The Whole Family

"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 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." (Ephesians 3:14-19)

whole- comprising the full quantity or amount; entire or total; complete; undivided; not fractional; not broken, damaged or impaired(part of definition found in Webster's College Dictionary)

"And He (the Father) put all things under His (Jesus Christ's) 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." (Ephesians 1:22,23)

Make no mistake, His body, the church, is whole or becoming so. They are keeping His command to persevere. They are, or are becoming undivided within, pertaining to soul and spirit. They understand that His words, His commandments from the Father and His grace pertain to them under the lordship of He who finished the course.

"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth." (Revelation 3:10)

These are the WHOLE family; entire and complete in Him.

Whatever We Ask We Receive

"And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment." (1 John 3:22,23)

"You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend on your pleasures. Adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?" (James 4:3,4)

His commandment from the Father was to suffer unto death for His disciples so His disciples could do likewise for men; so men could do likewise for others. Without the cross of Jesus Christ, there would be no propitiation (appeasement) for the sins of mankind. How could we have received the opportunity to become one with the Father and the Son, who are One, unless Jesus first show His disciples the way?

"In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother." (1 John 3:10)

"In this the love of God was manifested toward us (John and those who witnessed it), that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. (1 John 4:9)

Jesus Christ directs the practice of righteousness toward God. He completed it and men saw it! When I played basketball, practice was a requirement. I had to go and didn't really mind it, but the coach directed it. If I had been directing it, the practices would have been shorter and, as a result, less effective for the players/team. I was good enough to play yet too immature to "direct practice".


.."that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full."(1 John 1:3,4) Amen.


"And we have seen and testify(not just in words, but deeds) that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world."(1 John 4:14)


"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."(1 John 3:16) How do we do that? The Lamb of God will show us!


What about the initial two verses? "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."(1 John 5:14,15) If we ask the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Father has made head over all things to the church, that He make His commandments, His words, His grace evident so we can follow His disciples, He will give us the desire of our heart: His calling and His inheritance.

Do You Know All Things?

"Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and YOU KNOW ALL THINGS. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us- eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you 

CONCERNING ALL THINGS, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him." (1 John 2:18-27)

"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, AND KNOWS ALL THINGS." (1 John 3:18-20) God knows what "all things" are!

Now we know that "all things" were made available to these "little children" from the beginning. John teaches that, with this truth, they can assure their hearts before God, setting their hearts at rest. Most of us have experienced that assuredness in Christ and the condemnation when we fall in various trials.

"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. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to (all) these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us (His body) ALL THINGS?"(Romans 8:28-32)

If you read to the end of the chapter you have the opportunity to receive an understanding, with the anointing from the Holy One which brings joy. All (these) things are for your sake, and others.

Keeping His Commandments

"And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. NOW HE WHO KEEPS HIS COMMANDMENTS ABIDES IN HIM, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us." (1 John 3:23,24)

"looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

"though He was a Son, He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been PERFECTED (becoming mature and complete toward His Father in righteousness), He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." (Hebrews 5:8,9)

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)

Isaiah prophesied of Jesus: "He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth."(Isaiah 53:9)

Can FAITH in Jesus Christ (the revelation of Him) WITHOUT THE WORKS that perfected Him to become the author of eternal salvation, save us to the uttermost? For "He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God THROUGH Him! (Hebrews 7:25)

Keeping His commands from the Father results in a soul that "cannot sin" (1 John 3:9) because that soul is "practicing righteousness" (1 John 3:7) by "abiding in Him"(1 John 3:6). 

Glory to God in the name of the Son!

Give The Body What It Needs (James 2:14-3:1

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled', BUT YOU DO NOT GIVE THEM THE THINGS WHICH ARE NEEDED FOR THE BODY, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."


"But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe- and tremble! But DO YOU WANT TO KNOW, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' And he was called the friend of God."


"You see then that a man is JUSTIFIED BY WORKS, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgement."


But, what about those verses in Ephesians that say "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we(Paul and all those who follow his gospel) are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them(2:8-10).


So, not of your faith and works, but faith and works in Him. Faith and works in Christ Jesus. Recently, the State of New York has decided to give tuition to residents at public colleges. It is a free gift; certainly a savings to those who would be paying for it! What they are not giving away is the available degrees. The student will have to work for those! I seem to be hearing regularly the "not of works" teaching. It seems like that is sending the naked and hungry away with good intentions. Teachers! Give them the things needed for the body of Christ to walk just as He walked!

Looking For and Hastening (To) 2 Peter 3:10-18

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, LOOKING FOR AND HASTENING the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." 

 

"Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; AND CONSIDER THAT THE LONGSUFFERING OF OUR LORD IS SALVATION - as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, BEWARE LEST YOU ALSO FALL FROM YOUR OWN STEADFASTNESS, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." 

 

Peter mentions that Paul speaks of these things in his epistles and that some things are HARD to understand, yet clearly not impossible. In the gospel of John, Jesus teaches His followers that "he who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me and I in him" (John 6:56). "Many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, 'This is a HARD saying; who can understand it?' "(v.60) "From that time many of His disciples went back and followed Him no more." (v.66) 

 

Yet Peter said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (v.68) Not too HARD for him to understand! We know that Peter was yet to fall into a trial in denying Christ at the cross. Even in that, what the Father had revealed to Peter was enough to bring him to repentance. So, we of these latter days should follow our brethren, remaining steadfast in the longsuffering of the Lord: feeding on Him even though it could be considered hard. It is our salvation! Twisting the words spoken by these disciples will lead to destruction.

The Prayer of Faith and Fasting (Mark 9:14-29)

"And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. And He asked the scribes, 'What are you discussing with them?' Then one of the crowd answered and said, 'Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.' He answered him and said, 'O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.' THEN THEY BROUGHT HIM (a son) TO HIM (the Son). And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, 'How long has this been happening to him?' And he said, 'From childhood. And often he has thrown both him into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us'.

"Jesus said to him, 'If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.' Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, 'Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!' When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: 'Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you to come out of him and enter him no more!' Then the spirit cried out, convulsing him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, 'He is dead.' But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, 'Why could we not cast it out?' So He said to them, 'This kind comes out by nothing but prayer and fasting.'

The disciples could not cast out the spirit within the boy because, at the time, they did not recognize the root of the matter - the father's unbelief. In the presence of the Son of God, the father's approach to Jesus went from "Teacher" to "Lord". There are many teachers, but only one Lord! He was quick to evaluate Jesus' disciples' inability to help, and he was accurate. But, not so fast! Jesus started to inquire of the father. The father's last faithless request was met with the Lord's admonishment: 'If you can believe (Another version writes (If you can!), all things are possible to him who believes.' The father received the admonishment. His response: 'Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!'

Why hadn't Jesus dealt with the boy's ability to believe?

When the disciples inquired of Jesus as to why they could not cast out the unclean spirit, He instructed that a disciple's faithlessness comes out by nothing but prayer and fasting. The prayer (of faith in Christ Jesus) reminds the saint what it means to be a "fellow servant, and of the brethren who have the testimony of Jesus".(Revelation 19:10) Fasting is the process where, after one receives the revelation of His calling, the fruit of the "true vine" in each willing branch produces more, even much, fruit of it. Good news for the fasters: You don't call it and you don't end it. But, you will know when you are in it! Jesus Christ is Lord over it! Glory to the Father!