ~ “If you abandon entirely to God.  He says at once, ‘Thy life will I give thee for a prey.’  The reason people are tired of life is because God has not given them anything, they have not got their life as a prey.  The way to get out of that state is to abandon to God.”

O Lord, thank You for the revelation that ABANDON is the sealing of my life by the indwelling Holy Spirit; it’s Romans 12:1-2 “a living sacrifice…transformed by the renewing of the mind.”  I am abandoned and my “band” is the Holy Spirit, and as I go…to the ends of the world being a witness and making disciples, teaching God’s Word, there is no fear ~ I have delightful Life! 

Prayer:  O Lord, as I meditate on these marvelous truths, I realize that I can’t comprehend enough to relate to Your abandonment for us – to be identified with mankind so that we can become identified with Almighty God.  Our life should be branded with Jesus so that it is very obvious who the owner is!  Grant that I may prove Your ownership with abundant Love to You and Your Body for Your delight and mine.  Amen.

'IN JERUSALEM"

“Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

Luke 24:49

The disciples were to wait “in Jerusalem” for the promised Holy Spirit.

Why were they back “in Jerusalem”?

Jesus had told them after His resurrection to go to Galilee.  He ministered and taught them for 40 days between His Resurrection and Ascension in Galilee.  Now, they are back in Jerusalem!

Pause

Lord, show me what I need to see here; direct my thoughts to Yours and reveal the power of this Word of Yours.  Amen. ~Betty

They were originally “in Jerusalem” for the ¹Passover – this is where all good Jews went for Passover, if possible.  The next reason for returning to Jerusalem would be to celebrate or observe ²Pentecost.  However, Pentecost was 10 days away.  

Why Jerusalem?  (See my blog May 26 Building The House of God for some foundation)

1~God chose Jerusalem to be the city of His dwelling place – The House of God – The Temple of God. 

2~King David’s heart was to give the Ark of the Covenant of God a resting place and as he talked to God about it, God gave David His ideas and approval, with some conditions.  David would do the work of making preparation and gathering all the materials and assigning all the tasks so that it would be built during the reign of his son, Solomon.

3~All the instructions for the Tabernacle in the wilderness were applied to the Temple.  (Read Exodus for facts.) There was 40 years of peace while the Temple was being built unto God.

*Injection ~ David was appointed king of Judah by God with his throne in Jerusalem; and God told him that there would be no other king of Judah but from his sons, with the final king being His Anointed One, Messiah.  [You might want to read the whole story in 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles]

  

¹PASSOVER commemorates God bringing the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery by saving those who put the blood of a lamb on the doorpost and the Death Angel passed over.  It is a feast of remembrance observed every year. 

²PENTECOST commemorates God giving the 10 Commandments to Moses 50 days after the Exodus.  It is observed 50 days after Passover. 

So why did they return so early?

Personal thought:  I think it brought Jesus back to the Holy City of God to leave from because He promised to return to the same place.

(I just learned in my preparations to go to The Holy Land, and specifically to the city of Jerusalem for 4 days and then Galilee for 6 days, that the Ascension took place on the back side of the Mount of Olives and that the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus was arrested was at the entrance to the Mount of Olives.)

Since the Jews don’t believe the story that Jesus arose from the dead, and because of this disbelief, I think Jesus stayed with His disciples in Galilee which was His home of ministry life; and so that His disciples would be safe.  For the same reason of safety and avoiding crowds, I think He went to the far end of the Mount of Olives to ascend into Heaven.

So, why 10 days before Pentecost?

Again, I think, because it gave the disciples time to assimilate all that had happened and all Jesus told them; as well as a time to prepare mentally and spiritually for Pentecost and the mysterious coming of the Holy Spirit.  There were 120 of them gathered in the upper room praying, sharing and discussing what to do while they waited.  (See Acts chapter 2.)  They didn’t show any signs of surprise or fear when The Spirit came in as a rushing wind and tongues of fire; they were excited and changed!  [I have another sermon about what happens today when one receives the Holy Spirit.  Selah.]

Why Jerusalem?

There were many dedicated (believing) Jews who lived in Jerusalem but were from every known nation at that time.  They heard their languages coming from these excited people and they wanted to know how unlearned men from Galilee could be speaking to them in all their languages.  Peter answered in The Spirit explaining God’s Word and what they had witnessed and afterwards they asked him what did they need to do?  They confessed belief and were baptized and united with the disciples.  There were 3,000 and more were added daily!

This is how the good news of Jesus began to spread to all the world.  These new Believers who were changed now were excited to return to their people and tell what they had witnessed and experienced.

Why Jerusalem?

It is God’s Chosen City.  It is the Birth place of The Church!

BUILDING THE HOUSE OF GOD

May 24, 2014 ~ A study on the temple (House for God) as David outlined it to Solomon.  This came from Oswald Chambers’s prayer on this day:  “Keep this house, O Lord, spiritually and in all ways “exceeding magnifical.”  Give us the light and illumination You delight in.”

I Chronicles 22:5 ~ And David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord shall be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all lands.  Therefore I will make preparation for it.”  So David made ample preparations before his death.

I Chronicles chapters 22-29 cover David’s extensive preparations for building the house for God – “ God said:  A house for My name.”  It had to be the Best – “exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all lands.”  He gave his very best.  He found the best craftsmen, and gathered an abundance of materials:  gold, silver, bronze, iron, timbers, cedar, stone, and precious stones.  David told them that “the Lord their God would be with them.” (22:18)  ‘Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God…the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord.” (22:19)  “The Lord God of Israel has given rest to His people, and He dwells in Jerusalem forever.” (23:25)

He delegated those who would be in charge of the house of God – those whose lives would be dedicated to serving the Lord and administering unto Him worship and praise.

~ He appointed the sons of Aaron and Moses, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi. They were to be in charge of the holy things.  (chapter 23 & 24)

~ He appointed the sons of Asaph and Heman to be musicians.  They were to prophesy with lyres, harps and cymbals under the direction of Asaph, giving thanks and praising the Lord. Singers were of the house of Heman and his direction to sing in the house of the Lord with the instructions, being trained to sing to the Lord.  There was 288 and they took turns in the service of the house of God.  (chapter 25)

~He appointed gatekeepers to guard day and night the Temple and minister in the house of the Lord. (chapter 26)

~ The Levites were also in charge of the treasures (dedicated gifts, taxes & tithes) of the house of God.  These were used in repairs of the house of the Lord.  (chapter 26:20-28)

~ He defined his army…He had 288,000 men consisting of twelve divisions of 24,000 men, each of which served in turn for one month out of the year.  Eight of the twelve generals belonged to the tribe of Judah which was David’s tribe.) (chapter 27)

~ He put in charge of the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages and in the towers, overseers in charge of agriculture; tilling the soil; vineyards; olive & sycamore trees; cattle, donkeys, and flocks.

David appointed his son, Solomon as king according to the directions God had given him and he presented him to the people along with the explanation of his heart’s desire and God’s blessings to him.  Then he said:  “…observe and seek after all the commandments of the Lord your God in order that you may possess the good land and bequeath it to your sons after you forever."  (28:8)

David concluded with telling how he had given his very best for God.

     Then King David said to the entire assembly, “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and inexperienced and the work is great; for the temple is not for man, but for the Lord God."  (chapter 29)

     “Now with all my ability I have provided for the house of my God…Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the Lord?...then the rulers of the fathers’ households and the princes of the tribes of Israel…offered willingly; and for the service for the house of God they gave talents, gold, silver, brass, iron, and precious stones to the treasury of the house of the Lord…Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart."

David blesses the Lord:  “Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever.  Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth;  Thine is the dominion, O Lord, and Thou does exalt Thyself as head over all…and give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Thy commandments, Thy testimonies, and Thy statutes, and to do them all, and to build the temper, for which I have made provision.”

David instructs the people to bless the Lord…”and all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their fathers and bowed how and did homage to the Lord and to the king.”  The next day the people sealed their blessing with sacrifices to the Lord and burnt offerings.  Then they celebrated:  “So they ate and drank that day, before the Lord with great gladness.”

My thoughts:  I think there is much to be learned from this account of building a house for God.  I think we should see it as instruction for our homes, our church and our bodies.  All these are to be the dwelling place of The Lord.  We should seek the Lord first with the desires of our heart, and for His instructions.  We must give Him our very best and doing it willingly, with rejoicing.  EVERYTHING is to be unto Him…every detail, every person, every talent and gift.  There should be unity with the focus on worship and praise; with offerings and celebration…all unto Him!   Hallelujah and Amen!

THE AGONY OF GOD AND MAN

Matthew 26:36-46

Jesus  & His Disciples Temptation at Gethsemane

Dialog abbreviated ~ Jesus:

“Watch and pray with Me.”

“My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death”

“Keep watch with Me”

“Father, if it’s possible, let this cup pass from me…but Your will be done”

“Keep watching and praying, so that – you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

“Father, if I must drink this cup, Thy will be done.”

“Are you still sleeping?”

Jesus struggled with BEING God and man, not being sure what the human man would do and fearing that he would fail.  Jesus also struggled with needing God and pleasing Him, and needing some human support from those he loved and trusted.

Jesus passed in resisting His final temptation.  It was to not drink the cup of suffering and death.  He chose The Father’s will.  Notice, in Jesus first prayer, He pleaded with The Father for there to be some other way…to die!  He wasn't afraid of death; it was on the way to it that was the human struggle:

        He was betrayed by one of His own.

        He was not recognized by the religious leaders who were suppose to be 

          serving God, teaching His Word, and following His commands.  These 

          were the ones who knew the Word, but did not believe it!

        He was cursed, lied about, beaten with their fists, slapped in the face 

          and spit on by these same religious leaders.

        All His disciples deserted Him.  This meant they hid or stayed at a 

          distance or stayed silent.  I think this was John’s guilt; being close but 

          saying nothing.

        Peter denied 3 times even knowing Him.

        He was turned over to the Romans who had the cruelest of punishments 

          – they stripped him half naked, put on a robe and mocked Him; pierced 

          His head with thorns, they spit on Him, beat him on the head with a 

          reed; then they beat Him with a whip close to death.  He had to carry 

          his cross.  He was nailed to the cross through his wrists and feet.

          While hanging on the cross He was continuously mocked & slandered; 

          his clothes were gambled for; he was displayed with no dignity or
          decency; He was pierced through the side to make sure He was dead;
          hanging as a lamb that had been slaughtered!

        No one defended Him.  The only one who tried to save Him was Pilate, 

          and he gave in to the crowd.  I must say, the same crowd that was 

          cheering for Him several days before.

The disciples failed their temptation…and Jesus.  Had they watched and prayed, they would not have fallen asleep.  Jesus told them to resist the temptation of the flesh to sleep and to listen to the spirit that would do as He asked; that would be a devoted friend!

If they had watched Jesus’ agony and prayed with Him, they would have chosen The Father’s will, too – and not let Jesus go to the cross alone; they would have stayed by Him and believed even though they didn't understand.

Have we ever heard these words of Jesus:  “Could you not watch with me for one hour?”

Watch to see where God is working that He wants me to join with Him.  Praying for strength; for confirmation of God’s direction; for God’s will to be done. 

Lord, thank You for opening my spiritual eyes today to see Your agony better; to see the struggle with temptation in the flesh; to fear what Your human self would do on the way to the cross.  It wasn't death You feared – it was the shame, the betrayal, being deserted by those You loved.

Thank You for showing us how to resist temptation and choose God’s will for victory over sin, and life abundant with God, The Trinity. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.  Praise You!

SALVATION SIMPLY!

I am not saved by believing!  ~ I am already saved by Jesus’ Atonement on the cross; when I realize that (get that message) and believe it – I am saved!

I am saved by receiving!  (John 1:12)

If the emphasis is on “believing”, I will put my faith in faith not in Jesus!  We can believe anything; but what it’s based on is the importance.

Salvation is a done thing!  Jesus died for the SIN of the world  (2 Cor. 5:21)

I am saved when I realize that (learn that Jesus came and died for my sin) and believe it.

SIN has been paid for and all sinners have been issued a pardon and are free from paying for their sin!  Many haven’t got the message yet – so they are still in prison (the bondage of sin).  When they receive the message and believe it, then they can go free. (So many get the message and don’t believe it!)

Repentance is the act of leaving the prison never to return.  Even though you can sin again, you never go back to prison for it because it’s a debt that's already paid!! – but you do have to confess to receive forgiveness for that sin since you were saved (I John 1:9); however, some sins have consequences that can’t be undone even though they can be forgiven…ex. murder or fornication or adultery that produces a baby.  (Of course, I realize that today abortion has been made an option, but that’s an option that produces some other consequences that one must bear!) 

Salvation is a free gift; but it must be received, unwrapped and follow the directions.  You'll find them in The Bible, God's Holy Word.  The greatest part of this gift is that it brings with it real Love!  Do you believe it? Then reach out in prayer and receive it...