back to following Jesus~

Jesus showed me some scriptures about starting over again:

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away… Hosea 14:4

They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the Lord. Jer 3:1

Then He showed me scriptures in the book of Revelation:

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Rev 2:4-5

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works…” Rev 2:5

So I went back to the basics, and started over. Here are some notes I made on the journey:

Jesus went personally to each disciple and said, “follow me” and they left everything and followed him. they followed Him until the day He died.

When Jesus died on the cross and was buried, Peter went back to fishing. Sometimes it is like that with us, We meet Jesus, give our lives to Him and then go back to our old lives. Sometimes we are so moved by meeting Jesus that we change our lives and start trying to serve Him. We often become workers in the church, giving our lives in service to Jesus, doing what we think He would want us to do. We give endless hours of service but have no daily relationship with Jesus. Our ministries sometimes wither and are dry but we drudge on, knowing that we will have a reward in heaven one day.

After His death Jesus went to the disciples again. Jesus went back to the sea shore after He was risen and called those disciples again, He went to the road emmaus where some were walking and called them again, He went into the upper room where some were hiding for fear and called them again too. He came to them and said that He would be with them always. Then He told them to go to Jerusalem and tarry until they received power. And then He went away again. Promising them that He would come to them again.

When they were tarrying I wonder if they thought about the last things he had told them before He was crucified. I made some notes on the things He said at the last supper.

Right before He went to the garden, Jesus said:

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1

People are born believing in God. some grow up and deny Him. some people see God as someone that is in Heaven judging them and not very happy. Many people wish they could be loved and accepted by God.

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. John 14:9-10

Every word Jesus spoke was what God asked Him to say, every compassionate healing done was done at the Fathers direction. The miracles He did that made them amazed, Jesus said the Father did so they would marvel. When Jesus forgave the woman that wept at His feet, He treated her just like the Father told Him to. God sent Jesus to show us Himself.

If ye love me, keep my commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:15-17

He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. So that He might abide with us forever. So that when we leave the church building we don’t go home alone. So that if we are apart from others we never have to be apart from Jesus and His comfort. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter… what commandments? The words in red print in the gospels, the things Jesus said to do.

Matthew chapter 6 and 7 are a great place to start.. Sometimes life is too hard because we are trying to do everything everyone else tells us we have to do, Jesus said to keep His commandments. When we lay aside everything else and just try to do what Jesus said, then He will pray the Father and send us the Comforter. Baby steps are ok, just try praying like Jesus said, and if you tithe try it like Jesus said to, and if you fast, try to do it like Jesus said to. Peter heard Jesus teaching and then Jesus did the miracle of the huge catch of fish and Peter realized what a sinful man he was, and Jesus said to him: And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. Luke 5:8-10 Jesus said that to peter when peter knew full well that he was a sinner.

 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:18-21

the world won’t see Him, but they would. at that day you will know He is in you. He that loves Jesus shall also be loved of His Father, and Jesus will manifest Himself to them.

Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:22-24

If you love Him, you will keep His words, and Jesus’ Father will love you, and they will come unto you and make their abode with you.

 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:25-26

the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost. The Father will send the Holy Ghost in Jesus’ name. He will teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever Jesus has said to you.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

If you want peace, Jesus gives it, not like the world gives it.

 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:1-2

He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. Luke 13:6-9

If we don’t bear fruit we can ask for fertilizer! What kind of fruit is He looking for? Gal. 5:22 and Eph. 5:9.

If we are bearing some fruit, we’re gonna get pruned!

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 15:3

When we give our lives to Jesus and He speaks to us, (through a pastor, a book, or a vision, or however he calls us) and we are born again, because of what He has spoken to us we are clean. It is the first time we came to Him and we feel so forgiven and clean and pure, so new. It is like when the disciples first met Him.

When Jesus died they were lost.

The guys on the emmaus road were sad, luke 24:13-17, Mary magdalene went to the tomb and saw it empty and was weeping, when the angels asked why she was weeping, she said “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. ” John 20:11-16 She was so distraught that she couldn’t understand what was happening, until Jesus revealed Himself to her. Even though the others told thomas Jesus was alive and had spoken to them he didn’t believe them. Jesus made sure He spoke to Thomas personally. John 20:27.

Sometimes that’s what it feels like after we have been saved, not like Jesus is dead, but like He is in heaven and we won’t see Him or hear Him again until we get to heaven.

 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:4-6

We can’t bear fruit of ourselves. We have to abide in Jesus. IF we go off on our own, even if its to try to do things for Jesus, we will get cast forth as a branch and wither.

 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:8
 
If you’re like me, you came to Jesus because you didn’t have goodness or temperance or love, He wants to give us those things! If we bear much fruit we shall be His disciples. All that fruit He is looking for: goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, gentleness, love, longsuffering, joy and peace, comes from the Holy Spirit.  Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

Joy is so wonderful! People can be happy on their own, they can smile when they don’t feel like it, but joy is unfakable. It is pure delight! we can’t make joy happen by working or trying to be joyful. It comes from the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit gives it to us by letting us see Jesus!

Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Acts 2:28

There is pure joy in His countenance. His face, seek His face.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy… Psalms 16:11

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken… but thou shalt be called Hephzibah… for the Lord delighteth in thee… 5 … and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. Isaiah 62:4-5

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?  And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Luke 15:4-5

 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:10

What made Jesus full of joy?

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. Luke 10:21

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. John 16:22

When Jesus told His disciples He was going to die, they were sad. He said He would see them again and their heart would rejoice. Did He mean when they died and went to heaven?

On the day of Pentecost (after Jesus had died, risen, and gone to heaven), the disciples were filled with unspeakable joy. and Peter said to the people that he spoke to:

 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Acts 3:19-20

He said that Jesus, (who was not retired in heaven somewhere leaving it all up to men down here now), would come to them. Even after Jesus had been crucified, resurrected and ascended up into heaven Jesus would come to them.

 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. Acts 13:52

The promise wasn’t just for the original disciples: 

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2:38-39

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:5

 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. John 15:9

Do you believe that the Father loves Jesus? That’s how Jesus loves us. He wants us to continue in that love, to keep pouring His love upon us. Jesus loved the disciples enough to go back and find them right where they were after He died, and guide them still. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given us. Romans 5:5

 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. John 15:10-12

Jesus said to love like the samaritan did, not the priest and levite, in the story of the good samaritan. He said to love like this:

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,  Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.  And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.   Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.  And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.  For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.  And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.  And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.  But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:27-36

I can’t love like that, can you? He said if we did we would be “children of the Highest”

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12

At the end of each gospel there is Jesus’ commission. He told the disciples to go and preach, but He said to wait:

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  And ye are witnesses of these things.  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke 24:47-49

 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. John 15:15

I never knew what Jesus was doing. I figured He was up in heaven running kingdoms and throne rooms, doing God stuff, but I had no idea really what He did all day., I didn’t feel like a friend of His, like those guys that got to follow Him around all the time during His earthly ministry.
The apostle Paul was not a disciple, he didn’t walk with Jesus during that time either, Paul didn’t get to follow Jesus around and take notes.

 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 9:17

And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,  Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. Acts 22:12-14

And Paul (saul) explained how he learned:

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.  But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,  To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.  But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.  Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. Gal 1:11-12 and 15-20

Paul found out that Jesus was very much alive! Jesus personally kept Paul so busy that he didn’t have time to take notes! Its probably why Jesus had him go to jail so often, so he could find time to try and write some of it down! When you’re in jail with Jesus its just not the same. I noticed that when Paul was in jail with Silas (Acts 16:25-37) they were singing songs of praise to Jesus, and when the Lord caused an earthquake, and they were free, did they run out of there real fast? nope, they said to the jailer, we’re still here. and when the magistrates told them they were free to go, paul said, no, let em come get us themselves. What were they doing with Jesus that day hehe? Where Jesus is, it’s a party, and He always provides the food too! the keeper of the prison made them dinner!

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy… Psalms 16:10-11

And Paul said:
Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Eph 1:15-17

That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 2:2-3

All these things are hidden in Jesus. an interesting thing is that the early church was not persecuted for their “dogma or theology”, they were persecuted because they kept telling people that Jesus was alive.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.  These things I command you, that ye love one another. John 15:16-17

He keeps going back to love...

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Gal 5:5-6

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:18-19

you will be persecuted if you follow Jesus in the Spirit and truth. Some people will hate you.

 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. Luke 6:26

 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.  Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. Luke 6:22-23

Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. Heb 10:33

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:  And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. John 15:26-27

 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. John 16:1-2

The synagogue was where they were teaching the scriptures, the law of moses and traditions of the elders. They honestly thought they were doing God service, but they crucified Jesus, the only begotten Son of God.

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 2 Cor 3:6

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63

When Jesus spoke the scriptures, they were full of life, not memorized dead words from a book written long ago.

The apostle Paul wrote to a church that had gotten back into doing the works of the law after having been saved.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.  For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Gal 2:16-21

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.  He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Gal 3:1-5

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Gal 3:11-12

Some churches have turned the promises and commands that Jesus gave His followers into just another version of the law, I call it “the new testament law”. They are not following the Living Word Jesus, who leads His sheep daily, but following the dead letter of rules and ordinances. To practice the new testament law you really have to work at it, you have to pray a lot, claim a lot, stand on it a lot, call it as if it isn’t, just to get God to do what you want Him to do. When I think of standing on the promises of God, I always laugh and see a picture in my head of me standing on Jesus! Jesus is real, He is alive and not retired! He is the Promise, He is the Word, He is the Spirit of Supplication, He calls those things that be not as if they are. Instead of getting Him to do what I want, He is trying to get me to do what He wants!

Jesus said:

Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.  Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;  Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. Heb 10:7-9

 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Heb 13:5

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Eph 5:20

That says thanking God in Jesus name for all things. Some like to say it means thanking God for new cars and big houses and diamond rings, Paul said it was all things. Things like shipwrecks, perils, weariness, painfulness, hunger and thirst, cold and nakedness, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren. 2 Cor 11:23-27

When you are in troubles, just try and remember to invite Jesus to the party! If you’re feeling far from Him, the disciples got filled with the Holy Spirit more than just the one time at pentecost, see Acts 4:13-4:31.

Paul also spoke of having faith unfeigned, and that it comes from hearing the Word of God. When Jesus speaks to you personally, you have great faith. Jesus is the Word of God. Where the word of a king is, there is power… Eccl 8:4 . Faith comes through the free gift of the Holy Spirit. We can hear Him speak to us personally when He fills us with the Holy Spirit.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph 2:8-9

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:13-15

The Holy Spirit doesn’t come to glorify the Holy Spirit, He doesn’t come to glorify miracles, or men, or possessions, He comes to glorify Jesus. He delights to show us Jesus. A ministry that doesn’t glorify Jesus is out of God’s will, even if they say they are being led of the Spirit. Jesus said “He shall glorify Me” (verse 14)

 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13

that the Father may be glorified- in the Son.

 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.  And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:22-24

People that are seeking things on their own often pray and say “in Jesus name” afterwards. If I go asking for things when Jesus hasn’t told me to, and add, “in Jesus name” it seldom works. Praise God it seldom works, would to God it never worked, for how sad if I should go on my way and be prosperous apart from Him. I could build cool churches and drive cool cars and have shiny trinkets all “in His name” all by myself. I would probably enjoy it so much I would forget altogether about Jesus, if He called me and wanted me to do something for Him I would be too busy doing things in His name. If I continued long enough on this path when He returned in the last day, I would be the one that said “see all the marvelous works I have done in your name? The one He said “I never knew you” to.

Here is a story of how I did errands in my dads name when I was growing up.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:13-14

When I was a child my dad used to send me to the hardware store quite often. He was remodeling our house and would get into a project and say, “hey run down to the hardware store and tell Ray I need this or that”. I was about ten or eleven and I loved these trips. The hardware store carried lots of stuff besides hardware and I saw all kinds of things I wanted. When I would go there and say “my dad wants me to pick up three hexagon bolts 4 inches long”, ray would smile, get them for me and write it down on my dads bill. When I went down there and said “my dad wants me to get 4 of those really cool blue bungie cords, a sled, and two licorices”, ray would always call my dad to make sure! Rats!

What I have learned is that when we do something in Jesus’ name, the devil often checks and God knows. If it is something that the Lord has laid on my heart to ask for, even if it seems incredible, if Jesus really told me to do it, it is always packaged up, given to me and the bill goes on my Heavenly Fathers account. I just smile and go on my way rejoicing!

Sometimes when we are ministering to others we get outside the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psalms 127:1

If I saw that my dad was remodeling a house and I knew that he would need a new hot water heater and went and got it for him and took it home to him, he might say thanks and take it and put it in the back room for later. The back room with the pile of other hot water heaters that his other children and friends had gotten him already, because they too knew that He needed a new hot water heater and they were sick and tired of washing their hands at our house with cold water. if I spent my time doing things that I knew my dad would need without asking him what he wanted me to do, he may end up with a room full of hot water heaters and no boards, which he actually may really need today. You know, boards to fix the floor with so a hot water heater wouldnt go crashing down to the basement if he put it in as is.

That is amusing on paper, but the houses Jesus is remodeling are not wood and cement, they are flesh and blood with delicate hearts. Often when we see a lost person we minister to them in the areas that we are sure that our Heavenly Father needs. We don’t consider that maybe He isnt working on that part right now. We meet someone and see an obvious sin, “you need to repent of swearing! (or smoking, etc) it is unholy and brings dishonour to God!”, or “you need to repent right now!”

Apart from the leading of Jesus we don’t see that maybe He is working on the second story back wall today and not the living room. Instead of asking Jesus what He wants us to do we say things like: “You need to quit watching those tv shows, and stop reading magazines like that, take down those posters and put up a picture of the cross instead, the bible says REPENT!”

We go to our Heavenly Father with our ‘hot water heater’ that we know He needs for this remodel,(prayer request that He immediately deliver the person from the thing that bothers us so much and we make sure to say ‘in Jesus name’ when we pray).

Perhaps He says, thanks, and puts it in the room with the 340 other requests He has gotten for that very thing, wondering when one of His children will ask for Him to send the jar of the oil of joy that He wants to give the person to instead. (Is 61:3)

While it is true that our Heavenly Father will remodel that other area, the one that bothers us so much as if its the most glaring sin ever committed in the history of mankind, we don’t consider that maybe He is working on the foundation first. That if He doesn’t put some concrete down first, the whole house will fall. And what is the concrete?

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 3:9-11

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Luke 6:46-49

And what are his laborers to be like?

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph 2:7&10

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17

That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; Col 2:2

sheesh, there He goes with that love thing again! He wants to use us to knit hearts together in love!

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 2 Tim 2:24

We are to be like Him:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matt 11:28-30

 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3

 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. Psalms 86:15

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. James 3:17-18

When we, with the best intentions, try to fix people on our own, we take them away from following what Jesus is doing in their lives today and cause them to fret about things He may be going to work on another day. We leave them not with faith, but uncertainty, doubt, and condemnation because they aren’t at the place spiritually that we think they should be. When we walk in the Spirit in Jesus, we get to do whatever Jesus tells us to do toward a person and leave the rest up to Him. The Lord is able to save people just fine without our helpful advice to guide Him.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Prov 3:5-6

And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Col 2:19

When we get caught up in our lives and our ministries it is good to stop and see what we have been doing and ask, “is it all about Jesus?” Because God is all about Jesus in everything He does:

 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:  That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. John 5:21-23

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Col 2:6-10

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Heb 1:1-2

 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

If someone tells you that following Jesus means that you won’t have tribulation they are mistaken.

For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Jer 8:11

In the gospels, Jesus said repeatedly that we would have tribulation and trials. Instead of saying we would not have tribulation in the world, He said, “I am the Prince of Peace, In Me you can have peace in the midst of the storms of life.”

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. John 17:1-2

 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. John 17:15-16

Jesus didn’t call us to be out of the world in a little christian conclave somewhere away from real life and the real people down here. The other day I was thinking about the difference between a religious spirited person and a Holy Spirit filled person. I wanted to hand out a questionnaire with two questions on it and see what the answers people gave were. The questions:

Have you been hanging out with sinners? did I see you at their house last week, drinking a glass of wine with them?

a religious spirit will say, “No I would never do that!!!.”

A follower of Jesus might say, “Oh Lord, I am so sorry, I have been only fellowshipping with fellow believers lately when it is the lost You have called me to minister to. Make me more like You Jesus, a friend of publicans and sinners, make me someone that prostitutes can feel free to come to when they are hurting. Make me someone that will stand up for adulterers and other sinners when the world condemns them, Let me show them Your mercy and grace. Give me the courage to invite myself into their house like you did with zacheaus. Give me Your love, Jesus, even if people start to say bad things about me like they did you: “The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! ” Luke 7:34.

Numerous Evangelical Pastors recently have been calling themselves and their fellow Pastors ‘shepherds’ They use their positions to make a church unlike the church Paul described in Corninthians where everyone can prophecy one by one and every member is part of the service bringing their gifts as a whole body. The modern Evangelical church is more like a replica of the Old Testament Temple in Jerusalem. They appoint themselves pastors/priests and vote for the kings they want. They have elders to ensure everyone obeys them and they call themselves Shepherds. They explain their ‘spiritual authority and expect people will obey what they say or not be allowed to be a member. They rarely teach people how to seek Jesus, how to sit at His feet, how to ask Jesus what they should be doing. No matter how well meaning, churches like that are not what Jesus commanded His followers to do or to be like.

Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. -Jesus in Matthew 23:2-10

But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren

And I will set up one shepherd over them, and He shall feed them, even my servant David; He shall feed them, and He shall be their shepherd. Ezek 34:23

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. John 10:14-16

so many christians I’ve met lately also have this denomination thing going on. They say “I belong to this denomination, I hold to their teachings”. Even if they gave their lives to Jesus a long time ago they get re-baptized in water when they join a different church- as if that last baptism in water wasnt valid because it was done by a different denomination. I suspect this teaching came about because some denominations put such a high emphasis on how many people they have personally baptized. I suspect that some of my wandering away from following Jesus closely was due to trying to follow the directions of churches and trying to focus on all the things they kept saying I must do at the expense of using my time to sit and wait to hear what Jesus was telling me. Its human nature to want to be part of a group, and when the group uses words like I am in authority over you in the church and God appointed me to tell you what to do and blah blah blah…sadly its easy to lose sight of Jesus.

The Apostle Paul addressed this kind of denominational division-

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 1 Cor 1:12-13

The kingdom of Israel was rent in two after Solomons reign, it became Israel and Judah, separated. They argued a lot about who was serving and worshiping the Lord the right way. He delivered all of the tribes up to captivity of different sorts, some went to babylon, some served the chaldeans, some went to egypt. He prophesied that He would bring them all back as one and they would have One shephard. The Lord showed me that the denominations are the same way today, all separate like the tribes were. And He said: “they all are sure that they are of the tribe of Judah and the Messiah comes out of them only”!

Its spiritual pride and i repent of it cause i have done it too! One Shepherd and lots and lots of sheep that are just brothers…

But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. Matt 23:8

Jesus said we can do nothing apart from Him.

For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. Isaiah 30:15-16

For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. Isaiah 28:11-12

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ… Acts 3:19-20

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Isaiah 28:16

An empty cross, an empty grave. Where is He?

After Jesus died the disciples thought that all their hope was gone, they didn’t know what to do, and they really needed Jesus. When they finally just did what He said because He went out to the seashore and the road ways and told them again. to wait for the promise of the Holy Ghost in Jerusalem…

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Acts 1:4-5

He showed up with the Holy Spirit,

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Acts 2:1-2

never to be separated from them again.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:16-17

Saul found Jesus on the road to damascus. Acts 9:3-6, Philip and the ethiopian man found Him in the desert. Acts 8:26-40, about 5,000 men found that He was out on the porch, Acts 3:11-4:4, Stephen found that He was right there with him when he was in the middle of a mob trying to kill Him. Acts 7:55, And Paul said: “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:” Acts 17:27

Margaret Becker has a song I like, it is called “Love By Your Side” It goes something like, “if you want to feel love by your side, turn around and Look in My eyes”. The Jesus I know says the same thing, and I’m pretty sure He gave her the lyrics.

I pray Jesus will draw us back to Himself and be our One Shepherd even when we are gathered together in churches.