"No...But I did Stay at a Holiday Inn Last Night"

Many remember this commercial for Holiday Inn. The setting begins with some sort of dilemma, followed by an individual entering the picture to stabilize the situation. 

I remember the spot where a bicyclist had fallen and was injured. A man enters the scene and begins to treat the cyclist's injury, prompting the the cyclist to ask, "Are you a doctor?". The man assured the cyclist, "No.....but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night." A witty commercial yet PRACTICALLY IRRESPONSIBLE FOR REAL INJURIES.

Do you speak with tongues of men AND OF ANGELS as Paul did? (1 Corinthians 13:1)

Are you one of the "all" Paul wishes "spoke with tongues"? (of angels; for we all speak with tongues of men) (1 Corinthians 14:5). Do you think Paul is wishing something for you that shouldn't happen?

"Therefore brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues (of angels).  (Corinthians 14:39)

It should be difficult for the believer to read these words (1 Corinthians, chapters 12-14) and it not stimulate a question regarding the "tongues of angels". When one asks, "Have you spoken in the tongues Paul preaches?  If their response is "No.....But", you should understand that they are not in a position to help you with the subject, ALTHOUGH THEY WILL INEVITABLY TRY!

The knowledge to assist in the Holiday Inn commercial WAS NOT ACTUAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. Assistance with regard to the "tongues of angels" comes directly from those who have ACTUALLY experienced this blessing from God, in the name of Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit. 

They Followed and Became Examples to All

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

"Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ:  Grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you BECAME FOLLOWERS OF US AND OF THE LORD, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you BECAME EXAMPLES to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."

 "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest(plain) evidence of the righteous judgement of God, that you be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which you also suffer;....."  (2 Thessalonians 1:3-5)

Paul informed the Philippian church that he was counting the pillars or idols in his life "loss" or "rubbish" for "the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord.........so that he may gain Christ"......"that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead". (Philippians 3:8-11)

The church of the Thessalonians were in active agreement with Paul, Silvanus and Timothy and their faith in Jesus Christ!

If We Have Forgotten, We Should Do Well In The Remembrance!

"For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have FORGOTTEN the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

'My son, do not despise the chastening (discipline) of the Lord; nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges EVERY son whom He receives' (Hebrews 12:3-6)

People sympathetic/devoted to salvation to God through faith in Jesus Christ will honor, in one way or another, this blessed event: the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The New Testament was not in force until Jesus Christ died ('for a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives')  (Hebrews 9:17).

Let us consider how we choose to honor God, in the name of the Son, who sits at His right hand. Our way should endeavor to "know what is the hope of His (Jesus') calling"! (Ephesians 1:18)

Are You In Bethany, Or Jerusalem?

Mark 11:1-19; Matthew 23:37-39

"Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and BETHANY, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, 'Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, "Why are you doing this?" say, 'The Lord has need of it', and immediately he will send it here." So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?" And THEY SPOKE TO THEM JUST AS JESUS HAD COMMANDED. So they let them go. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

'Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes! Hosanna in the highest!' 

And Jesus went into JERUSALEM, and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to BETHANY with the twelve. Now the next day, when they had come out of BETHANY, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, 'Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.' And His disciples heard it. So they came to JERUSALEM........"; where He attempted to right what was wrong in the temple. The scribes and the chief priests, overseers of the temple activities "sought how they might destroy Him". After that, He went out of the city. He went back to Bethany (I feel as if I could say).

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' "(Matthew 23:37-39)

Bethany was a place of refuge for Jesus. He spoke; His disciples spoke (what He had commanded); and the people there received His words. Jerusalem was no refuge for Him. They would not receive His words.

He is Head over ALL THINGS To The Church

Ephesians 1:20-23, 3:14-19, 2 Corinthians 4:15-17, Romans 8:28

......."He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only 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 (that are in His body) in ALL (things)."

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth has been named, that He would grant 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." 

"For ALL THINGS are for your sakes, that grace having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, IS WORKING for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory......."

"And we know that ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Jesus Christ is Head over ALL THINGS to the church. He is One with the Father. He is Faithful and True. His purpose: that those who have/are following Him realize with confidence what His calling is! Content to persevere in it for a good testimony before Himself and the Father, and mankind!

Escaping the Leaven of this Pharisee

 

I Corinthians 5:6-8

It is possible for even us (the church) to have the religion of Caiaphas: the high priest most prominent in putting Jesus Christ to death; but let your faith be that which comes forth from Me and you will escape the leaven of this Pharisee.

"Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore, purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump. since you truly are unleavened. For indeed, Christ our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

Leaven could be better understood as the soulish equivalent of yeast: that which causes our bread to APPEAR larger and BE puffier yet less dense. The leaven of the Pharisee could be the unwillingness (in fact, the REFUSAL) to receive Jesus Christ when He came and as He comes! Caiaphas was High Priest of Israel. When Jesus Christ (The Living Word of God) came, Caiaphas glorified himself above Jesus Christ, responding to Him with malice and wickedness.

The ministry of Jesus Christ, Head of all things to the church, now comes by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit making what is written(logos) alive (rhema). We must not glorify ourselves in what we think we know but be willing to receive Him as He comes, as He is able to subdue all things to Himself!

"Let No One Eat Fruit From You Ever Again"

 

Mark 11:11-14; 20,21

"And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had LOOKED AROUND AT ALL THINGS, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, 'Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.' And His disciples heard it."
(Read what Jesus did when He came to the temple after having seen what was ABSENT from the "house of prayer" in v.15-19.)

"Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed HAS WITHERED AWAY'."

The fig tree is somehow a depiction of Israel. I'm sure a Jewish historian could explain the significance. It appears Jesus uses the fig tree, the fruitlessness of that particular tree at that time of year, as an example of Israel's spiritual state. It could be that the fig tree represents the way for spiritual growth of that people under the five books of the Law, of which Paul writes, "the curse of the Law is that it was weak through the flesh".

Weak, it was, relative to the new and living way!

Jesus said, "I am the true vine (not the fig tree), and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes, that it may bear more fruit". "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you BEAR MUCH FRUIT, so you will BE MY DISCIPLES."(John 15:1,2; 7,8)

The fig tree is not mentioned in this context from that point forward. The True Vine had come for fruitfulness!