Just as we are told to remain in Christ in John 14, I've discovered that
there is a place where Christ "remains" in our lives.
Our son has been going through a season of establishing his faith in
his Savior for himself. What I mean by that is that every one of us
must come to a place where we decide to serve Jesus Christ not
because our parents do, but because we as individuals have chosen
that we will serve Him all our days.
Matthew said to his dad and I last night that he is glad he's "made
that decision before he goes off to college." That brought a smile to
my face. One because I'm excited for him, and two because I
realize that he'll have to daily make that decision. Do you think he
knows that yet? No matter, God is in control in his life.
As I was pondering the last several months in Matthew's life, the Lord
brought to my heart the fact that he's been after his heart. He has
wanted Matthew's heart and He has been doing what is necessary to
get it.
As I pondered, I had my Bible open in my lap. When I looked down, I
saw this verse -
Proverbs 17:3 "The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the
Lord tests the heart."
It was exciting to me that as my heart pondered the work of the Lord
in my son's heart, the Lord confirmed to me that I was thinking His
thoughts. Any time I am assured that I am in tune with God's heart,
it is a precious moment!
As I read more scripture pertaining to God testing and proving our hearts,
I came across a verse that I shared with Matthew to encourage him in
this season.
That verse is Malachi 3:3 - and the point of this entry's title.
"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites
and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who
will bring offerings in righteousness."
That is what God has been doing in Matthew. And that is what God will
do in you and me. He will "sit as a refiner". The word "sit" means that He
will "remain" in a place as our refiner and purifier. I know that means
He will fulfill this special place our entire lives.
How do I know that? Because it will take our entire lives to give ourselves
to Him. It will take our entire lives to be conformed to the image of
Jesus Christ.
Lord, I'm thankful to know that as I remain "in" You, You will "remain" as
a refiner and purifier in my life, making me (a Levite - one who is "joined to"
God) ready to bring offerings in righteousness.
Psalm 1 - I am like a tree planted by streams of water and whatever I do will prosper
15 August 2008
23 July 2008
Remain in Me
How many times I have read these words! But I've never truly
understood them - not fully. But lately, the Holy Spirit is causing
the scripture to be so alive in my heart, that I am eager to search
Jesus' words with these new eyes of mine!
In my ongoing study, the Lord opened up to me one more verse -
John 15:4 "Remain in Me and I will remain in you. No branch can
bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear
fruit unless you remain in Me."
"Remain in me" seems to be the key thought in this verse. What
does it mean to "remain" or "abide" in Jesus Christ? Is it simply a
matter of choosing not to turn my back on my faith? No. It's much
more than that.
"Abide" means "to journey, to be kept continually, in reference to time
- to continue to be, to last, to endure."
The word "endure" caught my attention as I remembered that those
who endure to the end will be saved. And indeed, the word is similar
in the original Greek. For "remain", the word is "meno". For "endure",
the word is "hupomeno". So I'm on the right track.
"Hupomeno" is another fascinating word in meaning. It means, "Under
misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one's faith in Jesus Christ / to endure
bravely and calmly ill treatments."
And what does "saved" mean as used in Matthew 24:13 (those who endure
until the end, the same shall be saved). "Sozo" (saved) means "to rescue from
danger or destruction - to save from evils which obstruct the reception of the
Messianic deliverance."
Suddenly, "abide" took on new meaning. This picture of the vine and the branch
was a picture of true salvation - of being in Christ and remaining in Christ
until the end. "Abide" has true eternal meaning for the Christian.
Now I know that I must abide, remain, endure to the end. How must I, the
"branch", respond while abiding?
No branch can bear fruit by itself... The "branch" or "klema" is a tender and
flexible branch, a vine sprout. I must be tender and flexible as a branch. I must
be willing for the Lord to bend me when necessary. I must be willing to change,
to repent, to listen to His words and obey them. If I'm flexible, I'm a true branch.
When I considered the word "sprout", I had the thought of the sprout being the
same plant as the vine to which it is attached. It has the same DNA, the same
characteristics, the same purpose, the same physical appearance, bears the
same fruit. If that sprout was somehow detached from the vine, it would quickly
die, because all its life-source would be cut off.
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me... Again, without the vine
our source of life is cut off. Life is in us only through the vine - Jesus Christ
(as we discovered in verses 1-3). If we are not attached to "life", "death" is
working within us.
A branch cannot bear fruit... Cannot is "dunamai", signifying the power of
the Holy Spirit in our lives being removed if we do not "abide". If we do not
abide, not only is there death produced in us, but we have no effectiveness,
no anointing as a Christian in this world.
And I will remain in you... When Jesus said this, He meant "in" you as a fixed,
unmoveable position within us. What a wonderful promise! He will never
leave us nor forsake us, as His word says!
My final thought is focused on the fruit we will bear when we remain in Him.
The fruit, or "karpos", means "to gather fruit into life eternal (as into a granary),
is used in figurative discourse of those who by their labors have fitted souls to
obtain eternal life."
I immediately asked the Lord what a "fitted soul" was. Our "souls" refer to our
mind, our will, our emotions - who we are humanly speaking. Our "fitted souls"
refers to the fruit we bear - the outward proof that we are His - the works we do
that prove our salvation - that we are a true branch attached to the Vine.
Our salvation is begun by faith in Jesus Christ. Our faith in Jesus Christ is
then proved to be real by the fruit we bear - our works prove that we are His.
Those who are bearing fruit have "fitted souls" - they "bear fruit".
Are you a true branch? Check to see that you are bearing eternal fruit....
understood them - not fully. But lately, the Holy Spirit is causing
the scripture to be so alive in my heart, that I am eager to search
Jesus' words with these new eyes of mine!
In my ongoing study, the Lord opened up to me one more verse -
John 15:4 "Remain in Me and I will remain in you. No branch can
bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear
fruit unless you remain in Me."
"Remain in me" seems to be the key thought in this verse. What
does it mean to "remain" or "abide" in Jesus Christ? Is it simply a
matter of choosing not to turn my back on my faith? No. It's much
more than that.
"Abide" means "to journey, to be kept continually, in reference to time
- to continue to be, to last, to endure."
The word "endure" caught my attention as I remembered that those
who endure to the end will be saved. And indeed, the word is similar
in the original Greek. For "remain", the word is "meno". For "endure",
the word is "hupomeno". So I'm on the right track.
"Hupomeno" is another fascinating word in meaning. It means, "Under
misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one's faith in Jesus Christ / to endure
bravely and calmly ill treatments."
And what does "saved" mean as used in Matthew 24:13 (those who endure
until the end, the same shall be saved). "Sozo" (saved) means "to rescue from
danger or destruction - to save from evils which obstruct the reception of the
Messianic deliverance."
Suddenly, "abide" took on new meaning. This picture of the vine and the branch
was a picture of true salvation - of being in Christ and remaining in Christ
until the end. "Abide" has true eternal meaning for the Christian.
Now I know that I must abide, remain, endure to the end. How must I, the
"branch", respond while abiding?
No branch can bear fruit by itself... The "branch" or "klema" is a tender and
flexible branch, a vine sprout. I must be tender and flexible as a branch. I must
be willing for the Lord to bend me when necessary. I must be willing to change,
to repent, to listen to His words and obey them. If I'm flexible, I'm a true branch.
When I considered the word "sprout", I had the thought of the sprout being the
same plant as the vine to which it is attached. It has the same DNA, the same
characteristics, the same purpose, the same physical appearance, bears the
same fruit. If that sprout was somehow detached from the vine, it would quickly
die, because all its life-source would be cut off.
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me... Again, without the vine
our source of life is cut off. Life is in us only through the vine - Jesus Christ
(as we discovered in verses 1-3). If we are not attached to "life", "death" is
working within us.
A branch cannot bear fruit... Cannot is "dunamai", signifying the power of
the Holy Spirit in our lives being removed if we do not "abide". If we do not
abide, not only is there death produced in us, but we have no effectiveness,
no anointing as a Christian in this world.
And I will remain in you... When Jesus said this, He meant "in" you as a fixed,
unmoveable position within us. What a wonderful promise! He will never
leave us nor forsake us, as His word says!
My final thought is focused on the fruit we will bear when we remain in Him.
The fruit, or "karpos", means "to gather fruit into life eternal (as into a granary),
is used in figurative discourse of those who by their labors have fitted souls to
obtain eternal life."
I immediately asked the Lord what a "fitted soul" was. Our "souls" refer to our
mind, our will, our emotions - who we are humanly speaking. Our "fitted souls"
refers to the fruit we bear - the outward proof that we are His - the works we do
that prove our salvation - that we are a true branch attached to the Vine.
Our salvation is begun by faith in Jesus Christ. Our faith in Jesus Christ is
then proved to be real by the fruit we bear - our works prove that we are His.
Those who are bearing fruit have "fitted souls" - they "bear fruit".
Are you a true branch? Check to see that you are bearing eternal fruit....
21 July 2008
My Time With the Lord
A few weeks ago, a precious man that I've known almost all my
life came to impart wisdom to the body of Harvest Church. This
man mentored my dad when he pastored a church, laid hands on me
and prophesied the word of the Lord before I went on my first
mission trip in my early 20's. I trust him and I value what he
says - so much so that I made a conscious decision to heed his
words when he told our body we would do well to study the same
three chapters in scripture that he had spent countless hours
studying for himself. If it's good enough for a man who has
walked with the Lord many years, it is good enough for me!
So I've been reading John 14-16. Well, in all honesty, the Lord
would not allow me to move past John 14 for several days. I had
to first internalize the fact that I am "not to let my heart be
troubled." I don't mean just read it - I mean "get" it deep into
my heart and soul.
Today, he allowed me to go to John chapter 15, but I was only
prompted to study the first 3 verses! But what a wealth I found
in those first 3 verses.
I saw that Jesus is the "true vine", and that it is His Father who
is the gardener. It is the Father who prunes the fruitful branches
so that they will bear even more fruit.
I noticed that in the Greek, the word for "prunes" is also the same
word for "cleanses". As a matter of fact, the Greek word "Kathairo"
means to cleanse of filth and impurity. So when the Father is pruning
us, He is cleansing us from sin. (Interesting personal note - my oldest
daughter's name is Katherine, which means "pure" - wow...)
The Father is cleansing His Church right now. Have you noticed?
What does the Father use to cleanse us? In verse 3, Jesus says, "You
are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you."
It is His Word that cleanses us. How do I know that?
In Psalm 119:9 His Word says, "We keep our way pure by living
according to His Word."
In John 17:17 His Word says, "We are sanctified by the truth."
God's Word is truth - Jesus Christ is truth.
In Ephesians 5:25, 26 His Word says, "...just as Christ loved the
church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her
by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to
himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other
blemish, but holy and blameless."
He gave Himself up for us, the church, to make us holy - to cleanse
us.
Why are we being purified? Is it simply so that we will be clean
or is there purpose in us being clean?
According to I Peter 1:22 through 2:12 (please read for yourself),
In verse 22 - now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the
truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers... love one
another deeply.
We are being purified "so that we will have sincere love for one
another." But does the purpose end there?
No. It does not. If you read the above mentioned passage, you'll
see in chapter 2, verse 9 that we are being purified so that we
may love one another and so that we "may declare the praises of him
who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
And in verse 12 - we see the ultimate reason for being cleansed.
"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse
you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God
on the day he visits us."
ALL of what the Father is doing in cleansing us is to bring glory
to Himself.
So if you are bearing fruit, be cleansed (or pruned) by obeying
His Word. Then you will love your brother. Then the world will
see the glory of the Father, and some will believe...
life came to impart wisdom to the body of Harvest Church. This
man mentored my dad when he pastored a church, laid hands on me
and prophesied the word of the Lord before I went on my first
mission trip in my early 20's. I trust him and I value what he
says - so much so that I made a conscious decision to heed his
words when he told our body we would do well to study the same
three chapters in scripture that he had spent countless hours
studying for himself. If it's good enough for a man who has
walked with the Lord many years, it is good enough for me!
So I've been reading John 14-16. Well, in all honesty, the Lord
would not allow me to move past John 14 for several days. I had
to first internalize the fact that I am "not to let my heart be
troubled." I don't mean just read it - I mean "get" it deep into
my heart and soul.
Today, he allowed me to go to John chapter 15, but I was only
prompted to study the first 3 verses! But what a wealth I found
in those first 3 verses.
I saw that Jesus is the "true vine", and that it is His Father who
is the gardener. It is the Father who prunes the fruitful branches
so that they will bear even more fruit.
I noticed that in the Greek, the word for "prunes" is also the same
word for "cleanses". As a matter of fact, the Greek word "Kathairo"
means to cleanse of filth and impurity. So when the Father is pruning
us, He is cleansing us from sin. (Interesting personal note - my oldest
daughter's name is Katherine, which means "pure" - wow...)
The Father is cleansing His Church right now. Have you noticed?
What does the Father use to cleanse us? In verse 3, Jesus says, "You
are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you."
It is His Word that cleanses us. How do I know that?
In Psalm 119:9 His Word says, "We keep our way pure by living
according to His Word."
In John 17:17 His Word says, "We are sanctified by the truth."
God's Word is truth - Jesus Christ is truth.
In Ephesians 5:25, 26 His Word says, "...just as Christ loved the
church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her
by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to
himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other
blemish, but holy and blameless."
He gave Himself up for us, the church, to make us holy - to cleanse
us.
Why are we being purified? Is it simply so that we will be clean
or is there purpose in us being clean?
According to I Peter 1:22 through 2:12 (please read for yourself),
In verse 22 - now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the
truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers... love one
another deeply.
We are being purified "so that we will have sincere love for one
another." But does the purpose end there?
No. It does not. If you read the above mentioned passage, you'll
see in chapter 2, verse 9 that we are being purified so that we
may love one another and so that we "may declare the praises of him
who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
And in verse 12 - we see the ultimate reason for being cleansed.
"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse
you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God
on the day he visits us."
ALL of what the Father is doing in cleansing us is to bring glory
to Himself.
So if you are bearing fruit, be cleansed (or pruned) by obeying
His Word. Then you will love your brother. Then the world will
see the glory of the Father, and some will believe...
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