Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Prepare a place for you
I was reading John 14, In My Father's house are many dwelling places.( G3438 a staying, abiding, dwelling, indwelling, to make an abode, this is talking about the Father and Jesus living within us.) if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place ( G5117 place, any portion or space marked off, inhabited place, as a city, village, district) for you. If I go and prepare a place(G5117) for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
I think we need to understand, that Jesus is not talking about a house for us in heaven after we die, but a place where Jesus and the Father can abide in us here on earth. Where is that place? I believe that it is in Christ. Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
The Father's heart for us to do good works are not in heaven after we die, but here and now on the earth. It is in Him that we live and move and have our being. The works that I do is no longer me, but Christ working though me.
John 14:10-13 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me. The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does is works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Notice that Jesus told us that He would do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Not that we would be glorified in our ministry. We need to understand, it is all about Him. Jesus told us that He is the radiance of the Father's glory and the exact representation of the Father's nature.
Jesus's heart was to only do that which pleased His Father. I think we need to ask ourself a question here. It is not what we do, but why we are doing it.
Jesus tell us that He has ask the Father to give us another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will in you.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.
If anyone loves Me, he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
Are you hearing this, I got excited when I was reading this. Jesus prepare a place for Him and the Father to abide within us. Think about it, the fullness of the Father abides in us. Wow
The Holy Spirit which the Father has sent us in Jesus name, is teaching us all things and bringing to remembrance all that Jesus told us.
We are not orphans, but are sons because Jesus and the Father has made their abode within us.
We didn't choose Him, but He chose us. John 15
Eph 1 the Message puts it this way. How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessings in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
Think about these things, and enter His rest, and walk in His peace.
Grace on your journey.
Doug
I think we need to understand, that Jesus is not talking about a house for us in heaven after we die, but a place where Jesus and the Father can abide in us here on earth. Where is that place? I believe that it is in Christ. Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
The Father's heart for us to do good works are not in heaven after we die, but here and now on the earth. It is in Him that we live and move and have our being. The works that I do is no longer me, but Christ working though me.
John 14:10-13 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me. The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does is works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Notice that Jesus told us that He would do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Not that we would be glorified in our ministry. We need to understand, it is all about Him. Jesus told us that He is the radiance of the Father's glory and the exact representation of the Father's nature.
Jesus's heart was to only do that which pleased His Father. I think we need to ask ourself a question here. It is not what we do, but why we are doing it.
Jesus tell us that He has ask the Father to give us another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will in you.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.
If anyone loves Me, he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
Are you hearing this, I got excited when I was reading this. Jesus prepare a place for Him and the Father to abide within us. Think about it, the fullness of the Father abides in us. Wow
The Holy Spirit which the Father has sent us in Jesus name, is teaching us all things and bringing to remembrance all that Jesus told us.
We are not orphans, but are sons because Jesus and the Father has made their abode within us.
We didn't choose Him, but He chose us. John 15
Eph 1 the Message puts it this way. How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessings in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
Think about these things, and enter His rest, and walk in His peace.
Grace on your journey.
Doug
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Podcast
I have a new toy, that Ben gave me. It is my live pod cast. The address is web.me.com/repent let me know what you think about it.
Blessings
Doug
Blessings
Doug
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Don't Bargain with God
Sometimes we think that we have to bargain with God, I will do this, if you do that. With this way of thinking we end up being performers instead of sons. There is a truth in the word, about what you do, and what the Father will do. But we should be doing what He commands us because we love Him and want to be more like Him. Not because of what we can get from Him.
I like what Luke and Hebrews tells us about this from the message.
Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?
Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
Let us remember, that it was the Father who choose us and called us His own. We are children of the King, a chosen people a Holy Nation. We are to walk as Sons and Daughter,for that is the truth of who we are.
Blessings
Doug
I like what Luke and Hebrews tells us about this from the message.
Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?
Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
Let us remember, that it was the Father who choose us and called us His own. We are children of the King, a chosen people a Holy Nation. We are to walk as Sons and Daughter,for that is the truth of who we are.
Blessings
Doug
Monday, December 1, 2008
Be Bold with God's Gift
Every time I say your name in prayer—which is practically all the time—I thank God for you, the God I worship with my whole life in the tradition of my ancestors. I miss you a lot, especially when I remember that last tearful good-bye, and I look forward to a joy-packed reunion.
That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Loisto your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.
So don’t be embarrassed to speak up for our Master or for me, his prisoner. Take your share of suffering for the Message along with the rest of us. We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus.
This is the Message I’ve been set apart to proclaim as preacher, emissary, and teacher. It’s also the cause of all this trouble I’m in. But I have no regrets. I couldn’t be more sure of my ground—the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end. So keep at your work, this faith and love rooted in Christ, exactly as I set it out for you. It’s as sound as the day you first heard it from me. Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us.
I was blessed by what Paul wrote in 2 Tim 1, it reminds me of the faithfulness of our Father, who has called us before the foundation of the earth, and has predestined us to good works in Christ Jesus.
Remember we are in the world but not of the world, we are spiritual not fleshly. We are a chosen people, set aside for the Father's own purpose. Our Father knows the end before the beginning. We not only trust the Lord, He is our trust, and we will be fruitful even in dry places.
Grace on your journey.
Doug
That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Loisto your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.
So don’t be embarrassed to speak up for our Master or for me, his prisoner. Take your share of suffering for the Message along with the rest of us. We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus.
This is the Message I’ve been set apart to proclaim as preacher, emissary, and teacher. It’s also the cause of all this trouble I’m in. But I have no regrets. I couldn’t be more sure of my ground—the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end. So keep at your work, this faith and love rooted in Christ, exactly as I set it out for you. It’s as sound as the day you first heard it from me. Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us.
I was blessed by what Paul wrote in 2 Tim 1, it reminds me of the faithfulness of our Father, who has called us before the foundation of the earth, and has predestined us to good works in Christ Jesus.
Remember we are in the world but not of the world, we are spiritual not fleshly. We are a chosen people, set aside for the Father's own purpose. Our Father knows the end before the beginning. We not only trust the Lord, He is our trust, and we will be fruitful even in dry places.
Grace on your journey.
Doug
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Agreeing with the Father
I am in Brazil with Mitch doing some meetings with some bible college students. Last night Mitch was talking about the story of Jesus, when he was baptize by John. When he came out of the water they heard a voice saying, this is my son in whom I am well pleased. Then the next thing that happen was that the Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil and to fast for forty days.
I was thinking that so many times when we hear a word from the Lord, we get so excited that God has spoken to us about our purpose and destiny, Then we are lead into the wilderness to be tempted, to see if we really believe what the Lord has spoken.
Notice that when the devil came against what God had spoken about Jesus, that Jesus didn't feel the need to prove himself to the devil, but just spoke to the devil what the Father had spoken. If Jesus had fallen into the trap of trying to prove to the devil what God had spoken, then the devil would have been the judge to rule on what God had spoken. Jesus just agree with what the Father had said.
I think that it is good to just agree with what the Father has spoken and let the devil see that he is the liar and the truth is not in him.
We don't have to prove anything to him and we don't have to perform for him.
Let us be the people that takes the Father at His word and see His Kingdom established in us and around us.
Food for your thoughts.
Blessings on your journey.
Doug
I was thinking that so many times when we hear a word from the Lord, we get so excited that God has spoken to us about our purpose and destiny, Then we are lead into the wilderness to be tempted, to see if we really believe what the Lord has spoken.
Notice that when the devil came against what God had spoken about Jesus, that Jesus didn't feel the need to prove himself to the devil, but just spoke to the devil what the Father had spoken. If Jesus had fallen into the trap of trying to prove to the devil what God had spoken, then the devil would have been the judge to rule on what God had spoken. Jesus just agree with what the Father had said.
I think that it is good to just agree with what the Father has spoken and let the devil see that he is the liar and the truth is not in him.
We don't have to prove anything to him and we don't have to perform for him.
Let us be the people that takes the Father at His word and see His Kingdom established in us and around us.
Food for your thoughts.
Blessings on your journey.
Doug
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Being a Friend
Here are a few thoughts on being a friend.
Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.
Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped
This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.
Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
Friendships are eternal, we need to be friend to have a friend.
Let's learn how to be a faithful friend of God's and to one another.
Blessings
Doug
Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.
Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped
This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.
Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
Friendships are eternal, we need to be friend to have a friend.
Let's learn how to be a faithful friend of God's and to one another.
Blessings
Doug
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