Bless dear Chuck! Let us rejoice with him.

My Friend in Jesus,

I must share this with you. When Marge breathed her last breath I was suddenly gripped with a grief deeper than any other before, even greater than the grief I suffered at 10 yrs. of age when my mother died.

I prayed the Lord would help me to gain a perspective of this experience in which what I was missing by her death to what Marge was gaining. Naturally we all suffer from the loss of a loved one. But I didn’t want that to be my focus stealing from me and others something that would bring a priceless joy and hope she has been given that we could now share together with her.

I was reading John 14 from “The Living Bible” words Jesus spoke to His disciples just before He was to leave them: “If you really love me you will be very happy for me, for now I can go to the Father Who is greater than I am.” (Jn. 14:28 LB) THAT’S IT! It was as if Marge was speaking to me! All at once there came such peace and a joy flooding my spirit and soul! I can now share with her that Joy beyond all joys of going to the Father!! Since then I’ve thought of that show “The Price Is Right”, when one wins the “Big One” the winner dances up and down and runs around screaming with delight. Guess what? Everyone else in the audience is doing the very same thing: dancing up and down with the winner!! You would think everyone in the audience had also won. I choose to dance up and down with Marge for having won her contest of receiving the price Jesus paid for her grand entrance into her place already prepared for her. So....let’s all, each and everyone of us, start jumping up and down screaming our joy-filled delight with and for her because her win is ours, too! God will then be glorified. Amen?....AMEN!!

November 28, 2012

chuck (‘n marge)

Joseph of Arimathea and the Kingdom

Mark 15:42 and onward.

“Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Counsel, who was waiting for the Kingdom of God.” This man’s hope drove him – a hope that the Kingdom of God would appear on earth. That desire was so intense that it drove him to do something that took more courage that I can imagine. That is, after a criminal died by crucifixion or any other means, the body, if not to be thrown on to a pile, is to be handed over to the family. Jesus has no family there – just Mary, and she was from Galilee. What could she do, in any case?
Whether Mary hoped to do something or not we do not know. What we do know is that a man named Joseph, a notable Jewish Councilman of Judea, stepped out and did a most amazing Kingdom-like thing. Before his fellow hateful Councilmen and before all Jerusalem, he determined to be the one to receive the lifeless body of the supposed terrorist, Jesus, and dispose of the body in some way or other. He had to obtain permission from the Roman official, Pilate. He did so without hesitation. I wonder what Pilate thought. He may have had some sympathy with Joseph because he could see no evil in Jesus.

Then he bought some linen cloth, and (it is hard to believe) “he took down the body” from the accursed cross. What a scene. This is something quite extraordinary. Joseph took the body of Jesus. If Joseph had hoped that Jesus would set up his Kingdom, what hope did he now have, because Jesus is dead! Evidently the compelling hope that the Kingdom of God would appear could not be squelched in Joseph – even though all the evidence before him should have shattered that hope. Jesus is dead!

Was Joseph burying a broken dream – an unfulfilled promise? We know not what prompted him to do all this.

As for us, we know that Jesus’ death was not the end of the Kingdom dream, but was absolutely necessary to bring about that Kingdom. We stand amazed at what this man did – in face of popular hate and vilification. Joseph actually embraced and identified with this suffering, dead Jew.

If Joseph did this driven by hope, then I should do so driven by the knowledge that the Kingdom is come, it is here, because of the finished work of eternal atonement wrought by Jesus Christ.

A brother reflects - night when ballots were counted

Dear Saints,

I have as most if not all of you been seriously stalking the Presidential campaign as it unfolds with earnest desires and prayers. I was viewing the election procedure Tuesday night with a growing uneasiness as “my” candidate began well but was fading as key states were being counted against him. Wearily I crawled into bed but got up hopefully at about 4:30 this morning only to realize “my” man was out of it!

A few days ago I was thinking what if the “other” candidate won, “How then shall I live?” As I sat there praying asking God that question it seemed He was revealing to me that I should keep on living as I have been: with hope, “by grace through faith” just as I did starting out on this wonderful journey.

But then, as I sat there watching the proceedings it suddenly hit me: “my man” didn’t win...you’ve gotta be kidding! This idea of living by grace through faith thing was to become my mode for living in whatever circumstance may develop from this election on! But then....while I was sitting there mourning “my” man’s loss I turned and looked out the window and saw this star in the eastern sky shining brightly. It was the morning star shining ever so brightly! It was announcing to the world that the dawn of a new day was approaching soon.

Looking at that star I began rejoicing! You know why don’t you? One of the names describing Jesus is our “Bright Morning Star”! Our world is a dark foreboding dismal swamp getting darker and darker. To the believer Jesus is our “Bright and Morning Star.” (II Peter 1:19, Rev. 22:16) He is shining brighter and brighter announcing the dawn of a New Day that’s coming soon! I decided at that moment I am going to keep looking up at that Morning Star no matter what develops around me inviting others to join me in that anticipation. So, Saints, that Star is still shining and will continue to become brighter and brighter until that sudden daybreak! “How then shall we live?” Live by grace through faith in the unfading hope that a glorious New Day is dawning...very soon

Charles E. Higgins

clerhig1@cox.net

Mark 14: 10, 14

Mark 14:10  Judas struggled with the claims of the two kingdoms.  Either follow Christ as King and Lord even though it looks like things are going dreadfully wrong - or trying to figure it out for himself.

Mark 14:12.  On the first day of the feast.  The setting for more lessons about what Jesus came to do - establish an absolutely new thing on the earth - the Kingdom of Heaven with Jesus as king.

The disciples prepared the Passover.  Little did they know that the greater Passover was being prepared that will institute Christ's reign among all mankind. This Kingdom will be established, not on the blood of a lamb but on the Blood of Jesus Christ, God's son and Messiah.

I note that the disciples did not choose the place for the meal - Jesus did - but they played a key role in the Kingdom by doing what they are asked to do - and doing that as well as they could.  They prepared as best they knew how and obviously did well - making sure everything was there and in place.

Life in the Kingdom of Heaven is in reality taking one step after another in obedience to what the Holy Spirit desires.  It is not always logical, on our terms, but that should not daunt us.  Obedience is the hallmark of life in the Kingdom, not human logic that says yes or no depending on what seems right.

Signs of the Kingdom in Mark 14

Jottings on Mark 14 – reflecting on the Kingdom of God.

The events in this chapter delineate the fundamental truths concerning the Kingdom of God. In Chapter 13 Mark recorded Jesus’ teaching about the Kingdom. In Chapter 14 he describes the narrative of how it proceeded, in stark detail.

V 1. Now. The climax is just ahead. The ultimate show-down between the two kingdoms, the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God.

V 3. First, however, I see Kingdom values in what happened in the home of Simon, the leper. I am trying to grasp what was happening here. Had Jesus healed Simon in the past? Probably so. At least, I am assuming that Simon was healed and pronounced clean in the way stipulated in the Levitical law. So the home was probably ritually clean even though it had a history of leprosy. A clear sign of God's grace at work. In any case, it was the home of a person who knew of the grace of God personally. Any leper who recovered was a recipient of God’s grace. So, was Simon not a thankful beneficiary of God’s grace, even if the details are not given?

Then enters this woman. John tells us she was Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Their houses were probably near to one another in Bethany, near Jerusalem. I can not recall that we have record of what Jesus may have done for Mary, except raising her brother Lazarus from the dead, perhaps. She loved Jesus dearly and hung on to his every word. As I read this, therefore, it does not appear that she is offering a thanksgiving sacrifice but an offering of spontaneous love for Jesus – not really knowing rationally what she is doing. It was the result of spontaneous, overpowering love.

But Jesus knew, and for him it was a word from heaven – he was being anointed with funerary ointment not after but before his death. Jesus’ Father in heaven moved Mary, I do believe, to do this utterly unexpected thing that defied explanation as an insight into what Jesus was about to do, pour out his life for sinners.

So what Jesus was about to do echoed the theme of Mary’s anointing – we stand surprised by that unfathomable gracious act, his self-giving to death that we might live, carrying our sins upon himself – making reconciliation with God possible and near. It is inexplicable but comfortingly true.

A word of wisdom passed on by Chuck HIggins

Sometimes the Lord calms the storm...and...at...other times He lets the storm rage and calms His child.

The Secret by Festo, submitted by the McJunkin's

THE SECRET

By Festo Kivengere
What is the secret of keeping zeroed in on Christ in the midst of everyday pressures? That’s a million-dollar question and a beautiful one. I wish I had a very simple way of telling you. The only way I know for a distracted mind to keep zeroing in on Christ is by the work of the blessed Comforter, the Holy Spirit.

How does he do it? Some of us think that it is by giving us more and more gifts. No, no, no. There is only one magnet which God uses, and the magnet is the Lord Jesus Christ. He can keep your attention when you are tending to wander. He can hold you when you cannot hold yourself. His love is stronger than death, and when it holds a poor man with a wandering mind and with tendencies to fall, that man, that woman, can stand through eternity.

That is the secret. The practical aspect is that I am not always full of love, not always seeing Him. I am many times thoroughly empty. But He loves to fill empties! All you need to do is keep open, that’s all. You keep open by admitting frankly how empty you are. This is where respectable Christianity fails. God does not deal with respectability. He deals with reality. Here I am with an empty heart, or with thoughts that have invaded the inner man and have interrupted the flow of the Holy Spirit. The Comforter is grieved; what do I do?

Go to the hospital. The hospital has one medicine: the love of Jesus Christ. His love breaks me, convicts me and releases me all at once. We Anglicans have a prayer in our liturgy in which we confess that we are “miserable offenders.” We forget that in the New Testament sense, you can weep and laugh at the same time. In other words, Christian repentance does not include a long period of remorse, being put into a sort of quarantine, before you come into grace. You turn from the sin which made you miserable and to the Lord all at once. Joy comes instantly. The two go together in one act. When you are explaining it theologically, it may give the impression that repentance starts a slow process called redemption while, in the meantime, you are left grieving. Not at all! Repenting without looking to Jesus is what Judas did. It turned him into a vacuum, into committing spiritual suicide.

Repenting which turns and sees Jesus is what Thomas did on that second Lord’s day (John 20:26-29). After bitter depression and a week of unbelief, he saw the outpoured love of the Son of God in the wounded hands reaching out to him. Repentance, forgiveness, faith and flooding joy came all in one breath: “My Lord and my God!” When I find I have not kept zeroed in, I turn from my sin or emptiness to the crucified Lord. Forgiveness and fullness come together.

A precious moment with Chuck and Marge,

A heart-warming letter from Chuck and Marge, dear brother and sister of many wonderful years.  Don Jacobs.

Dear Saints in fellowship....

Just a bit of news from Higgins’ Diggins. We do enjoy the lovely place God has provided for us these days of daily renewal. And, we desperately need such days which we receive as one of our Entitlements provided by God’s abundant grace.

Marge and I are suffering the deteriorating effects of our mortality for a while. Marge has been suffering from dizziness for the past 4 years and it isn’t improving in spite of her going to various Dr’s. She is now taking a therapy trying to find the reason for all this hoping this will make a difference. Since I can no longer drive due to neuropathy in legs and feet, in spite of her dizziness, she is my chauffeur and doing very well. If you know of any good “dizzy” doctors let us know!

As I have mentioned I have neuropathy in my legs and feet that began 30 years ago and has slowly increased. I need a walker to get around and am advised by the doctor I should be using a wheelchair later on. Don’t take all this as an organ recital but I’m like an old car with parts wearing out. The most I travel is now going either to the clinic or the Dr. Fatigue seems to take over in my daily routine. I am sleeping with the aid of equipment for “sleep apnea” starting 2 months ago. I hesitate to mention all this knowing as you are reading this you are saying, “I know what you’re saying. You’re not telling me anything.” It’s like the man in reply to the question, how are you, said “Well I’m better than I was but I’m not as good as I used to be before I got as bad as I am now. You know what I mean”?

But you know, through all this God is bringing us such a sense of His presence. I was going through a very dry spell. I didn’t know how to get through it. I opened a book recently I’ve treasured for the past 40 years. It’s written by Dr. Joe Church on the life of an African named Blasio, entitled “Awake”. He was wise during his short years about the way of repentance which burned on his heart. There was something Joe Church wrote about striving in the context of Blasio’s ministry as it referred to the brethren in their fellowship. As I read it, it seemed the Spirit said, “That’s you. You need to repent of that.” I knew what he was writing about because I’ve preached that...given testimonies of victory over that. But as one of the prophets said about straying Israel, “They have forgotten why they had repented.” I realized I had forgotten some very important issues. I had so many dreams of what I’d like to do when I retired. But, as I attempted to bring those dreams to pass I became dry....it was striving. You know, you can have the assurance of salvation without the joy of salvation. I was striving. As I repented in faith of that, the door to the joy of the Lord and the peace of Jesus opened and flooded my soul.... In short, I opened the door to Jesus, He came in and we supped together! You know how it is when you repent, especially from striving in the flesh, there is such a restful rest filled with joy. Praise the Lord!

We’ve been hearing from the politicians what entitlements we should abandon. It came to me that God seems to have an “entitlement” for every need we bring to Him. And, everyone of them is paid for by the precious blood of Jesus. What sense of security this brings us. We often wonder if perhaps the social security offered by our government will have provided enough before we die. Aren’t we privileged to be recipients of the Plan God has provided for our security that extends beyond the moment we leave this corrupted earth! That Plan has been signed by Jesus in His own blood...and has been confirmed by God raising Him from the dead.... giving us a Hope that is reserved for us in heaven! Politicians here make many promises that are impossible for them to fulfill. Nothing like God’s promises that are “yea and amen” forever. So, by His grace we are making God’s “say so” our “say so”. As Paul wrote to the Colossians, “we can even thank God in the midst of pain and distress because we share the lot of those who are living in the light.” (Phillips) I keep chewing on that to get all the juice I can out of it!

I’m sorry for such a long email. But, it’s been on my heart to do it. I bless each of you to the glory of God.

chuck

Charles E. Higgins

clerhig1@cox.net

Warm Beach Fellowship Conference

Ted and Betty McJunkin report on the Warm Beach Fellowship Conference. 

The Lord Jesus faithfully blessed us with his presence and rich grace. Our hearts were blended into one in Him. We experienced a bit of the meaning of John 17 – “that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in you, that they also may be in Us so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” There were just 14 of us, 12 adults and two children. Each person told how the Lord was working in their lives. Our theme was Walking in the Light. We shared together the scriptures in 1 John 1 about what real fellowship in Jesus is, and the need to repent when the Spirit puts His light on our sin, no matter how small, apply the blood by faith and as He gives opportunity, share with others that work of grace, how He brought cleansing and peace and joy by the power of His cross. What blessed me was the “up-to-date-ness” of what was said by each person. We praise Him for what He has done in the past and that has its place, but what is so important is “are you walking with Jesus NOW?”

Ed Bridgeford spoke on spiritual weakness - how Paul delighted in weakness because he could then experience the strength and power of Jesus in his life. Paul speaks often about being weak, “I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” ( 1 Cor 2:1-5) I was reminded of Erma Maust’s prayer, “Lord, I am not willing to be a poor, weak, helpless sinner, but I choose to take that place.” I can’t remember the wording exactly but it went something like that. I am always trying to overcome my weakness or hide it rather than just going to Jesus as poor and needy and trusting Him for whatever the need is. Carol Bridgeford also spoke on an area of weakness in her life and how Jesus is helping her to see the importance of keeping “my mind stayed on Him.” One of the scriptures she mentioned was Philippians 4 – how we are to dwell on those things that are “true, honorable, lovely, anything worthy of praise..” I was thinking as I re-read this passage from Phil 4, 4-9, of that little word inverse 6, “with thanksgiving” – I think that is so key to bringing all our anxieties to Jesus – when we thank Him and trust Him that He will do what He promises!

Ron Bridgeford read from Deuteronomy 4:9 and other scriptures about the importance of fathers and their children and teaching them the way to walk with Jesus. He also told of a time when he had to ask his granddaughter’s forgiveness for speaking sharply to her. We’re not only to teach them God’s Word, but we are to walk with Jesus in our homes. This can only happen as we ourselves keep experiencing the reviving work of his Holy Spirit cleansing us and empowering us. Ron also said he felt a need to remind Christians of the deception that is so prevalent in the churches today, using worldly wisdom to promote growth and numbers rather than relying on the power of the cross. Lois Bridgeford praised the Lord for the way He has provided for them and their family and answered so many of her prayers.

Jon Simonson spoke on Romans 1:11 – Paul says, “For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.” He brought out that fellowship with each other encourages us in our walk with Jesus. Both Jon and Stephanie told how they have been experiencing the power of the cross in their relationship with each other, with their kids and others and gave personal examples of how Jesus was helping them to love each other. Someone suggested true spiritual growth is how quickly we run to the cross!

Jenny Wiswell and her fiancé, Dorr Heston, told of God’s leading the past year. Jenny has been on an emotional rollercoaster with many changes going on (her daughter is getting married this month), but Jesus has brought healing and restoration to these situations/ relationships as she has humbled herself, took her hands off and gave it over to the Lord. He is a Wonderful Counselor and “mender of broken things.” We all rejoiced with Dorr and Jenny as they look forward to their marriage in September. Dorr gave several scriptures the Holy Spirit has used in his life this year as he seeks to be the spiritual leader as a soon-to-be husband. He was very clear that he can’t do it, but Jesus can as he trusts in Him.

Gary Olson (our son-in-law) played the keyboard and led us in singing worship songs/hymns that centered on the power of the cross. He also gave his testimony of how the Lord is using his job to humble him and teach him brokenness. He told how the Lord has been putting light on his attitudes and helping him to see he can’t handle things, but when he is willing to go to Jesus, He brings peace to his heart. Mary (our daughter) helped Stephanie with the kids but was one in spirit with us.

Ted spoke on 1 John 1 and what fellowship in Jesus has meant to him and to us. Daily we need to come to the Light, come to Jesus, individually and together, and He keeps our walk fresh and living. As we were driving to the retreat, the Holy Spirit convicted me of thinking because we didn’t have a “special” speaker, I couldn’t learn anything. He brought James 2 to my mind where it says to be partial is sin. God is not partial. I repented and asked Him to cleanse my heart and fill me with His love for each person. He can speak through anyone if my heart is humble and teachable. He answered my prayer and I was truly blessed and encouraged through every testimony given! Jesus wants to revive and refresh our spirits continually so we can abide in Him and learn from each of His children. He desires that we bear fruit even in our old age but I can only bear fruit if my heart is broken and contrite. That is our prayer. Psalm 92:12-15

We all really liked Warm Beach Conference Center and will try to have our next fellowship retreat there. It is in Stanwood, WA which is about an hour and a half from Seattle. The price is right and it has everything we need. Joshua (6) and Sara (4) Simonson were a delight to have with us. This is the first time we have been able to have kids at our retreats for a long time. We praise the Lord for His bountiful blessings and for letting us experience a deeper bond of oneness in Him together. May He be glorified as we encourage each other to walk in His light so we will enjoy fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and with one another.

Grace and Peace be yours,

Ted and Betty McJunkin

Mary's Lord, Kivengere

How good of Ted and Betty McJunkin to provide transcripts of Festo's clear word of God's grace! Thank you, Ted and Betty. And thank you, Lord, for the messages from the heart of Festo Kivengere.

MARY’S LORD

Festo Kivengere, the late Bishop of Uganda

Jesus, in His mercy and love, one day picked up a bit of broken humanity from the road to disintegration and dismissed the forces that were breaking her life apart. Then, in His almighty love, He put the pieces together and out of that action came a beautiful lady called Mary of Magdala. After that, her whole attention was focused on the Person to whom she owed every drop of her life. To Mary, life was utterly meaningless apart from Christ. Christ was all for her so she followed Him. Words could never put together her love for the Lord Jesus.

Then one day she stood with the others watching what looked like a tragedy, a disaster. This One who had put her life together was taken by rough hands, nailed onto a piece of wood, crucified in shame and desolation, and left there to die. This was so completely shattering to Mary that she forgot what He had taught her.

There are certain experiences that when they take place, they make you forget what had been a treasure to you. You turn away in utter disappointment and complete darkness. She could have turned into a bitter, disappointed personality. However, in John, chapter 20, Mary was at Jesus’ tomb because she could never be comfortable anywhere except as near as possible to the One who loved. She didn’t actually expect to see Him alive; she may have had a faint hope of seeing her dead Lord at least. She was saying, “They have taken away my Lord.” He was her Lord, dead or alive.

If you linger near where Jesus is, you are likely to run into a few surprises. Even if everything is dark and your experiences are dry, stay there. In the end, she saw angels and they spoke to her. Most of us would have left the tomb shouting "Hallelujah” and reporting far and wide about this angelic experience. It was no small thing to see an angel. But this was not for Mary. It was “my Lord,” not “my angel” she cared about. He as the One who had done what no one else could have done for her. It is a wonderful thing when a soul refuses to be satisfied except with the fullness of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps it was a gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit, but something made her turn. Before anything happens to us, we have to turn. There is a turning point which is absolutely crucial. Mary had to turn, and the turning as not easy because in front of her were angels and an empty tomb – a certain amount of comfort. Some spiritual experiences we treasure can actually hinder us from discovering our Lord.

All the time Jesus was waiting there, longing to reveal Himself. When she turned, she saw Jesus, but couldn’t recognize Him. I suppose her tears stopped her. Disappointment created a kind of smog; the atmosphere was rather polluted. The beauty of it was that He had found her. The redeeming feature of New Testament experience is that even though you are miserable and going around in circles, He has found you. This is the unchanging rock on which the church is built. Jesus spoke one word: “Mary!”

Immediately the Spirit of God clarified the atmosphere. The bells of heaven rang. The voice was none but His who had exorcised those dangerous demons out of her life! She heard, and immediately the hearing led to seeing and she discovered Him. She rushed in her excitement to lay hold on the feet of the physical Jesus Christ and He said, “No, you don’t need that. It will break your heart if you hang on to my physical person. You need something more permanent – you need a spiritual encounter so that you know I will never be away from you. When my physical body was taken away, you nearly died. Mary, I am going to give you something that will never leave you again. “So Mary, don’t waste your time touching the physical. You’ve got something more than that. Run quickly!”

She took to her feet to go and tell the story – tell those miserable disciples. They were bewildered in the house, absolutely dejected. Not only did they have no testimony, they were talking about the tragedy of Calvary – disastrous! She burst into the room and didn’t know how to begin. Start with the angels and the empty tomb? No! Her testimony is very clear: “I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!” Mark that. That is the key – “I have seen the Lord. Can you go out to the world at this Easter season and say, “I have seen the Lord.”? That is renewal. Whenever there is revival, attention is fixed on One Important Person. When the Lord is there, all the community of God is on the move, men and women, boys and girls, all talking about Jesus, passing it on. The outside community cannot help feeling the impact. Open up to the influence of the Holy Spirit so that He may reintroduce you day by day into the Presence where tears are wiped away, where disappointments are removed, and where darkness gives way to light so that you can say, “I have seen the LORD!”

A word from Festo via Ted and Betty

Accused in Court
Festo Kivengere

You and I have stood like bankrupts in a court of law. We know what it is to be moral insolvents – to owe millions morally and have not a cent in our moral bank accounts to pay. You turn to one side and there is someone with an “IOU” of love. Instead of loving, you hated, and now you must pay. You turn another way and there is a broken relationship staring in your face. You know you are guilty. You try another direction and you find a paper signed by your conscience saying, “you were not honest here.” Life is full of these accusing documents and your conscience has signed them all. Even the things in your life you are proud of don’t help out now. You may pretend that you have forgotten, but you haven’t.

We owe these debts to Him from whom we came. Most of them we also owe to humanity – to the men and women, boys and girls who stand around us remembering our deeds. They were hurt by the words we spoke, the attitudes we took, the actions we did, the lies we have told. Life seems to one huge courtroom and we stand there bankrupt, trembling, with nowhere to look. We are not able to lift these eyes and look at the eternal, perfect God. Nor can we look at each other. We have become men and women running away from reality with crushing burdens of guilt and fear.

Then, behold! Another One comes. God steps into the court. The Judge Himself has decided to become the “friend of the accused.” Jesus, because God so loved us, took it upon Himself to stand where the guilty one stood, to take on Himself the responsibility of what we owe! Jesus! Bless Him! He is the only one who could have done it, the only one not bankrupt: perfect in His humanity, perfect in love, unlimited in grace. What a Savior!

When the Spirit of God opens your eyes, you look and find you are no longer alone. The Friend who has come to your side is no one else but the Son of God! Love stepped into the courtroom and took up every accusing document. St. Paul wrote it beautifully in Colossians 2:13, 14. He did not cancel the record as with a pen, leaving the figures readable behind. No! He actually wiped the papers clean. He paid the whole debt and wiped your conscience clean. Then He took the charges and nailed them to His cross. As they crucified Him, they crucified all your accusing guilt, and mine. That is the Gospel. That is the excitement, the miracle of New Testament love. This is the kind of forgiveness which can send you out singing from the bottom of your heart: “It is done! I am no longer guilty. The accusation is gone!” This is the kind of forgiveness which can send you straight to those people around you who hold things against you. I had to go to one after another saying, “God has forgiven me, won’t you forgive me too?” Then freedom came! And great joy in reconciliations.

Go Forward

From Betty McJunkin

This morning I was reading some old letters from our dear Tanzanian brother, Matt Nyagwaswa. His words are still full of life and encouragement so I wanted to share them with you.

***************

“I was reading Exodus 14:15 a few minutes ago and this is what God said to Moses. “Tell my people to go forward.” Forward? How could one go forward under such difficult and confusing circumstances? Behind Pharaoh and his strong army produced a cloud of insecurity. And ahead they stared hopelessly at that wide sea of despair! At their right hand and left there were high mountain ranges representing insurmountable problems of every kind. Now tell me, how can one go forward under such circumstances? Yet the Lord knew what He was talking about.

“Go Forward” by faith. Your salvation lies ahead, not behind, not where you are, but forward.

Keep repenting even if no one else is interested in repenting.

Keep walking in the light even if no one else cares.

Keep breaking even if everybody around you carries a stiff neck!

Keep walking even if all others are standing still or even sitting down!

“Go Forward”. The Lord gives the strength, the ability and the needed GRACE only as we obey Him and not in advance! Praise the Lord! He knows we are feeble and weak, but He is strong and able to make us walk in His strength.

As we make use of the rod of our testimony, the sea parts in two and the road is formed for us to pass . What excitement as God does the work while we follow Him.

I am easily discouraged when I am faced with too much work (as I am now), the car needs major repairs, I have to travel to West Africa for a whole month to attend an official seminar (what self-pity and murmuring!). But Jesus says, “Go forward”, for all that you see now, you will not see again. Pharaoh’s army will disappear. The sea will not threaten. Just walk forward with Me. Praise the Lord we are not alone; He is with us.”

Jottings on Ephesians

I find it helpful, in probing the meaning of the passages of Scripture to do so with a pencil in hand and a pad on the desk. That helps me focus and to follow the lead of the Spirit as I move through a passage.

I will share some of my jottings on reading Paul's mighty letter to the believers at Ephesus. Join me if you wish.

Or you might be interested in this kind of Bible Study for yourself. In any case, for a few days I will be sharing my jottings on Ephesians here.

May the Spirit of the Lord enlarge Jesus Christ as we read, think, write and live.

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Eph. 1:1 Paul. Greek name used as he ministered among Greeks.

Apostle, “One of” the apostles. He was not unique in that regard. Furthermore, even though he was not a disciple of Jesus as were many others he met Jesus Christ and was instructed by him in things pertaining to salvation.

Jesus Christ. He center of Paul’s affection, dedication and hope. Jesus is the human name, common among Jews at the time, actually Joshua, and Christ the one from God, came to earth..

By the will of God. Paul did not choose to follow Jesus. He was chosen by God, it was God’s will, and Paul said, “Yes, Lord.” Those to whom Paul is writing have that same calling, all servants of the same mighty Lord Jesus.

Saints in Ephesus. IN EPHESUS
Faithful in Christ Jesus. IN CHRIST

Paul, in these couplets, is laying out the context of his letter. How do followers of Jesus in right where they are? How do they announce the kingdom and invite people into it?

2. “Grace and peace to you.” To receive grace is to know peace because where grace does its good work because of the atoning work of Jesus, peace simply follows. There is no other foundation for peace except to fully receive the full work of God’s grace in our hearts.

The source of grace and truth are, of course, “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” As I unpack this I am impressed with Paul’s testimony. God is our Father and He is also Father of Jesus Christ. We are brothers with Christ, co-heirs, in fact, of all the promises of God.

Lord Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Paul can declare without a doubt that God is the source of peace and grace.

3. First, “praise be to God.” This not necessarily Christian. It is a universal virtue, to thank the creator and sustainer God. Paul is not generic but specific. God is Jesus Christ’s Father! In more than a symbolic sense, certainly. He is real! God is Jesus’ heavenly Father. I can only begin to fathom what that means. Jesus is not a worshipper of God, He is God. Jesus is not inherited. He and His Father have the same genes, so to speak. Beyond all that is the fact that they are one ontologically as well as one in virtue. This is at the core of my faith. Who is Jesus? Paul takes us way beyond biology and essence and introduces us to a relationship that is perfect.

God, the Father, has blessed us... “Has” is an important word, it is finished, it is done. I think Paul is expansive here, because what Jesus accomplished in the Father is available to all, everywhere.

Blessed. A marvelous word, not a reward for a job well done, but a gift of grace. God decides to bless me. I can desire or even pray for that but it is God that initiates all blessing.

What kind of blessing? In OT the promise was usually for personal and communal well=being like health, wealth, and property. Little attention to the spiritual side. Here Paul speaks in certain terms, spiritual blessings. These are the kind of blessings that are won for us by Jesus himself. They do not result from God’s abundant largess, but are the result of the mighty atoning work of Jesus that gives God the opening to pour out his storehouse full of blessings. This is why the work of Jesus is so important for out welfare.

“Every spiritual blessing.” Not every “material blessing.” Jesus tells us to seek first his kingdom and then our needs will be met. If we seek our kingdom first and then get interested in his kingdom, self will still be the center and then we are in jeopardy.

“In Christ.” It is all in Christ Jesus. He is the Lord of all, with his Father and the Holy Spirit.

4. “For he chose us.” Both Jews and Gentiles. This is the mystery that Paul happily shared with everyone; Jesus’ atoning work opens the door to God for everyone who comes through Christ, the covenant in Christ’s blood has no reference whatsoever to Israel or an other nation or culture.

4. “Before the creation of the world.” Some may think that God planned that only through the people called Israel could people truly know God. Then when Israel failed to be an instrument of God’s purposes he had to abandon that plan and institute another. No, Paul asserts, the work of Jesus Christ to give himself so that all people everywhere could enjoy the fulness of life with God is not plan B, but was already accomplished in the heavenlies before the first stara was hurled int space. Jesus is the answer.

“In him.” That means “in Jesus.” As it was determined that Jesus make it possible for sins to be forgiven, then everyone who comes to God is in fact “in Him.”

4. The purpose of God’s calling is not primarily to work for him or even to serve him but the calling of God, the choosing of God, is that we might be “holy and blameless” in his sight. Our calling is the call of a lover to come, walk closely with him. It is a call of love, prompted by love, made possible by love, fulfilled in love. It is not perfection of character, holiness is a love relationship that is so strong and firm that all of life revolves around that relationship.

Of course, it is impossible to be holy and blameless by our own strength and determination. Whom to hide. He becomes our holiness, our blamelessness. Jesus was holy and blameless, now it is up to us to exhibit that same character, flawed though it may be.

“In love he predestinated us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ.” Again, it all flows from God’s love; unfathomable yet as real and essential as anything can be.

It is difficult to try to describe the love of God because all we have are human, earth-bound words and concepts. We will need to wait until we are lifted into a realm with “divine” vocabulary to describe the virtues of our wonderful God. In the meanwhile we use weak terms, like father/son, to tell of the wonders of God’s love.

“He predestined us....” It all begins in his loving his loving heart. We can not choose, we can only accept or reject. God does the choosing.

The more I think about this the more I am convinced that Paul is describing the nature of the Kingdom of Christ, the door is completely open to anyone and that we enter because of an through the atoning work of Jesus.

This choosing does not imply another side, rejection. Jesus made it very clear that all who believe in Jesus are received, by grace. In a way God chooses every person to believe in Jesus but not all do. I think I must abandon the thought that Jesus, God in his love, rejects people simply because he wills it so. That is contrary to all scripture. The choosing, I am convinced that Paul is referring to here has to do with God leveling the ground by the atoning work of Jesus so that both Jews and Gentiles enter in precisely the same way, through the finished work of Jesus. There is no other merit.

4b. “In love he predestinated us.” I find this theme of God’s love again and again. It is all rooted in his powerful love. Because he is love he did it all. And because he loves me, and that is even more astounding, he made plans to make it possible to have fellowship with him, and did everything necessary to make that love do its wonderful work!