Entering The Sheepfold By The Door

 John 10:1-7

 

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. BUT HE WHO ENTERS BY THE DOOR IS THE SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them again, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.' "


Is Jesus both the door and the shepherd in this context? In the previous chapter, we see what a sinful response Israel's current shepherds presented to Jesus' healing a blind man on the Sabbath. It is my understanding that Jesus was rebuking their shepherding and giving criteria to those He would be calling to shepherd the sheep. "For many are called, but few chosen." (Matthew 20:16) A "called one" becomes a "chosen one" by pointing his/her compass directly at Jesus Christ. Seek Him. Knock on His door. Ask of Him. There is much to learn to become a chosen one as Jesus doesn't send out novices. "Not a novice (new convert), lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil." (1 Timothy 3:6)  Based upon a review of things, novices are not just new converts but converts who will not allow the chastening of the Lord in their hearts. They are immature. They are not receiving help nor are they are in a position to help others past where they have been helped. They are trying to enter the sheepfold apart from the door whether they know it or not. The door is with Him, through Him and in Him and includes His transformation of who you are: your soul. "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things, and be in health just as YOUR SOUL PROSPERS (3 John 2).

There is a reason Jesus says to the messenger of the church at Laodicea, "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire(the place in our development where the impurities are separated from purity) that you may be rich (in Christ) (Revelation 3:18)...It is because we need it!

Whether you are called to the ministry or serving in His kingdom in some other capacity, don't try to climb up some other way! Point your compass squarely at Him. He is faithful who promises!

The Affordable Care Act: What Did Jesus Do?

Matthew 17:24-27

The Affordable Care Act was passed into law in 2010. The law changes the options by which a health care plan is purchased. The United States government offers options, and private insurers are allowed to compete in that marketplace. Significant to this discussion is the fact that you MUST either purchase insurance coverage OR pay a penalty, or tax, for choosing not. After the legislation was signed by President Obama, there began a legal case to determine whether the law paralleled the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court affirmed it. It is the law of the land. The implementation has begun.


The U.S. government has always had the authority to increase taxes. This is the first time the citizens of this country have been REQUIRED to buy something that, previously, they had the choice not to.


"When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, 'Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?' He said, 'Yes'. And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, 'What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take custom or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?' Peter said to Him, 'From strangers.' Jesus said to him, 'Then the sons are free. NEVERTHELESS, LEST WE OFFEND THEM, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.' "


"Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Pay therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Matthew 22:17, 21


God has called us to be a testimony of Him in Christ Jesus toward men. Jesus was focused on the testimony of the Son of God paying what the kings of the earth had required. So should the sons of God be! We see how difficult it was for the Son of God to create a piece of money to pay the tax. He will make a way for us to obey this law according to His wise direction. Whether we agree with the reasoning behind this law or not, submission does not begin until we disagree. We want all men to understand that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. When we order our steps with His, they will have that opportunity!  

For This Reason, I Bow My Knee

Ephesians 3:13-21

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant to you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

I am able to understand that the Father would want us strengthened with might in the inner man; Christ dwelling in our hearts through faith; comprehending the entirety of His love. What does Paul's bowing of knee to the Father have to do with it?

"I now rejoice in my sufferings for you; and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body which is the church."  Colossians 1:24

Paul's bowing of knee to the Father- rejoicing in his suffering for us, was necessary so that the words of truth the disciples exhorted with did not become a lecture series, but instead alive for men to see. I mentioned in a prior posting that Paul might have been a type of first fruits of those who would walk just as Jesus walked. Paul lived these Spirit-inspired words before men. There must be men who live these words today for the sake of others. When you see a christian rejoicing in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; laying down his life for his friend; he, as Paul in Christ, is doing it for you.


"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God." Romans 8:18,19

Know The Time Of His Visitation (Luke 19:41-44; John 4:4, 21, 42)

 "Now as He drew near, He saw the city (Jerusalem) and wept over it, saying, 'If you had KNOWN, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, BECAUSE YOU DID NOT KNOW THE TIME OF YOUR VISITATION.' "

"If you KNEW the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water."

Jesus Christ presented Himself to Israel and to the Samaritan woman; to the Jews and to Gentiles. In both of these cases, His visitation was not received. We know Israel's religious leaders gave much thought of how they might destroy Him instead of receiving their Messiah as Lord. The Samaritan woman, having a personal meeting with Jesus, informed Him of what she knew as He was trying to minister living water to her. In fact, Jesus said, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father" for "you worship what You do not know......". Doesn't sound good. Even after Jesus prophesies of her sin, the best she can do is, "Could this be the Christ?" Interestingly, many of her fellow Samaritans believed, AND SAID, "we ourselves have heard Him AND WE KNOW that this indeed is the Christ, the Savior of the world".

Again, Jesus ministered in physical, bodily form prior to His crucifixion; but now by the Holy Spirit, upon the Word of God and by His laborers. His VISITATION continues as we hear and willingly respond to what we hear.

"To those who have, more will be given and they will have in abundance!" I pray that each of us recognize and receive His VISITATION.

Less Than The Least (Ephesians 3:8-11)

 

"To me, who am LESS THAN THE LEAST of all the saints, this grace was given; that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, AND to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ, to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,......"


Let's first discuss Paul's self-description that he is "less than the least of all saints".  How could that be an accurate evaluation if our Lord chose him to write a large portion of the New Testament? Paul informs us that he was behind no other apostle in exploits for the Lord's kingdom; in fact, more fruitful. What could he possibly mean? Was he exaggerating or exhibiting false humility? In Galatians 2:20, Paul informs us that he "has been crucified with Christ; it is no longer (he) who lives but Christ lives in him." Could he mean that the "I" or "me" in him (Paul) is less than in any other saint?  He is no longer governed by "himself" but by Christ Jesus; that Christ has come to abide in him; that he has become complete in Him; that which is perfect or mature has come to/for him? In Luke 14:33, Jesus teaches "whoever does not forsake ALL that he has cannot be My disciple."


Now, lets look at what "less than the least" produced for Paul. Because he forsook all that he had, God's grace was given to: preach the unsearchable riches of Christ; to make all see (by his words and deeds) what is the fellowship of the mystery which is hidden in God so that manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church according to His eternal purpose. Lets ask this question: what kept the the "mystery and manifold wisdom" from being revealed, aside from what the Father revealed through Jesus Christ, by the other disciples?  Could it be that Paul emptied or surrendered himself to a place no other had to that point? It is available for all in Christ to understand and demonstrate these "unsearchable riches" and "fellowship in the hidden mysteries in God." But, why are these truths hidden? For the same reason you don't share your deepest feelings with just anybody: the relationship is not intimate enough.


Could it be that Paul emptied or surrendered himself to a place no other disciple had to that point; a kind of first fruits of those who would walk just as Jesus walked?

Receive, Keep Receiving (Luke 18:15-17)

"Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.' "

Was Jesus saying that only little children could enter the kingdom the kingdom of God, or was He telling us that we should receive God's kingdom as little children receive things? Little children listen intently to those around them, often recanting what someone had told them when THEY ASKED A QUESTION. Because they were interested in a particular topic, they asked, and when they asked they received an answer. The validity of that answer may be called into question and refuted later by more correct information, but, inquisitiveness was met with information. Although we have experienced the imperfection of that process with men, it is not so with God.

"....how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13)

Those in Him must continue to receive Him in that manner: as little children receive information from those around them. Good ground receives seed and produces; some 30 fold, some 60 and some 100 fold. Good ground is synonymous with receiving His inspiration and every intent to make it a part of our lives! Remember, to those who have(what He imparts) more will be given and that one will have in abundance! An abundance of Our Exceeding Great Reward!

Submitting To One Another In The Fear of God (Ephesians 5:21)

 

Whether husbands or wives, parents or children, brothers and sisters in Christ or simply fellow human beings, God calls us to submit to one another in the fear of God. How do we do that in the apparently complicated realm of relationship?

First thing, we NEVER submit to anyone who promotes us to sin: activity which falls short of what we know of God through the scripture. If a person were to tell you to blaspheme the Holy Spirit or "curse God and die" as was Job's wife's exhortation during his trial, we Christians would shudder. Some sinful promotions are not as clear, but you get the point.

As a husband, how do I accomplish the following admonishment: "For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; BUT ALL THINGS ARE FROM GOD." (1 Corinthians 11:12)?  This means that we BOTH have to answer to the Most High! As a man and a husband I have a Lord and Master: God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ok, still explaining how I should submit to my wife (and we to one another). God has called women to do certain things. In Titus 2:5, He calls women to be homemakers. In that arena, I should submit to my wife, because God has not called me to a homemaker. So, as my wife submits her ideas regarding that command of God, I must be willing to submit unless her idea breaches the higher calling of the Word of God: like borrowing money. If my wife wants a particular theme in her decorating, I should be willing to agree; wants to fix a particular type of meal, I don't come in and change it because it may not be my fancy for that day. The same goes for interactions in other types of relationships: we should be willing to yield as long as yielding isn't sinful.

But, most importantly, we should be watchful that we don't frustrate another's faith in God. God gives each one a measure of faith and builds on it as we receive His inspiration. Another's revelation may not sound right to you, and in some cases, cause you some extra work or bother, but just as Jesus is endeavoring to build a spiritual house within you for His dwelling, so is He within others. We can assist Him as we yield to their revelations, inspired or not. As we love others the way He loves us through forbearance, we are helping them to see clearer. It's amazing how His love according to His Word ministers to His creation!