Where are you?

Human nature hasn’t changed much in 6,000 years.  There seems to be ingrained within our very being a disposition to challenge authority — an innate and insatiable drive to push our limits.  Perhaps we have all seen a young child warned by Mother not to touch something.  He tries to get as close as he can to the forbidden object and yet remain “innocent”, not realizing that he has already rebelled at heart.  Or maybe he hears Mother calling to dinner but, absorbed in the press of his imaginary castle building, ignores her.  He’s having too much fun to discontinue his play, so he risks the consequences.   A spanking, or perhaps restriction, the withdrawal of privileges, await his disobedience.  Or maybe mother is just too loving to really punish him after all!  But are the consequences to him the greatest repercussion of his childish choices?   Let’s leave that question for a moment.  We’ll come back to it.  Meanwhile, let’s take a trip back in time….

Genesis 3:1-9:  God had created the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, perfect.  They were placed in a perfect environment.  We’re familiar with the story.  Eve chose to partake of the forbidden fruit, Adam joined her, and they both thereby sinned against God in that act of rebellion against God’s prohibition.  And there were consequences.  Innocence was lost.  They knew they were naked.  Perhaps they had their first argument!  And the garden home was no longer to be inhabited by the disobedient pair.  But deeper, more painful than all of these consequences, I think there is something else we need to notice.  Consider verse 9 with me: “And the Lord God called to Adam, and said unto him, Where are you?”  Just picture it with me!  God Himself calling, “Where are you?”  We must not imagine that God said this because He did not know where Adam was, for the Bible says that God is omniscient–He knows all things.  No!  This is the heart cry of a Father for His son–His rebellious son.  I can almost hear His quickened heart beat as He calls.   And so, God grieves.

But the downward spiral didn’t stop there.  Genesis 6:5-6  “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.”   The sons of God continued to rebel so much so that God’s heart was broken.   Can we imagine that the destruction of the flood was the result of a vengeful God Who had finally “had it up to here” with His children.  No!  No, for this is the same God Who said with great hope in Isaiah 63:8, “…Surely they are My people, children that will not lie; so He was their Savior.”

Genesis 18:21-33.  Abraham becomes aware of God’s plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their disobedience and wickedness.  But Abraham, unwilling to see them destroyed,  pleads with God to spare the wicked city if there be only 50, then 45, then 40, 30, 20, and finally 10, righteous people in the city.  But we see the sad fact that there were not even 10 righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah, and the one family that was there had to be dragged out by the hand by angels of God!  (see Genesis 19:14-16)    The fact that God permits this mortal man to “reason” with Him and beg for the lives of these wicked inhabitants is a fit picture of the heart of a loving God longing to save.  God called Abraham His friend.  (James 2:23)

The downward spiral continues throughout history right up to today!  God has given the requirement: “This do and live.”  Is this arbitrary?  I suppose as arbitrary as any mother who knows her child needs to stop playing and come to supper and be nourished.  If love can be called arbitrary, then God is arbitrary.  But love is just not that way.  And God is not that way!  God is the source of life, and He knows that if we continue to follow a path of disobedience, the ultimate consequence is eternal separation from Him.  Isaiah 59:2 says it succinctly, “…sin separates.”   But the desire of Jesus is clearly stated in John 17:24, “… I will that they also,… be with Me where I am.”

This touching passage from the book, The Desire of Ages, page 534, clearly delineates what our disobedience means to Jesus:  “It was not only because of the scene before Him that Christ wept.  The weight of the grief of ages was upon Him. He saw the terrible effects of the transgression of God’s law.  He saw that in the history of the world, beginning with the death of Abel, the conflict between good and evil had been unceasing.  Looking down the years to come, He saw the suffering and sorrow, tears and death, that were to be the lot of men.  His heart was pierced with the pain of the human family of all ages and in all lands.  The woes of the sinful race were heavy upon His soul, and the fountain of His tears was broken up as He longed to relieve all their distress.”

Just as in the days of Noah, Abraham and Lot, there is a warning for us today.  Are you, as the song included here in this article says, “…playing in the sand…”?  There is offered to us a way of escape just as surely as in the days of old.    Are you heeding the instructions any better than the people in Noah’s day? or in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah?  Do you realize that “the end of all things is at hand” and that there is provided for you an ark of safety just as truly as in Noah’s day?  Do you know that way of escape?  Would you like to know?

Returning to our story of the mother in the opening paragraph, who do you suppose would suffer most if the child continues to ignore the mother’s entreaties to come to her?   A gamut of emotions may swell within her as she realizes the lack of love, appreciation, and obedience in her little one.  We are made in the image of God, you know!   The first rebellion caused Him untold grief, and I can only imagine how the years have added to His pain.  Yes, I hear it again, that quickened heart beat.  I hear once again the voice of God calling, “Where are you?”

Loving Jesus!

I have recently been contacted by at least five or six different people pleading for prayers and/or for instruction on how to love Jesus.  Since there has been such a sudden and intense expression of this desire, I have prayerfully decided to address this topic in this update.   First, we have to establish one fact: love is not merely a feeling.  Love is a choice.  Certainly feelings are part of love, but I believe many of us mistake one for the other.  It is possible to “feel” as though we love, yet really not have the genuine article at all.  Let’s go to the Bible for some examples.

2 Samuel 13:1-15: Here we find the story of Absalom and Tamar.  Absalom was one of King David’s sons, and he thought he loved his sister Tamar.  As the story goes, he finally ended up raping her, and immediately hated her.  Was this really love?  Absolutely not!  Here is an example of “feeling” in love, but it is base selfishness instead.   This reminds me of the passage in Jeremiah 17:9, where the Lord warns us that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it?”  So, it is possible to think we love someone, when our real motives are for self-interest.

Of course, the very first example in the Bible of love gone wrong is in the very first chapters of Genesis.  The love gone wrong was not only between Adam and Eve, but as we will begin to discover, was wrong also between mankind and our Maker!  Genesis 3:1-10.  Eve, of course, was deceived by the serpent, whom we know was the devil, then as a result ate the forbidden fruit herself and then took it to Adam, who chose to partake as well.  Follow this inspiring narrative of the story carefully:

“Adam regretted that Eve had left his side, but now the deed was done.  He must be separated from her whose society he had loved so well.  How could he have it thus?  His love for Eve was strong. And in utter discouragement he resolved to share her fate.  He reasoned that Eve was a part of himself, and if she must die, he would die with her, for he could not bear the thought of separation from her.  He lacked faith in his merciful and benevolent Creator.  He did not think that God, Who had formed him out of the dust of the ground into a living, beautiful form, and had created Eve to be his companion, could supply her place.  After all, might not the words of this wise serpent be correct?  Eve was before him, just as lovely and beautiful, and apparently as innocent, as before this act of disobedience.  She expressed greater, higher love for him than before her disobedience, as the effects of the fruit she had eaten.  He saw in her no signs of death.  She had told him of the happy influence of the fruit, of her ardent love for him, and he decided to brave the consequences.  He seized the fruit and quickly ate it, and like Eve, felt not immediately its ill effects.”  {Story of Redemption 36.2}

This paragraph introduces powerful motives of action, but they are not true, pure motives!  How do we know?  Again, we must go to the Bible to find out.  Both Eve and subsequently, Adam disobeyed the direct command of God, which was a test of their love for and loyalty to God.  What does Jesus say about love and obedience?  John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”  So, here we see both the true motive for obedience and the results of true love!  Love and you will obey!  Truly obey and it shows your love!

Note the effect of this disobedience upon God, for herein lies one of the deepest motives to love Him.  Genesis 3:9  “And the LORD God called to Adam, and said to him, Where are you?”  He comes looking for Adam and Eve to walk and talk and fellowship with them as He always has.  But they are afraid!  Afraid of the God of Heaven Who formed them with His Own hands!  How His heart must have been broken, and how it must be breaking still.  Why?  Because the Bible says that sin separates.  Read it in Isaiah 59:2:  “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [His] face from you, that He will not hear.”  God longs to be with us, but since He is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29, and the context is clear that God consumes sin), if God should come to fellowship with us, and we are contaminated with sin, it would consume us.  His very presence would kill us!  So His deep love for us keeps a distance until we allow Him to remove sin from us.  We see this in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  And according to Hebrews 6:6, every sin wounds Him all over again.

Friends, the motive to love Him is to see the depth of His love for you.  Sin acts as a short circuit to loving God because the very nature of sin is to drive God away!  We become afraid, just as Adam and Eve did in the beginning.  History is scattered with the tales of broken lives desperate to escape from the vengeful God of their imaginations.  God is not that way!  The same God Who came looking for Adam and Eve in the beginning is still looking for you and me!  He still wants fellowship.

Going back to the opening paragraph, love is a choice.  Maybe that sounds a little bit sterile, so again, let’s go to the Bible.  In Psalm 18:1, after the Lord had delivered David from King Saul’s wrath, David fervently states: “…I will love Thee, O LORD, my strength.”  David says, “…I WILL love Thee….”  That is the same as saying I choose to love Thee!  God has commanded us to love Him.  But many of us find it all but impossible.  We become frustrated in our efforts and lack of understanding.   Perhaps we are looking for some sort of feeling or deep emotion.  God has not left us without help!   Look at this precious promise: “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”  Romans 5:5  God promises to enable us to love Him, if we cooperate with Him.  And that is the bottom line to loving Jesus.  His Word plainly states, “But whoever keeps His Word, in him truly is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.” 1 John 2:5

In conclusion, many are troubled that they don’t have a deep feeling of love for Jesus.  As we go to the Bible with prayer and begin to understand what God is really like and how much He loves us, in spite of our sin; as we see His willingness and power to change us, love springs up in the heart.  Friends, this is how it is happening with me.  The more I see of my need of Jesus, of the wickedness and sinfulness of my heart, as I choose to follow what He shows me in His Word, love springs up in my heart, and He is changing me.  What I once could not understand, I now am understanding.  Where I once could not overcome, I am overcoming.  Where once I did not love Jesus, I am loving Him!  I am becoming a new person!  And….I am loving Him more and more!  This is also what happened to the apostle Peter when he had denied the Lord.  The realization that Jesus still loved him, in spite of the pain he had caused to his Lord, broke the heart of the proud disciple.  He became a humble and obedient man who now loved His Lord more than himself.  This is what happened to the apostle Paul!  Blinded so that he might see himself and see God, he comprehended his guilt and the great love of God as shown in Jesus Christ.  His life took a 180 degree turn.  This is what happened with Mary Magdelene!  She saw her utter guilt and depravity and the depth of the forgiving love of Jesus in the face of her despair, and she became a new woman.  Truly see yourself, your need, and truly see His love for you in the face of your sinfulness, and love springs up in the heart.  Love begets love.

I ran across this song by Anja Schraal on youtube one day while listening to some songs by Darrol Sawyer.  It has been a real blessing to me, and I think if  you will listen carefully to the words, you will find a prayer you can pray as you seek to love Jesus!   May the Lord fulfill in all of us the promise found in Zechariah 12:10!

Jesus wants you to know Him!

This month’s post is written by my friend, Pastor Dennis Miller, Jr.   Dennis and his wife, Sara, and I recently reconnected after having lost contact for about 15 years.  Dennis’ Dad gave me a study that Dennis had written, and I was amazed!   Just that morning my thoughts had been drawn to the very passages and line of thought that Dennis’ study portrayed.  The beauty of Christ becoming one with us, and the joy of our becoming one with Him are the topic of this study.  I have asked his permission to reprint his article for this months post.  Please visit his web page at www.truthforthistime.com for more information.  The following is Pastor Dennis’ study in full.

1. The power of His resurrection
2. The fellowship of His sufferings
3. Being made conformable unto His death     

"...in the days of His flesh..."

In the first part of this two-part book review, I mentioned that there are two main concerns in the book, His Robe or Mine, that we are addressing.   The first concern, covered in last month’s blog,  dealt with the topic of original sin.   In part two, we will address the second major area of concern which deals with the nature of Christ, or what kind of “humanity”  He assumed when He came to this earth.

The nature of Christ is one of the most hotly debated topics in the Christian world today.   This is unfortunate,  because the Bible is so clear in its teaching on the subject.   Because this topic is so huge, I will give only a brief overview, and then provide some resources that will help in a deeper study on this very important subject.

A natural outflow of the teaching of original sin is, among other things,  that Jesus must have had a human nature unlike ours.  Here’s why:  if He had taken the SAME nature as we have, and we inherited guilt by virtue of our birth (the core of the original sin teaching),  then so, likewise, must Jesus have inherited guilt.  Since the atonement for sin required a perfect sacrifice, this would have disqualified Jesus for being that sacrifice.   So, in this teaching, Christ MUST be of a different sort of human nature than you and me.  But, is this what the Bible teaches about the nature of which Christ became a partaker so long ago?

Look first with me at the word translated “flesh” in Scriptures dealing with Jesus in places such as, John 1:14  “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”;   Ephesians 2:15 “Having abolished in His flesh the enmity….”;   Ephesians 5:30  “For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.”;   Colossians 1:22  “In the body of His flesh through death….”;  Hebrews 2:14  “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same….”;  Hebrews 5:7  “Who in the days of His flesh….”;   Romans 1:3  “Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.”;   Romans 8:3  “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.”.   These passages all use the Greek word “sarx” for flesh, (#4563 in the Strong’s Greek Concordance of the Bible), and the word “sarx” means fallen, sinful flesh.   These passages, read with this understanding, make it clear that Christ came to this earth in the fallen, sinful flesh like you and I have.

Think through something with me.   Since Jesus took the “seed of Abraham” (Hebrews 2:16) and was, “made of the seed of David according to the flesh” (Romans 1:3), then it becomes patently clear that He took human nature long after sin ever entered the picture,  and human nature became contaminated!!   Consider too, how emphatic the Lord is to express His oneness with us in His humanity here in Hebrews 2:14 “Forasmuch then as the children (you and I) are partakers of flesh and blood, He ALSO Himself LIKEWISE took part of the SAME….”   The emphasis is, to me, so touching.   The Lord Himself is reaching over the abyss of sin to embrace us!   What love!    We know what partaking of this “flesh” means to us…it meant the same thing to Him!  Yes, He knows JUST how we feel!

At this point, there are probably questions or arguments in the minds of many!  This portion of our review is not intended to be a thorough-going dissertation on the nature of Christ, but more of a catalyst to encourage further study.   For that purpose, I encourage you to avail yourselves of a free online Bible study course offered at www.dennispriebe.com.   There is a tab labeled “Bible Study Course”.   It is excellent!    Also, under the “Free online documents”, there is a document about the importance of the human nature of Christ.   A book, which we have available in our resource materials is, Cleanse and Close, by Larry Kirkpatrick.   These resources offer a deeper insight into the topic of the nature of Christ, and why it is so important.

I am thankful for those of you who have contacted me in regard to this review.   Your encouragement is very  much appreciated!    Please consider this very touching passage from my favorite book on the life of Christ, Desire of Ages, page 48.   “It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man’s nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden.  But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin.  Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity.  What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors.  He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life.”

I encourage feedback for all of our updates, but especially this one.   If you wish to comment, but do not want your comment published, just say so in the comment itself.   None are published until I review them.

Until next time, the Lord bless each of  you!

Seeking Closure,
Danna

It has once again been a while since I have been able to update the blog.  Life has been very busy these past few months, and I am an appendix lighter than I was in November!!  That’s a whole different story, though, and I will just praise God for life and for health.   Also, I appreciated a sermon I heard on New Year’s eve.  The pastor said, “Every day of this year is a brush stroke in the picture you will paint for this year.  Will you paint a masterpiece?”  Good question!  I pray we all will allow the Lord to do just that in our lives!

While doing a presentation in North Carolina last month, someone handed me a copy of a book entitled, “His Robe or Mine”, by a man named Frank Phillips.  The brother asked me to read it and let him know what my thoughts were.  The following is an adaptation of the response I gave after a careful, prayerful perusal of the book.  It is my desire that all would  be benefited by this study, as this book is being promoted by many far and wide.  I found that the middle chapters were refreshing and instructive, and  I benefitted from them.  They dealt with issues of practical Christian living.  I do, however, have some very real concerns about some things presented in earlier chapters as well as the appendix.  While there are more things than the two I will address in this two part review, I believe these two are the core issues.

Early on in my perusal of this book, on page 21, Brother Philips makes the following statement: “When Adam fell from that state of perfection, the human family inherited his guilt.”  This is the doctrine of original sin held by theologians such as Desmond Ford and Robert Brinsmead, both of whom left the faith over issues such as we will discuss here.  The author reiterates this point throughout his book.  The problems with this doctrine are multitudinous, not the least of which is the necessity, were it true, of infant baptism, and the absolute necessity of the immaculate conception, both Catholic doctrines.  If we are guilty of sin at birth, then well might we baptize our infants, and truly Jesus must have a different nature than mine!!!!  Further, it undermines the blotting out of sin taught in the sanctuary services, since we will be guilty always and Jesus must remain intercessor indefinitely!!!    Here are a few points in regards to the doctrine of original sin.

1) Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”  Note, this passage does not say that David was born a sinner, but that he was conceived in sin.  In other words, his mother was a sinner, and he was born in a sinful environment.

2) Ephesians 2:3 “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”  While this passage does say that we are “by nature the children of wrath”, we have to study line upon line and precept upon precept and not build a doctrine on one passage.  Looking further….

3) Romans 5:18 states that “…by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation…”— all were made guilty.  Let’s keep reading….

4) Signs of the Times, May 19, 1890 “Adam sinned, and the children share his guilt and condemnation.”

All the above is true, but it is not the entire truth, for we must read the rest of the story in the following verses, Praise God!!! 

5)  2 Corinthians 4:14,15  “….if one died for all, then were all dead;….”  At the moment Adam sinned, Christ stepped into the picture!!  ”The instant man accepted the temptations of Satan, and did the very things God had said he should not do, Christ, the Son of God, stood between the living and the dead, saying, “Let the punishment fall on Me. I will stand in man’s place.  He shall have another chance” (Letter 22, Feb. 13, 1900).  {1Bible Commentary 1085.2}

6) 1 John 2:2 “And He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”  This is an incredible statement!  And it is not isolated either.  What Jesus did, as we see in the previous passage as well as this one, was done for the entire race of humanity.  Let’s look  at another passage and then draw some conclusions.

7) Romans 5:18 “….EVEN SO by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification OF LIFE.”   I am quick to say that I am NOT inferring that all men will be saved, but that, just as Adam’s sin truly affected his entire posterity, just so, as the second Adam, what Christ did also affected the entire posterity of the race.

So, just as all were automatically condemned by Adam’s sin, so, likewise, all were given justification of life in the obedience of Jesus.  This means Jesus took the penalty, and gave everyone the chance to choose for himself or herself in this great controversy.  He purchased a second probation for every single man, woman and child ever born.  Unfortunately, most throw it away.  This is not justification by faith, this is the justification of life, the second probation which Christ legally purchased for every one of us.  Had not Jesus intervened, the race would have been annihilated as soon as Adam sinned!!  (see #5) Therefore, we are not born condemned, but under probation, just as Adam was.

Finally, consider these enlightening passages from the pen of EG White:

“A second probation has been granted by the sacrifice of the Son of God.  We have a battle to fight, but we can come off victor through the merits of Christ’s blood.” {Christ Triumphant 215.2}

“After the fall Christ became Adam’s instructor.  He acted in God’s stead toward humanity, saving the race from immediate death. He took upon Him the office of mediator.  Adam and Eve were given a probation in which to return to their allegiance, and in this plan all their posterity were embraced.”  {Conflict and Courage 20.6)

“He arose from the tomb enshrouded with a cloud of angels in wondrous power and glory–the Deity and humanity combined.  He took in His grasp the world over which Satan claimed to preside as his lawful territory, and by His wonderful work in giving His life, He restored the whole race of men to favor with God. . . .”  {1SM 343.2}

Next time we will discuss the second core issue in the book, “His Robe or Mine”, the nature of Christ.  Until then….seek Closure for Jesus!!!

It is with more than a little regret that I have been unable to update the blog for a bit over two months now.  Life has been interesting at Closure for Jesus headquarters here in Kentucky.  We have relocated and are getting settled into a temporary home until the Lord opens the next door.  Please keep us in prayer!! 

 As I pondered updating, I went back and re-read all of the previous postings and pulled out topics I had mentioned that we would cover later.  I found six.  I plan to address two of them in this post, and share a video that I believe well illustrates these two.  The topics are: how to live a victorious Christian life, and the other, a focus on the phenomenal promises of Romans chapter 6. 

   The promises of Romans six seem almost inconceivable!  ”Sin shall not have dominion over you”….”he that is dead is freed from sin”….”reckon yourselves dead indeed unto sin…”  Wow!  Is the Word of God really that powerful?  Ask yourself this question: In the beginning, before God created the world, what was there with which to create?  Nothing!  That’s the point with our lives.  There is nothing good in us with which God can create a holy life, but the power is in the Word, in the promise.  When we take God at His Word, and act on that Word, we are free!  This is also illustrated in the “How to question God” video in the last post. 

 A common problem, however, that I have run into when talking with people, is that we don’t meet the conditions under which God can fulfill His promises to us.  Consider the story of Mary Magdelene.  In John chapter 8, Mary is brought to Jesus because she has been caught in the act of adultery.  The law stated that Mary AND the man with whom she had been caught, should be stoned.  But, what did Jesus do?  Verse 6, “…But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not.”  That didn’t sit well with the proud Pharisees, and they prodded Jesus for an answer.  Jesus responded, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Then in the next verse, 8, He began writing in the sand again…the sins of the Pharisees….They all left, conscience-smitten!!  And there was Mary, alone with Jesus.  She was guilty, stripped, utterly exposed and had no way out.  What did she do?  Run?  Hide?  Slink away like the guilty Pharisees did?  No!  Incredibly, Mary stayed right there–all exposed and depraved as she was.  In verse 10, Jesus asked her where her accusers were.  Gone!  They’d all left.  What did Jesus do? Sweetest words any of us will ever hear!  Verse 11, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”   Incredible, isn’t it.?  He knew she was guilty, and so did she.  But He didn’t condemn her.  She knew she was utterly, hopelessly guilty, but Jesus, Who COULD condemn her, instead set her free.  Not only did He set her free, but He charged her to,”‘Go and sin no more.’”  Is that fair?  I think so, and so did Jesus.  Mary had met the conditions of brokenness before Him.  She was honest with God about her condition when exposed, and she did not try to hide or excuse her sin or even bring in the equally guilty Pharisees.

Check out the embedded videos, a series of 5 short sessions (youtube will only let you upload up to 15 minutes at a time).  First, though, consider this beautiful passage found in the beautiful book on the life of Christ, The Desire of Ages, on page 493: “Nothing reaches so fully down to the deepest motives of conduct as a sense of the pardoning love of Christ.” 

 Indeed, when we see ourselves as chief of sinners, wholly guilty, wholly helpless, and dependent on the power of God to raise us up, that same Creator God Who spoke light out of darkness can do the same in your life and mine.  God help us to see our utter need, and His infinite ability!  

“Sin SHALL NOT have dominion over you!”  When we really believe this promise, Jesus will have a people who will vindicate Him!  Then we will hear the words from heaven, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus!” Revelation 14:12.   Then will follow the scene in verse 16, “And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.”  Jesus can return to take us home! 

Hastening that day!!!  2 Peter 3:12

 Are WE courteous? A study of the life-changing encounter of Mary Magdelene with Jesus.  

Questions… we have all asked our share of them.   And, if you’re like me, you have had a few of them for God.    Even a brief study of the Bible will reveal that He is ok with questions.   This is because it is not the fact that we question God that is the issue, but HOW we question Him.   The Bible is full of examples of people who questioned God.    God Himself says in Isaiah 1:18 that we can come and “reason” with Him.   “Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” That word “reason” means, in Hebrew, to be right or correct, to argue, to decide, justify or convict, to judge.   The implication is strong here that there are some questions asked and answers given.  God and Job had such a conversation in Job chapters 38-42.

If our questions to God are honest, and by that I mean that we are genuinely seeking to understand God and His will, then we are on safe ground.   If, however, we question God in a “how could You DO such a thing?” manner, we are in the position I found myself earlier in my life—shaking my fist at Him in accusation.    This was because I did not understand the character of God and the depth of His love for me.    I did not understand that He has “thoughts of peace, and not of evil” (Jeremiah 29:11) toward me.

Let’s look at some examples in the Bible of how people have questioned God in the past:

Moses: Exodus 3:11—“And Moses said unto God, Who [am] I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” On the surface this question may seem ok.  But if you read the conversation in context it becomes evident that Moses was questioning God’s choice of him as the leader of Israel.   Reading this passage on through chapter 4 and verse 11, we see more the tenor of the conversation, culminating in God’s answer, “Who made your mouth?” In other words, “You have questioned enough.  Now go,… and I will be with your mouth!”   SO, Moses’ questions here were questions of doubt.

Pilate: John 18:38–“…What is truth?” Here we see a very good question followed by a very bad action.   Pilate had asked Jesus Himself this question and then turned and walked away.  Oh, friends, it is not wise to ask God such a question as this and walk away!  Let’s not follow this example.

Paul: Acts 9:6—“And he trembling and astonished said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’  And the Lord [said] to him, ‘Arise, and go into the city, and it will be told you what you must do.’ “ I love this one!!    It demonstrates such humility and faith.  Paul had been broken, and his question received an immediate and positive response from God.   How God’s heart must long for us to ask this question moment by moment:  ‘What do you want me to do?’

David: 2 Samuel 5:18—“And David inquired of the LORD, saying, ‘Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?’  And the LORD said unto David, ‘Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.’ “ “God is in the details”, one of my friends likes to say.    Here we see another example of how God will guide us as we walk through our day.   Such questions of faith and submission as we see here in Paul and David are fine examples to us all.

So, what does how we question God have to do with seeking closure for Jesus?   A lot!  Here are a couple of videos of a study on this topic from Youtube.    As you may know Youtube will only allow 15 minute segments, so it is actually a 30 minute study broken into two parts.   I pray this will be a blessing to you as you consider the questions you may have asked God.

Until next time…seek closure for Jesus!!

How to question God-part one–

How to question God-part two–

We are going to begin to post a few videos on youtube of presentations done over the past year.  I am sharing a song I did at our local church earlier this year.  I pray it will be a blessing to everyone.  It is an adaptation of the song “Whisper a prayer in the morning” .

Also, I wanted to share some of the comments we have gotten from people after presentations recently:

West Virginia:

“This is so Christ-centered!  We have all the doctrine, but this really uplifts Jesus!”

“We need this!  What you are doing is just what we need!”

Arkansas:

“So, you are doing teaching combined with music and narration?  You have the prophecies combined with music, and  that hits both left brained and right brained people.  This is a complete package!!”

“I didn’t know we were breaking Jesus’ heart.”

“This is good; we need to know this!  It is painful, but it is good!”

“I like your presentations.  They’re so simple.  We don’t need big, fancy explanations; we just need to believe the Lord!”

“You are on the right path!  This is what people need.”

“I am going to really study this!  I have never thought about Jesus’ pain as a present issue.”

Kentucky:

“What you are doing is right–right-on!  This is just what we need!  You are doing the right thing!”

“It’s so Christ-centered!”

“I believe in the simple message of Closure for Jesus.”

We praise God for these and many other such comments from people, not just in West Virgina, Arkansas, and Kentucky, but all over.

We are working on editing some of the presentations and hope soon to have some youtube links for studies.  In the mean time, I hope this song is a blessing.

Until next time….

Considering Him,

Danna

“Whatever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” 1 John 3:22

Note the word “because” in this passage.   The verse just before this one states that,” …If our hearts condemn us not, we have confidence toward God.” These are some of those “If/then” or “if/when” statements we bump into in life.   If our hearts do not condemn us when we are going against a plain “thus says the Lord”, it is because we have blunted or are in the process of searing our conscience.   This is extremely dangerous.    I John 5:3 says love keeps His commandments and they are not grievous…are God’s commandments grievous to you or to me?   I hope we can all say together with the Psalmist, “Oh how love I Thy law…!”  Psalm 119:97.  If we allow Him to write it in our hearts, we can!  (Jeremiah 31:33)

Here is another conditional promise:  “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7.

Ibid, verse 16, “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.”—another “If/then”,  that/so that”  promise….

The fulfillment of the promise of whatever we ask being done is based on abiding in Him, and His words abiding in us.    If this is our condition, then what we ask WILL be in harmony with His will, because our will is surrendered to His!    Such a beautiful cycle.

“For the Lord is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11.

God promises He will give good things to them that walk uprightly.   We know that Hezekiah walked uprightly.   1 Chronicles 31:20 “And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and did [that which was] good and right and truth before the LORD his God.”   But it was not “good” for him to live on.  Indeed, we see the results of God yielding to Hezekiah’s request to allow Him to live on.   We see that His ways really ARE best.    2 Kings 20:13-15 tells the sad story of Hezekiah showing the king of Babylon all of his treasures instead of giving God glory for sparing his life at his request.  We know that this mistake led to the children of Israel being taken captive in Babylon for 70 years.   His continuing to live also resulted in the death of the prophet Isaiah.   Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah born after he pled for more years, sawed Isaiah in two because he was tired of hearing his messages of reproof!    So from this we can see that, even if we are walking with the Lord, we need to constantly stay submitted to His plan for our lives.    What looks like disaster to us may be the entry way to His greatest blessings!

“If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:14 (Followed by this statement in vs 15; “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

Yes, it’s all a matter of love!   But, what does it mean to ask “in (His) name?

I am reminded of a passage in Desire of Ages, pg 668:

“But to pray in Christ’s name means much. It means that we are to (1) accept His character,(2) manifest His spirit, (3)and work His works. The Saviour’s promise is given on condition. “If ye love Me,” He says, “keep My commandments.” He saves men, not in sin, but from sin; and those who love Him will show their love by obedience. {DA 668.2} (Numbering supplied)

So what does this have to do with closure for Jesus?   A lot!   If we are not living in harmony with His plan for our lives, we are tying God’s hands in His promise to return, no matter how much we may pray for it.   As one person put it in their answer to this question, “… lack of faith, lack of consecration, lack of perseverance limits divine intervention.”   If you will review all of the areas we have covered so far wherein we believe Jesus needs closure, you will find among the common denominators  the three things mentioned in this very excellent comment.  Please ponder, in closing, this poem the Lord gave me in May of 2010.

The greatest freedom I have found I have found in You!

Free indeed, no longer bound, free to will and do.

Bowing at the cross, surprised at finding liberty,

I wonder in my repose, Lord, are You too free?

I see the work that You still do, in dealing with my sin.

How can You ever be, if I’m not pure within?

In my heart of hearts I know, I see,

I hold the key within my choice to set my Saviour free.

May God grant us the willingness to be the people who are “willing and obedient” so that we may “eat the good of the land”. (Isaiah 1:19) And more, that Jesus will no longer have to suffer!

Selah!