BLOG 12 - GOLD, SILVER AND PRECIOUS STONES

Dear Accepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1:6)

In what ways did the early church brethren love one another fervently? What did being knit together look like? What was the evidence of their love? Acts 2:42-47 says "they continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine (the Word) and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers... Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common... So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and in breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." There is such a spirit of togetherness in these verses. How would onlookers describe our fellowship? Perhaps they might say at times: "Because of our lawlessness (lack of love) the love of many has grown cold." Matt 24:12. I always thought this applied to the world around us, but then I realized that the world has pressed us into its mold. We have put up walls. We are guarded by formalities. We fear closeness. We don't allow people to know us. We keep people at a distance. Yet we crave intimacy and acceptance. We need to be needed. The Holy Spirit is not divided. Wherever the Spirit is there is love. This is what the world needs to see. This is the labor that will bring in the harvest.

When the Father gives us His Holy Spirit so abundantly, the evidence of it will be the fruit of that Spirit which is first of all love. These are our tools for building that we cannot acquire any other way than by spending time with the giver. The gold, silver and precious stones are the people whose lives are touched forever by these tools. They are loved into the living temple of God by Jesus in us.

Some of us find it easier to go to great lengths, time and expense to go to a faraway places and love complete strangers than the brother or sister struggling right next to us. We can more easily initiate conversation with a homeless drunk, a street kid high on glue or give a tract to a passerby we will never see again than those we rub shoulders with every day. It is often easier to talk to someone in a nursing home about Jesus than someone in our own home or church.

But how do we do what the scripture talks about so much: "love one another?" We need modern day examples of what love looks like. We need some present day footsteps to follow.

Never before has it been easier to love one another. Let us compare our day and Jesus day:

We can send a card; they couldn't.
We can call on the phone; they couldn't.
We can hop in a car and stop by; they couldn't.
We can take someone out to a quick lunch we didn't even make; they couldn't.
We can order pizza to be delivered to our own home within an hour for any amount of people; they couldn't.
We can send an e-mail; they couldn't.
We can send an electronic card; they couldn't.
We can send flowers, candy gifts of all sorts the same day or the next; they couldn't.
We could go bowling, golfing, batting, tennis, swimming, bicycling together... They couldn't.
We can instant message electronically; they couldn't.
We can pray together anywhere on the globe cell phones will receive; they couldn't.
I am sure that there are many more ways we can build with silver, gold and precious stones if we let His love have its perfect way in us.

Silver, gold and precious stones are the only works that the Bible says will not be burned up. Wood, hay and stubble will be burned up. It seems important to know what these are. These verses have to do specifically with the temple of God.

Let us look at the Word: 1 Cor. 3:11-17 "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, (stressing law without mercy, the empty works of the pharisee without compassion, whitewashing the outside while ignoring the deadness inside) God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are."

If I am a great speaker with great tongues of men and angels; if I have the gift of preaching or prophecy; if I have all wisdom and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and write great books; if I have all faith, bestow all my goods to feed the poor or even die a martyr's death, without love, it is nothing. Works without love will be burned up and come to nothing. The Pharisees were great at these kind of empty works. These were the works that were recognized and admired by men but Jesus did not recognize these works as anything.

Love, in word and deed, that the world can see, is what God says will never fail. It will bear fruit. Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. All of these are the fruit of His everlasting love. This fruit contains the seeds that bear still more fruit. Some hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. The world will know us by this fruit of love. Father fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that I may build with gold, silver and precious stones and not wood, hay and stubble. Let it be with fellow believers built up and encouraged, loved into action for His kingdom by Jesus in me. Let it be with precious living stones in a temple not made by human hands, but by God's love in us. Agape.

BLOG 11 - "I HAVE CALLED YOU FRIENDS."

Dear accepted in the beloved,

The verse laid upon my heart this morning with Jesus was John 15:15, where Jesus said to His disciples: "I have called you friends." This is said in the context of the verses on abiding in Christ as the vine and the branches, bearing fruit and the new commandment of loving one another. The Lord has been impressing on me that this fruit is not converts, but the fruit of the Holy Spirit which is "love, joy, peace..." etc, the deep changes that cause the body of Christ to be in communion with one another and thus a picture of God's love to the world.

Love is the greatest thing. Scripture tells us in seven places: To love the brethren fulfills the law. This is the proof to the watching world that Christ indwells my heart.
Friendship is our first ministry.

This is the peace that the world does not know, not just internal, but communal peace between believers that still have the offensiveness of their sin natures, but through the grace of God choose to cover it over.

This is a love that overcomes evil with good, confounds unbelievers and turns enemies into friends. This love enabled Jesus to even call Judas His friend, and Jesus would not say that if He did not mean it (Matt. 26:50). Can I call those who have hurt or betrayed me "friend"? I can if I let the mind of Christ be in me. I can if I love them the way He loves me as He has commanded me to. Romans 10:8 says that I "owe" this love to my brother. In fact, God's love is perfected when I love my brother. (1 John 2:5; 4:12,17; John 17:23)

The word "ministry" in scripture is always used to apply to the body of believers, never to the rebellious or evil doers of the world.

As a body, we are to seek out those who want to enter into this family relationship with "Our Father" and bring them into the fold. This means there has to be a "fold" to bring them into. A place to be edified, encouraged, valued...; a place to belong!!! It is not a building, an institution or an organization, but a spiritual family relationship that includes all the true brothers and sisters of Christ without partiality or favoritism. Only the Holy Spirit can accomplish this. This is how we know where the Spirit of God is. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is LOVE."

When I am cold or ignore my brother, the Bible says it is a hypocrisy against the truth of the gospel and that the love of God does not abide in me. (Gal. 2:11-14; 1 John 3:17) Thank you Jesus for the grace that covers the millions of times I have been guilty of this. May the Lord cause me to see and respond to the needs of my brothers and sisters around me. Especially to those who may have been hurt or feel rejected by my actions. This is a serious misrepresentation of God. Their cries against me bring shame on the name of Christ. Lack of love among Christians is the greatest stumbling block for the majority of unbelievers and I contribute to it every time I speak in anger or unkindly and every time I ignore a brother or sister in need. Loving one another is the single most important thing we can do to keep souls out of hell.

BLOG 10 - MERCY NOT SACRIFICE

Dear accepted in the beloved,

"But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice...' "
Matthew 9:13

Performing the sacrifices was the main part of the ministry of the priests in the Old Testament. God frowned on outward obedience while their hearts were far away from him. How did he determine that their hearts were far away from Him? Because they lacked mercy, compassion and love for the people.

As a royal priesthood we are called upon to be living sacrifices, to lay ourselves on the altar of the Lord. Usually we call this ministry. Is ministry what God wants from me? Is there something that could make all my service to the Lord null and void? The Lord is telling me, yes. If I put ministry ahead of mercy I will be just like the hypocritical pharisees. The pharisees knew the law. From all outside appearances they kept the law better than all others. They made sure of it. But they missed the most important thing. God says in the verse above: "Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy not sacrifice.' "

Mercy flows only from a heart of love, love for God and for those God loves. If we serve God in a perfunctory way without love, God says in 1 Cor 13 we are nothing.

The pharisees were always being portrayed as beating the servants of the Lord.
Are we beating the servants of the Lord by cold or critical words or actions towards those God loves, casting people away, rejecting them, ignoring them, ignoring needs while thinking we are doing the work of the Lord.

Are we like the unmerciful servant who expected mercy for his own shortcomings but did not extend it to his fellow servant? Are we expecting ministry rather than extending it? Are we like the ministry people who saw the wounded man in the road, but were too busy to help him. They put ministry (sacrifice) before mercy.

O Lord help us to look in the mirror of your word and to see ourselves- who we really are. Help us to weep and wail over our deep iniquity.

We are the pharisee keeping the law without love.
We are the unmerciful servant beating our fellow servants.
We are the ministry minded doing great things in your name while walking by the wounded.

Meditate on Luke 10. Imagine that you asked Jesus: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Imagine Jesus answering you with the parable of the Good Samaritan. Who would you be in the story? You are not who you think you are. I am not who I think I am. What do others see? What do the wounded see? Are they crying to the Lord because of me?

What sacrifices am I bringing? I tithe, I work in nursing homes..., Sunday school..., I go to church, bible study..., I bring a sacrifice of praise to the Lord, I preach, I teach..., Lord I did all this in your name. I am serving the Lord.........

How am I showing mercy?
Have I seen the wounded man?
Have I shown him mercy or am I just passing him by?

You may say: "Well, the Lord has not told me to do this specific thing."
The Lord has already spoken. Am I listening to what He has already said?

Agape.

BLOG 9 - THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM

Dear Accepted in the Beloved,

"And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:19

Have you ever wondered about this verse? What are the keys? Why are they plural? I would like to suggest that they are the law of God that convicts and exposes our sinfulness before a Holy God, and the love of God that draws the burdened sinner to the cross to be delivered. A holy God must punish all unrighteous ness or be guilty of unrighteousness Himself. On the other hand, A God of love, in His mercy makes a way were the law can be satisfied and the sinner be set free, by sending a Savior to die in our place. That makes two keys.

What about the binding and loosing? What is it and how is it done? Is Jesus talking only to Peter or is the "you" plural, referring to all believers? I pray that flesh and blood will not reveal it to you, but our Father in heaven. Once again, the answer seemed to me to come from the Living Word of God only a few verses later in the same book of Matthew, in chapter 18 where the Lord repeats the same words to the disciples. In this passage it seems clear that "binding and loosing" refer to loving our brother which would most definitely apply to every believer.

In the context of Matthew 18, He talks first about receiving little children and not offending them. Then He speaks of seeking the straying sheep and not even desiring one of them to perish. Next our Lord speaks of reconciling with our brother. Then He says in verse 18: "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." The exact words that He said to Peter individually in Matthew 16:19. This is followed by a discussion of two or three gathering in His name or agreeing in His name; a discussion on forgiving and the parable of the unforgiving servant. Are these statements of our Lord related? Do these verses have anything to do with binding and loosing? The common factor in all these points seems to indicate that binding and loosing have to do with God's love and forgiveness between believers, not so much in bringing in unbelievers: "little ones who believe in me", "whose angels always see the face of God", straying brethren who need someone to take initiative to bring them back on the path, brethren who agree together in prayer, in contrast with the unforgiving servant who beats his fellow servant. In all these statements the common point has to do with the relationship between believers.

What does all this have to do with binding and loosing? The word of God says Jesus came to us in Luke 4:18, Isaiah 61:62 and Psalm 147:3,4: to proclaim the good news to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to set the captives free...Stated another way, we could say Jesus came to bind up the broken-hearted and loose the captives. Jesus also said we would do greater things than Him (John 14:12) and that as He is in the world so are we (1 John 4:17). Are my brothers and sisters broken-hearted? Are they captive? Can Jesus use me to loose them from captivity and bind up their broken hearts? Yes, as I take initiative to go to those who are hurting, bind up their wounds by loving them, not condemning them, not preaching at them, but just loving them, spending time with them, being knit together with them, valuing them, developing a relationship with them, not doing "religion" to them ... Loosing the captives, first by getting to know them well enough for me to know that they are captive, second by praying for them and with them to be set free... If each brother and sister would commit to do this instead of rushing off from church as soon as the teaching is done to do our own thing, panel our own houses..., the world would see His love in us. Teaching is only 1/4 of the reason we come together. (See Acts 2:42) It is for teaching, fellowship, breaking bread and prayer; to stir up love and good works. (Hebrew 10:24,25)

Simply by loving one another in Christ we will fulfill the law and God's everlasting love. We will bind up the broken-hearted and loose the captives. The kingdom will be unlocked only by the use of these keys. We will be building up His holy temple with silver and gold and precious stones. And for all eternity we will praise Him as each story is told of each act of Holy Spirit-born love. There can be no law against this love and it will never fail.

"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God." The true sons are the ones that work for peace among their brothers using these keys of the kingdom. The law, the word of God, that never changes, that keeps us from getting off the path of truth and sets us free (looses us) from lies. And the love of God which covers the multitude of our sins and binds our hearts together with Christ.

Agape.

BLOG 8 - DISCERNING THE LORD'S BODY

1 Corinthians 11 has some rather stern words that might often be misunderstood. It says "For he who eats and drinks in unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body." In prayerfully letting the Holy Spirit and the context guide my understanding, I see this as referring to the people who are gathered at the Lord's supper - for scripture tells us quite clearly in the following chapter, in 1 Corinthians 12:27: "We are the Body of Christ." Remember, chapters and verses are not part of God's inspiration. They are merely a tool to help us more easliy find passages of scripture. Therefore, chapter 12 is very much a part of the context of chapter 11; the portion of the letter written by Paul and by the Holy Spirit, to the Corinthian church.

In what way were they "not discerning the Body"? Perhaps they were not giving the Lord's Supper proper reverence and not thinking about the meaning of the meal and Christ's work on the cross on their behalf. Perhaps they were coming to the meal with unconfessed sin. But on further reading it seems to describe the problem very clearly. As verse 33 points out, they were not waiting for one another when they came together for the Lord's supper, so that one was hungry still and another was drunk having had an excess. It says also that there were divisions and factions among them in verse 18 and 19. These were necessary, is says, in order that those who are approved may be recognized among you. In other words, if someone did not care about the body of Christ, God's people, then he would just rush ahead concerned only about himself. But if a person discerned the body of Christ, they would genuinely be concerned for the members of that body - For as verse 26 of chapter 12 says "If one member suffers, all (who are truly part of the body) the members suffer with it..." We cannot have communion with Christ and not also have communion with the body of Christ, for we are "members of one another (Ephesians 4:25). It all climaxes at the end of chapter 12 and in chapter 13, when he says, "I show you a more excellent way." Then begins the famous Love chapter.

What all this means to me is that when I take communion it is most special to me, not only to focus on Jesus, but also to look around at the heart of Jesus which is in His people, His body, my brothers and sisters sitting in the fellowship with me and also those who are missing perhaps because of physical or spiritual ailments for whom I need to pray. For if one member suffers, I should also suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all members rejoice with it. Otherwise if communion was just a thing between God and me, I could take it anywhere, anytime and any place. Why would I need the body there? I must "discern the body," because of the new commandment which fulfills the Law: to love one another AS HE LOVES US. (John 13:34, 35) By this we will be able to discern the true body of Christ. To me it is the whole reason He chose to call us His body. How am I treating His body? This is how I am treating Him! I may say I love Him. I may sing about how much I love Jesus. But the proof is my words and actions towards those members of His body He has placed around me. I must treat them as if they are His flesh and blood, because they truly, truly are.

I do not love Jesus anymore than I love the least of these, His brethren. If I ignore them, I ignore Him. If I hurt one of these, I hurt Him. If I love and serve them, I love and serve Him. This is Agape Love, that only comes from the Holy Spirit in us. We can love one another, because He first loved us. When we become one with Him, we love what He loves. Our hearts break when His does. O Lord, draw Your people with Your everlasting love in us, to Your glory only and by Your grace alone. Let Your love cover the multitude of our sins and knit us together and help us to open our eyes and discern Your body and our true communion in You.

BLOG 7 - THE ARK, MY HEART

I just love how the Lord always uses pictures to paint powerful truths. The one about which I love to meditate is the Ark of the Covenant. A small box (about 4' x 2'x 2') covered in gold, with a solid gold lid, called the Mercy Seat bearing two angelic creatures bowing to the center, where the very presence of God on earth came to speak with man. It was hidden away in the Holy of Holies, the most holy part of the temple of the Lord. This was a place where no man could enter unless chosen by God and sanctified; cleansed by a blood sacrifice of an innocent and perfect animal picturing the substitution death of our Savior on the cross; taking the wrath of our holy God on our behalf to vindicate both God's holiness and mercy at the same time. This blood was required to be sprinkled on the Mercy Seat on behalf of the people once a year. Inside the Ark of the Covenant, were the stone tablets bearing the 10 Commandments written by the finger of God, a golden jar of manna and Aaron's rod that blossomed with flowers and grew ripe almonds. The Ark was placed behind a veil, screen or curtain so thick it took 300 men to hang it. This very same veil was supernaturally ripped from the top down at the moment Jesus died.

This is such an awesome picture of what God wants us to know about Him. God went to great lengths to tell us by this symbolic dramatization, that the highest experience man can have on earth is communion with Him. For sin-stained people, this was an impossible experience, until God provided the way by sending Jesus to be our blood sacrifice. The veil which was symbolic of Jesus flesh was ripped for us, allowing us to enter into the Holy of Holies and commune with God himself.

The Ark of the Covenant is a picture of my heart. In order to receive the inheritance after someone has died, there has to be a covenant, agreement or contract. Jesus died making the payment. But His blood is not applied in my name unless I enter into a covenant with Him. It is not forced upon me. All He asks is that I earnestly ask Him with all of my heart. The place of God's covenant with man is in our hearts. When I call on Him, He sprinkles the covering of my heart with the purifying blood of the perfect sacrifice, Jesus. He takes away the law-laden stoney tablets of my heart that brought only guilt and condemnation, a debt I could not pay. He now gives me a new heart, no longer stone, a heart of flesh and writes His law of love (the new commandment) upon the tablet of my new heart and gives me His Holy Spirit that causes me to desire His will and want to keep His Law.

I now am able to commune with Him about anything, anywhere, anytime, in the very Holy of Holies, where God is present all the time. He feeds me with the pure manna, bread from heaven, His Word, the Bible, that is better than food to me. He causes my life to blossom and bear fruit like Aaron's rod, proof that He is with me. The presence of this Ark of the Covenant in this world is the restraining hand of God upon the tide of evil that would destroy all mankind if it were not there. We are now the temple of God on earth, a city on a hill to draw men to Him by the fragrance of our prayerful communion with Him (the incense) and the light of His Holy Spirit shining radiantly out from us as we bear the fruit of the Spirit like Aaron's rod: love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. These are the proof to the world that God is with us. His new commandment of love now written on our heart fulfills the entire law, as it causes us to have His heart for the world. We receive His heart as our birthright, our inheritance. We now desire what He desires, that all, everywhere be filled with the fullness of God and come to the unity of faith. God's building of living stones, fitly united together by Him, the master builder, to bring glory to His name forever. His royal priesthood, bearing on our hearts and shoulders the names of those He desires to bring into the fold. They are the Silver, gold and precious stones to adorn His temple forever.
My heart is almost exploding as I contemplate the majesty and beauty of God's plan.

As Jesus asked in the garden of Gethsemane on the night before He laid down His life on the cross for me and you: "Is there any other way to redeem mankind to yourself? If there is any other possibility, let this cup pass from me." God remained silent because there was no other way. And Jesus endured the shame of the cross for the joy set before Him of this living temple, this covenant between God and me, sealed in His indelible blood, forever. I now walk in the very presence of God, with the Ark of the Covenant, in my heart, where God dwells.

Agape

BLOG 6 - THE GLORY OF THIS LATTER TEMPLE!

I was actually stunned by what the LORD showed me about this verse last week, in Haggai 2:9: "'The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former' says the LORD of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the LORD of hosts.'"

We know that this temple was nothing in comparison to the temple that Solomon built. People came from far away places just to see the glory of Solomon's temple. The old men who had seen both wept with loud voices to see the inferiority of this temple. Yet, the LORD says very clearly, "The glory of this temple shall be greater than the former."

We can immediately conclude that the glory of this temple would be greater because Jesus, God in flesh came to this very place and revealed Himself as Messiah. But where is that temple today? It was completely destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. Is God finished with His temple or is there still a building going on? Jesus said "destroy this temple and I will raise it up." He was speaking of His body. And He calls His people also His Body as well as the temple of the Lord. He said we would do greater works than Him. Is the temple that He is building through the work of His saints on earth not a "greater work" with "greater glory" than that earthly temple?

1 Cor. 3:9 says: "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which He has given to me, as the wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is."

What a privilege to be God's fellow worker in building HIS HOUSE made of HUMAN HEARTS, a temple of far greater glory than Solomon's temple. PEOPLE are the gold, silver and precious stones that we build with. Haggai 1:8, the verse right before the verse about the glory of the latter temple says: "The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine". Yes, there is a temple of silver, gold and precious living stones, built without hands, built with prayer and love, as we love people into the kingdom of God with God's own love flowing through us by emptying ourselves and allowing God to fill us and pour out of us as He chooses.

Am I busy sweeping the house looking for that lost silver coin that belongs to the Lord? Will I call all my brothers and sisters together to rejoice with me when I find the lost piece? As a living stone, am I joined fitly together with my bothers and sisters to bear testimony to the love of a true disciple to the watching world? Am I gathering with those "accepted in the Beloved" or am I scattering? Are we a city on a hill bearing His light or bearing shame as the world sees more ugliness among Christians than among its own?

I fear and I tremble at the awesome and terrifying privilege we have been given as God's fellow workers. What will the test of fire reveal? What am I building with? I am so very thankful for His all sufficient grace and that I can rest in Him doing the work as I am only to yield my weak vessel to Him to cleanse, strengthen and use for His glory. As He fills me with His Holy Spirit, I know He will bear the fruit of His love in my life, and with His everlasting love, He will draw those who are His together and make us more gloriously beautiful than any earthly temple.

Agape.