Preach The Gospel, Use Words

“But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”-Romans 10:18

 

       “Preach the gospel, if necessary, use words.”  This quote is often misattributed to St. Francis of Assisi and has made its way around evangelical circles, as well as into literature and sermons.  Used by many to emphasize the necessity of living the example of a Christian life, while simultaneously undermining the need for words to accompany this example.  The reality is that words will be necessary, because the Bible says it is so. 

  

         Our testimony and proclamation of the gospel is critical to the Christian faith.  So much so that the five gifts of the Spirit in Ephesians are linked to proclaiming the gospel.  That the final commission of Christ was to go out and preach the gospel.  The requirement to preach is central to the commandments of Christ.  Preach and preach with words.  This does not diminish the necessity of living a life that backs up your preaching; however to put forward that words are optional is unbiblical.  They didn’t arrest Jeremiah and throw him in a pit for how he dressed, but for what he said.  They didn’t run Elijah down for the marvelous works he did but for the prophecy he spoke.  They didn’t kill Jesus because he was a good guy, they killed him because he spoke the truth.  The scripture testifying: “He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.”  The disciples could have worked miracles, taught Torah, fed the hungry, and never witnessed to the resurrection of Christ; and they would have been left alone.  However, they were charged to be witnesses of Christ, and they did just that.  They preached, and in preaching they used words, and because of their words they were killed.  We cannot imagine that our lives as Christians will be without persecution, and we cannot assume that a life lived will be enough to draw all men unto Christ.  Words will be necessary, because when the name of Christ is spoken, and the truth of scripture is spoken it moves the character and actions of your life away from what is assumed, and to the primary source.  You are no longer the meaning behind any good, but you're simply a vessel to that meaning.  You are a witness to Jesus Christ and in so doing a witness against sin in others lives and in the world.  If we shine the light of righteousness on sin, persecution will surely follow.   To do this, words are a must.  There can be a reluctance to share the gospel, if we are honest with ourselves I think some may find that we are reluctant, but why are we so reluctant?  I asked myself this question.  Could it be that we are reluctant because we are not totally dead to the world?  That we are unwilling to alienate ourselves from the social groups, and friends that may not agree with us?  To close the door on potential favors, friendships, and business relationships?  It is easier to “live and let live.”  Witness when convenient and not when called upon.  Perhaps, we are reluctant because we don’t always know what to say.  We have not “study to show ourselves approved unto God.”  We have not “sanctified the Lord in our hearts to be ready to give an answer.”  Therefore, when the time and opportunities come up (for they surely do every day), we have nothing to answer or offer other than our own opinion or insight.  Rather than the wisdom of scripture, which can save the lost.  We are reluctant because we are not resigned to the necessity of the message being preached.  The devil has convinced us that it is someone else's job.  Our pastor, elder, friend that is “churchier” than us.  He has us believing that we can “preach, if necessary, use words."

 

       The testimony, and the type of testimony cannot simply be action, it must be with words.  Jesus said: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” (Mat 10:32)  In the revival of Ephesus the scripture tells us “ And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.” (Acts 19:17-18)  All through the scripture we are called to preach with words.  Words render meaning, meaning is the path to truth, and truth demands change.  Change to the sinner means conversion, and conversion leads to sanctification and Satan is against all the above.  Lord help us to look deeply and sincerely into the scriptures and realize the responsibility that faces us.  We who call ourselves Christians.  A holy calling to “witness to Thy glory of salvation full and free.”  A privilege to preach, and use words, for they will surely be necessary.

Repent and Believe

 “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” – Mark 1:15

       True repentance comes from genuine conviction.  Conviction is the divine work of the Holy Spirit in which he repoves you of your sin.  He shows you your true standing with God by shining the light of holiness, the fullness of the gospel, and the sacrifice of the risen Christ on your heart and life.  This will by consequence cast a dramatic contrast on a sinful person and cause one to long for change.  Change which begins at repentance.  

        When you go to the doctor to get your yearly checkup you expect him or her to tell you the true condition of your physical body.  Whether sick or healthy you want the truth.  This is especially true when you are really sick.  If you have a sickness that might kill you, but you can change, then you want to know.  Even if the diagnosis exposes your imperfection, how much better to know now while you can change.  The same is true of the spiritual man.  The sickness of sin is termal.  It will doom you.  The good news is there is a cure.  This sickness is highly treatable, with one hundred percent success.  If you repent, and believe the gospel.  The power of Christ can wash away the sins you have committed, and instantly transform you to walk according to his steps.  He will deliver you from sins past, and with the power of the Holy Ghost, keep you from sinning.  However, he is not going to run you down and make you accept Him.  You have to turn from your sin.  As a man going down the wrong road, or an animal walking directly into a trap.  The cry is turn around!  Turn around!  Turn to Jesus.  Turn with your whole heart.  It is a decided turn from wrong, and the immediate consequential action is to do right.  The works mirrored the resolve.  The belief manifested in change. Repentance. Turning away and begging forgiveness with manifest change.  You might be living in a damning spiritual condition and callous or ignorant. Herein is the danger of sitting under the teaching and preaching of those who tell you only what you want to hear and not what God wants you to hear.   Repentance is more than just “I’m sorry.”  It is “I’m sorry and I am not going to do it again.”  You are making a U-turn.  You are turning away from what you want and towards what God wants. 

         A truly repentant heart is instantaneously forgiven by our loving Father.  The scripture says that “if we confess our sins, he is faith and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).  God is not interested in rubbing your face in what you have done against him; he is waiting to forgive you, longing to absolve you of your transgression, but you must meet the condition.  Once a human heart repents and it is genuinely changed, the next direction is towards righteousness.  Therefore the seamless and necessary second work of grace is the receiving of the Holy Ghost.  It is not the Fathers will that we “continue in sin that grace may abound.”  Which is one of the reasons why he counseled us in the scripture to believe the gospel.  The gospel is Jesus Christ, and the will of Christ (and God) is for HIs people to be sanctified.  Jesus himself longed for us to experience the love and fellowship that He experienced with God.  This is why Jesus died to sanctify those that believe. Repent and believe the gospel. 

Childlike Trust

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” –Job 13:15

There is no faith and trust more remarkable than that of a child’s.  They put complete trust in their parents.  Children do not worry (nor should they) whether food will be on the table, or if the bills are paid; they have their faith in trust in their guardians.  In good times, bad times they trust.  Adults however, not so much.

The older you get, the more you learn, and the less you understand.  The scripture tells us that the cares of this world can choke the Word.  This covers a lot of ground.  In Samson’s case, the cares could mean the things that you care for, the things you put ahead of God.  Your selfish wants and desires.  Which will lead you out of the will of God and choke out God’s divine instruction from your life.  Cares may include legitimate responsibilities such as; food, clothing, shelter, etc.  It could include those you care for in this life.  Your family, friends, sons and daughters.  Those you love and those that are put in your care.  So many things can become a care of this world.  The anticipation of something (good or bad) can be a care of this world.  In Job’s case, he seemed to have everything, and then he  lost everything..  God proved him, and Job’s faith and trust in God carried him through the darkest of days.  In this Job left an example for us, the silver bullet to fretting, worrying, and cares; trust.  Incomprehensible, unnatural, radical trust in Almighty God.  When things are not what they should be, trust.  When the world is not where you think it ought to be, trust.  When you are afflicted, tormented, and rejected; we must put our faith and trust in God saying as Job “though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”  Total resignation to the will of God and absolute abandonment of your own will, this is not a natural trust, but it is a vital one.  This is the path of the Christian, and the antithesis to the suffocating cares that would creep in and destroy your relationship with Christ and God.

The Bible says “he will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.”  It also says, “casting all your care on him for he careth for you.”  When you are forgiven God wipes away all past sin.  Then you must give your all to God trusting in him for the first time and he will then send his Spirit and sanctify you.  You are then in perfect peace, and this relationship of trust begins.  To maintain that, we must keep our mind on him and “rework” our thinking to cast our cares instead of hoard them.  Whatever comes up in life, take it to the Lord in prayer and give it to him.  When you do, he will take care of you and it will increase your faith.  This is not a one-time occurrence but a daily exercise. In this we trust God and learn to trust God.  We come as children, and continue with childlike faith.  This is the sanctified life, a life of faith and trust, and it brings with it glorious liberty.    

Guest Week: Andrew Norman

 1 Peter 1:6-7 KJV

• “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"

The storms of life come to each and every one of us. No matter our position in life, none of us are immune to the trials of this world. Through these hard times, it can feel like our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling because they are not being answered in the way we think they should be. It is easy in these times to start to feel discouraged and get the feeling that God is not listening. However, this is not the case. 

The Bible refers often to the trials or the trying of our faith, and the passage above is a great example. These trials, the Word tells us, are precious and essential parts of our walk with Jesus Christ. It is through these times that we truly learn to lean on Him and to trust in His Word. It matters what we do when the storms of life come to us. Do we take it to the Scripture and read about the promises of God? Do we pray to the Lord that He will give us strength to endure the trial? Do we talk to a Sanctified elder or mentor for advice through these hard times?

Let's make sure that we know where our strength and help comes from when we are faced with hardships and difficulties in life. The Bible tells us that "the joy of the Lord is your strength." The tough times in life are when we truly learn to depend on the Lord. This fosters a closer relationship and a reliance that teaches us to truly give all of our burdens and cares to God. When we do this He blesses us, although not in the way we always expect. The promise of our God is not that He will take the trial away, but that He will give us the strength to endure it. That is why the Scripture above refers to the trials of our faith as precious, because it causes us to trust in the Lord and thereby grow closer in fellowship with Him. 

Seeing The Field

 “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”-Matthew 9:38

        At present, the majority of the crops here in Georgia are near, or very near harvest.  At this point, even the layman can distinguish the difference between each crop because of their maturity.  However, in the earlier stages of the crops, the untrained would find making this distinction very challenging.  Their ability to see the field is hindered by their lack of exposure.   

        By contrast, the farmer can see the field. A farmer can walk into a field, look around and see what another man cannot.  At a glance he can see and understand what crop he has, how far it has come, and what potential lies in it given the right conditions.  He can understand when it is under stress, when it needs to grow, and what kind of work is involved to prevent weeds, pests.  He has a rough timeline laid out in his mind along with an intuitive knowledge of when it is time to harvest.  The farmer knows his field, and spends his days laboring in it.  He can see the field.  He can see the crop, he can see the potential harvest.  The fields of labor are all around us.  We are most likely right in the middle of it but simply cannot see.  We cannot see because we have not been sitting with the Lord of the harvest.  Spending time in the labor of prayer and reading the Word.  In absence of this daily devotion we are tempted to adopt man’s understanding, and methods.  As a result, many times we are tempted to draw our own conclusions and place boundaries around our work for the Lord.   Boundaries such as, the work must be in church, it must be at youth camp, or on a mission trip.  It must be with people that I feel comfortable with, or look and talk like me.  It must be a work that has a clear return rate to my ministry or local church congregation.  A work where I am comfortable with the work, and with the results.  A work that I can control.  The Apostle Peter had similar borders and boundaries around his work, he had his field of labor well defined.  Until one day in prayer God showed him otherwise.  God showed him that this glorious gospel was not just for Peter’s crowd, Peter’s people, it was for whosoever will.  He was willing to see what God sees, and go where God said, so God widened his gaze.  This is the need for us.  This is why we must pray to the Lord of the harvest that he might send laborers.  Laborers that have sat at Jesus' feet and heard His Word.  That understands the need, and can see the field.  I believe that everyday the fields around us are white for harvest if we allow God to show us.  It may be a word of wisdom, a prayer of intercession, an impromptu conversation that leads to sharing the gospel, a thirty second sermon in the grocery store you didn’t plan on preaching.  Giving, listening, helping.  So many little acts of ministry that sum to a life of light.  Sharing the gospel with our lives, and our language.  Holiness in our conversation.  Working in the field.  

        We can be tempted to look at ministry like a salesman would his monthly quota.  Did you close that sale?  Did you win that soul?  There's a fine line here, because you cannot compromise the integrity of the gospel in the pursuit of gaining numbers.  You can rush to harvest an immature crop, only to find that it leaves you with bitter fruit.  Yet, we must advance against the forces of Satan.  When you accept that the Lord of the harvest is sending forth laborers and we are willing to be one of them, it removes a great deal of anxiety of the matter; because if you preach all your life and save your family (as Noah did), then you are as God wanted you to be.  Or, if you preach one sermon and save a whole city (as Jonah did), then you are as God wanted you to be.  The laborer sees the field and understands the charge from his master, and the master understands where to send forth his laborers.  We all, working together, bringing in the harvest. 

Jesus Christ The Amen

 “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; these things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;” – Revelation 3:14

It is difficult for humanity to understand and accept how absolute the Word of God is.  We live in a world that is ever changing where everything we see, touch, and experience is fleeting yet God’s Word is just as true today as it will be thousands of years from now.  His Word is eternally absolute, and if the Father is eternally absolute then so is the Son.  Jesus Christ is the Amen.

There is great joy in seeking knowledge of the Word of God, however it does not supersede the necessity of believing the Word of God.  In believing we find change, knowledge does not save our souls, faith is the saving agent.  This gospel is for whosoever will; a man with a doctorate of divinity from Harvard University can be just as lost as a man drunk in the ditch.  The reverse is also true, the doctorate of divinity can find God through faith just as the drunk in the ditch can.  There is no respect of persons with God and his Son Jesus Christ.  “Ok, if by faith, then faith in what?”  Faith in the Amen, faith in the absolute word of Jesus Christ the Son of God.  The faithful and true witness from the beginning.  He himself charged us that we must believe on Him, and Christ himself told us that we must be born again.  The words from His very lips are as absolute and binding as the Ten Commandments that were carved in stone; whether they bless you or curse you they are binding, they are final, they are Amen.  Please, consider this, if a Christian and an Atheist had a debate on worldwide television and that Christian did not win a single argument, in fact he was soundly beaten. The Atheist is still wrong.  Jesus is the Amen, His word is absolute, yesterday, today, and forever.  Do you believe it?

If you choose to believe, then you must believe all of it.  We cannot “grocery shop” when it comes to the plan of salvation.  We cannot say, “I like the idea of eternal life, but…..the whole “carrying my cross "is not for me.”  “I don’t want to be labeled a “Christian;” but I do want to ascribe to some of what they teach.”  God help us all to understand that the promise “to Him that overcometh God will give a crown”, is just as sure and eternal as the promise “the wages of sin is death”.  Jesus Christ is absolute and to the righteous is a great foundation to stand on.  To the wicked it is a rock of offence.  Yet, when the storms of life come we can trust in the Amen and His word “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  When we get a little weary we can take courage in the truth “be ye not weary in well doing;” and when he says “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto you.” We can know that God can give you an assurance that surpasses any in this world.  The Amen speaks comfort, encouragement, and admonishment to those who love Him, and great judgment and vengeance to those who do not.  This is not because he is cruel or unloving, but because he is absolute.  He is just.  Jesus Christ the Amen.

Contentment & Covetousness

 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” - Matthew 6:21

Contentment and covetousness stand contrary to one another.  One tethers you to this world, and the other liberates you from it. One invests you in the natural, and the other divests you from the natural.  What you treasure most, is the thing you are unwilling to lose.  This is where your heart truly is.   

When something is readily available it can be easy to take it for granted.  The average American probably does not appreciate running water like someone from a third world country who has never had it.  The other day I was listening to a man argue with his HOA over the right to cut lines in his grass.  I thought: “well, this is a first world problem, if I have ever heard of one.”  The readily available becomes status quo, and eventually, we can be tempted to discontentment and lust to covet something better.  The running water is not enough, it needs to be temperature controlled.  It needs to be in every part of the house.  It needs to be everywhere we go, etc.  Maintaining our standard of living can quickly become the whole of our existence.  On this point Jesus’s words pierce like a sword.  The Pharisees loved the high seats, the show of sacrifice, the long prayers.  They were quick to display their abundance of power, and slow to relinquish it.  It was more just their false theology Christ was attacking, it was their standard of living, their way of life, their treasures on earth.  When Jesus came, he stripped away all that.  He told everyone to give in secret, pray in secret, and to humble themselves.  He said to “lay not up for yourselves treasure on earth.”  He brought salvation down to man and obliterated the need for a high priest.  In doing so, he ripped everyone from the covetousness and drew them to contentment.  He commanded them to refocus their investment of time, and to place it in eternal things.  Why?  Because where your “treasure is there will your heart be also.”   The Pharisees did not take kindly to this radical, so they had Him killed.  He preached a gospel that told them to abandon what they loved most, and embrace a gospel that would strip away their treasures.  Then surrender to God who would grant them true peace, unquestionable contentment, and treasure in heave.  Is it not the same today?  We like our comforts, our pleasures, and our way of life.  We love our family, our friends, and our future.  Some of it is standard of living and creature comforts, and some of it is treasures on earth (what cannot abandon will tell you which is which).  Jesus takes all that (food, raiment, family, friends, etc.) and rolls it up into one word “life.”  He says: “lose your life.”  Jesus calls us to abandon it, die to it, lay it down and follow Him.  If you do, if you fall radically in love with Jesus Christ, then you will find life.  When you treasure this world the heart clings to it and you are drawn away from Christ.  When you break from the world and treasure heaven then your heart is in Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ will wreck your life and give you life.  He will strip away the covetousness but grant contentment.  Contentment that is rooted in righteousness.  

To the carnal heart, it is an enormous challenge to lay up treasures in heaven, because your greatest loves are present down here.  Like the Pharisees, your heart will adamantly reject the very notion of it and even seek to destroy it.  However, when you are genuinely converted, washed in the blood of Christ and sanctified by the Spirit.  When you are brought into that born-again experience.  It is a great delight to lay up treasure in heaven.  You see this as wisdom as much as righteousness.  You are given peace that brings contentment.” 

What Will Ye Do In The End?

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?”- Jeremiah 5:31

          When I think about man's inability to contemplate the end of something it strikes me that when it comes to building our kingdoms here we often can look towards the end. Think of the Olympic athlete who is training now for something that comes four years from now.  Think of a commercial developer buying land for something they may build years in the future.  Why, just this week the Georgia port authority announced a multi-million dollar project that was begun in efforts to increase capacity—looking into the year twenty thirty.  Elon Musk is trying to look hundreds of years down the road to put mankind on mars.  The investment banker puts millions into a company in hopes to receive millions more in the long-term future.  If it is a matter of temporal gain, personal wealth, or collective triumph, we don’t struggle with future planning. However, when we begin to speak about eternity it seems the brain short circuits. Many people go through this life neglecting this great consideration.  Perhaps the devil steps in and clouds our judgment.  And yet, a certain death is coming. It is the devil’s business to busy us about anything else, and keep our minds on this temporary world. However, it is the role of the Spirit to turn our hearts and minds to the end. The spirit does this through preaching, teaching, Bible reading, church services, and even funerals. The wisdom of Solomon says that it is better to go to the house of mourning than feasting, because in the house of mourning we must face the end.  Why is it so hard for mankind to face his end?  Perhaps it is scary, perhaps it is so final and so daunting it’s better to ignore.  Perhaps we don’t believe what we sometimes say we believe: that there is a heaven, and there is a hell— that there is something beyond this life. It is all these things, but I also feel through the instruction of this scripture in Jeremiah that it is because we love to have it so.  We love to have the here and now. We love to have the natural world surround us, consume us, comfort us, and invite us to playfulness.  We love to have it so, and to consider that it will all end is to challenge that love.  We must cast down our idol of playfulness and turn our attention to the sobering reality that we are mortal and God is eternal. 

 Herein is the responsibility of the Christian— to fix our hearts on eternity and warn the people to flee from the wrath to come; to give a more earnest heed lest we let them slip; to live with eternity’s values in view and remain a pilgrim here on earth.  Through prayer, reading, witnessing, testifying, assembling together, we can find the strength and insight to do these things.  In short , through the Spirit we can live with the ultimate end in mind.

The Holy Spirit

 

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”  -Romans 8:9

“Are you sanctified?”  I asked.  “What do you mean sanctified?” an honest response.  “Do you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?”  I followed.  Then came their follow up: “What is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?"

It is entirely possible that many people around us are never prompted to explore the meaning behind the words “the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.”  Perhaps some, are outwardly (or inwardly) asking “what is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?”  Or “what do they mean by sanctified?”  While we, I, continue completely unaware that the word is tragically foreign to them. So, what is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?  In the first place the Holy Spirit is not tangible or natural.  He cannot be seen.  He cannot be bottled, manufactured, or marketed.  He is a person.  The third part of God the Father and God the Son.  Like the wind, He does not go where He is not sent and does not stay where He is not welcome.  He is God.  He is Christ, and He testifies of Jesus Christ.  He reproves sin and makes holy that which He baptizes.  He makes holy wherever He abides.  He is called in scripture the: Holy Ghost, the Spirit, the Comforter, the Spirit of God, Living Water, the Spirit of Truth.  He is the second coming of Christ.  The fulfillment of Jesus’s prophecy that he will come again and receive us unto himself.  The Holy Spirit is the establishment of the New Testament church, and the keeper of the New Testament Christian.  He is why we can live holy.  When the Holy Spirit shows up, things happen, they change, you change, you take on the character of the Holy Spirit, which is holiness.  You die to the old way of living, which is sinfulness, and you are raised into a new life of righteousness.  No one can go to heaven without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is what invades a willing heart and purges out the “want” to sin.  Furthermore, it implants a seed of love in your heart; love towards God and man, perfect love; true holiness: Sanctification.  It is Jesus on the inside; it is why I believe we can live without committing a willful transgression against God, because the Holy Spirit can keep us from sin.  Christ promised he could, he would and then sent the Holy Spirit to give us the power to live free from sin.  Our will is God’s will as long as we yield to the instruction of the Holy Spirit. 

“Indwelling.”  The Holy Spirit is not like a house cat.  He does not go and come on a whim.  He will abide, but he will not stay where he is not welcome.  He will not enter where he is not invited.  If you can imagine your heart as a throne room, where the ruler of all your desires can be found, on that throne sits the devil if you are not sanctified (meaning you don’t have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit).   Only when you, with all sincerity: repent of your sins, and ask God to send the Holy Ghost to throw out the devil and take the throne; only then will he come.  He will come, he will dwell, and he will guide, if you are obedient.  He will change your desires and make your heart and life anew.  What a blessing! What peace! What a comfort! What a joy to have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Do you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?      

A Worldly Marriage

“In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.” –Nehemiah 13: 23-24

The consequence of an action will not always immediately follow the action itself. In many cases, consequences come much later. After the action or decision has remained in the annals of time. It is then we look back and see the error of our ways and grasp the realization of our mistake. Only to desperately hope there is time for reconciliation.

The scripture tells us that the Jews had married the wives of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab; “and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod and could not speak in the Jews’ language.” God has always wanted a separate people. Unlike certain clubs and organizations, the separation is not for pride or arrogance’s sake, but for the sake of love, goodness, and holiness. Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab were pagan lands, with pagan beliefs and practices. The Jews were a people of one God. The true God, and their beliefs and practices reflected the desires of Almighty God. The language they spoke, the food they ate, the way they: lived, dressed, and believed were in total contrast to the nations around them. They were peculiar people. Within these beliefs and practices it mandated that they could not marry “strange” women, meaning women of other nations. Marriage is an intimate relationship. It is the most intimate relationship that exists on earth between two people. When two people are grafted together, they will undoubtedly take on the characteristics of one another. It is like two fruit trees that are grafted together. The union formed in hopes of creating a better overall variety (though it does not always), but when they bear fruit, the seeds of that fruit will not reflect the parent type, how can it? The union was not ordained by God, only man. So it was, the children of these unholy unions within the Jewish nation did not reflect their parent type, i.e., God. They reflected the marriage of the church and the world. They were a lost generation, torn between the world and the church. A casualty of choice by those gone before, who loved the world. Why did they love the strange women so? Was it their exotic dress? The liberal lifestyle? The promise of extravagance? The scripture does not say, but this we know, they were lost, and their children were lost. Therefore, this action of worldly marriage was met with stern rebuke and exhortation to change. Desperately hoping for a realization of the consequences of their actions, and a resolve to hastened towards immediate reconciliation. The people of God cannot expect to be intimate with the world and there not be consequences. The Apostle Peter tells us that sanctified people are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people. When the Holy Ghost convicts you, forgives you, and sanctifies you; he calls you out of the world. You cannot love what they love, go where they go, and worship what they worship (i.e., lust of flesh, of the eyes, and pride of life). When you become filled with all the fullness of God, your heart cleansed from all sin, and you are called to daily walk in the light.  What draws you, excites you, occupies you, and affects you is a direct reflection on what lives within you.  A product of what you have wed yourself too.  The fruit of your union is the conversation of your life.

If the only Christianity that the generation coming behind us sees, is one that is married to the world; then they will see no Christianity. What is worse, if the only Christianity that the generation behind them sees, is one predicated on the worldliness they saw in us; then that generation will think that is Christianity. This is the consequence of a worldly marriage. 

Gift Of Faith

“Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”- 1 Peter 1:12

 The scripture tells that we are saved by grace through faith.  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph 2:8-9) Salvation which God so freely offers, and Christ willingly died for, is offered through faith.   Of all of God’s creation, this realm of faith that we live in is only experienced by mankind.  No other creation has or needs this salvation by faith.  We are the only ones who will ever know God in this way. 

 The angels live in the presence of God.  They know and see Him in the realm of the spiritual.  A realm we cannot totally experience while living in this physical world.  Therefore, angels are without faith and the necessity of faith for salvation.  They desire to “look into” but cannot fully see.  The animals, plants, trees, etc. are all physical.  They have no spirit. No concept of eternity.  No free will.  No opportunity to serve God, love God, or be in judgment before God.  It is not murder for a lion to kill.  Nature exists in a purely carnal sense, with no concept of sin and righteousness.  Therefore, they have no need or experience of salvation through faith.  Of all the created beings that God made, humanity is the only creation that lives in the realm of faith.  What a thing this is.  That we can know God in this way and speak to him in this language.  Experience Him in this manner.  The Bible says that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1) Which means we have a hope that is unique to us.  A hope that has been prepared for us, by the Christ who died for us and gave us access to the Father through faith.  This faith cannot be commercialized or monetized.  It is not subject to our adulteration or censorship.  It is a gift from God and rooted in love and devotion.  It is both our ultimate hope and our only hope.  Simple faith, faith in the risen Christ Jesus.  Faith that cleanses, redeems, and restores us into the right relationship of holiness with God.  Faith that, through the Holy Ghost, binds us to the one true Savior Jesus Christ.  Giving us the earnest of the Spirit, our confidence of eternal life.  If we keep the faith.  It calls and unites us into a body of believers and brings to us a profound sense of belonging.  Regardless of race, color, or social status.  Without it, it is impossible to see God.  With it is it possible.  When we believe that God is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, we can see Him through the eyes of faith; and one day see Him face to face.  We are the only ones who are afforded the opportunity to do so.  It is a shame that so many squander this opportunity to live for the carnal.  For the temporary.  Devoted to the natural instead of embracing the spiritual.  Do you not know that this natural realm will soon pass away?  We are here for such a short time, and then we are soon gone. Furthermore, we will only pass this way but once, and to live our lives fixed on the world while rejecting Christ is criminally shortsighted.  How pitiful is this?  Especially when you consider that we are so privileged to know and experience God through this precious gift of faith.

The angels desire to look in.  I am reminded of photos of a crowded Fenway Stadium in the early 1900’s.  The sold-out stadium was so packed that it showed some climbing the grandstand and perched on the water tower to get a glimpse of baseball’s best.  The angels, the angels desire to look in.  They would like to see and know God as we do.  We will never pass this way again.  Our opportunity is swiftly passing by.  It would be a shame to waste it. 

Humble Yourself

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18) Humility is a defense, therefore pride is a weapon of the devil that he uses liberally.  The carnal heart is infected with pride because it is a pillar of carnality.  A man’s pride chains him to the undue estimation of himself.  Furthermore, it banishes the humility that would invite the character, direction, and hand of God in his life.  Opening the door of access to Christ.   

Jesus Christ said, “I do nothing of myself.”  This is totally contrary to the way the world and Satan.  Satan would have the sanctified, Christian believer, do everything of themselves.  The trials, tribulations, and challenges of life must be met, necessities must be met, and most of us have creature comforts that we feel we must maintain.  In addition, there are goals, ambitions, and wishes that we feel compelled to perform.  All of this brings care, stress, and anxiety.  Take something as simple as cutting the grass.  Apparently, it is unbecoming of a neighbor to have an untidy lawn, so we labor to keep it tidy.  In that process we procure a mower, weed eater, and broom or leaf blower; or we simply pay someone who has that already.  Regardless, we are then in need of gainful employment that will provide the money to pay or procure tools to cut the grass.  Is grass cutting a source of anxiety in our life?  Most likely not, however, it is a stressor.  It brings a cause of care to our little kingdom.  Depending on the size of your kingdom it may be one of the one hundred things that cause care and worry.  You may feel like you are adequately managing the kingdom or totally failing.  In either case, if you have the mindset that you are doing it, that you are in charge; then you are setting yourself up for destruction.  The devil is moving you into the danger zone, setting up pride as an idol in your own heart and letting you believe that “you got this.”  True, it may all be “under control” today, but there is coming a day when it’s not.  There is a day when you need a Savior.  To some it may come sooner rather than later, to a few it may come later, but to all it will come.  The show may go on with a confident smile; but when death comes, nobody can pass judgment without Jesus.  If pride is cemented in your heart, you will not pass judgment.  Therefore, in all things we must “do nothing of myself.”  We must humble ourselves and cast all your care on Him for he careth for you.  Pride can be destroyed in the human heart as surely as sin can, but the world, flesh, and the devil will constantly try to resurrect it.  Therefore, we must die daily and cast it all on Jesus.  Humble ourselves and let him lift us up.

Humility is the silver bullet to the temptation of pride.  Pride leads to care, anxiety, worry, and fear.  Humility firmly puts Jesus Christ in the driver seat.  You don’t have to have it all figured out.  You don’t have to have to be “owning life”; but you do have to cast all your care upon him.  We all must humble ourselves.  When we do, God will lift us up and take care of us; he will keep that which is committed unto him “against that day.”

The Essential Office

“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”-2 Timothy 1:5

Without question, one of the most underappreciated and overlooked roles in America right now, is the Christian housewife.  It seems our society with its obsession with progression took us from gender roles, to gender neutrality, to gender fluidity.  In so doing, we never stopped thinking about what was being sacrificed to fuel our progression.  While everyone should have equal opportunity, if it is a woman's ambition to be a wife, mother, and housewife; you will scarcely find a nobler calling. 

Our worldly culture today exalts education, business, and enterprise.  It champions free thinking and “me” first discovery.  You can be what you want, do what you want, and marry whomever you want.  The militant message is that the Bible, the home, and the title of “housewife” is simply a way to keep the women in her place.  It is pushed that modern women are not so one dimensional.  She can do, say, and go wherever she pleases; and being a mom can simply be one of the many hats that she can wear, and the men are there to support her in this endeavor.  In all this, the result can quickly become that we are all too encumbered to stop and ask: who is guarding the home?  Who is guiding the home?  Modern day parents are working 60 hour a week jobs, paying babysitters, and virtually killing themselves so they can send their kids to top universities, and have the American dream.  Debt riddled families are sacrificing time with their kids to pay for things they purchased to impress people they don’t even know.  Diligently saving what remains to send their kids to the same universities that will teach them this same “me” first thinking; never realizing that the greatest university in the world is a solid Christian home.  The most valuable teaching facility in America is a Godly home, guided by a sanctified Bible believing husband, who is supported by a God-fearing wife.  The most important lessons will not be taught in a classroom, but in the living room.  While businessmen and women make products for profit, mothers mold lives.  Teachers and educators instruct students; mothers fashion the character of future generations.  To stay at home and dedicate your life to a singular purpose of raising children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord is no small task.  How much more to do so with her words and her life and “give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”   The world doesn’t champion it, and our culture doesn’t exalt it, but the gospel is generational, and mothers are instrumental in passing the torch from one generation to the next.  Think of those who influenced you the most, those who taught you about Christ, those who you wish to emulate.  Odds are a Godly mother or grandmother is in that group.  Admittedly, not everyone is afforded this great blessing, but no one should be robbed of it because of stereo-typical cultural or world views.  When kids see their parents and grandparents’ faith it builds their faith.  When children are raised and guided by consistent, compassionate, determined, God fearing women; accompanied by a husband who loves Jesus and accepts his role as the chief servant in the hierarchy of the household, it effectively prepares the soil so that one day the Word of God can take root. 

We live in a world that has so many opinions and “movements” it’s easy to lose sight of what matters.  Please don’t misinterpret, it is not my intention to tell anyone what they should do or how they should live, rather, call attention to the value of one of the most essential offices a person can hold on this Earth: The Christian mother and housewife.  The future is not determined by those who we elect, educate or appoint; but by those who raise them.  Let the Church rally around those who embrace this calling.  

Will ChatGPT Do Your Preaching?

 “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”-1 Corinthians 2:4-5

The buzz around artificial intelligence is real and rampant.  As the pros and cons are laid before us (whether we like it or not), one cannot help but wonder what will come from this new technology.  While mankind rarely misses an opportunity to find ease and convenience, one cannot help but wonder where this will fit into the life of the Bible believing Christian and the role of preaching the everlasting gospel.

In first Corinthians two, the Apostle Paul makes plain the driving force of his preaching.  What moved people to convert and come to Christ was not a matter of powerful oration, or a calibrated sales pitch.  Nor was it his sound presentation of facts or logic.  It was something, but it wasn’t that!  Then what was it?  It was the power of God.  Herein the Apostle Paul confesses this so that our faith will not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.  If preaching was merely the presentation of facts, then AI could rally them together and populate a page within a fraction of a second.  It could search the Bible and scavenge the web to synthesize the key pillars of doctrine and present them to the reader.  However, God did not choose the foolishness of presentation, he chose the foolishness of preaching.  Preaching is not in man’s wisdom.  The Word must go forth with power.  There is something supernatural that must accompany the proclamation of the Word of God which can only come from an intimacy with God.  Many a man has walked into the pulpit or sat down with a pen and paper, trusting in his personality to make up for his neglect of the prayer room.  His charisma, mixed with a few positive scriptures to patchwork together a “message” for the people.  While the hearers may have been instructed, they were not converted. As Lenord Ravenhill once said: “preaching is thirty minutes to raise the dead.”  This cannot be done with charisma or human personality, only by the Spirit, and no matter the sophistication of the chat bot, there can be no connection between the bot and God.  You cannot circumvent the personal time with God.  As Moses ventured up the mount to sit before God, we must go up.  As Christ prayed and fasted on a mountain side, we too must take our station there “and wait for thee”.  It is not to say that words have no place in preaching.  For even Christ himself said: “heaven and earth shall pass but my words shall not pass.”  What the Apostle is saying is that the message is as much about the man, as the message.  Not the ability of the man, but the surrendering of him.  My speech, my preaching.  He is a man that has surrendered to the reality that the well spring that he received, this water of life, came from a depth much deeper than human wisdom.  It is his only in the capacity that God has called him into the ministry by a sacred calling, and he is blessed to labor as such.  It came from God, delivered by man.  Preaching is as much about the man as the message.  He sat with God, and waited for a word from God.  Then preached it to the people and it saved them that believed. This will never change, and this is what is foolish to the world.

While many an orator would never measure up to the sophistication of the chatbots and the brain of millions training them, the ones who employ these bots to build sermons will never measure up to the power of the preacher who waits before God.  The sophistication of the bots and the brains of millions will never come close to the agent of the Holy Ghost and its fruitful working within the heart of man.  So, will ChatGPT do your preaching?

Trust Him With The Outcome

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”-Matthew 6:34

The sanctified life is a surrendered life. A life completely resigned to the outcome of God’s will in your life. This message is told and reinforced repeatedly in scripture. Brilliantly epitomized by our Savior: “take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

One major difference between a country mile and a city mile is in the country you can see the whole mile in front of you. Your way laid out before you unobstructed. In a dense city center, you cannot see the whole mile. As you snake through the labyrinth of streets and alleys, the mile is the same, but the total view is completely impossible. One must follow directions turn by turn. Christ calls us to live this life a turn at a time. We must trust God with the moment and recognize that we are not going to see the whole plan. We must trust God for every outcome, even when you cannot see. Or you have seen it and cannot understand it. Trust as Noah trusted building the Ark before they knew what rain was. As Abraham trusted, leaving all that he knew, going out into the unknown. As Gideon trusted, taking on an army of thousands, with just three hundred (and without conventional weapons!). As Ezra trusted, refusing the protection of the king, while he transported the king’s own money hundreds of miles through highways and byways filled with robbers and bandits. Testifying “For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.”  As Jerimiah trusted, preaching the word with faithfulness even though he met with persecution and dwindling crowds.  As Christ trusted, always doing the will of the father even to the death of the cross. As the early Church trusted, and countless saints through the ages. We are not in management, but in labor. Walking in faith and obeying God no matter what. This is the life of the Christian.

In first Peter chapter five the great Apostles instructs us in holy scripture: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”   What might seem like an oversimplification is in fact a tremendous blessing when applied. We are commanded to offload all that care and worry which the world brings, and the devil amplifies towards us; centralizing our entire life around this one statement
“thy will be done;” refusing to evaluate the outcomes and pander for validation.  Whatever the calling, and whatever the cost we take up the gospel of Christ believing.  Taking no thought for the morrow, trusting God with the outcome. 

If It Be Marvelous

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the Lord of hosts.” - Zechariah 8:6

            In days past, revival came by careful, humble, sacrificial living from God’s people. Only God himself can send revival, and only God himself can accomplish it. Revival will not come through man's ingenuity. Revival cannot be orchestrated; it cannot be commanded. True, genuine, Holy Ghost revival is a function of God himself. Therefore, it lies in God’s people seeking, serving, and believing God himself.

In the eighth chapter of Zechariah, the Word of the Lord came to the prophet in the second year of Darius king of Persia. Zechariah is prophesying at the same time as Haggai who said, “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?”  Also, Ezra the scribe is back in Jerusalem working to rebuild the temple (the Lord’s house that lies in waste). The Word of the Lord comes to Zechariah and tells him that God is jealous over Zion, and over Jerusalem. He tells him that He will dwell in Jerusalem.  That the aged men and women will walk the streets once more, and the streets of the city will fill with children at play. Then the Word of the Lord says, if it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvelous in mine eyes? Take a moment, imagine Jerusalem in desolation, imagine the temple in ruin and God’s people removed from that country.  Consider that just a few are left there. Now, can you imagine the faith it would take to believe that God would be there? That men, women, and children would be together in the streets: safe, secure, and happy? God says if it be marvelous in your eyes, it will be marvelous in mine. God says, if this scene is marvelous, wonderful, incredible to you; it will be to me. This is the message from God to God’s people. When you look out at our land and country today, if holiness people think of themselves as just a remnant living in a desolate decaying Jerusalem, and that is all there is; we will never see revival. Worse still, if we love Babylon (i.e., this world), and long for it, what hope is there for revival to become marvelous in our eyes?  What is marvelous in your eyes? What is incredible to you? What gives you pause, causes you to stop and look? Is it someone who has lots of money? Someone who possesses an abundance of talent? The newest trend, latest fashion, coolest gadget? Do we really want to see a sinner break with the world and fall in love with God; or do we just sing about it? Would we rather see the Holy Ghost grip this nation and turn us back to holiness, or simply talk about it?  Jesus told of a parable of the unjust judge who totally ignored a widow woman that was wronged by an adversary. The Word says by her “continually coming” she persuaded Him. If the unjust judge did right, how much more would the Judge of all the Earth? How much more would God in heaven if we humble ourselves, continually seek His face, and make holiness marvelous in our eyes? 

There is a cross for us to bear, when we get to the place where we want to bear it, we love to bear it; we desire God’s conviction and direction over everything else; we crave the burden of revival in our own lives and we are willing to sacrifice to see it.  Thereby making the vision of revival marvelous in our eyes.  I just believe God will honor that. Revival starts within, not without. As in the days of Josiah the King, we must look to our own house and ask God to clean out the rubbish and clear out the “shelf behind the door.”  Read His Word, commit to prayer, and be honest with God. When he answers by fire in our heart, it will make revival marvelous in our eyes, consequently in His, and by God’s grace he will make it marvelous to the world. 

Guide Me With Thy Counsel

 

“Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.”-Psalms 73:24

Once upon a time, back in the olden days, you know, before the invention of the smart phone, you had to navigate on your own. At times, it was necessary to buy a map, or consult written directions, or even ask for directions! Personally, I always preferred the tried-and-true method of following someone. But not just anyone, someone who has been there before. Who knew where you wanted to go and could guide you. Leading you all the way to your destination.

A guide can lead you because they have knowledge, wisdom, and experience. Christ came into this world and put on flesh. He walked, talked, slept, sweated, bled, cried, and experienced all human emotion. Furthermore, the scripture says that he was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. I once had a professor in college who taught international business who had never left the country. He went from high school to college, to master’s, to doctorate, to teaching. He had studied business but never owned a business or worked in an international business setting. He had studied the theory but knew nothing of the practice. Christ knows in both theory and in practice. He came to declare the mystery of God and guide us with counsel. When you have the Word of God, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, you have at your disposal the counsel of God. You have access to someone who knows all. How confident would you be with your investments if you knew the outcome of the stock market for the next fifty years? Christ has gone behind and before us. He is there as an intercession for us, a counselor, and a guide. Yet, how p people reject Him and opt for their own unique plans and wishes? Deciding to be the experts and leaders of their own life at great peril. There is no counsel in this world that can lead you out of sin and receive you into glory. The counsel of this world will only lead you to doom. While hindsight is 20/20, foresight is blind, you cannot know but you can yield to Christ. Yield to Him and let Him be your guide. Led by the one who knows all and knows best. This is the life of faith, the life of the Christian. Walking in the confidence, guidance, and all the counsel of God.

The Psalmist said guide me with thy counsel and after receive me up into glory. If heaven is your destination, then you must follow the man who has been there, that came from there, that holds the keys and will guide us to there.

Ye Fathers

 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”-Ephesians 6:4

Often you can gauge what is going on in the home by watching the actions and reactions of the children. What begins as conscious (or unconscious) modeling behavior, soon turns into learned behavior. Kids absorb everything and gradually become a reflection of their environment. The home being their most prominent environment. In this way our children rise up in judgment against us, as they are a true reflection of who we are. They see what (almost) no one else does.

Not long ago my wife warned me off killing a hornet’s nest, saying “it is best not to provoke them.”  To provoke means to deliberately make someone angry or annoyed. It can also mean to incite or give rise to emotion. The scriptures command us fathers provoke not your children to wrath. How quickly we can be guilty of this if we are not dependent on Christ. In the first place we can provoke them by modeling the behavior of wrath in front of them. If they see us yelling, overreacting and unable to control ourselves, then they will do the same. If our response to wrath is wrath, then they will emulate that response. Furthermore, we can provoke our children to wrath by executing wrath upon them. Through rash behavior, overly harsh punishments, and unkind words. Long on punishments, and short on mercy. Every parent knows that nothing will burn your fuse quicker than your kids (an odd paradox, but truer than most care to admit). Although we love them more than ourselves (or at least we should), there are days they find our last nerve and stomp all over it. Then we react in a manner that is far too harsh and provoke them to wrath. Knowing how and when to execute judgment or mercy is wisdom we must receive from God. Another way we can provoke our children to wrath is to be on the edge of wrath ourselves. By remaining under the influence of the world and worldly things, and not under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Under the influence of stress and worry. Allowing the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches to choke the word and it becomes unfruitful in us. A father that neglects his prayer closet, and devotional time will soon neglect his children, provoking them to wrath. It is not enough that we refrain from provoking them, but we must also “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”  Nurturing is to care for in the growth and development of--like growing tomatoes children are to be trained along to grow into the set of standards and guidelines found in scripture. They must be pruned and promoted at the perfect time. It is a delicate balance of care. Too much can stunt the growth, too little can cause the plant to grow wild and unruly. I see a great lesson here in raising of children. What a challenge! What a charge! God said to Noah: “Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.”  Noah would preserve righteousness in the earth and save his household, because of the righteous, good father that he was.Of Abraham God would proclaim that he would not hide from him the things which God does because God knew that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord.  The Lord would judge the priest Eli testifying that “he restrained not his sons.”  In the scripture we have examples of good fathers, and the blessing they can be. As well as bad fathers, and the reproach they can bestow upon themselves, their children, and the work of God.

If left to us, we would fail to fulfill this commandment in Ephesians six, but thankfully we have a Father in heaven that cares for us. One who will sanctify us and guide us so that we might guide our children. I thank God that he corrects us and in correcting he shows us how to correct our children. In loving, how to love.  In teaching how to teach. In instruction, how to instruct. Of this I am convinced; that fatherhood is a blessed calling of God and only through His wisdom can we hope to fulfill it in the order and calling God intended.  May the Lord help me, and any man who would assume the mantle of father, because fathering a child does not make you a father. 

Guest Week: Riah Collier

 John 3:34-35

For he [Jesus] whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

35The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

This passage of Scripture is easy to overlook, sandwiched between the well-known stories of Jesus's interactions with Nicodemus at the beginning of John 3 and the Samaritan woman at the well in chapter 4.   However, these verses have a lot to say. 

I love Scripture texts that bring together the mystery of the threefold Person of God.  The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one Being, but three Persons.  I heard someone recently explain that "being" explains what you are, "person" explains who you are.  This really helped me as I meditated on this passage.  How does God "give" the Spirit to the Son, when all three of Them are simultaneously fully God?  I don't pretend to understand it completely, but this distinction is helpful . . . the person of the Father gave the person of the Spirit to the person of the Son.  And He didn't do it "by measure" (a limited amount) . . . and because it wasn't a limited amount, Jesus's words were the words of God.

In contrast, the Spirit would come in limited amount upon the prophets from time to time to deliver the Word of God to God's people.  Not so with Jesus . . . limitless access to the Spirit was granted to Him as the incarnated Son of God on the earth.   

Furthermore, He received that Spirit on our behalf.  As the Father sent down the Spirit on the Son when He was baptized in the river Jordan, so the Son now baptizes those who seek Him with that same Spirit.

We have access to the boundless depths of God through His living Holy Spirit within us.  Think about all the operations of God's Holy Spirit in mankind that the Scriptures describe . . . He sanctifies us, guides us, unifies us, gives us joy unspeakable, gives us power over sin and temptation, fills us with love for God and our fellow man, heals our hurts, communicates our unspeakable struggles and pain to the Father, fills our mouth with words to speak the Gospel to people, helps us understand God's Word, bears witness between the hearts of fellow Christians . . . 

I thank God that He gave His Son His Spirit without measure in order that He could pour it out on undeserving people like me.  What a wondrous plan of salvation.

Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.