Luke 11:5-8; 18:1-8
Luke 11:8 "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs". As I understand it, this portion of scripture separates between the relationship we have with God as Christians and those who, in their fellowship and intimacy with Him, continue to come to Him for who He is, for He is the bread of life(John 6:48) and the bread that came down from heaven (John 6:41).
Luke 18:5-8 "yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her lest by her continual coming she weary me". Jesus then advises us to "hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes will He really find faith on the earth?"
We should not be content with just a distant relationship with God (I say this to those who have been justified by the Blood of Jesus Christ). We must understand that "continual coming" to God through church fellowship, bible study and prayer will be met with all the bread of life that you need- Jesus Himself.
Some time ago, I felt the Lord put this message into prayer-form as a blessing for me to confess. "If you will continue to come and cry out to Me for Me day and night even though I bear long with you, I will give you all the bread of life that you need (all of Him that you need which is more than enough) and avenge you for My righteous cause". This would be a good confession for any Christian.
The final sentence asks how much faith Jesus will find when He comes. How many will He find who are willing to continue to come, to cry out to Him for Him even though He bears long with them in what He said He would do for those who diligently seek Him!
If you would like to discuss this or any previous messages, please feel free to call me, George Harlow. (609)312-1178
Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
The Old Wine is Better?
Luke 5:36-39
"Then He spoke a parable to them: 'No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise THE NEW MAKES A TEAR, and also the piece that was taken out OF THE NEW does not match the old.
"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else THE NEW WINE WILL BURST THE WINESKINS AND BE RUINED. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new, for he says, 'The old is better'."
What is the significance of new garments and wine? I would say that the new garments and wine are meant to replace what is old. Jesus instructs that new wine must be put into new wineskins; new wine into old wineskins will cause the old wineskins to burst and the new wine will be wasted. I would say Jesus is first informing those of the day that they should not attempt to receive the new, in fact they cannot receive the new victoriously without making room in their hearts to be a new creation. The revelation to man that he must be "born again" is not the last revelation he/she will receive, is it? I thank God He has continued to reveal Himself/His will to me since I received the Lord's salvation! Each time He speaks by His word we must be willing to "make room for the new", otherwise what He is attempting to reveal will be lost.
Assuredly, there were those who said to themselves regarding Jesus' ministry and the impending new testament: "the old is good". We must be aware that we who have received His salvation can put ourselves in the same position, saying: "what I have learned from Him to this point is enough", especially if we have heard the same teaching on a given subject for a while. What you have heard about/from Him to this point will not be "good or enough" if He has more to reveal to you so that you may be made to walk just as He walked!
"Then He spoke a parable to them: 'No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise THE NEW MAKES A TEAR, and also the piece that was taken out OF THE NEW does not match the old.
"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else THE NEW WINE WILL BURST THE WINESKINS AND BE RUINED. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new, for he says, 'The old is better'."
What is the significance of new garments and wine? I would say that the new garments and wine are meant to replace what is old. Jesus instructs that new wine must be put into new wineskins; new wine into old wineskins will cause the old wineskins to burst and the new wine will be wasted. I would say Jesus is first informing those of the day that they should not attempt to receive the new, in fact they cannot receive the new victoriously without making room in their hearts to be a new creation. The revelation to man that he must be "born again" is not the last revelation he/she will receive, is it? I thank God He has continued to reveal Himself/His will to me since I received the Lord's salvation! Each time He speaks by His word we must be willing to "make room for the new", otherwise what He is attempting to reveal will be lost.
Assuredly, there were those who said to themselves regarding Jesus' ministry and the impending new testament: "the old is good". We must be aware that we who have received His salvation can put ourselves in the same position, saying: "what I have learned from Him to this point is enough", especially if we have heard the same teaching on a given subject for a while. What you have heard about/from Him to this point will not be "good or enough" if He has more to reveal to you so that you may be made to walk just as He walked!
Sunday, April 8, 2012
The Power of His Resurrection
On a Sunday in April, Christians formally celebrate the biblical depiction of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
On Easter Sunday 2007, I was at a sunrise worship service when I received a word from the Lord, saying: "I(Jesus) suffered, I died, I was buried; on the third day I rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures". We know that Jesus presented Himself to the disciples after His resurrection (John 20,21). Instantly after the word from the Lord, He reminded me of Ephesians 1:19-23 which reads, "and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us WHO BELIEVE, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the DEAD and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power, might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come, and He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." What the Father did for Jesus, He wants to do for us.
Hebrews 9:16, 17 reads "For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator (Jesus). For a testament IS IN FORCE after MEN ARE DEAD since it has no power at all while the testator lives." Men are dead or this Man is dead? Certainly the Jesus is the Testator. Why does the Word clearly read MEN? The New Testament is not in force (in essense, walking just as Jesus walked) unless men are dead. Physically dead? No. Dead to what? Ask Him! He will be glad you did. He knows exactly what is in your way and is keeping you from experiencing the full force of His New Testament! He wants to fill all in all! He will resurrect all who will lay down there lives for the one He has in mind!
On Easter Sunday 2007, I was at a sunrise worship service when I received a word from the Lord, saying: "I(Jesus) suffered, I died, I was buried; on the third day I rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures". We know that Jesus presented Himself to the disciples after His resurrection (John 20,21). Instantly after the word from the Lord, He reminded me of Ephesians 1:19-23 which reads, "and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us WHO BELIEVE, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the DEAD and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power, might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come, and He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." What the Father did for Jesus, He wants to do for us.
Hebrews 9:16, 17 reads "For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator (Jesus). For a testament IS IN FORCE after MEN ARE DEAD since it has no power at all while the testator lives." Men are dead or this Man is dead? Certainly the Jesus is the Testator. Why does the Word clearly read MEN? The New Testament is not in force (in essense, walking just as Jesus walked) unless men are dead. Physically dead? No. Dead to what? Ask Him! He will be glad you did. He knows exactly what is in your way and is keeping you from experiencing the full force of His New Testament! He wants to fill all in all! He will resurrect all who will lay down there lives for the one He has in mind!
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