John 8:34-47

John 8:34-47                         (ESV)

“34 JESUS answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, EVERYONE WHO PRACTICES SIN IS A SLAVE TO SIN.

35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.

36 So if the SON sets you free, you will be free indeed.

37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because MY WORD FINDS NO PLACE IN YOU.

38 I speak of what I have seen with my FATHER, and you do what you have heard from your father."

39 They answered him, "Abraham is our father." JESUS said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did,

40 but now you seek to kill ME, a MAN WHO has told you the TRUTH that I heard from GOD. This is not what Abraham did.

41 You are doing the works your father did." They said to HIM, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father-even GOD."

42 JESUS said to them, "If GOD were your FATHER, you would love ME, for I came from GOD and I am here. I came not of MY own accord, but HE sent ME.

43 WHY DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND what I say? It is because YOU CANNOT BEAR TO HEAR MY WORD.

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and DOWS NOT STAND IN THE TRUTH, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for HE IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF LIES.

45 But because I tell the TRUTH, YOU DO NOT BELIEVE ME.

46 Which one of you convicts ME of sin? If I tell the TRUTH, why do you not believe ME?

47 Whoever is OF GOD hears the WORDS OF GOD. THE REASON WHY YOU DO NOT HEAR THEM IS THAT YOU ARE NOT OF GOD."”

“THREE TIMES!”

 Luke 22:31-34                                         (ESV)

“31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,

32 but I have prayed for you that YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL. AND  WHEN YOU HAVE TURNED AGAIN, STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS."

33 Peter said to HIM, "LORD, I am ready to go with YOU both to prison and to death."

34 JESUS said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny “THREE TIMES” that you know ME."

My view on the affairs of our nation and the world.

2 Corinthians 4:4 says “In their case the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of the “unbelievers”, to keep them from SEEING the LIGHT of the gospel of the glory of CHRIST, WHO is the IMAGE of GOD.”  So “unbelievers” cannot SEE, for they have been blinded.  Even though they cannot SEE, they will be accountable for rejecting JESUS, as Romans 1:20 says “So they are without excuse”!

However, l see some Believers that are being “sifted” (Luke 22:31) by the devil just as Peter was right before JESUS was arrested and crucified.  Scripture is very plain that the PLAN OF GOD was fulfilled so meticulously that the crucifixion was performed at the EXACT TIME in HIStory to fulfill numerous prophecies.  Peter had demonstrated THE FAITH that JESUS said HE WOULD BUILD HIS CHURCH ON (Matthew 16:18).  Now Peter was denying he even knew JESUS “THREE TIMES” as part of GOD’S PLAN.  

Can you just imagine how Peter must have felt being told by THE CREATOR that the FAITH he exhibited would be what HIS CHURCH would be built upon?  Now imagine having the opportunity to STAND for JESUS and willingly DENYING that you even knew WHO HE was?  But it ALL had to happen JUST AS IT DID for GOD’S PLAN to be fulfilled. 

GOD hasn’t relinquished HIS THRONE and HE hasn’t succumbed to the evil hearts of man!  Peter was informed by JESUS that HE had “prayed for you that YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL” so that Peter could STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS!  In John 17:9 JESUS prayed for us too, “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom YOU have given ME, for they are YOURS.”  

It was probably confusing and profoundly stressful for the disciples to experience the crucifixion of JESUS.  And the tremendous INJUSTICE has never been matched!!!  But it was part of GOD’S PLAN, and that worked out wonderfully for ALL MANKIND.  GOD’S PLAN is STILL being fulfilled, even though we cannot understand why somethings are happening.  Just as Peter had to deny JESUS “THREE TIMES”, we will have to remember that JESUS prayed for us that YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL!!!

“HISTORY!”

1 Kings 16:6-11                         (ESV)

“6 And Baasha slept with his fathers and was buried at Tirzah, and Elah his son reigned in his place.

7 Moreover, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, both BECAUSE OF ALL THE EVIL THAT HE DID IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, provoking HIM to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and also because he destroyed it.

8 In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned two years.

9 But his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. When he was at Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah,

10 Zimri came in and struck him down and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.

11 When he began to reign, AS SOON AS HE HAD SEATED HIMSELF ON HIS THRONE, HE STRUCK DOWN ALL OF THE HOUSE OF Baasha. HE DID NOT LEAVE HIM A SINGLE MALE OF HIS RELATIVES OR HIS FRIENDS.

12 Thus Zimri DESTROYED ALL OF THE HOUSE OF BAASHA, “ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD”, which he spoke against Baasha BY JEHU THE PROPHET,

13 for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned and which they made Israel to sin, provoking the LORD GOD of Israel to anger with their idols.”

Hebrews 10:31                             (ESV)

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living GOD.”

My Spirit will not allow me to expound on these Scriptures right now!  GOD is still able!!! 

“TODAY!”

 Luke 23:39-43                          (ESV)

“39 ONE OF THE CRIMINALS who were hanged railed at HIM, saying, "Are you not the CHRIST? Save YOURSELF and us!"

40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "DO YOU NOT FEAR GOD, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this MAN has done nothing wrong."

42 And he said, "JESUS, remember me when YOU come into YOUR kingdom."

43 And HE said to him, "Truly, I say to you, “TODAY” you will be with ME in paradise."”

Although I have lived an admittedly sheltered life, I have been exposed to very few people that OPENLY PROFESSED that GOD doesn’t exist.  The first thief on the cross didn’t just come out and say that GOD wasn’t real, but his TESTIMONY certainly displayed that he was not a BELIEVER in the SON OF GOD.  He only wanted GOD to get him out of his problem.  When he asked JESUS “Are you not the CHRIST? Save YOURSELF and us”, it was as if he was saying that he knew that he was in a hopeless situation and there was NO ESCAPING the doom in front of him!  

There have been times in most of our lives when we felt like there was no way out of the circumstances we found ourselves in.  FEAR and DOUBT are the most commonly used tools at “the enemy”s” disposal, and I ALLOW them to be used in my life far too much!  We ARE GOING to experience disappointments in “this world”, but JESUS said in John 17:16 “They are NOT of the world, just as I am NOT of the world.”!  We get our EYES so fixated on earth and it’s happenings that we forget that we are not of the world, just as JESUS wasn’t.  HE was sent for a PURPOSE, and so are we, TO REFLECT HIM to a lost and dying world!

The OTHER thief on the cross EYES were opened and he recognized that JESUS was the CHRIST.  JESUS told him “TODAY” you will be with me in paradise.  The thief was unable to share his testimony to many, but GOD’S WORD has let it be known to many that he went to GLORY with JESUS!  And isn’t that what our focus should be all about?  “TODAY”we should live for HIM, and LET GO of our concerns about tomorrow.  What TESTIMONY will you have “TODAY”???

“FEAR GOD AND GIVE HIM GLORY!”

 Revelation 14:6-7                            (ESV)

“6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to EVERY NATION and TRIBE and LANGUAGE and PEOPLE.

7 And he said with a loud voice, “FEAR GOD AND GIVE HIM GLORY”, because the hour of HIS judgment has come, and worship HIM WHO made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water."”

In November 2016 Americans elected a President for a four year term.  The “hornets nest” of the establishment was infuriated and have been swarming ever since.  This President is not a saint.  As a matter of fact, he has many flaws.  But the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 1:15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that CHRIST JESUS came into the world to save sinners, OF WHOM I AM THE FOREMOST!”  Could it be that this is a SPIRITUAL BATTLE and GOD is the ONE WHO is being challenged????

Impeachment, sabotage, a virus originated from a foreign adversary, all kinds of arrows have been fired, but NOTHING has been successful in stopping what is going on.  In a recent rally, the President is QUOTED saying “someone said to me the other day, “Your the most famous person in the world, by far”!  I said “No, No, I’m not, No, I’m not”.  They said, “Yes you are”!  I said “NO”  They said “Who’s more famous?”  I said “JESUS CHRIST”!”  Apparently he understood that THE KINF OF KINGS is someone that we ALL will answer to one day?  

Like I said, this President has his flaws, but when a person gives GLORY to the CREATOR, HE usually responds favorably.  Opposing GOD is a precarious position to be in.  Following HIM doesn’t make a person (even the President) a better person.  However it does say something that the President professed Christ in 2016, and even though he is a baby in the FAITH, he is exhibiting some traits that are characteristic of a BELIEVER, the most noticeable is “FEAR GOD AMD GIVE HIM GLORY!”  

This devotional is being written before noon on Election Day 2020, so the results of the election are still unknown.  I will not share this until tomorrow morning, when election results MIGHT be known.  It makes no difference who wins this election, ONE DAY SOON we will ALL stand before our CREATOR and answer the question?  Did we “FEAR GOD AND GIVE HIM GLORY”, or were we too busy or trusted in our abilities???

“THIS PRESENT DARKNESS!”

Ephesians 6:10-12                                         (ESV)

“10 Finally, BE STRONG in the LORD and in the strength of HIS might.

11 Put on THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, that you may be able to STAND AGAINST THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL.

12 For WE DO NOT WRESTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, but AGAINST THE RULERS, AGAINST THE AUTHORITIES, AGAINST THE COSMIC POWERS OVER “THIS PRESENT DARKNESS”, AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.”

Exhibiting PEACE in the midst of chaos could be an sign of Spiritual Maturity.  James 4:7 is a GREAT example of this.  “SUBMIT YOURSELVES THEREFORE UNTO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU”.  “The enemy” has to experience RESISTANCE before he flees!  When he exhibits his character through hate and discord, BELIEVERS must exhibit CALM and PEACE to squelch his attacks.  We ARE IN THE MIDST OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE, whether we realize it or not!  

Ephesians 6:12 boldly and plainly states “For WE DO NOT WRESTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, but AGAINST THE RULERS, AGAINST THE AUTHORITIES, AGAINST THE COSMIC POWERS OVER THIS PRESENT DARKNESS, AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.”  When others have an a point of view that is contrary to ours, the tendency is to lash out and prove that we are correct.  However, very seldom are minds changed without the HEART experiencing a DIVINE transformation.  

Certainly one of the most dramatic transformations is in Acts 9!  “...Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the LORD” is how the chapter begins.  In verse 25 of Acts 9 Saul is being sought by “the Jews” who were plotting to kill him.  Did Saul try to reason (or ARGUE) with “the Jews”?  No, he was lowered through the wall in a basket by some disciples to escape.  When the time was right (in Rome years later), Paul was reportedly beheaded, possibly by Nero.  

THE SPIRIT OF GOD indwells BELIEVERS to guide our lives TO GLORIFY JESUS!  There are only going to be “few” (Matthew 7:24) that enter into HEAVEN.  Sure, we are CALLED to “go and tell”.  But there are times when we need to escape in a basket over a wall, allowing the HOLY SPIRIT to do what only HE can do?  And then there are times when we will be CALLED to surrender our lives!  We have to be willing to TRUST and OBEY, both when the HOLY SPIRIT leads us to escape, and when HE asks us to STAND AGAINST THE COSMIC POWERS OVER “THIS PRESENT DARKNESS””!

“HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE!”

 “HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE!”

Galatians 3:25-28                          (ESV)

“25 But now that FAITH HAS COME, we are NO LONGER UNDER A GUARDIAN,

26 for in CHRIST JESUS you are all sons of GOD, through FAITH.

27 For as many of you as were baptized into CHRIST have put on CHRIST.

28 There is neither JEW nor GREEK, there is neither SLAVE nor FREE, there is no MALE and FEMALE, for you are ALL ONE in CHRIST JESUS.

29 And if you are CHRIST's, then you are Abraham's offspring, “HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE”.”

WORDS are NOT simply words!  They are used to love, comfort, exhort and uplift when needed, and gratefully so.  But they can also be used hurt, destroy and divide, used by “the enemy”, who seeks to steal, kill and destroy.  

The general population of “this world” cannot understand that a solution has been provided by OUR CREATOR to ALL the problems that mankind faces, HIS NAME is JESUS!  EYES of humanity have to be OPENED, and only THE FATHER can do that (Acts 26:18).  THE ONLY solution for ALL issues is Spiritual, not WORDS generated within the minds of man.  

For the NATURAL MAN, SEEING the answer to a SPIRITUAL problem is “folly to him” (1 Corinthians 2:14-16).  Governments can spend untold monies, demand actions be corrected, and dream up laws in an attempt to avoid discord, but JESUS is THE answer to ALL problems, especially when we cannot find the solutions in our own hearts and minds.  JEW, GREEK, SLAVE, FREE, MALE and FEMALE, we are ALL one in CHRIST JESUS!  

Those whose SPIRITUAL EYES have been OPENED have to remember that they were once Spiritually blind and could not SEE the futility of being Spiritually Mature.  We are created to GLORIFY GOD, even in the face of persecution.  But we are NOT CREATED to remain the way we were born.  Ideally, a baby matures from total dependence into being self-sufficient adult.  Hardships and difficulties are used to mature us.  We need to remember that “those who are blind” do not even know that they cannot SEE.  Until THE FATHER DRAWS THEM into HIS fold they will NEVER be “HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE”!  Romans 10:14 says “How then will they (unbelievers) call on HIM in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in HIM of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”  Don’t ever give up on those who are yet to be DELIVERED.  Their EYES have yet to be OPENED to SEE that they are “HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE”!!!