The Gift

As I sit here and type this week I can’t help but wonder what happened to the church.  As I read in the context of Jesus’ words to his followers, I see no promise of glorious acceptance in a fallen world.  I feel the church over the centuries have made many compromises with the gospel message and the gift of holy spirit to be more palatable to the world.  Today, we seem to have almost a complete rejection of the teachings of Jesus and what this precious gift can bring to the believer.

In our modern society the truth is so far gone that one can hardly recognize it.  Religion did a dumb down the gospel message so far, no wonder a so called Christian would not know who God is or even how He works.  Today, when the fastest growing religion is not Christianity, we as believers should recognize we have a problem.    

Yes, we have great big churches and ministries, but if we take a close look at what is going on we should all be concerned.  The numbers that are being given as converts are mostly recycled church goers. They have quit the church and came back or they switched their doctrines.  Yet, the truth is being hidden in small groups of whom many have separated themselves completely from the main stream.  Because of all this we are not seeing a true growth of new believers in or modern world.  So, false religions, preachers, movements are having their way among those who are looking for answers to life’s problems.  They prey on the unlearned and spiritually weak.  Those who have been conditioned by religion to look to men for answers and spiritual leadership fall victim to the devices of men who do not have the truth.

One should read John chapters 14-17 carefully and see what Jesus had to say to his followers and for those who would came after.  Jesus lays out for us what to expect from the gift of holy spirit and why.

In John 14:26 ( NIV  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.) Jesus is telling us that the spirit would teach us and remind us of his teachings.  I may have not been there when Jesus was giving all his teachings about the kingdom and living a life of obedience to God, but I do have the scriptures and holy spirit to help me find truth.

Notice right away he is associating this with peace.  (John 14:27 NIV)  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. There is no comfort or peace in this fallen world.  Even religion has tried to find peace by the way of the world and history proves that has not worked.  The vast majority of our wars in history have been religious of some sort. Peace is given by the spirit which is a gift from the Father, which transcends the way of man and our understanding. (Phil 4:7 NIV)  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

If we remove the chapter markers this conversation continues. That Jesus is telling us one condition of Christianity is abiding.  One may ask how that is possible.  Through the spirit and where we let our minds dwell. Like a branch of a vine there has to be a complete attachment to the trunk.  The words here for fruit is completion or maturity.  One does not go to a fruit tree desiring fruit that is immature or not ripe to eat.  You should notice two other stories in Mark 11.13 and Luke 13.6, about seeking for fruit and not finding any.  In each of the stories we find that the trees did not have fruit because they were not capable, but there were issues in each story.  The point is, God is looking for maturity and that comes from obeying and living connected to Jesus through holy spirit. 

You should also notice Jesus is making it very clear that love is an attribute of God’s spirit in us and the ability to fully obey.  How can one say they have the gift and not be able to show love, or obey the teachings of Jesus? Are these people really abiding in Jesus or are they connected to another religious vine? 

Then there is that part that seems to baffle me, that is how the church is trying to be accepted in this world. Jesus makes it very clear that the world will reject us and persecute us as much as it did him.  It was even more so by the religious system of His time.  It was when the church in the fourth century was given a status of freedom and prominent position that compromises were made to hold on to that position and power.  The work of the holy spirit and the true message of the gospel was almost completely lost.  Teachings of men now take the place of the teaching of Jesus given to us through holy spirit.

  (John 15:26 NIV)  "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.

Jesus, then makes a promise that as sure as he was to go to the Father, he was going to return. Until then we would have his gift of the spirit given to us, to be a testimony for him in this world.  Every believer is to be living examples of him, as he was of his Father.  We are to be the bright shinning lights in a darkened world.  Do others know you are from God, or are you just another religious person to them?

(John 16:7-15 NIV)  But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. {8} When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: {9} in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; {10} in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; {11} and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. {12} "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. {13} But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. {14} He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. {15} All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

Jesus is laying out the work of the spirit for us and telling us that this is given until he returns.  He is not talking about his return back to life, but the return when he comes as a conquering king. Paul referred to this as the deposit laid down for something that is greater to come.

(2 Cor 1:22 NIV)  set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

(2 Cor 5:5 NIV)  Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

(Eph 1:13-14 NIV)  And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, {14} who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.

A couple of things I want to point out here is; one, we should see that the work of the spirit is to bring power to our message.  When we share the message of Jesus, the gift of spirit is there to convict, reveal righteousness, and make judgment on the works of Satan.  How was this done in Jesus?  If you would read the gospels with an open heart and mind you would see it was not only with words, but demonstration of God’s power.  Devils trembled, sinners sought him out, and many miracles were done by him. Why, one should ask. Because he obeyed his Father completely and stayed true to the message of the kingdom.  This may be a good reason why we don’t see many demonstrations of God’s power today; we are not truly obeying the Father, and staying true to the message. (Just saying)

I know there will be those who will try to point out; it was for just the Apostles.  You should ask yourself a couple of questions.  One, has Jesus already come back to rule?  Has the truth been fully preached? Then there are those who always point out scriptures or times where somebody did not get healed.  Didn’t Jesus have such times too?  Then I have those who say they can see it coming to a close in the scriptures, yet they hold onto many regulations and rules that scriptures clearly say they are not needed. 

This brings me to my second point, that there were many things Jesus could not tell them yet and it would be the spirit that would teach them.  This is how we have received what we call the New Testament.  Notice Jesus said “Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.”  The spirit is given to us to guide us to truth.  The truth of what, you may ask.  I feel the truth of who God is and his son Jesus.  The spirit would reveal the truth of the gospel message of God’s kingdom and his intentions for redeemed man. Jesus said in John 8.32 that the truth would set us free.  Another part of the truth I believe would be about the working of the spirit in the believer and the church. 

Jesus then prayed for his followers, not just those there with him, but those who would later come to believe. (John 17:17-21 NIV)  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. {18} As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. {19} For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. {20} "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, {21} that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

This gift of holy spirit is for every believer, so we may know truth and truly demonstrate to the world that Jesus is the Christ, from God.  Now, as Jesus said, the message of those Apostles would have a great role in this, and we have much we can learn about the gift from them.  There are many more attributes of this gift and much more we can learn about what God has given.

In my own journey, it has been a willingness to stop checking my brain at the door of the church.  I had to stop depending on man to provide truth, stop reading the Bible with religious glasses, and dare to ask questions of what was held sacred.  If we are all truly lead by the spirit, and truly allowing the attributes of His spirit work in us, should we not be coming to the same conclusions or at lest willing to talk about them?  I will not say I know it all yet, but I do have the spirit of the one who does.  Everyone does not have to express the spirit, or worship just like me, but we need to get the gospel message right and learn to love each other.  Otherwise the true message of Jesus will be forever lost and the question in Luke 18.8 may become reality “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Power Through Christ

As we talk a about the gift of holy spirit, the greatest authority on this subject would be Jesus himself.  We should not cast aside what he spoke as just for the twelve follower he had.  I think Jesus has mad it very clear that the provision of holy spirit is given to all who believe.  Yes, there is conditions that apply and should not be ignored.  Even today churches have no problem telling us that everyone receives the gift of holy spirit at salvation, but then they turn around and deny many of the attributes of holy spirit.  That is like saying it is good to have a car to get around but deny the need for an engine.  The car is no good without the engine, just like a believer can not fully do what God has expected of him without full demonstration and work of holy spirit. The holy spirit is the engine that gives power to an overcoming believer.

We will look at the very words of Jesus himself and see what we should expect from such a gift and the conditions needed for that to work. 

Let me say this before we go much further.  I do understand that today we have many fakes, who have labeled themselves with titles.  They do seem to have a demonstration of power, but use it for their own gain.  I will try to address this more later. So human nature once it has been burned by  a miss use will often turn away from the whole thing just based on the actions of a few.  Pragmatism has taken over reason and there are those that will tell us that what they have going on in their groups is the work of holy spirit solely based on a few results.  Like I said last week I grew up in Pentecost and have seen a lot.  There has always been a lingering thought in my mind when I have seen something many would call a move of the holy spirit.  That is why is there no real change in the individual who was impacted, or why didn’t real truth come forward in t event?

When I see what Jesus tells the believer should happen when one is filled with holy spirit, I do have to wonder how so many could label much of the modern churches activities as from the holy spirit.  Jesus begins to give his followers an insight of what they should expect in the age called the church, although Jesus never gave a complete picture of the coming birth of the church.  He did however give a great insight into being filled with holy spirit and what that should look like.  It is after the gift of holy spirit was given we find examples and teachings on it’s deeper impact on a person and the church.   

^{Jn 14:10-14 NIV} Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.  I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Notice what Jesus is telling Philip who asked Jesus to show them the Father.  Jesus also spent his life on this earth revealing to the world the true nature of God, his Father.  The point I want you to see here is Jesus claim to have the father in him.  No, this does not make Jesus God, but by nature of God’s spirit and Jesus’ own birth he was a perfect representative of his Father.  How, one may ask, by two ways, both in which we today can partake in through faith.  First, Jesus was the begotten son of God.  In scientific terms he had God’s DNA.  God himself by miracle created a seed in Mary that impacted her human egg which caused a conception. Mary then gave birth to a son who was a perfect genetic representative of his father.

Second, Jesus was also given the gift of holy spirit at his baptism, (Matt.3.16, Acts 10.38).  Through out the gospels we can see it was that gift of holy spirit that gave Jesus the power to be his father’s representative.  Jesus is telling us in the book of John that it was his fathers spirit that was in him an every believer could have it as well.  The proof Jesus pointed to was the signs and wonders that followed Jesus’ ministry and life. 

Both of the above we can be a part of. By faith and belief in God and His son Jesus, we can experience being born again and being filled with the gift of holy spirit.

Jesus then tells us that everyone who has faith in him, or one could say complete trust in Jesus and what he was saying.  They, too, could have these same signs and wonders following their life.  Now we will see there are conditions to this, but none the same, this is for anyone who put their faith in the teachings of Jesus.  I am not talking about our modern thinking about faith, but a simple, complete trust in Jesus and His commands. Jesus even took it a step further and said that those after him who believed would do even greater than He did, I am not sure what we see today is a fulfilling of that.  I have heard in my lifetime that the modern church through media and many movements are doing greater works than Jesus.  I do not agree, it is still only by a select group and limited, when Jesus said that everyone who had their faith in Jesus would have it working in their life.  Then there are many false claims of signs and wonders that we should be careful of.

^{Jn 14:15-26 NIV} “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, an he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever­­--  the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.  Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.  “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

One of the main conditions to this power with signs and wonders is obedience to the teachings of Jesus.  If we are to be true representatives of God and Jesus we have to completely follow their ways.  One can not be a true representative doing and living their own way.  Through all the years of pragmatic leadership and worldly influence the church has lost its way.  Forever damaged by false teachings and systems almost all churches no longer truly follow the teachings of Jesus.  No wonder we don’t see the power of God in true demonstration.  

I hear today many say there are leaders who now have a deeper revelation than the very ones who heard it directly from Jesus and where given what to write for us to read.  The other thing I hear is a dismissal of what Jesus said, by saying God does not do those kinds of things anymore, or we live in another time and God’s thinking has changed.  I just have one question for these people where can you prove that in scripture?

Let’s get back to what Jesus was telling his followers.  If they truly loved him they would obey him.  Then this counselor, spirit of truth would not only be with them but in them as a part of their very lives. 

Right here before a go any further, I feel I need to make clear something that is not obvious to everyone.  Jesus was not speaking of another person, but of God’s very presence reveled.  He personified this gift, much like Solomon did in his writings in Proverbs concerning wisdom.  Wisdom is not a person no more than the gift of God’s power in a person is a spiritual person.  (I know I may get a lot of feed back on this one, but before you get upset do your homework and compare Proverbs and read how the writers of the rest of the New Testament spoke of the gift of holy spirit, then Read Revelations and ask where is this person.)  If you do not understand that Jesus was speaking of a gift and power not a person, you will miss the heart of what he was saying. 

Jesus was making it very clear that as one believes and truly obeys, God’s own presence would dwell in us, just like it was in Jesus. This gift would reveal truth and make Jesus plain to those who were willing to completely follow him.  I believe Jesus was talking here of his death and resurrection.  That only those who truly loved him and obeyed would see him and know him after his resurrection.  When one reads the accounts following his resurrection this is exactly what happened.  Jesus revealed himself only to those select few, teaching them further about the future kingdom.  He did not have mass crowds gathering around him, the people were completely unaware that Jesus was risen from the dead.

Jesus was letting them know, it would be the spirit that would help them know it was Jesus that was raised from the dead.  There would be no other way they would be able to believe and recognize Jesus after his resurrection.  Jesus was telling them that the spirit was with them, but would soon be in them.  This spirit would be the presence of God living in the believer as did in Jesus.  Jesus said they both would dwell in us, was he telling us there would be two spirits in us or a single gift that represented them both?   

Another thing Jesus seems to be saying is that without the gift of spirit one could not fully know or understand God and Jesus.  My question is how can so many people who claim they have the holy spirit misunderstand God?  How can there be so much confusion in today’s church if everyone is being obedient to Jesus, and lead by God’s spirit?  Either much of today’s church has it wrong or God’s confused.  I would lean towards the ideal the church may have many of their teachings and ideals of the holy spirit wrong, and the teachings of Jesus are ignored.  Maybe what many people are claiming to be holy spirit is just their own ideals and feelings being manifested.  If all believers are truly being lead by the holy spirit, why is there so much confusion and splits in doctrines.  In the beginning of the church they all believed the same thing. (^{Ac 4:32A NIV} All the believers were one in heart and mind.) It was hundreds of years later after many councils and debates that the church became divided and the truth was lost. A true understanding of holy spirit was forever lost and believers no longer lived a power filled life. 

Power from God

(Acts 1:8 NIV)  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

These are the words of Jesus himself just before he departed this earth with the promise that he would return.  Taken alone, I feel many have misunderstood these very words.  They have to be taken in context with all Jesus said on that mount just before he departed.

(Acts 1:4-7 NIV)  On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. {5} For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." {6} So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" {7} He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

Notice there are two separate times here. First, while dinning he commanded them to stay in Jerusalem to wait for the gift.  This was to be a spiritual baptism of holy spirit, or the manifest presence of God through Jesus in a believer.  This is also what John was talking about in (Mat 3:11 NKJV)  "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

This is what I want to talk about for the next several weeks if I may.  I know this is a touchy subject, for many reasons today. I grew up in Pentecost and seen so much abuse in this area, no wonder so many run from the ideal of gifted power with God.  Yet, that does not make the Word of God null and void.

The next event is just before Jesus is taken up, his followers were asking about the kingdom that Jesus was to fulfill. Notice Jesus’ reply. He did not rebuke them but simply told them that it was yet to come and only the Father knows when.  Then He followed up with what he had commanded them to do and that was to wait for the gift. Except this time he told them it was a power to bear witness to the coming kingdom of God.  It was not the entrance of the kingdom but a power to live and testify for and of its coming.  A power to live in faith like Jesus because is was the same power that was in him.

(Acts 10:38 NIV)  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

The context of which Jesus was talking about in Acts 1.8 is the kingdom of God. I will attempt to go through the scriptures with you and show you that every true believer does have the gift and should be allowing this power to guide them in this world.  That we do, even in this day and age if not more so need to see a demonstrated manifest presence of God’s spirit and power to present a truthful message of God’s coming kingdom.

Today’s churches have wondered so far from the true message Jesus gave the church, that it is hardly recognizable.  When one misunderstands who God is and His son Jesus, they will most likely misunderstand the rest.  Today, so many believers run from the power God has given the church.  They deny that it is for today’s church.  They have seen it misused for men’s gain, and then reject it in any form entirely.  Manifestations of God’s spirit and gift are shifted to the past and to only a select group.  Churches are filled with people who are misinformed, spiritually defeated, with the true message of faith, hope, and the coming kingdom is lost.  They have replaced the good news message with a feel good positive thinking. They say kingdom has already come in spirit and preach a type of grace and everlasting life in heaven that cannot be found in scripture without twisting the passages.

I do not want you to feel like I am here to tear down everybody, but try to present scripture and some thought on what I see them say.  Jesus did promise that we would be guided by this gift called holy spirit.  We should not run from it but embrace it for all its worth.  I feel it is the very force that gives us the strength to endure and keep our faith in God’s promises.  Jesus himself could not have done what he did without it, and did not start his ministry until he had it. Read again Acts 10.38 and see it was the gift of holy spirit that Jesus had that empowered him to an obedient life and victory.

So with that said lets start with Jesus and what He did and his commands.  Jesus came on the scene after his childhood to be baptized by John. (Mat 3:16-17 NIV)  As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. {17} And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."(Mat 4:1 NIV)  Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.  We see here what is confirmed by Peter in Acts 10.38, Jesus is not only baptized in water but also the spirit.  It is this same gift that drove him into the wilderness to face life’s temptations that we all face. 

Notice, for Jesus it was manifested like a dove, it did not say it was a dove.  Look at Acts 2.3 and you will see that the writer never said it was tongues of fire it just seemed like it, so it was the way the writer described what everyone who witnessed the event saw it as, so this is the same case with Jesus.  It was not a dove but it was a way of describing what they saw.  For Jesus this was a spiritual baptism, so he could be a witness for God’s message of the coming kingdom, and to fulfill his given purpose on this earth, with power.

Jesus, right away after he came out of the desert began preaching the kingdom message with signs following.  It was some time later and only to his disciples that he began to reveal his death and resurrection. Was Jesus the only one who was given this power?  No. He passed it on to his disciples even before there was the out pouring in Acts 2.  I do not feel they were baptized in spirit yet, but enjoyed the overflow from Jesus, just like many in the Old Testament who got around the manifest presence of God. (Num 11.25, I Sam 10.10, I Sam 19.20)  

(Mat 10:1 NIV)  He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

(Luke 10:19 NIV)  I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Was this just for those at that time as so many teach today?  Is the day of such manifestations no longer necessary?  Just because we have the Bible do we no longer need signs, as some well known teachers teach today?  Was Jesus’ promise of power and spiritual guidance just to the twelve?  Should we throw out certain parts because we have a higher level of knowledge?  Why do we run from tongues?  Why do we run from signs and wonders? Just because we have false teachers and misuses do we give up on it entirely?  By what I see in this day and age, I feel we need the demonstration of the real more than ever.  This is not a time to clam up and be silent, but to step up and be counted, filled with holy spirit with demonstrations of a spirit filled life.

Let’s look and some more of Jesus’ own words to the believer. (Mark 16:15-18 NIV)  He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. {16} Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. {17} And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; {18} they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

Jesus is not making this an exclusive event to a certain small group or a certain time.  The signs were to accompany the believer as they share the good news message.  Notice tongues are a part of this and we will talk more on this later. Now just because the snakes and poison is mentioned here does not give us permission to tempt God in such ways. It is just telling us in times when we need it, God will protect us.  If I am ever in a place where somebody starts getting snakes out I will be the first to leave, even if I have to make a door where there is none.  I am not going to tempt God.

The point here is that this is given to all believers.  It has been over time and religious teachings that this scripture has been reduced to have no meaning in today’s churches.  We have reduced salvation to a simple repeating of a prayer; dip them in water, now they are bound for heaven.  Then we make the maintaining of that salvation tied to their attendance to a church and faithfulness to the churches teachings.  The person in the pew has no power, the person in the pulpit denies the power, and affirms everyone is OK because they are saved.  Saved from what is my question? They are still struggling, have no true joy, no true hope, and no understanding of God.  (Oops, need to get off my soap box and back to teaching)  We need to get back to simply following Jesus and what he said and obey him.

With my background in Pentecost I have seen a lot of misuse. It has been the years of study and transition in my life, with a love for God and the truth that I will attempt to hopefully share some insight on this subject.  I will not tell anyone that they have to act a certain way to prove they are full of God’s spirit.  I have come to believe what many Pentecostal and Charismatic groups call spiritual manifestations is not truly what Jesus or his disciples taught.  This is what we will look at and see what they did say about being filled with spirit and power.

God does want His children to live a life of victory, being able ministers of the gospel in power and demonstration.  That we all be filled with the hope that His gospel gives.  That hope is in the coming kingdom at the resurrection of the believer. Until then we are to be ministers of His truth and goodness with power and signs following, living an overcoming life no matter what circumstances life finds us in.

 (Rom 15:13 NIV)  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I will share more in the coming weeks, please fill free to give me some feed back.

In a Nut Shell II

There are some who have asked me that age old religious question. When did you get saved?

My reply would be, “I was born saved”.  (I was always kidding) Ever since I can remember, I have always loved God and had a hunger for Him.  My passion for knowing more of God and how I may live for him has never waned over the years.  I am even more passionate now than ever.

It has been religious systems and teachings that have complicated my spiritual growth in God.  I would be taught one thing, yet I would see something else in the Word of God.  I would ask questions, but only silenced or put aside for asking.  I have found that religious leaders and systems do not want to be questioned about anything they teach or do. Yet my hunger for God would not let me stop at what others called the norm.  You see if you will let it, religion will get a hold of you and shape the way you think and mess you up.

For years I fought that battle with my mind and how religion shaped me. I grew up in church and learned what I call the Sunday school version of God, Jesus, Bible, and the gospel message.  I found myself judging others and expecting them to live up to my standards.  I was being pious toward those who did not follow God with passion.  My testimony of life was that of purity and passion.  I never fell for worldly vices or lived a life of rebellion.  Yet; in the hidden places of my heart, I was a complete failure and needed to be rescued.  I needed God to humble me and open my heart for me to see who I was and for God to do a new work in me.

As a young man, at lest once a week I traveled across town in Lincoln, NE on a bus to sit at the feet of a wonderful man of God and just learn the Bible.  He did not teach me much doctrine, but just an understanding of God’s word and how to glean God’s truths and information from it.  It was during that time, I fully came to understand God’s calling on my life and my roll to my generation, in God’s church.  I preached my first sermon at the age of eleven, and was told that it was a prophetic word in nature.   

It was all the many struggles in life and choices I made that have brought me to the place I am today.  I have learned to forgive, and not worry about those who reject me.  I don’t worry about what others are doing, and I don’t have time to judge them.  I have been given the love and light of God and need to just let it shine.  I don’t have to be a pastor of a large group, or become a household name to make a difference in the lives of others.  It is what I do with the lives of those God have given me opportunity to share His message with that matter.  Even then, I am not responsible for what they do with it or if they change or not.  God never called me to change anyone, the only one who I need to change is me and I work on that daily.

Over the years I have found myself reading more than ever the Bible and many other books.  That is saying a lot about a person that grew up not liking to read.  God is taking me on a life journey and with new passion I am discovering Him over and over again.  His word is filled with truth and one only needs to look at it from a heart of pure passion (casting off religious thoughts) to find truth.  It has made me ask more questions and find many more answers.  I just now have to fight off the urge to get angry at religious church systems for leading us astray.

God’s gospel message about Jesus and His coming kingdom is not hidden in the Bible.  It is plain and easy to see if one is willing to take it for what it says, plain and simple. It has been religious leaders and systems that have told us that it is hard, a mystery and we need them to make it understandable.  They have laid out a system of rules, boundaries and rewards that are not truly in scriptures to keep us in line according to them.

A few years ago I was asked by a pastor to speak at his church’s men’s prayer breakfast.  Little did I know I was being setup to be questioned on doctrines by this pastor.  I spoke first then sat at the head table next to the pastor to eat my breakfast.  He began to tell me that he was offended by statements a friend of mine made in our church. He wanted to know if I agreed with my friend and let me know how wrong I was.  He presented his scriptures and I would counter.  After a time in frustration he waved at the group of men (none of whom knew what was going on) and said “you know as well as I do that they can’t live this on their own they need rules to keep them in order”.  My response to him was “that is what is wrong with the church today, man is making the rules, and that is what we call religion”

So, here is my simple message wrapped up in a nut shell.  To some I will not have gone far enough and made it to simple.  Then there will still be those who will say “I have lost my way and faith”.  Still there will be those who will not believe it no matter how simple.

God created the earth and all that is in it and he alone did so by just His word.  Then by the works of His hands he alone created man, giving all dominion and power over the earth to that man.  Life was perfect and peaceful for man and the woman God gave him.

The Devil came along and deceived them both with half truths and getting them to question God.  Satan, promised them something he could not give and by this he tricked them into giving up all authority over to him.  This is why he is called the prince of the air and ruler of this age. Sin has now entered the world of man along with suffering and pain.  Death began to take hold and by this all men are dieing.  We are all born in sin and we will all die, there is no life after death in this.

God, from the beginning had a plan to redeem man and the earth.  To restore all that was lost and return man back to his given purpose to posses the earth and rule over it.  His plan was reveled in the beginning and all through the Hebrew text called the Old Testament, that plan is reveled in every story. It is all about God’s commitment to that plan and to His promise to man.  He did this through such men as Abraham, Moses, David, and many more.  He spoke to those in that time by prophets and spiritual leaders, and now speaks to us by those written words.  God’s plan was simple and plain, there was nothing hidden other than the birth of the coming church of Jesus.  Man chose to be blinded and refused to follow God’s plan, but God did not give up on his plan.

Then in what we call the gospels God’s plan is reveled in flesh.  He begot a son through a virgin whose name was Mary.  Jesus is the name given him and he was to be called the Christ, the one who was going to be the instrument of God’s plan.  This Jesus was a man begotten of God, a Jew of the lineage of David.  He was the one to sit on the throne of David and rule God’s coming kingdom.

This Jesus lived on this earth for about 33 ½ years.  Thirty of those years he grew up in the Word of God, learning who he was through the Hebrew Scriptures.  The next three and a half years he went about preaching the gospel message “the Kingdom of God is at hand” with signs following.  He chose 12 followers to impart his message to for them to carry it on later.  Jesus then suffered a cruel death on the cross bearing all of men’s sins, shame, sickness, and death, trusting in his father to raise him from death.  God did raise Jesus from the dead three days later to become the first born of many brethren.  Jesus spent about 50 days with his followers teaching them about the coming kingdom.  He then was taken up to be at the right side of his father to wait for the appointed time of his return. Until then he intercedes for us to the Father as our high priest.

On the day of Pentecost, Jesus, kept his promise and gave the spirit of God to all believers (the manifest presence of God in us).  This birthed what we call the church of Jesus and empowered the believer to carry out the work of God.  The church was given the gospel message of Jesus to take to the whole world.  The message is the coming kingdom and its King, Jesus the Christ.  Until he comes, we are to share this message with all those we can. His Word gives life and hope to all those that believe.  They are born again by the Word and through His spirit, given power to overcome in this life.  That spirit is preparing us for the coming kingdom of God that we will experience on the day of resurrection.  Until then, we are to follow the teachings of Jesus and obey God’s Word to us.  We are to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul and strength, follow the example of His son Jesus, living a life pleasing to the Father. 

In all this I know I could have shared much more, but time and space there is not enough of.  My view of religion’s God, laws, heaven and hell has been removed.  I have seen that all men are going to die, but those who have believed and followed Jesus will rise again, take on immortality and rule with him in the coming kingdom.  I believe in the one God of the Hebrew Scriptures and His son Jesus, and that they have given us the spirit as a deposit of things yet to come.  I am a child of God reborn of His spirit through His word.  I have been made righteous, justified through Jesus, holy without blame or shame.  I am passionately pursuing Him, with a made up mind to serve Him, with all that I am.  Each and every day I am learning more about Him and still growing.  One day I will see Jesus and I will know him because I will be just like him.  One day death may take this life I now live, if Jesus does not come back soon, but I have a hope that I will rise again to live and rule with him in the coming kingdom.  That is it in a nut shell.

In a Nut Shell

I am not sure if everyone who reads this will know what the term “in a nut shell means”.  Simply put, it is everything condensed completely to fit in a nut shell, like all the goodness of a nut is within. 

As I have been thinking about the subject of keeping it simple, I have found that is not always easy.  Christianity today has become so complex.  There is so much diversity in doctrines and faith, how can one know the truth in today’s Christian world.  Christians make up 1/3 of today’s population and within that there are hundreds of different beliefs and doctrines. They all claim to have the truth and often willing to fight to protect what they perceive to be truth. 

Like I asked in my last blog, how has this helped us grow, or how has today’s messages helped us through life.  We have everything from strict legalism to quick positive feel good messages.  Yet so called Christians still struggle with life.  They are still divorcing at a higher rate than the rest of the world; they commit murders, steal, lie, struggling with addictions, and are sitting in church pews under the influence of prescribed drugs to keep them from going crazy.  Is this what Jesus’ message, life, death, and resurrection was meant to produce, or is there something better?

Today we have more Bibles produced and in homes than ever.  There are more books written for Christians, than any other group of people.  Books are written on about every subject one can imagine. Yet there is less unity and victory in today’s Christians than ever in history, statistics prove this out.  We are told there are certain things God does not do anymore because we have a complete Bible, yet there is less today that believe in what it says.

Let’s look at one fact here.  The church in the first several centuries did not have a Bible.  Many of the gentile groups most likely did not even have any written Hebrew scrolls.  The churches that Paul wrote to had only the letter that was written to them, and did not have any of the others to compare what Paul was saying. Yet in all this there was growth and strong adherence to the gospel message of Jesus the Christ and his coming kingdom.  It has been the growth of religious minds and writings that have complicated the message of Jesus.

I do believe the Bible we have today is complete and the spoken word of God in written word.  In it we can find truth and get to know Him who is our God, and His son Jesus.  We have to be willing to read it on a regular basis with a passion to find God, Jesus and their message to us.  We have to be willing to cast off traditions that cloud the message and ask those questions of scriptures that seem to go against what we have believed, or been handed down to us.  Most of all we need to continually seek the Father in prayer for His spirit to work within us and for Him to speak to us.  There has to be a balance of both.

I had a mother who I know was a praying woman.  As a child, I remember many a late night seeing her on her knees praying at the sofa.  Yet there were many of things that she missed in the word of God.  Some of the main ones I knew about were such as forgiveness and grace. I know she read her Bible on a regular basis but, she also lived strongly by the emotional spiritual part. This was out of balance.  She judged others that did not live up to her standards of what she believed the Bible to say.  I have been asked many a time about how I was raised and I would joke and say “if it was fun it was sin”. 

The Bible is what the Psalmist says in (Psa 119:105 NKJV) Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Then there must be a spirit filled life that gives understanding to what God is saying.  That comes through a relationship with the Father and His son Jesus.  That is a life of prayer and submission to His leading.  I take to heart the words in Romans eight that through the spirit I can call him Abba.  Today when I pray I like to just call him Dad or Daddy, and I feel this is relational not disrespectful.  You can use your religious terms if you want, but to me it is personal, He is my Daddy.  

(2 Cor 3:4-8 NIV)  Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. {5} Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. {6} He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. {7} Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, {8} will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

I realize I am nobody in this big world.  I have not been educated in any Christian Schools.  I am not a Bible scholar or have any degree.  I did not find this faith I now have following the traditions of men. As a young man I fell madly in love with the gospel message and started out on a journey to find who I was according to God.  I did not find my answers in men or just by reading the Bible.  Because of how I was raised the scriptures were skewed to me, so for a long time I never read it completely.  Yet my heart hungered for God and to know Him more.  I had to be willing to change, biblically this is called repentance.  For a long time I was lead by emotion and that would often fail me. It was when I began to balance my life with prayer and Bible reading with new hunger, being lead by the spirit and allowing God to speak to me.  I began to see truths that was there all along, but obscured by religious teachings.  So let me share some thought and scripture and try to sum up a Readers Digest form of what I have come to believe.

First, I truly feel we need to know the Father, and His son Jesus, to know who we are and how to live a life for him.  It has been my passion for God that has been my victory in this life.  Looking back it has been the very factor that helped me make choices that kept me from disasters in my life.  Religion has taught us that it is the church we need to live in victory, but history can show that has been a complete failure.  We have thousands of churches today; still they are filled with people who cannot live in victory.  Religion has produced thousands of writings telling us what the Bible says and how we should live yet we are still struggling.  We need to turn back to God and with passion follow His teachings and His son Jesus.

(Phil 2:12-16 NKJV)  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; {13} for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. {14} Do all things without complaining and disputing, {15} that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, {16} holding fast the word of life,(this was not the Bible) so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

We need to workout our own relationship with Him and follow the message of Jesus.  What did Jesus say and how did he live before his father?  There are many who have miss read the first part of this scripture but let’s read what it says.

(Phil 2:5-11 NKJV)  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, {6} who, being in the form (image) of God, did not(would not consider equality with God)consider it robbery to be equal with God, {7} but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. {8} And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. {9} Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, {10} that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, {11} and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (emphasis mine)

Jesus was a man, (1 Tim 2:5 NIV) For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,) God has exalted him to a higher position and He will return to rule as king.  This is the man we need to follow and this is exactly what Paul was telling us.  So we need to be like Jesus in our thinking and lifestyle walking in a way that serves God and pleases Him.  You do this and you will need no one to judge you in life.

The kingdom of God is yet to come and it will arrive at the appearing of Jesus to rule.  Until then God is at work in us to produce His will in us to bring us to His desired completion.  (Phil 1:6 NIV)  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Through the spirit (the manifest power of God in us) we have what it takes to follow Jesus and live a life of victory knowing who we are and to whom we belong.

(Col 4:12 b NIV) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.  You see God wants you to be confident in truth, knowing who you are and that you can live a life of freedom. The Gospel message can set you free and give hope that will not disappoint. Religion and a wrong understanding of God’s word only produce bondage. When you put you trust solely in man and man made systems you can never grow past the limits they put on you.  If you completely cast your life on Jesus and the work of the new covenant, he will equip you with the ability to live it.  (Heb 13:20-21 NIV)  May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, {21} equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

God does have a purpose for us in this life and the Kingdom to come.  We have to develop a passion for Him and for His desire to be done in us.  Jesus laid this out in the model prayer for the disciples.  Then Paul tells the churches he writes to that they can have confidence in knowing who they are and what God’s purpose for them is. That in this life we do have struggles and pains.  There are defeats and failures, we do make mistakes and wrong choices, but God does not throw us out because we do.  We are His sons (this is not a gender statement) through Jesus and grace is at work in us.  We must have a made up mind to serve God with all that is in us. Make it our life plan to follow Jesus, refusing to give up until we see the kingdom of God fulfilled in or life time or in the resurrection. 

(James 1:2-4 NASB)  Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, {3} knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. {4} And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

(Rom 8:28-31 NASB)  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. {29} For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; {30} and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. {31} What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

(Eph 3:11-21 NASB)  This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, {12} in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. {13} Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory. {14} For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, {15} from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, {16} that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; {17} so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, {18} may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, {19} and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God. {20} Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, {21} to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

(2 Tim 1:9-10 NASB)  who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, {10} but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

I will have to continue this next time.  I will sum up this topic with the simple message of Jesus and the coming Kingdom of God in a nut shell.  Over the years we have made the Christian life so complicated, yet Jesus said it was simple so anyone could do it.  God does want us to know him and His son Jesus.  In Jesus we have life and it more abundant (John 10.10).  Taking the words of Jesus let’s find balance in our walk with Dad, let’s not over analyze it or complicate it. 

 (John 14:23-24 NIV)  Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. {24} He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

Do You Love Him?

Keeping it Simple

Have you ever heard the Word of God preached and wondered how it would apply to you or even help you in the situation you are currently in?   To be honest with you I have many of times.  In churches, fellowships, conferences, there often seems to be the need to over explain things or speak things that really does not help us achieve the spiritual growth we need.  Then in today’s trending church truth seems to be lost and when everything is settled nothing really was said.  The good news message has been reduced to a few sound bites, and messages are feel good instructions in life.  We’re all OK by God’s grace kind of thing.  I often wonder what these churches may look like in another ten years or so.

On the other hand there are still those stringent legalistic groups that make serving God so hard that often many struggle to live it.  There are messages and teachings that may in all rights be truth but fail in love and grace.  I have heard teaching that was full of wisdom and knowledge, but lacked passion, and emotion.  I have been around ministers that know the Word of God inside and out, quote it better than most.  They understand Greek and Hebrew yet; do not know how to relate it to the normal person who just needs answers for life’s problems, and to know that God does care about them.

This is my thought this week and has been a part my continued journey in truth.  Balance is the word I guess I am looking for.  Maybe another word can be moderation.  Like a road with a ditch on either side one must navigate down that road to keep out of the ditch.  It may not be the focus when one drives down that road, but is a reality if one does not maintain control.  Then, when one loses control and starts heading for one ditch they over compensate and end up in the ditch on the other side.

I grew up in church and have been active in ministry for thirty five plus years.  I have experienced a lot and hopefully learned a lot.  I grew up in one form or another of Pentecost and seen a lot in my time.  Over the years I have come to the place of knowing that I was wrong on some things and right on others.  I have found some truths by just taking the Bible and believing in what I had read.  Other times I have had some great people impart truth to me.  In all I have had to be willing to change and allow God to do a work in me.

If I have learned anything, it is that God did not call me to change anyone.  I have not been given a mandate from God to move people to my way of thinking.  There is only one person I can change and that is me.  I am a lot freer now than ever since I have learned that.  The other thing after years of being a pastor was my preaching in a service changed very little, if it did not speak to the hearer and their need.  I knew I was called by God to ministry, but like those who I came up under I knew little of grace, compassion and how to relate to those in need.    

I knew how to conduct a service, lead worship, prepare a message, even knew how to emotionally motivate the congregation.  I have seen God at work in the lives of others, and seen the manifestations of God’s spirit.  I have seen it abused and used for man’s gain, and seen the results that one sided spiritual movements produced. Yet, in all that I am not ready to throw all that I have seen and known out just because of some misuses.  For I have seen the power of God at work in me as well as others.

History has been a good teacher in letting us know that when man takes control it usually gets messed up.  Christianity has taken a simple message of truth and messed it up so much that most people can’t understand it.  It has become a truth and message that only a few are capable to understand and the rest have to rely on them to be able to serve God and get truth.  Churches are filled with people who are depending on a man to present truth to them never seeking God or His Word for themselves. Now, there are still some great teachers that will teach to our hearts with love.

(Eph 4:14-15 NIV)  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. {15} Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

I am not a Bible scholar, and claim no special wisdom or teaching.  What I have has come through experience, Bible reading, prayer, and a passion for Father, God.  So I guess what I am trying to say that no matter what camp you are in and come from if we are not careful you can over analyze, and complicate the simple message of God through Jesus His son.  While we debate over certain truths thousands of people have no clue who God truly is and how His message can bring peace to their troubled lives.  

Today, there are so many who need answers and help in living in this world.  We have made the Word of God strangling, and hard.  There are those who because of abuses reject the manifestations of God’s power.  There are teachers who have in depth understanding of God’s Word, yet reject emotions, manifestations, or any such things.  So, let’s see what we can find in the Word.

 (1 Cor 2:4-5 NIV)  My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, {5} so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. (1 Cor 2:13 NIV)  This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

I feel here Paul is making it very clear he was not relying on his own knowledge, (which we know by his own words Paul was well educated) but the power and manifestations of God.  Today there seems to be this ideal since we have a completed Bible there is no longer a need for a demonstration of God’s power.  Where do we find that in the Bible?  Didn’t Jesus himself tell us   “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; {18} they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (Mark 16:17-18 NIV)

Now I am not saying let’s start handling snakes, but like Paul when shipwrecked was bitten when handling fire wood was protected by God.  When he did not die, opportunity was given to share the gospel.  I do still believe God has not stopped working in those who will believe.  Just because we have the Bible, God has not stopped talking to us, if we will listen.  He now is working through us by His son Jesus (Heb.1.2).   I know I have had God speak to me many a time and work his power through me.  To some that may be crazy, but I know it was Him and it could always be confirmed by His Word.   God is still God and just because we have the Bible, that does not mean He has stopped speaking and working mightily through His people.

(Rom 1:16-17 NIV)  I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. {17} For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

(Rom 15:19 NIV)  by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

(1 Th 1:5 NIV)  because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.

Paul’s proclamation of the simple Gospel message was able touch the lives of those who not only heard but experienced God’s power.  I feel the full message of Jesus, the coming kingdom and taking of the seed of God’s word, really can speak to us in simple terms and to help us wherever we are in life.  

(2 Cor 4:1-7 NIV)  Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. {2} Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. {3} And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. {4} The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. {5} For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. {6} For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. {7} But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

God does want all to come to the knowledge of truth.  Maybe more can be done through demonstrations of fruitful godly lives than just educated teachings alone.  People need to see how God can work through plain ordinary lives, which struggle as well as any other person, but are able to be fruitful and live holy before God.  We do have the treasure at work in us to live a life onto God and before others

(1 Tim 2:1-7 NIV)  I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- {2} for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. {3} This is good, and pleases God our Savior, {4} who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. {5} For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, {6} who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time. {7} And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.

In a wrap up for this week, but not an end of thought let us seek God with all that is in us.  Take the time to search your own heart.  Are you willing to let God make some changes in you?  Are you hiding behind your own doctrines?  How has God been talking to you?  Is your life a demonstration of God’s power and love?  Have we made the gospel, and grace too complicated for many?  Give me your feed back on this subject.