Hebrews 10:19-22

"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water"  Hebrews 10:19-22.

Praying to the Father, through Jesus Christ, brings us into the presence of the most holy, positive, righteous, peaceful, serving, giving, humble, merciful, and unchanging attitudes and character that exist in the entire universe.  Psalm 16:11 demonstrates a simplified effect of this in how the attitudes of people we spend time with affect us.  Whether that person's attitude is positive or negative, unless we resist or our attitude is strong, our attitude tends to echo the strength of the others attitudes.  If the other is personally close to us - especially if we deem the relationship important to us - the effect of the transfer of attitudes intensifies.  Similarly, physical nearness also intensifies the effect.

This is why men reflect Satan's spirit.  Satan "broadcasts" it over our entire environment here on earth, thus, we are always "near" it.  In fact, God has willed that at this time it will have no strong competition among the unconverted.  Even we cannot entirely escape its influence; even when in God's presence, we can bring that spirit with us.

Notice that Hebrews 10:22 says "[L]et us draw near...." Nearness enhances the transfer of the qualities of God's Spirit, and He greatly desires we have these qualities because they will make us like Him.  Being in His presence is a primary way this is accomplished.  This is why a person can leave God's presence in prayer at peace, full of joy, or filled with confidence - or on the other hand, chastened, having been led to remorse and repentance.  Drawing near to God has little to do with distance and everything to do with deepening our relationship with Him.  As this occurs, prayer begins to change things - us.

II Corinthians 13:5

"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in faith.  Test yourselves.  Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless you are disqualified."  II Corinthians 13:5.

Examine yourselves - Paul advises in Galatians 6:3-4 "For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another."  The Greek word for examine here is dokimazo, which means, according to Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, "to test, prove, with the expectation of approving."  It can also indicate "to discern" or "to distinguish," suggesting proving whether a thing is worthy or not.

The Living Bible adds clarity to Galatians 6:4: "Let everyone be sure that he is doing his very best, for then he will have the personal satisfaction of work well done and won't need to compare himself with someone else."  We realized it is unwise to compare ourselves with others (II Corinthians 10:12), but there is no need to compare ourselves with anyone else if we seek God's help in making the inner secrets of our hearts plain to us through His Spirit.  Then, we can work on changing what God reveals that He is concerned about in us.

In other words, if we sincerely, with our whole heart, ask Almighty God to make us understand the depths of our beings, He is faithful to do it.  It is then our responsibility to be prepared to repent fully of what God makes plain to us.  This is an easy process to describe, but often hard to follow through on.  Nevertheless, it is part of a continuing process in the life of any Christian who wishes to draw closer to God; it is our work.  We are required to exert effort - sometimes a great deal of effort, even painful effort - to assure our entrance into God's Kingdom (see Philippians 2:12; Colossians 1:23; II Peter 1:10-11).  We cannot leave this labor undone.

Just a Minute

Concerned about money, your job or career, your home? Here's an important perspective about your long-term security.

Time is one of our treasures — perhaps the greatest one. And the Kingdom of God is an investment that requires the time of true Christians. Each day we receive another precious 24 hours. From evening to evening, another 86,400 seconds are credited to our account. And we have to spend every one of them! A day misused is gone forever.
 
Whether you are an oil billionaire riding along proudly in your limousine or a dirt farmer saving for a secondhand tractor, you have an equal amount of the precious treasure of time each day. Are you investing that treasure wisely?
 
How we use our time shows where our hearts are. Other matters that are important to us will receive proper attention only if we first learn how to use our time wisely.
 
Cleverly, Satan has devised a world in which, if we are not careful, we can become so engrossed with inconsequential matters that we have no time for matters of true importance. This is true even in a physical way.
 
For instance, tests have shown that even some executives of the most successful companies waste much of their time on trivia. They are usually unaware of the waste. When these business executives are asked to record, minute by minute, where their time goes, they are usually shocked to discover how many hours are bled away by trifles.
 
Chances are, if you take a hard look at how you use the hours of your life, you, too, will have to admit that too much of your time is oozing wastefully away.
 
Of course, I am not referring to time spent well, in balance. We all need to eat, sleep, work, play and rest. What I'm talking about is wasted time.
 
For example, how much of your day do you spend watching insipid television programs or reading meaningless magazines? Do you waste time worrying? Or being sick because you don't eat right?
 
If you look hard, you will probably find many hours slipping by unproductively. It is a problem we all struggle with. Whenever I check up on myself, I find that much of my time needs to be reorganized.
 
Satan knows that true Christians believe in prayer and Bible study. He knows that it would be almost impossible to shake our belief in the value of those essential areas.
 
Therefore, Satan takes an indirect approach. He tries to keep us so busy with other matters that we become deluded into thinking that we have no time for the spiritually essential areas.
 
He does this by offering many attractive and appealing — but unprofitable and harmful! — alternatives.
 
In addition, the environment around us offers many perfectly wholesome and right pursuits that nevertheless can distract us if we overemphasize them or put them before our spiritual obligations.
 
The result is the same as if we had deliberately decided not to pray or study. We must guard against wasting time in these areas by firmly committing ourselves to doing the important things first.
 
Look at it this way: A photographer focuses his camera on the subject of his picture until that subject becomes clear. If the subject is clear, the photographer doesn't worry if the background blurs a little.
 
We need to do the same with our time. We need to focus on our priorities. The rest of the items requiring or inviting our attention will then appear in their proper perspective.
 
You can redeem your time, and the Bible commands you to do so! The apostle Paul said that we should be "redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16).
 
For example, if you find yourself in need of more time, ask yourself if you really need to read all the details of all the crimes reported in the newspaper. If you concentrated on the major news issues and trends, especially those related to Bible prophecy (the situation in the Middle East and the rise of Europe, for example), and skimmed the rest of the paper, you could still be getting the most important news — and you would be spending your reading time more profitably (Luke 21:36).
 
Once spent, time can never be replaced. We can only live this day today. The best time investment we can make is putting the right amount of time into preparing for the Kingdom of God. God's Kingdom is the only government that will not eventually collapse. That is why we are commanded to redeem the time and use it wisely.
 
Sad to say, some have preferred to invest their time primarily in the things of this world. How about you? How do you compare with the rich man in Mark 10:17-22, who turned down the chance to become one of Christ's disciples because he couldn't bear to part with his goods? He's dead now, his goods long ago divided among heirs, and he has no promise of anything more.
 
Some men and women set themselves a physical goal — a public office or a fat bank account, for example — drive themselves relentlessly toward that goal, deprive themselves of rest and relaxation — then die of heart attacks from overwork and stress just as they attain "success." What a tragedy of wasted life!
 
By contrast, let us read what Jesus instructed His disciples:
 
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).
 
If people without God's Spirit are willing to expend so much for a physical goal, how much more should we be willing to sacrifice our time readying ourselves for the office and the understanding of a God?
 
In this world, we spend so much time acquiring and then maintaining physical things that it sometimes seems that they are controlling us, instead of us controlling them. But stop! Get off the merry-go-round and think just a minute.
 
The Bible clearly shows what is ahead for humanity — more frightful upsets and violence, worldwide, and a time of greater trouble than the world has ever seen (Matthew 24:21).
 
Fortunately, although our property may be destroyed, we as true Christians will be able to claim God's protection from such catastrophic events as Psalm 91, verses 3 to 7, describes, and God also promises to supply our needs (Psalms 37:25).
 
Our enemies can rob us of our televisions and radios. They can steal our fancy carpets and curtains. They can confiscate our homes and deny us jobs. But there is no need to be disheartened if our real treasure is not invested in those trinkets. Unless we let them, our enemies cannot take away our time invested in the Kingdom of Heaven.
 
If we continue to give God our best time now and in the short time remaining in this age, God will give us more time than we can imagine — eternity. Where could you find a better deal?

I Corinthians 11:29

"For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body" (I Corinthians 11:29).

None of us needs to fall short because we misunderstand and thus neglect the importance of what Jesus did in our behalf.

The Contemporary English Version (CEV) renders this verse, "If you fail to understand that you are the body of the Lord, you will condemn yourselves by the way you eat and drink."  The Amplified Bible (AB) translates it, "For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that [it is Christ] body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgment) upon himself."

These translations show two possible understandings of what Paul meant.  The CEV contemplates our overall response in how we, knowing we are Christ's body, conduct our daily lives, whereas the AB focuses on appreciation of Christ's literal sacrifice while actually taking the bread and wine.  Both approaches are correct.  In either case, Passover must affect our life in a positive way, or it brings judgment against us.

Along with appreciation and respect, God desires an understanding so deep, strong and consistent that it motivates us to glorify Him by conforming to His will in our daily life.  This sense of obligation is not a  maudlin sentimentality but is of such sincere and intense gratitude that it gives us insight in the standard of selflessness Christ exemplified.  We must strive to put it into practice in our lives if we are to be like Him and be in our Father's Kingdom.

Put another way, our obligation is to love Them as They love us - not as a resigned attitude of "Okay, I'll do it because I have to" that issues in low-level, letter-of-the-law obedience but a love that expresses itself in fervent, sacrificial affection, as the woman in Luke 7 exemplified.  This level of love is reasonable to pursue because it drives us far beyond mere superficial conformity.  Notice how Romans 12:1-2 draws our attention to this:

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Paul proclaims that this sacrificial love will serve to transform us and provide the proof we need to bolster us in following God's will.

 

Acts 15:8-9

"So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith"  Acts 15:8-9.

The Gentiles' conversion resulted in a serious controversy in the church over whether they should be required to be circumcised.  This major issue resulted in the convening of the first ministerial conference in the history of God's church (Acts 15).  At this conferences, the ministry was led to decide that the Gentiles do not need to be circumcised.

God revealed to the apostles that, under the New Covenant, He makes no distinction between Jew and Gentile.  Regardless of race or ethnic origin, He extends the promises of salvation to any and all whom He chooses to call.  Under the New Covenant, physical descent from Abraham no longer matters because God is concerned only over the person's repentance and faith in Christ.  Those who receive the Holy Spirit after repentance and baptism become "the seed of Abraham."  Additionally, because the purpose and meaning of physical circumcision have been superseded by the New Covenant, there is no need to inflict pain and possible psychological distress on an adult male through this operation.

Peter emphasizes that God looked upon the hearts of the Gentiles and saw their repentance.  Although they were not circumcised, God forgave their sins because of their repentance and faith in Christ and granted them the gift of the Holy Spirit.  They were, therefore, justified by faith and spiritually circumcised, that is, in heart and mind (Romans 2:28-29).  During the Jerusalem conference, God revealed to the apostles that justification fulfilled the spiritual symbolism of circumcision.

How to Convert Lemons

Perhaps you have seen the bumper sticker that reads, "When life hands you a lemon, turn it into lemonade!" 

It is easier to smile at that simple statement than to practice it but its basics wisdom is sound.  The Bible records numerous examples of people who turned defeat into victory and trail into triumph.  Instead of being victims, they became victors.  They tasted sweet success and so can you.

To live successfully in this age and develop as Christians, we must know how to face up to trails (lemons).  Over the year I have found the book of James a real source of encouragement and instruction on this subject. 

"Count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (James 1:2).

Joy?  Ordinarily we count it all joy when we escape trails and temptations, right?  But are we missing something when we think this way?  God tells us to expect trials.  He doesn't say if you fall into various testings but when you fall.

The person who expects his or her life to be easy is in for a big shock.  Christ warned His disciples, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).  Paul wrote that "we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God"  (Acts 14:22).

These are powerful examples for us to follow.

Trials occur in numerous forms.  Some trials come according to our age.  Young people, teens, for example, face trials that accompany their physical growth and maturity into adulthood and test that come through learning to keep in check their natural human desires and bodily cravings.

Older people are not exempt from these same tests, since the battle against sin does not grow easier as we grow older.  Additional trying experiences come with old age, when things we were once able to do we can do no longer.

Specific trials come also with various responsibilities of life.  Parenthood, for example, is delightful and exciting in prospect but in reality it brings its own particular tests and difficulties when children are ill or not not respond readily to child rearing.  As one famous author put it.  "To those people with no children but who think they'd like to have them someday to fulfill their lives remember:  With fulfillment comes responsibility."

Job advancement is a tremendous encouragement but also with the added come headaches and heartaches.

Some trials come simply because we are still human - sickness, accidents, disappointments, family tragedies.  Other trials come because we are God's children.  Satan, the god of this world (II Corinthians 4:4), fights us daily and the world opposes us and this makes for a lifelong battle.

In James 1:2 the phrase "fall into" does not suggest a clumsy accident.  Commentaries render its meaning as "encounter, come across unexpectedly, so as to be encompassed by them [trials]."  As intelligent people we certainly should not manufacture trials for ourselves.

Trails are referred to as "various" - they are as manifold and varied as the designs and colors you might view in a kaleidoscope.  Peter use the name word in I Peter 1:6: "You have been grieved by various trials."  The trails we face are not all alike; they are like many-colored yarn that a weaver uses to make an expensive Oriental or Persian rug.  God arranges and mixes the colors and experiences of life.  The final result is a beautiful product for God to view and use for all eternity.

A fine Oriental or Persian rug is an original piece of craftsmanship.  Each rug is knotted on a loom.  The more knots per square inch, the better the rug.  A fine wool rug has almost 400 knots per square inch.  It takes a skilled weaver up to three months - and lots of patience - to make a typical 9 by 12 foot rug.  One way to tell if the rug is genuine or not is to look for small but obvious flaws that are a valued characteristic of a hand-knotted rug.  Machine-woven rugs appear perfect.

The key word in James 1:2 is count.  It means to consider, to think over carefully, to evaluate what is happening.  Paul used it several times in the book of Philippians.

When the apostle Paul was converted he evaluated his life and set new goals and priorities.  Things that were once important to him became worthless garbage or as he put it, dung.  When we face the tests and trials of life, we must evaluate them in the light of what God is doing with us.  He is the master weaver.

This explains why the dedicated Christian can have joy in the midst of trials:  He or she lives for the things that really matter.

Trials, therefore, properly understood, cause joy.  We can now appreciate James' opening words: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (James 1:2).

Perhaps the most important lesson we must learn from what James says is that the benefit we receive from trials depends on to a large degree upon how we look at them and the spirit with which we handle them.

When God tells us to be happy and count it all joy, He is telling us to look at problems from the positive side; those wretched problems we have can be turned into real profit.  We simply cannot lose.

Ask God for a positive attitude toward your trials.  He will respond.  Reread the book of James.  Turn your lemons (trials) into lemonade (triumphs).

John 6:44

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day."  John 6:44

Our calling, our life in Christ begins when the Father directly interfaces with our mind for the purpose of revealing Himself, His ways, His purpose, His plan, His mind, His attitude, His perspective, His character, His love, His power, His mercy, His forgiveness, and on and on, that we might use our life and free-moral agency to choose life - which goes to Deuteronomy 30 and its context.

But most important is that the Father Himself does this.  God miraculously joins His own mind to ours.  there is nothing mysterious about this at all.  He begins to transfer His thoughts, His attitudes, His character - the Spirit of His mind - into our minds.  When it tells us, "Grieve not the Spirit of God," he manes, "Don't grieve the Father by resisting Him."  He is transferring the invisible essence of His mind through the access that we have to Him by means of the death of Jesus Christ.  He is by no means kidding about the importance of this process.  He is helping us to understand that, even as we are influenced by those around us, unless we are in the presence of God, we will not be influenced by Him.  This is why it is so vital for us to share life with Him.

This is where prayer and Bible study become important because we are literally in His presence and He can transfer the essence of His mind into ours.  Nobody sees it.  When we obey, we are giving Him permission to do this.  We submit, using our free moral agency.  There is nothing magical about this at all.  It occurs when we respond to the influence of the interface that He creates between us when we believe His Word and submit, and when we strengthen the relationship through prayer, Bible study, and mediation.