Tuesday, 24 October 2017

John 14 (Fifteen) At Home (Continued)

Have you read part 1 of this message? What the Lord said in Isaiah 59:1- 2 can be put in other words as follows: ‘I want to be close to you. I want to be a Dad to you, having fun with you as we take on the enemies of the Kingdom on a daily basis. I want to show you my power and have you enjoy My blessings and success for your life, but I have one serious problem. I can’t share a home with a sinful lifestyle because it brings dishonour to My name in both the physical and spiritual realm, and therefore build up a wall of resistance between us. Your feelings of guilt then prevent you to be relaxed in my presence and my hatred of sin prevents me to be in the presence of sin and therefore your presence.'

Please note that nobody is without sin (1 John 1:8). All our sins are forgiven in Jesus Christ though. We sin accidentally as well as wilfully sometimes, but “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” (1 John 1:9). The problem, however, is consistent disobedience to commands from the written Word and commands we know the Lord has spoken into our hearts. If we persist with this sin we are like displeasing children to an earthly dad – the relationship is hindered and discipline is unavoidable. “Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?” (Hebrews 12:6-7).

However, instead of this family-type intimacy towards God, what do many Christians do? Do we not keep a respectful distance between a “stern and strict Father God” and us, only communicating with Him as if He is far away? Why do we not allow Abba (Daddy) Father and big brother Jesus to show themselves to us, making home with us? Maybe because obedience and therefore intimate love would cost us too much in terms of our worldly comfort and desires. If such is the case, have we not chosen Mammon in our hearts?

In conclusion I would like to include a beautiful and relevant story I have once received.

Twinkies and Root Beer

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of Root beer and started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie. He gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again he smiled at him. The boy was delighted!

They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As it grew dark, the boy realised how tired he was and got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man and gave him a hug. He gave him his biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?”
“I had lunch with God,” he replied. Before his mother could respond he added, “You know what? He’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!” 
Meanwhile the old man returned to his home also radiant with joy. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked what made him so happy.

“I ate Twinkies in the park with God,” he replied. Before his son responded he added, “You know he is much younger than I expected.”
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!

Lord, please come and live with me.

Saturday, 14 October 2017

John 14 (Fourteen) At Home

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him,” (John 14:21).

Who is Jesus talking about here? He is talking about individuals. He is not just talking to the Disciples, but is throwing it wide open. He is also not just talking to the church or to a particular nation. Every individual is responsible and must have the opportunity. He first says the individual must have His commands. Where do they get the commands from? First of all the commands (not only the Ten Commandments) are written in the Bible, so it is necessary to know the Bible because the commands must be in their heart to be able to obey them effectively. Secondly we constantly receive commands in our spirit and therefore the individual must be in touch with the Holy Spirit to be able to identify the opportunity presented by Him to obey the commands.

If the Lord sees a heart laden with knowledge of His commands and a readiness to obey wherever the opportunity presents itself, He knows that this person loves Him. They care enough about the Lord to do that which matters to Him. Jesus then promised that both He and the Father will love the individual (what an honour) and then the best follows – He will show himself to them.

In marriage spouses declare their love to each other and then show their bodies to one another. The more their love for each other grows, and in the process their trust towards one another, the more of their deepest secrets they will reveal.

How glorious it will be when Jesus will hold back none of His deepest secrets to the individual who has earned His love and trust through being obedient to His every command. Such individuals never cause Jesus to be ashamed of them and often cause Him to boast about them in the heavenlies - “Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?’” (Job 1:8).

“Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, ‘But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’ Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching,” (John 14:22-23).

What Jesus implies in His answer to Judas’ question is that those who do not obey His teaching are those who do not love Him, and are therefore the ‘world’ Judas was talking about. Like we said earlier, why would Jesus reveal Himself to those whom He cannot trust? (See Matthew 7:6)

Who is the world Judas is talking about? Does it not maybe include the disobedient church? Is a disobedient church not like the world – without love towards the Lord?

If we, however, obey His teaching, doing what He tells us to do, whether in the Bible or in our spirit on a daily basis, we love Him and both Him and Abba Father (Daddy God) will make home with us. Take a few minutes to consider this statement. What is a home? Is it not a place of intimacy where fellowship is relaxed and transparent, a place where we feel comfortable? Is home not a place where we can kick off our shoes and be ourselves? If the Lord Jesus and Father make their home with us, would they not also want to ‘kick off their shoes’ and relax, being themselves? Maybe we can make a list of the qualities of a home and, as we make it, picture Abba Father and Jesus in it.

A home

·         Is a secure and safe place.

·         Has food and physical care.

·         Has fun, joking, fellowship and playing.

·         Has support of the members among one another.

·         Has open and transparent communication.

·         Has unity.

·         Is a fortress against enemies.

·         Has protective and caring parents.

·         Has obedient children.

·         Is a place where one can be yourself.

·         Is a place where conflict is a form of developing character and is handled lovingly.

Does our spiritual home enjoy these characteristics in both directions, in other words do we for example only expect protection from the Lord, or do we also protect His honour in both the physical and spiritual realm, or does our lifestyle maybe cause the world and evil spirits to ridicule God? Can God relax in our presence, or must He constantly withdraw due to our sin and attitude of pride?

Lord, teach me what to do to make you feel welcome in my heart.