Unrecognized
By Shirley Mitchell
"Jesus replied, 'You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.' "
Matthew 22:29
I just finished reading this fiction trilogy about a world where the spiritual things that happen in our world are more visible. In our world, the forces of good and evil cannot be seen. We can only see their effects. In the world of the book, good and evil were obvious and marked by visible traits.
One of the books paralleled the time of the Old Testament. Sin was seen on those who had not accepted the book's analogy to the Law of Moses in the form of a disease. Their skin rotted, and their flesh stunk. The people of God, Elyon, daily washed themselves, cleansing themselves from sin just like the Israelites offered sacrifices in the temple. It was obvious the book was setting up for Jesus to come on the scene in a stunning way so I waited for Him to show Himself.
While I waited, there was this one character that I just didn't like. The first mention of him was when the second in command of the army asked Elyon if any should die in battle that day, let it be that traitor. He had turned down a promotion in the army just when he was needed the most. He lived as an outcast from the others.
He abandoned their pillars of the faith. Their religion consisted of rules and celebrations and traditions meant to keep the people from straying, but he turned his back on their religion and spoke of heresy. He possessed the audacity to defy the religious leaders that I had respected in the book. He spoke of peace with the enemy, instead of killing the enemy who hunted them down and would slaughter them all including women and children. His talk was treasonous.
His voice was confident and the voice of a leader. Some thought it was no wonder he'd bewitched so many. They knew the enemy bewitched their own with slippery tongues and black magic. He talked about waging a new kind of war. He spoke with arrogance.
His popularity was great. The crowds cheered and chanted his name. Never before had there been such a display of worship for one man. He claimed the authority of the Creator. I wanted to shout to the crowd, "Don't you know that he is a deceiver? He is a manipulator!"
When he encountered children, he sickened me how his eyes sparkled and face lit up. Some people said that he deceived the innocent with a few soft words. For one little girl, his voice was like magic, and she was a princess swept off her feet. For me that was it! The blood rose up the back of my neck. My jaw clenched, and my nostrils flared as a deep breath came out of my nose. How dare he deceive a sweet innocent girl!
Then the story turned when he brokered a deal with the enemy army and the chief religious leader for peace and appointed a time to fulfill it. Then, this man that I thought was a traitor found the leader of the army's wife wounded and dying alone. Compassionately, he kissed her on the forehead, and told her to trust in the plan no matter how terrible or what the cost. Then he said, "Remember me." When he said "remember me" both the woman's and my eyes were opened. This man was the book's analogy to Jesus!
I was horrified! I was a blind Pharisee. I had not seen the signs just like the Pharisees did not recognize Jesus as their Messiah and the Son of God. Just like they held too tightly to tradition, I held too tightly to the religious way of life that the book had indoctrinated me into. I thought he was sowing doubt into truth and leading people astray. Yet, he was speaking the truth. I didn't recognize him even though I was looking for Messiah to come! I didn't identify him out of the cast of characters even though I know the story well of the true Messiah.
Just like this so called "traitor" in the book challenged the traditions of the religious leaders, so did Jesus. Jesus silenced the Sadducees (Matthew 22:34) by telling them they were in error because they did not know the Scripture or the power of God. When the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus in His words, He knew their evil intent and said to them, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?" (Matthew 22:15, 18) None of these teachers of the Law recognized who He was.
I thought how easy it is then for us to not be able to recognize God's activity in our world today. Beloved, you and I must be diligent to have eyes that see God's plan for our lives and not to resist Him when He is doing a new thing. We cannot be blinded to the stage that God is setting - both for His plans for us as individuals and for the world. How hard will it be with as many prophetic preachers that there are for God's people to see the truth about the last days as they are unfolding before our eyes. Let's ask God for His vision of people, our personal world, and the events of the world today.
Pray with me: Oh, Lord, how easy it is for us to be deceived. We live in the days of deception. We see many unaware and unable to recognize what You want done on earth. We don't want to be duped, deluded, or tricked so, God, fill us with truth. Sanctify us with Your truth. Let us have spiritual eyes to not fall for the ploys of the enemy. May we not be taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ (Colossians 2:8), but may we be liberated through the Word of God and power of the Spirit. It's in the Name above all names, in Jesus' Name, Yeshua's Name, we pray. Amen.
Copyright 2009 © Christ Compels
"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Persistent Prayer
Persistent Prayer
By Shirley Mitchell
"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: 'In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' " And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?' "
Luke 18:1-8
Through the parable of the persistent widow, Jesus taught His disciples the necessity of praying always and never giving up. He knew that we are prone to wander and prone to walk by sight, not by faith. Therefore, He exhorted His disciples to pray tenaciously.
The persistent widow prayed always and with determination. She kept coming to the uncaring judge and pleading with him to grant her justice. The Greek word for "give up" is ekkakeo. It means "to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted...to turn out to be a coward, to lose one's courage, to be fainthearted, to faint or despond in view of trial, difficulty...to be remiss or slothful in duty." Its antonyms are "to take courage, to speak boldly, to dare, to be very bold, to flourish again, to revive."
This widow was courageous and bold. She did not abandon her duty, nor did she choose to be spiritless. She dared to approach the only one who could avenge her adversary. She refused to lose heart. She refused to give in to the pain in her heart. The widow had the rawest emotion over this situation. She was deeply emotional over it. Even though Scripture does not record her anguish, we know that a person does not continue day after day to plead for justice unless she is deeply passionate about it. Don't minimize how hard this was for her. Still she did not give up. She may not have caused it, but she had to deal with it. Still she did not give up. Her situation may have gotten harder before it got better. Still she did not give up. When our hearts are in so much pain, we can either release it to emotional numbness, or we can release it to God. What God is saying is that even if we try to deaden the pain and say we do not care, He still cares. He still cares about our wound. He wants us to deal with it - with Him.
God and the judge are similar because both have the authority and the ability. However, God is different from the judge because He delights in granting justice to His chosen ones. He greatly cares about our requests. Jesus was saying that God was not unjust and would not treat believers in this manner. His point for comparison was that if an evil man can be forced to deal rightly by the persistence of the widow, how much more would our loving and caring Father deal rightly with our requests. The unjust judge did not care about people, nor did he care about God. He never saw his position as a champion to aid the people. He saw the widow as a nuisance and ignored her. However, the widow used her only power - persistent requests. It irritated the ungodly judge and wore him down. She never won his concern. He was only concerned with removing the annoyance.
Beloved, we need to know that how we live our lives is either sowing to the Spirit or sowing to the world or our flesh. If you and I are sowing in a manner that pleases the Spirit, then we will reap from the Spirit. When we sow to the Spirit, we will reap from the Spirit. A spiritual harvest will come. Our sowing may be pure-hearted, but it may not be fun. As Psalm 126:5 says, "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." We may sow in tears, but we will reap with songs of joy! For the times that we have cried so much and have no appetite, we will reap. For the times when the only thing we have eaten is the salt of our tears that left our faces chaffed, we will reap. If you and I will cling to Him and not dishonor His name, then He is bound by His name to reap the harvest.
Sometimes God has a yes to our request but it's in the future. In our instantaneous culture, we can't imagine waiting for something months, years, or even decades. We abuse our persistent prayer command. We stomp our feet and demand it now. Sometimes God gives us what we asked. He turns us over to our own desires. He says, "Child, you want this more than you want intimacy with Me and my presence. So have at it." Since we know that we could be asking for something that is not in God's will or not in His timing, causes some of us to shrink back and drop the request. We want to avoid the road of overindulgence that breeds sin so much that we don't take the path of greater intimacy. Actually, it should inspire us to pursue His will and to know His thoughts on the subject! God will speak over it - if we are diligent and patient to hear Him in his time.
At the beginning of my walk with God, I had this mentality, "I don't see how prayer works. It must work for others who are more godly than I am. It doesn't work for me. I am pouring my broken heart out to God, and I am not seeing any answers. He is not involved in my life." In reality, it was like I had called 911 and wondered why God wasn't responding with the promptness of an emergency ambulance. I had a "give-it-to-me-now" mentality. I also thought He would answer dramatically. I didn't know He would answer in tiny, gradual moves, nor did I realize the answer would involve changing me! Now, when I see how He has transformed my life and my mind in a short period of time relative to my lifespan, I say, "WOW! He sure does answer prayer - so quickly and foundationally strong!"
Many times He has not given me the answer I wanted (quick fix), but the answer that I needed. So when He does not give you and me what we wanted, then we have to know with every fiber of our being that it is because He sees the full picture of yesterday, today, tomorrow, and all eternity. If He doesn't answer us with a "yes," then we trust that His "later" or "no" is always the best plan. Remember, a greater yes has to come with an earlier no. God's "best" answer shines brighter in comparison to the "good" things that passed us by.
Pray with me: Oh, Father, I know that You are loving and good. I know that You care. I bring before You my deepest prayer request. (Tell Him now what it is). Don't be my magic genie and give me whatever I ask. Give me Your best. Give me something of kingdom priority and value. Give me the fortitude to keep asking and let me recognize Your voice when You answer. Don't let me choose the road of overindulgence. Teach me to choose intimacy and let me abide in Your presence. It's in the Name above of names, in Jesus' Name, Yeshua's Name, I pray. Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study
Copyright 2009 © Christ Compels
By Shirley Mitchell
"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: 'In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' " And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?' "
Luke 18:1-8
Through the parable of the persistent widow, Jesus taught His disciples the necessity of praying always and never giving up. He knew that we are prone to wander and prone to walk by sight, not by faith. Therefore, He exhorted His disciples to pray tenaciously.
The persistent widow prayed always and with determination. She kept coming to the uncaring judge and pleading with him to grant her justice. The Greek word for "give up" is ekkakeo. It means "to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted...to turn out to be a coward, to lose one's courage, to be fainthearted, to faint or despond in view of trial, difficulty...to be remiss or slothful in duty." Its antonyms are "to take courage, to speak boldly, to dare, to be very bold, to flourish again, to revive."
This widow was courageous and bold. She did not abandon her duty, nor did she choose to be spiritless. She dared to approach the only one who could avenge her adversary. She refused to lose heart. She refused to give in to the pain in her heart. The widow had the rawest emotion over this situation. She was deeply emotional over it. Even though Scripture does not record her anguish, we know that a person does not continue day after day to plead for justice unless she is deeply passionate about it. Don't minimize how hard this was for her. Still she did not give up. She may not have caused it, but she had to deal with it. Still she did not give up. Her situation may have gotten harder before it got better. Still she did not give up. When our hearts are in so much pain, we can either release it to emotional numbness, or we can release it to God. What God is saying is that even if we try to deaden the pain and say we do not care, He still cares. He still cares about our wound. He wants us to deal with it - with Him.
God and the judge are similar because both have the authority and the ability. However, God is different from the judge because He delights in granting justice to His chosen ones. He greatly cares about our requests. Jesus was saying that God was not unjust and would not treat believers in this manner. His point for comparison was that if an evil man can be forced to deal rightly by the persistence of the widow, how much more would our loving and caring Father deal rightly with our requests. The unjust judge did not care about people, nor did he care about God. He never saw his position as a champion to aid the people. He saw the widow as a nuisance and ignored her. However, the widow used her only power - persistent requests. It irritated the ungodly judge and wore him down. She never won his concern. He was only concerned with removing the annoyance.
Beloved, we need to know that how we live our lives is either sowing to the Spirit or sowing to the world or our flesh. If you and I are sowing in a manner that pleases the Spirit, then we will reap from the Spirit. When we sow to the Spirit, we will reap from the Spirit. A spiritual harvest will come. Our sowing may be pure-hearted, but it may not be fun. As Psalm 126:5 says, "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." We may sow in tears, but we will reap with songs of joy! For the times that we have cried so much and have no appetite, we will reap. For the times when the only thing we have eaten is the salt of our tears that left our faces chaffed, we will reap. If you and I will cling to Him and not dishonor His name, then He is bound by His name to reap the harvest.
Sometimes God has a yes to our request but it's in the future. In our instantaneous culture, we can't imagine waiting for something months, years, or even decades. We abuse our persistent prayer command. We stomp our feet and demand it now. Sometimes God gives us what we asked. He turns us over to our own desires. He says, "Child, you want this more than you want intimacy with Me and my presence. So have at it." Since we know that we could be asking for something that is not in God's will or not in His timing, causes some of us to shrink back and drop the request. We want to avoid the road of overindulgence that breeds sin so much that we don't take the path of greater intimacy. Actually, it should inspire us to pursue His will and to know His thoughts on the subject! God will speak over it - if we are diligent and patient to hear Him in his time.
At the beginning of my walk with God, I had this mentality, "I don't see how prayer works. It must work for others who are more godly than I am. It doesn't work for me. I am pouring my broken heart out to God, and I am not seeing any answers. He is not involved in my life." In reality, it was like I had called 911 and wondered why God wasn't responding with the promptness of an emergency ambulance. I had a "give-it-to-me-now" mentality. I also thought He would answer dramatically. I didn't know He would answer in tiny, gradual moves, nor did I realize the answer would involve changing me! Now, when I see how He has transformed my life and my mind in a short period of time relative to my lifespan, I say, "WOW! He sure does answer prayer - so quickly and foundationally strong!"
Many times He has not given me the answer I wanted (quick fix), but the answer that I needed. So when He does not give you and me what we wanted, then we have to know with every fiber of our being that it is because He sees the full picture of yesterday, today, tomorrow, and all eternity. If He doesn't answer us with a "yes," then we trust that His "later" or "no" is always the best plan. Remember, a greater yes has to come with an earlier no. God's "best" answer shines brighter in comparison to the "good" things that passed us by.
Pray with me: Oh, Father, I know that You are loving and good. I know that You care. I bring before You my deepest prayer request. (Tell Him now what it is). Don't be my magic genie and give me whatever I ask. Give me Your best. Give me something of kingdom priority and value. Give me the fortitude to keep asking and let me recognize Your voice when You answer. Don't let me choose the road of overindulgence. Teach me to choose intimacy and let me abide in Your presence. It's in the Name above of names, in Jesus' Name, Yeshua's Name, I pray. Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study
Copyright 2009 © Christ Compels
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Hope of Glory
Hope of Glory
By Shirley Mitchell
"I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness- the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Colossians 1:25-27
"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)
Colossians 1:25-27 tells about a mystery that has been hidden for ages but is now disclosed to the saints. There are glorious riches in this mystery. This mystery is Christ in us, the hope of glory.
This isn't the only Scripture that talks about what resides in you and me. Second Corinthians 12:9 is another amazing verse. We'll have to go through a language lesson and match it with other verses in the Bible to grasp the fullness of its meaning. The Greek word for "rest" in the phrase "the power of Christ may rest upon me" is episkenoo which means "to dwell, to abide in, to tabernacle." Part of this word is used in John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." The Greek word for "dwelling" is skenoo whichmeans "to tent, or encamp, to occupy or to reside, to tabernacle." John was using a play on words to say that the glory of God seen in the Exodus tabernacle and Solomon's temple had come back to dwell in Israel. God sent the fullness of His glory once again. Only this time instead of being enfolded in a cloud or a pillar of fire, the glory was draped by flesh and bone on Jesus.
Therefore, in 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul was saying that the power of Christ tabernacled in him. In fact, the power of Christ tabernacles in all believers. It is covered by your flesh and my flesh, but it's in there. The Greek word for "power" is dunamis which means "to be able, achieving power." This power is different from other words for power because this power is active, working, and achieving. It is not just possessing the ability. It is working power! The English word "dynamite" is derived from dunamis. Inside you and me is the very power of God! We have dynamite in us that is all accomplishing! Oh, my! Oh, yes! In you. And in me. Hallelujah!
Jesus was the Shekinah Glory of the Old Testament returned in the cloak of human flesh to dwell among us. The Shekinah Glory had come back to Israel. God's glory had walked on the shores of Galilee, had taught in Judea, and had entered the temple during the annual feasts. The glory that the old men longed for in their restored temple was back in Israel. The disciples, the women, the crowds, and even the religious leaders had seen this glory for which others had wished.
Because the nation rejected Jesus as its Messiah, Immanuel left the temple for the final time in the history of mankind. Just as the Shekinah Glory left the temple, ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives, and has not returned, so did the Son of God.Two thousand years of history without the perfect presence of the glory of the LORD.
However, the glory of God still resides here on earth. When the Holy Spirit came, the glory of God came back in secret once again. Only those with eyes that discern the things of the Spirit understand it. In you and me is the Hope of Glory. Christ in us, the Hope of Glory! Jesus Christ lives in us! Jesus lives in you and me! Believers are covenant partners with Him, and we have ingested Him into our entire being. Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah, now lives in us.
This is just another dimension of how I know that Jesus lives. I know that He lives because He lives in me. I am being made new every day and being conformed into the image of God's precious Son. The old sinful Shirley is dying, and the righteous Shirley with Jesus in her is blooming. It is the most alive, beautiful, and wonderful that I have ever felt. So I say, "Keep living in me, Jesus. Keep living in me."
Pray with me: Oh, God, how amazing is it that Christ dwells in us! This mystery that was hidden through the ages was revealed to those who accepted Jesus. The mystery is that the Hope of Glory is in us. Jesus lives in us! We have dunamis power, accomplishing power. Keep living in us, Jesus. It's in Your Name, Yeshua's Name, we pray. Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study
Copyright 2009 © Christ Compels
By Shirley Mitchell
"I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness- the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Colossians 1:25-27
"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)
Colossians 1:25-27 tells about a mystery that has been hidden for ages but is now disclosed to the saints. There are glorious riches in this mystery. This mystery is Christ in us, the hope of glory.
This isn't the only Scripture that talks about what resides in you and me. Second Corinthians 12:9 is another amazing verse. We'll have to go through a language lesson and match it with other verses in the Bible to grasp the fullness of its meaning. The Greek word for "rest" in the phrase "the power of Christ may rest upon me" is episkenoo which means "to dwell, to abide in, to tabernacle." Part of this word is used in John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." The Greek word for "dwelling" is skenoo whichmeans "to tent, or encamp, to occupy or to reside, to tabernacle." John was using a play on words to say that the glory of God seen in the Exodus tabernacle and Solomon's temple had come back to dwell in Israel. God sent the fullness of His glory once again. Only this time instead of being enfolded in a cloud or a pillar of fire, the glory was draped by flesh and bone on Jesus.
Therefore, in 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul was saying that the power of Christ tabernacled in him. In fact, the power of Christ tabernacles in all believers. It is covered by your flesh and my flesh, but it's in there. The Greek word for "power" is dunamis which means "to be able, achieving power." This power is different from other words for power because this power is active, working, and achieving. It is not just possessing the ability. It is working power! The English word "dynamite" is derived from dunamis. Inside you and me is the very power of God! We have dynamite in us that is all accomplishing! Oh, my! Oh, yes! In you. And in me. Hallelujah!
Jesus was the Shekinah Glory of the Old Testament returned in the cloak of human flesh to dwell among us. The Shekinah Glory had come back to Israel. God's glory had walked on the shores of Galilee, had taught in Judea, and had entered the temple during the annual feasts. The glory that the old men longed for in their restored temple was back in Israel. The disciples, the women, the crowds, and even the religious leaders had seen this glory for which others had wished.
Because the nation rejected Jesus as its Messiah, Immanuel left the temple for the final time in the history of mankind. Just as the Shekinah Glory left the temple, ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives, and has not returned, so did the Son of God.Two thousand years of history without the perfect presence of the glory of the LORD.
However, the glory of God still resides here on earth. When the Holy Spirit came, the glory of God came back in secret once again. Only those with eyes that discern the things of the Spirit understand it. In you and me is the Hope of Glory. Christ in us, the Hope of Glory! Jesus Christ lives in us! Jesus lives in you and me! Believers are covenant partners with Him, and we have ingested Him into our entire being. Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah, now lives in us.
This is just another dimension of how I know that Jesus lives. I know that He lives because He lives in me. I am being made new every day and being conformed into the image of God's precious Son. The old sinful Shirley is dying, and the righteous Shirley with Jesus in her is blooming. It is the most alive, beautiful, and wonderful that I have ever felt. So I say, "Keep living in me, Jesus. Keep living in me."
Pray with me: Oh, God, how amazing is it that Christ dwells in us! This mystery that was hidden through the ages was revealed to those who accepted Jesus. The mystery is that the Hope of Glory is in us. Jesus lives in us! We have dunamis power, accomplishing power. Keep living in us, Jesus. It's in Your Name, Yeshua's Name, we pray. Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study
Copyright 2009 © Christ Compels
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Jesus Lives Videotaping.
I'm finishing the editing for the Jesus Lives videos. I'm just so in awe of what God has done to bring this Bible study to life. I'm so grateful to everyone who played a role and participated in it. May God reach people with the truth of who His Son is and the Savior of the world. May He take it to the people that He wants to know Him!
In the World, not of It
In the World, not of It
By Shirley Mitchell
"My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."
John 17:15-17
On Jesus' last night as a man on earth, He prayed fervently for His disciples and for all who would believe in Him through their message. He did not pray for us to be taken from the world to a safe place. Instead, He prayed for the Father's protection for us from the evil one. He prayed for us to not be of the world, just like He was not of it.
We are not to blend in with the world. Part of our identity in Christ is to be peculiar. We are not to participate in the gossip at our workplace. I remember when my friend Paige was a teenager. In regard to her stand against the peer pressure to watch certain movies, she said, "How can I possibly watch that movie and serve God?"
We must guard our minds against the world. We are to be in the world but not of the world. We can't silo ourselves from the world. Remember our God "so loved the WORLD that He gave His only Son" to it. He loves these people so we must love them, too. He hates the sin. He hates cultures where lawlessness abounds, violence invades, and immorality proliferates. If we don't guard ourselves, we will become just like them. The world will lure us and ensnare us.
I will never forget the first time I realized how many of the world's lies that I had bought. In my years of drifting far from God, I had bought everything that the world had to sell. My clothing, my lifestyle, my activities, and my attitudes toward relationships were all the world's opinions. When I learned I was pregnant with my first daughter, I returned to God realizing my desperate need for Him and longing to raise my child to know Him. I stopped watching all TV because I was barely surviving each day. My daughter kept me up all night with feedings, and I worked outside the home. However, I had been feeding on the Word of God, listening to every Christian preacher on the radio as I drove, participating in Bible study (not doing my homework completely but getting there!), and listening attentively to my preacher at church. After my daughter was about eight months old, I finally had settled into the mom role. Then I watched my favorite TV program, the number one show of that day. Within the first five minutes of the show, the Holy Spirit inside of me was grieved. I looked at the clothes the girls wore. I saw their callous attitudes toward sex. I was so saddened that I stood up, pointed my finger at the TV set, and said aloud, "That's a LIE!" I shook as I realized I had bought their entire way of life. I was very upset that I had been deceived to think they were so cute and so hip. I had bought into their beliefs that this was how a woman was to live.
This moment changed me. Now, I assess whatever I put in front of me. You and I must be alert to what we watch on television, listen to on the radio, read in magazines, and surf on the internet. We should ask ourselves, "Is this beneficial for me? Will this please God? Where will this lead me? Will this build me up and make me whom I desire to be in Christ? Can I share this with my Bible study friends?"
Beloved, can you describe a time when you blended in with the world or made a choice to be "peculiar?" Are you living like Jesus commanded us to live "in" the world and not "of" the world? I ask for both of us to allow the Holy Spirit access to even the most restricted places of our hearts and minds so He can reveal to us the areas of our lives where we need to make choices that clearly show we are not blended in but "peculiar" people who are set apart for God.
Pray with me: Oh, God, You are our God! We worship You and exalt Your Name. You are magnificent. You are the sweetest thing that we have ever known. Give us, Lord, the passion we need to be in the world but not of the world. Strengthen us. Make us courageous and unyielding to temptation. May we protect our eyes from the worldly things that we see. Make we cover our ears from ungodly things that we might hear. It's in the Name above all names, in Jesus' Name, Yeshua's Name, I pray. Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study
Copyright 2009 © Christ Compels
By Shirley Mitchell
"My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."
John 17:15-17
On Jesus' last night as a man on earth, He prayed fervently for His disciples and for all who would believe in Him through their message. He did not pray for us to be taken from the world to a safe place. Instead, He prayed for the Father's protection for us from the evil one. He prayed for us to not be of the world, just like He was not of it.
We are not to blend in with the world. Part of our identity in Christ is to be peculiar. We are not to participate in the gossip at our workplace. I remember when my friend Paige was a teenager. In regard to her stand against the peer pressure to watch certain movies, she said, "How can I possibly watch that movie and serve God?"
We must guard our minds against the world. We are to be in the world but not of the world. We can't silo ourselves from the world. Remember our God "so loved the WORLD that He gave His only Son" to it. He loves these people so we must love them, too. He hates the sin. He hates cultures where lawlessness abounds, violence invades, and immorality proliferates. If we don't guard ourselves, we will become just like them. The world will lure us and ensnare us.
I will never forget the first time I realized how many of the world's lies that I had bought. In my years of drifting far from God, I had bought everything that the world had to sell. My clothing, my lifestyle, my activities, and my attitudes toward relationships were all the world's opinions. When I learned I was pregnant with my first daughter, I returned to God realizing my desperate need for Him and longing to raise my child to know Him. I stopped watching all TV because I was barely surviving each day. My daughter kept me up all night with feedings, and I worked outside the home. However, I had been feeding on the Word of God, listening to every Christian preacher on the radio as I drove, participating in Bible study (not doing my homework completely but getting there!), and listening attentively to my preacher at church. After my daughter was about eight months old, I finally had settled into the mom role. Then I watched my favorite TV program, the number one show of that day. Within the first five minutes of the show, the Holy Spirit inside of me was grieved. I looked at the clothes the girls wore. I saw their callous attitudes toward sex. I was so saddened that I stood up, pointed my finger at the TV set, and said aloud, "That's a LIE!" I shook as I realized I had bought their entire way of life. I was very upset that I had been deceived to think they were so cute and so hip. I had bought into their beliefs that this was how a woman was to live.
This moment changed me. Now, I assess whatever I put in front of me. You and I must be alert to what we watch on television, listen to on the radio, read in magazines, and surf on the internet. We should ask ourselves, "Is this beneficial for me? Will this please God? Where will this lead me? Will this build me up and make me whom I desire to be in Christ? Can I share this with my Bible study friends?"
Beloved, can you describe a time when you blended in with the world or made a choice to be "peculiar?" Are you living like Jesus commanded us to live "in" the world and not "of" the world? I ask for both of us to allow the Holy Spirit access to even the most restricted places of our hearts and minds so He can reveal to us the areas of our lives where we need to make choices that clearly show we are not blended in but "peculiar" people who are set apart for God.
Pray with me: Oh, God, You are our God! We worship You and exalt Your Name. You are magnificent. You are the sweetest thing that we have ever known. Give us, Lord, the passion we need to be in the world but not of the world. Strengthen us. Make us courageous and unyielding to temptation. May we protect our eyes from the worldly things that we see. Make we cover our ears from ungodly things that we might hear. It's in the Name above all names, in Jesus' Name, Yeshua's Name, I pray. Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study
Copyright 2009 © Christ Compels
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Late One Night
Late One Night
By Shirley Mitchell
"Late one night he visited Jesus and said, 'Rabbi, we all know you're a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren't in on it.' "
John 3:2 (The Message)
Nicodemus was one of the Pharisees, a group of religious leaders in Israel. We met these leaders when we studied John the Baptist. They are easy to pick out of the crowd for they were the ones pointing their fingers and bearing the proud faces. They were the dry ones - physically and spiritually - too pious to accept the invitation of baptism by John. Nicodemus was a member of a group of 70 men who had given their lives to study and obey the Law of Moses and follow the traditions. He was a man of prominence, wealth, and power. He could have summoned Jesus to his home or addressed Him in the temple. However, he chose to come in the shadows of night.
Isn't it interesting that Nicodemus sought Jesus in the cover of night? Scholars conjecture many reasons why the visit was after darkness settled. Most Pharisees studied the Torah at night after a day's work in the temple. Or maybe he wanted a private conversation with Jesus' full attention and no interruptions. Or was it because he was too afraid of his peers and coworkers to be seen with Jesus? I think it was fear. I picture him looking over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching and pulling his prayer shawl over his head to conceal his face. I wonder if he sneaked past the Romans who guarded Jerusalem or if he had the influence to move freely.
I lived the first part of my life with a desire to keep my faith in Jesus to myself. In college, I was so embarrassed when my older sister placed a bumper sticker on my mother's convertible. The sticker said "Jesus Lives." She branded the most hip car that we ever owned in the family declaring to everyone that we were Christians. My, oh my, isn't it interesting how God can change a heart? Not only would I proudly have that bumper sticker on my car, I want it to be the neon sign of my life! How I long to use my frail mouth with His mighty Spirit to tell precious souls that Jesus really does live today.
Consider what Nicodemus was thinking that led him to visit Jesus. He watched the crowds as they listened to Jesus. He never held their attention like Jesus did. Jesus used simple words, but He taught with power. Nicodemus, Israel's teacher, had never performed one miracle. He had to visit Him and understand how this could be. It would be too bold, and possibly foolish, to talk to Him where the other guys could see.
He was drawn to Jesus because He knew that He was a teacher sent straight from God. No one could do the God-pointing, God-revealing acts Jesus was doing without God's involvement. Jesus was pointing the people to God! Jesus came to reveal God to man and to be His Messenger to us! Jesus replied to Nicodemus in verse 3 of the Message, "You're absolutely right."
Do you think he accepted Jesus as Savior as a result of this encounter? God's Word does not tell us directly. We can only guess by his actions. Nicodemus and Jesus met publicly soon after this private meeting. In John 7:45-52, Nicodemus stands up to the Pharisees who want to bring Jesus in because they think He has deceived the people about the Law. He plays it safe, sticks to the Law, and says, "Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?"
The third encounter helps us to be more certain about Nicodemus' faith. After Jesus died on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple who feared the Jews, asked Pilate for His body. With Pilate's permission he took the body and prepared it for burial with Nicodemus. They brought myrrh and aloes and wrapped the body with strips of linen according to Jewish customs. Both men risked judgment by the religious leaders if it was revealed that they were followers of Jesus. Additionally, Jesus was crucified as a criminal and enemy of Rome. It was dangerous, but they were convinced of who He was and stood for the truth.
Aren't you proud of our shadow walker? His life was changed by the courage that it took one late night to come to Jesus. Later, he took a greater step of courage to risk his life to be involved with Jesus. He did it! Oh, precious one, may you and I be willing to risk something precious to us for the most precious thing in all life - Jesus! May no one be confused about our alliances. May it be evident to all who observe our lives that we believe in Jesus Messiah and live for Him!
Pray with me: Oh, God, we worship You! We exalt You. Give us the courage to seek You even though the crowd may not. Give us the desire to want to understand the deep things of You. May it be obvious whom we are in covenant relationship with. It's in the Name above all names, in Jesus' Name, Yeshua's Name, we pray. Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study
Copyright 2009 © Christ Compels
By Shirley Mitchell
"Late one night he visited Jesus and said, 'Rabbi, we all know you're a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren't in on it.' "
John 3:2 (The Message)
Nicodemus was one of the Pharisees, a group of religious leaders in Israel. We met these leaders when we studied John the Baptist. They are easy to pick out of the crowd for they were the ones pointing their fingers and bearing the proud faces. They were the dry ones - physically and spiritually - too pious to accept the invitation of baptism by John. Nicodemus was a member of a group of 70 men who had given their lives to study and obey the Law of Moses and follow the traditions. He was a man of prominence, wealth, and power. He could have summoned Jesus to his home or addressed Him in the temple. However, he chose to come in the shadows of night.
Isn't it interesting that Nicodemus sought Jesus in the cover of night? Scholars conjecture many reasons why the visit was after darkness settled. Most Pharisees studied the Torah at night after a day's work in the temple. Or maybe he wanted a private conversation with Jesus' full attention and no interruptions. Or was it because he was too afraid of his peers and coworkers to be seen with Jesus? I think it was fear. I picture him looking over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching and pulling his prayer shawl over his head to conceal his face. I wonder if he sneaked past the Romans who guarded Jerusalem or if he had the influence to move freely.
I lived the first part of my life with a desire to keep my faith in Jesus to myself. In college, I was so embarrassed when my older sister placed a bumper sticker on my mother's convertible. The sticker said "Jesus Lives." She branded the most hip car that we ever owned in the family declaring to everyone that we were Christians. My, oh my, isn't it interesting how God can change a heart? Not only would I proudly have that bumper sticker on my car, I want it to be the neon sign of my life! How I long to use my frail mouth with His mighty Spirit to tell precious souls that Jesus really does live today.
Consider what Nicodemus was thinking that led him to visit Jesus. He watched the crowds as they listened to Jesus. He never held their attention like Jesus did. Jesus used simple words, but He taught with power. Nicodemus, Israel's teacher, had never performed one miracle. He had to visit Him and understand how this could be. It would be too bold, and possibly foolish, to talk to Him where the other guys could see.
He was drawn to Jesus because He knew that He was a teacher sent straight from God. No one could do the God-pointing, God-revealing acts Jesus was doing without God's involvement. Jesus was pointing the people to God! Jesus came to reveal God to man and to be His Messenger to us! Jesus replied to Nicodemus in verse 3 of the Message, "You're absolutely right."
Do you think he accepted Jesus as Savior as a result of this encounter? God's Word does not tell us directly. We can only guess by his actions. Nicodemus and Jesus met publicly soon after this private meeting. In John 7:45-52, Nicodemus stands up to the Pharisees who want to bring Jesus in because they think He has deceived the people about the Law. He plays it safe, sticks to the Law, and says, "Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?"
The third encounter helps us to be more certain about Nicodemus' faith. After Jesus died on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple who feared the Jews, asked Pilate for His body. With Pilate's permission he took the body and prepared it for burial with Nicodemus. They brought myrrh and aloes and wrapped the body with strips of linen according to Jewish customs. Both men risked judgment by the religious leaders if it was revealed that they were followers of Jesus. Additionally, Jesus was crucified as a criminal and enemy of Rome. It was dangerous, but they were convinced of who He was and stood for the truth.
Aren't you proud of our shadow walker? His life was changed by the courage that it took one late night to come to Jesus. Later, he took a greater step of courage to risk his life to be involved with Jesus. He did it! Oh, precious one, may you and I be willing to risk something precious to us for the most precious thing in all life - Jesus! May no one be confused about our alliances. May it be evident to all who observe our lives that we believe in Jesus Messiah and live for Him!
Pray with me: Oh, God, we worship You! We exalt You. Give us the courage to seek You even though the crowd may not. Give us the desire to want to understand the deep things of You. May it be obvious whom we are in covenant relationship with. It's in the Name above all names, in Jesus' Name, Yeshua's Name, we pray. Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study
Copyright 2009 © Christ Compels
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Stairway to Heaven
Stairway to Heaven
By Shirley Mitchell
"When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, 'Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.'
'How do you know me?' Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, 'I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.'
Then Nathanael declared, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.'
Jesus said, 'You believebecause I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.' He then added, 'I tell you the truth, youshall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.'
John 1:47-51
Jesus traveled from town to town preaching the good news of the kingdom of God. While He was in Galilee, He called Philip to follow Him. Philip found his friend Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote-Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael questioned how anything good could from Nazareth.
From human eyes, Galilee seemed like the least likely place for a Messiah. It was the farthest province from the holy city of Jerusalem. Culturally, it was the most backward. Galileans were known as the country bumpkins. Nazareth was a small village in the hill country of Galilee. Scholars say the lack of respect by Nathanael was most likely due to an unpolished dialect, a lack of culture, and perhaps a lack of religiousness and morality.
In verses 50-51, Jesus makes a startling promise to Nathanael. He will see greater things than Jesus being merely able to see him under the fig tree. He told him that he would "see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Jesus is making a direct reference to a story from the Old Testament. As a Jewish man, Nathanael would have known it very well. The story is from Genesis 28:12-15a when Jacob left his father's household after he deceived his father and stole his brother Esau's blessing. When he stopped for the night, he put his head on a stone and lay down to sleep. He had a dream "in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: 'I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.' "
In Jacob's dream, the angels were ascending and descending on the stairway to heaven. Through Jacob's ladder, we have yet another picture of Jesus in the Old Testament. God gave Jacob the dream of the stairway to heaven symbolizing that His Son would sacrifice Himself on the cross for mankind, including you and me, hundreds of years later. Jesus would be the Gate to heaven. Jesus connected man to God and gave us access to the throne room of heaven. God promised Jacob in verse 14 "All peoples of earth will be blessed through you and your offspring." Indeed, all people were blessed. Every person no matter her race, class, or education can be saved if she will believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for her sins, repent, and accept Him as her Savior. I am overwhelmed at God's desire to be accessible to mankind. He longs for us to use that ladder to approach Him, sister! Anytime, anywhere.Full access to the throne room.
Jesus promised Nathanael, one of His chosen, that he would see the fulfillment of Jacob's dream. Jacob never could have understood the full meaning of his dream. I understand why Scripture ends after the story Jesus told Nathanael. He must have been left with his mouth gaping open. The story his father had taught him since he was young was going to be fulfilled in front of him! He probably had visions of a royal coronation as Jesus overthrew the Roman rule over Israel with His throne set up and angels all around it. I am sure Nathanael never could have predicted the stairway to heaven would be a Roman cross. Neither would we. Oh, beloved, let's give God room to be unpredictable and to astonish us, too.
Pray with me: Thank You, Jesus, for being our stairway to heaven. You showed Nathanael so many great things. He was astonished that day, many days of the next three years, and the rest of the days of his life! We invite You to keep astonishing us, too. Show us greater things than You already have. Take us deeper with You. When will we ever stop thinking with our thoughts and begin to grasp Yours? Just as You saw Nathanael under the fig tree, You see each one of us. Nothing goes unnoticed. May we take comfort in this. Give us a hunger for Your coronation Day, King of Kings! It's in Your Name, Yeshua's Name, we pray. Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study
Copyright 2009 © Christ Compels
By Shirley Mitchell
"When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, 'Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.'
'How do you know me?' Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, 'I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.'
Then Nathanael declared, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.'
Jesus said, 'You believebecause I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.' He then added, 'I tell you the truth, youshall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.'
John 1:47-51
Jesus traveled from town to town preaching the good news of the kingdom of God. While He was in Galilee, He called Philip to follow Him. Philip found his friend Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote-Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael questioned how anything good could from Nazareth.
From human eyes, Galilee seemed like the least likely place for a Messiah. It was the farthest province from the holy city of Jerusalem. Culturally, it was the most backward. Galileans were known as the country bumpkins. Nazareth was a small village in the hill country of Galilee. Scholars say the lack of respect by Nathanael was most likely due to an unpolished dialect, a lack of culture, and perhaps a lack of religiousness and morality.
In verses 50-51, Jesus makes a startling promise to Nathanael. He will see greater things than Jesus being merely able to see him under the fig tree. He told him that he would "see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Jesus is making a direct reference to a story from the Old Testament. As a Jewish man, Nathanael would have known it very well. The story is from Genesis 28:12-15a when Jacob left his father's household after he deceived his father and stole his brother Esau's blessing. When he stopped for the night, he put his head on a stone and lay down to sleep. He had a dream "in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: 'I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.' "
In Jacob's dream, the angels were ascending and descending on the stairway to heaven. Through Jacob's ladder, we have yet another picture of Jesus in the Old Testament. God gave Jacob the dream of the stairway to heaven symbolizing that His Son would sacrifice Himself on the cross for mankind, including you and me, hundreds of years later. Jesus would be the Gate to heaven. Jesus connected man to God and gave us access to the throne room of heaven. God promised Jacob in verse 14 "All peoples of earth will be blessed through you and your offspring." Indeed, all people were blessed. Every person no matter her race, class, or education can be saved if she will believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for her sins, repent, and accept Him as her Savior. I am overwhelmed at God's desire to be accessible to mankind. He longs for us to use that ladder to approach Him, sister! Anytime, anywhere.Full access to the throne room.
Jesus promised Nathanael, one of His chosen, that he would see the fulfillment of Jacob's dream. Jacob never could have understood the full meaning of his dream. I understand why Scripture ends after the story Jesus told Nathanael. He must have been left with his mouth gaping open. The story his father had taught him since he was young was going to be fulfilled in front of him! He probably had visions of a royal coronation as Jesus overthrew the Roman rule over Israel with His throne set up and angels all around it. I am sure Nathanael never could have predicted the stairway to heaven would be a Roman cross. Neither would we. Oh, beloved, let's give God room to be unpredictable and to astonish us, too.
Pray with me: Thank You, Jesus, for being our stairway to heaven. You showed Nathanael so many great things. He was astonished that day, many days of the next three years, and the rest of the days of his life! We invite You to keep astonishing us, too. Show us greater things than You already have. Take us deeper with You. When will we ever stop thinking with our thoughts and begin to grasp Yours? Just as You saw Nathanael under the fig tree, You see each one of us. Nothing goes unnoticed. May we take comfort in this. Give us a hunger for Your coronation Day, King of Kings! It's in Your Name, Yeshua's Name, we pray. Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study
Copyright 2009 © Christ Compels
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