How he loves
Read Jeremiah 3
I’m sure that during our lifetime we’ve repeatedly done something to upset our parents. We’ve all done it, if it’s not doing our homework or talking back to our parents. There might even be times where we feel like we’ve really messed up and they don’t love us anymore.
This is a similar story to the relationship between God and his people of Israel. They’ve sinned against God so many times that God wanted to divorce the people of Israel. This of course is not how the story ends. At the end of the day God loves us so much still. He loves us so much that he completely forgives us. He invites us to come back to him with open arms. All we need to do is “acknowledge (our) guilt.” He wants to treat us like his children, and bless us with pleasant land. He wants to be with us and bless us. Even though we are so disobedient and sinful God just wants to love us!
“We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don't have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way... He loves us….“
David Crowder Band
-Reflect on where we are disobedient, and ask God to forgive us.
-Mediate on the God’s love and grace for us.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Worshipping Mammon - Jeremiah 2
Worshipping Mammon
Note: All names and places, except Peter Huang and Pastor Ben’s, are made-up.
Read: Jeremiah 2
My first year of serving at WCAC YG was 2002 – oh wow, that was 10 years ago. Freaky. Anyways, in the Doulos team was a young junior whose name is Edgar. I remembered Edgar as a fiercely devoted follower of Christ and quite mature for his age, frankly speaking. In fact, during the Spring of 2003, Pastor Ben invited him to teach junior high Sunday school class. Peter Huang, the harp maestro of Chambana and WCAC YG alumnus, was in that class. He, too, had fond memories of Edgar teaching. Edgar’s family moved to Raleigh, NC for his senior year. He was, and remains, a brilliant man. He graduated in the top 5% of his class at Duke, proceeded to attend Duke Law School, and now is a public attorney for the government. Unfortunately, in the course of his pursuit for success, he lost his faith. Just a few years ago, at the LIFE Conference, the group managed to meet up with Edgar and some were quite disappointed to see how far away from the faith he has drifted. I remember Peter Huang telling me, “Henry, I can’t believe that someone who used to teach us Sunday school can fall away from the faith!” Edgar was, of course, not the only WCAC YG alumnus to drift away from the faith; no doubt some of you may have other names in mind.
So consider the situation when YHWH, the God of Israel, appeared before Jeremiah. The prophet Jeremiah lived in a time of relative prosperity for Israel. This is not surprising. To trace the root of the problem, we need to look at the reign of King Manasseh of Judah (reign ~ 687 – 642 BC). At the time, Judah was a vassal state of Assyria; it was given independent rule because it served the interests of the Assyrian superpower. Archaeologists and ancient Near Eastern historians, based on data found in Nineveh, discovered that Judah was the source of many resources needed by the Assyrians. This meant that Judah grew in prosperity. In an effort to make Judah more marketable to the Assyrian market, Manasseh encouraged Ba’al worship. Even though he eventually repented and rolled back his program of Ba’al worship, the damage had been done. The reforms of King Josiah, Manasseh’s grandson, while approved by God, did not stem the tide of faithlessness.
Enter Jeremiah. Picture the wealth of Wall Street or Michigan Avenue, with all its glittering lights and resplendent wealth. Maybe even picture downtown Naperville, with its idyllic Riverwalk, the Five Guys and Jamba Juice, and the obvious clock tower. And then picture some old guy talking about how God will judge America and how everyone will suffer and be punished. I guarantee you that the police will take him away. Such was the suffering Jeremiah had to endure. In fact, his calling was anything but glamorous. Jeremiah tepidly accepted his calling after God’s exhortation, and after being harassed by the people, God’s only reassurance was, It’ll only get worse. What a calling!
What did Jeremiah preach to earn him the ire of the people? Well, the word of YHWH ain’t pretty. God begins nicely (v. 2-3): When Israel was young she was obedient and followed God through the desert of Sinai to the Promised Land. Now – keep in mind that Israel did sin (cf. Golden Calf), but God in his great mercy did not even bring that great sin up! What a gracious God we worship! But then, things turn south. In verse 7, God essentially scolds the Judeans: I brought you to a great land and all you do is trash it! Instead of following Me, you follow Ba’al! And this “I gave you the best, and you ruined it all!” pattern continues for several verses. Can you imagine how God must’ve felt? This is not the voice of anger, but the voice of utter sadness, the same sadness your parents showed you when they were terribly disappointed in you. It is the same voice we might use for Edgar; you used to be faithful, so ardent in your faith. What happened? Why did you give up Christ?
What was the sin that God accused the Judeans of committing? They gave themselves over to the worship of Ba’al, the ancient Near Eastern god of strength and fertility. Ba’al was a very popular god as he promised financial security in various forms, from agricultural wealth (a very good harvest) to having many wives and children (social security in old age) to strength so that one can defend one’s borders (national security). In today’s context, the equivalent of Ba’al would be money, success, status, power, etc. Jesus was not saying anything particularly new in Matt. 6:24 when he warns that “you cannot serve both God and money.” Little wonder the Judeans hated Jeremiah. Everyone’s doing just fine, making money, and living their lives peacefully. Why do we need this rabble-rouser to come along and talk about how we have disobeyed God, blah-blah? Furthermore, Jeremiah’s message was the last thing anyone wanted to hear – you are wealthy now, but God is going to take it all away! Nobody wanted to listen to that!
But the truth is that the Israelites, by worshipping Ba’al, worship something that was literally “here today and gone tomorrow.” Even today, we still have little idea of what exactly Ba’al was like. Success, like Ba’al, is here today and gone tomorrow. The trouble is that success is very enticing, and always promises to bring eternal health, wealth, and happiness. It never does. That is why it is important for all of us in our relative youths to take seriously our God who is everlasting, who loves us and desires for us always love Him as He loved us. That is also why it is important for us to remember that success is always here today and gone tomorrow. As Jeremiah had prophesied, Israel’s wealth and culture were almost wiped out as the Babylonians invaded and carted off the best and brightest to Babylon. Since then Israel would never regain its former glory. Let this be an important lesson for us to remember.
Note: All names and places, except Peter Huang and Pastor Ben’s, are made-up.
Read: Jeremiah 2
My first year of serving at WCAC YG was 2002 – oh wow, that was 10 years ago. Freaky. Anyways, in the Doulos team was a young junior whose name is Edgar. I remembered Edgar as a fiercely devoted follower of Christ and quite mature for his age, frankly speaking. In fact, during the Spring of 2003, Pastor Ben invited him to teach junior high Sunday school class. Peter Huang, the harp maestro of Chambana and WCAC YG alumnus, was in that class. He, too, had fond memories of Edgar teaching. Edgar’s family moved to Raleigh, NC for his senior year. He was, and remains, a brilliant man. He graduated in the top 5% of his class at Duke, proceeded to attend Duke Law School, and now is a public attorney for the government. Unfortunately, in the course of his pursuit for success, he lost his faith. Just a few years ago, at the LIFE Conference, the group managed to meet up with Edgar and some were quite disappointed to see how far away from the faith he has drifted. I remember Peter Huang telling me, “Henry, I can’t believe that someone who used to teach us Sunday school can fall away from the faith!” Edgar was, of course, not the only WCAC YG alumnus to drift away from the faith; no doubt some of you may have other names in mind.
So consider the situation when YHWH, the God of Israel, appeared before Jeremiah. The prophet Jeremiah lived in a time of relative prosperity for Israel. This is not surprising. To trace the root of the problem, we need to look at the reign of King Manasseh of Judah (reign ~ 687 – 642 BC). At the time, Judah was a vassal state of Assyria; it was given independent rule because it served the interests of the Assyrian superpower. Archaeologists and ancient Near Eastern historians, based on data found in Nineveh, discovered that Judah was the source of many resources needed by the Assyrians. This meant that Judah grew in prosperity. In an effort to make Judah more marketable to the Assyrian market, Manasseh encouraged Ba’al worship. Even though he eventually repented and rolled back his program of Ba’al worship, the damage had been done. The reforms of King Josiah, Manasseh’s grandson, while approved by God, did not stem the tide of faithlessness.
Enter Jeremiah. Picture the wealth of Wall Street or Michigan Avenue, with all its glittering lights and resplendent wealth. Maybe even picture downtown Naperville, with its idyllic Riverwalk, the Five Guys and Jamba Juice, and the obvious clock tower. And then picture some old guy talking about how God will judge America and how everyone will suffer and be punished. I guarantee you that the police will take him away. Such was the suffering Jeremiah had to endure. In fact, his calling was anything but glamorous. Jeremiah tepidly accepted his calling after God’s exhortation, and after being harassed by the people, God’s only reassurance was, It’ll only get worse. What a calling!
What did Jeremiah preach to earn him the ire of the people? Well, the word of YHWH ain’t pretty. God begins nicely (v. 2-3): When Israel was young she was obedient and followed God through the desert of Sinai to the Promised Land. Now – keep in mind that Israel did sin (cf. Golden Calf), but God in his great mercy did not even bring that great sin up! What a gracious God we worship! But then, things turn south. In verse 7, God essentially scolds the Judeans: I brought you to a great land and all you do is trash it! Instead of following Me, you follow Ba’al! And this “I gave you the best, and you ruined it all!” pattern continues for several verses. Can you imagine how God must’ve felt? This is not the voice of anger, but the voice of utter sadness, the same sadness your parents showed you when they were terribly disappointed in you. It is the same voice we might use for Edgar; you used to be faithful, so ardent in your faith. What happened? Why did you give up Christ?
What was the sin that God accused the Judeans of committing? They gave themselves over to the worship of Ba’al, the ancient Near Eastern god of strength and fertility. Ba’al was a very popular god as he promised financial security in various forms, from agricultural wealth (a very good harvest) to having many wives and children (social security in old age) to strength so that one can defend one’s borders (national security). In today’s context, the equivalent of Ba’al would be money, success, status, power, etc. Jesus was not saying anything particularly new in Matt. 6:24 when he warns that “you cannot serve both God and money.” Little wonder the Judeans hated Jeremiah. Everyone’s doing just fine, making money, and living their lives peacefully. Why do we need this rabble-rouser to come along and talk about how we have disobeyed God, blah-blah? Furthermore, Jeremiah’s message was the last thing anyone wanted to hear – you are wealthy now, but God is going to take it all away! Nobody wanted to listen to that!
But the truth is that the Israelites, by worshipping Ba’al, worship something that was literally “here today and gone tomorrow.” Even today, we still have little idea of what exactly Ba’al was like. Success, like Ba’al, is here today and gone tomorrow. The trouble is that success is very enticing, and always promises to bring eternal health, wealth, and happiness. It never does. That is why it is important for all of us in our relative youths to take seriously our God who is everlasting, who loves us and desires for us always love Him as He loved us. That is also why it is important for us to remember that success is always here today and gone tomorrow. As Jeremiah had prophesied, Israel’s wealth and culture were almost wiped out as the Babylonians invaded and carted off the best and brightest to Babylon. Since then Israel would never regain its former glory. Let this be an important lesson for us to remember.
Monday, May 7, 2012
A Prophet to the Nations - Jeremiah 1
A Prophet to the Nations
Jeremiah 1
We are starting a new devo series through the book of Jeremiah. As we begin our journey through this prophet's writings, there's two things I'd encourage you to do: pray and ask God to speak to you as you study the book of Jeremiah and then read through Jeremiah as a whole (as much as you can in one sitting)
We are being introduced to the prophet Jeremiah who was a priest (a religious leader) even before God called him to be a prophet (one who speaks on behalf of God) His ministry spanned several years and various kings, addressing various situations in Judah before their captivity. But here in chapter 1, we are introduced to Jeremiah himself.
Read Jeremiah 1 twice through. The first time, write down anything that God puts on your mind as you read. The second time, write down what God is telling Jeremiah about Jeremiah.
What an amazing exchange between God and Jeremiah! God tells Jeremiah [my paraphrase], "I knew you before you were formed in your mother's womb, before you were born I set you apart and made you to be my spokesperson to the world." There is intimacy and purpose in God's design for Jeremiah. How do you think Jeremiah felt when he heard that?
I think back to how God calls flawed and unlikely people for his Kingdom purposes. Men like Moses and Gideon and even Jeremiah were a little flustered, a little fearful when God called them. Jeremiah responds in that fear, saying "I don't know what to say, and i'm too young!" But again, God reassures Him. God addresses each of Jeremiah's fears specifically.
When Jeremiah says, "I am only a youth," God responds, "I am with you...My presence is upon you, not only did I know you and set you apart, but I'm with you. You're not alone."
When Jeremiah says "I do not know how to speak," God responds "I have put my words in your mouth...you speak with My authority."
God is speaking to Jeremiah in an incredible way. Right from the start, He tells Jeremiah three things to remind Jeremiah of who he was made to be. God's purpose. God's presence. God's authority. Jeremiah's ministry and calling is rooted in those three things. This is how the book of Jeremiah starts. Anyone reading this cannot deny that whatever comes in the next 51 chapters is being said by God through His servant Jeremiah. He was made to be "a prophet to the nations."
So what then for us? Jeremiah's not all that different from us. He's young and God called him to do something. God is calling us to take part in His kingdom work. In the midst of whatever is keeping us from doing that, God wants to remind you of His purpose, His presence, and His authority in your life.
Jeremiah 1
We are starting a new devo series through the book of Jeremiah. As we begin our journey through this prophet's writings, there's two things I'd encourage you to do: pray and ask God to speak to you as you study the book of Jeremiah and then read through Jeremiah as a whole (as much as you can in one sitting)
We are being introduced to the prophet Jeremiah who was a priest (a religious leader) even before God called him to be a prophet (one who speaks on behalf of God) His ministry spanned several years and various kings, addressing various situations in Judah before their captivity. But here in chapter 1, we are introduced to Jeremiah himself.
Read Jeremiah 1 twice through. The first time, write down anything that God puts on your mind as you read. The second time, write down what God is telling Jeremiah about Jeremiah.
What an amazing exchange between God and Jeremiah! God tells Jeremiah [my paraphrase], "I knew you before you were formed in your mother's womb, before you were born I set you apart and made you to be my spokesperson to the world." There is intimacy and purpose in God's design for Jeremiah. How do you think Jeremiah felt when he heard that?
I think back to how God calls flawed and unlikely people for his Kingdom purposes. Men like Moses and Gideon and even Jeremiah were a little flustered, a little fearful when God called them. Jeremiah responds in that fear, saying "I don't know what to say, and i'm too young!" But again, God reassures Him. God addresses each of Jeremiah's fears specifically.
When Jeremiah says, "I am only a youth," God responds, "I am with you...My presence is upon you, not only did I know you and set you apart, but I'm with you. You're not alone."
When Jeremiah says "I do not know how to speak," God responds "I have put my words in your mouth...you speak with My authority."
God is speaking to Jeremiah in an incredible way. Right from the start, He tells Jeremiah three things to remind Jeremiah of who he was made to be. God's purpose. God's presence. God's authority. Jeremiah's ministry and calling is rooted in those three things. This is how the book of Jeremiah starts. Anyone reading this cannot deny that whatever comes in the next 51 chapters is being said by God through His servant Jeremiah. He was made to be "a prophet to the nations."
So what then for us? Jeremiah's not all that different from us. He's young and God called him to do something. God is calling us to take part in His kingdom work. In the midst of whatever is keeping us from doing that, God wants to remind you of His purpose, His presence, and His authority in your life.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Jesus' Prayer - John 17
Take a moment to prepare yourself and your attitude, pray that you wouldn’t be distracted as you do this devo.
Now read John 17, all of it, and then read it again and try to focus on what God is placing on your heart with this passage.
This is one of the last prayers that Jesus lifts up to God, and he prays this prayer at the end of his time alone with his disciples before he is crucified. In the first five verses, Jesus prays with authority and majesty, “glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,” (v. 1), “glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” (v. 5). We are reminded that eternal life with God is only made possible for us because of Jesus Christ. Everything Jesus did was for the glory of God, signifying that it is important for us to glorify God with our time here on Earth. Take a moment and meditate and pray on how you have and can be glorifying God with your life.
As Christ begins to pray for his disciples, note that he is not praying for the world. Though Jesus isn’t praying for the rest of the world, he still does care deeply for them, as anyone will be saved if he comes to God through Jesus. But how great is it knowing that Jesus cares this deeply for his disciples. He prays, “Holy Father, keep them in your name…that they may be one, even as we are one” (v. 11). What Jesus desires for his disciples is to come together and be intimate and united as Jesus is one with God. We are called to be one body. With this in mind, consider the question: How can you be more united with other believers?
As we are called to be fishers of men in Matthew 4:19, “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” However, it is not easy to be fishers of men in this temporary world. Jesus prays that God would keep us from the evil one and that, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (v. 16-17). Jesus prays that we would be well equipped to do the assignment that God has called us to. It is easy to lose sight of God and to place worldly things before him, but Jesus is praying that we would be sanctified in the truth, that we would abide in him.
In the last part of this passage, Jesus also prays for those whom he has not yet met, but whom are also believers and followers of Christ. Jesus again emphasizes the importance of unity as he prays for those he has not yet met in verse 20, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me.” The importance of being one body in Christ and unified with fellow believers is strongly stressed in this prayer. We aren’t to live this life alone, but to live it together.
In his prayer, we see the vision that Jesus has for the church and for the believers in Christ; to build a unified community where people are invited to touch the glory of God, be transformed, and to be lights to the world. Reflect on this passage and on what God is speaking to you with this passage.
Now read John 17, all of it, and then read it again and try to focus on what God is placing on your heart with this passage.
This is one of the last prayers that Jesus lifts up to God, and he prays this prayer at the end of his time alone with his disciples before he is crucified. In the first five verses, Jesus prays with authority and majesty, “glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,” (v. 1), “glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” (v. 5). We are reminded that eternal life with God is only made possible for us because of Jesus Christ. Everything Jesus did was for the glory of God, signifying that it is important for us to glorify God with our time here on Earth. Take a moment and meditate and pray on how you have and can be glorifying God with your life.
As Christ begins to pray for his disciples, note that he is not praying for the world. Though Jesus isn’t praying for the rest of the world, he still does care deeply for them, as anyone will be saved if he comes to God through Jesus. But how great is it knowing that Jesus cares this deeply for his disciples. He prays, “Holy Father, keep them in your name…that they may be one, even as we are one” (v. 11). What Jesus desires for his disciples is to come together and be intimate and united as Jesus is one with God. We are called to be one body. With this in mind, consider the question: How can you be more united with other believers?
As we are called to be fishers of men in Matthew 4:19, “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” However, it is not easy to be fishers of men in this temporary world. Jesus prays that God would keep us from the evil one and that, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (v. 16-17). Jesus prays that we would be well equipped to do the assignment that God has called us to. It is easy to lose sight of God and to place worldly things before him, but Jesus is praying that we would be sanctified in the truth, that we would abide in him.
In the last part of this passage, Jesus also prays for those whom he has not yet met, but whom are also believers and followers of Christ. Jesus again emphasizes the importance of unity as he prays for those he has not yet met in verse 20, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me.” The importance of being one body in Christ and unified with fellow believers is strongly stressed in this prayer. We aren’t to live this life alone, but to live it together.
In his prayer, we see the vision that Jesus has for the church and for the believers in Christ; to build a unified community where people are invited to touch the glory of God, be transformed, and to be lights to the world. Reflect on this passage and on what God is speaking to you with this passage.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Overcome - John 16:17-33
Take some time to quiet your heart to spend time with God.
Before reading this passage and trying to understand it, make sure you read The Work of the Holy Spirit, because many things between the two passages are connected. In verses 17 and 18, the disciples are confused because previously in verse 10, Jesus is talking about the ascension to heaven, but in verse 16, He’s talking about the crucifixion, which are to different things that sounds the same at that time to the disciples.
From verses 19 to 22, Jesus is telling the disciples of the rejoice that will come after the grief of the crucifixion. In verse 22, Jesus says, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” This verse is implying that the joy of God’s redemption can’t be taken away by anything or anyone. In verses 23 and 24, Christ is saying how if any of them pray to the Father in Christ’s name, the Father will grant it to them, and how the disciples have not been praying as much as they should be. At the end of verse 24, it says, “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” This is saying that without asking God for help, the joy in Him won’t be complete because only in through Christ could our joy ever be anywhere close to complete. Our youth group motto is that prayer is the primary work of God’s people. Are you setting prayer as a priority not only in your spiritual life, but in life in general? Reflect and pray that it would be.
To continue on, verses 25 through 30 show that because the disciples have loved and followed Jesus, the Father (regarding to the Trinity in this particular sentence) loves them.
Then, in verse 32, Christ says, “You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.” Throughout the life of Jesus, Father God has been with Him every step of the way, and as sons and daughters of God, He will be with us every step of the way as well. However, that doesn’t mean that we won’t have to endure hardships. In the next verse, he says that “In this world you will have trouble.” As disciples of God, He will be with us, but we will also have the task of facing hardships and overcoming them with God’s power.
Take some time now to reflect on the passage and what it means to overcome hardships with God’s glory and power. Then, spend some time in prayer and ask God to give you whatever you need in order to make that happen.
Before reading this passage and trying to understand it, make sure you read The Work of the Holy Spirit, because many things between the two passages are connected. In verses 17 and 18, the disciples are confused because previously in verse 10, Jesus is talking about the ascension to heaven, but in verse 16, He’s talking about the crucifixion, which are to different things that sounds the same at that time to the disciples.
From verses 19 to 22, Jesus is telling the disciples of the rejoice that will come after the grief of the crucifixion. In verse 22, Jesus says, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” This verse is implying that the joy of God’s redemption can’t be taken away by anything or anyone. In verses 23 and 24, Christ is saying how if any of them pray to the Father in Christ’s name, the Father will grant it to them, and how the disciples have not been praying as much as they should be. At the end of verse 24, it says, “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” This is saying that without asking God for help, the joy in Him won’t be complete because only in through Christ could our joy ever be anywhere close to complete. Our youth group motto is that prayer is the primary work of God’s people. Are you setting prayer as a priority not only in your spiritual life, but in life in general? Reflect and pray that it would be.
To continue on, verses 25 through 30 show that because the disciples have loved and followed Jesus, the Father (regarding to the Trinity in this particular sentence) loves them.
Then, in verse 32, Christ says, “You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.” Throughout the life of Jesus, Father God has been with Him every step of the way, and as sons and daughters of God, He will be with us every step of the way as well. However, that doesn’t mean that we won’t have to endure hardships. In the next verse, he says that “In this world you will have trouble.” As disciples of God, He will be with us, but we will also have the task of facing hardships and overcoming them with God’s power.
Take some time now to reflect on the passage and what it means to overcome hardships with God’s glory and power. Then, spend some time in prayer and ask God to give you whatever you need in order to make that happen.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Holy Spirit - John 15:18 - 16:16
The very first words that this passage states is about the world and the hate they have for the disciple’s faith and Jesus Himself. Jesus states, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of this world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you”. Think of a time you were made fun of or persecuted for your faith in Jesus Christ. This has been happening from when Cain murdered Abel and is still ongoing today. After reading chapter 15, you realize that there is an ongoing trend of the world hating the Father, Jesus, and Christians for who they are. Jesus even states, “They hated me without a cause”. We aren’t safe from the persecution because of our faith. Instead Jesus says that we will be hated.
Although there is the fear of being hated by the world, Jesus gives us a twist in His message and a change in the feelings.
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
Jesus will send a Helper, from the Father, to be with us. The Holy Spirit is the gift that Jesus gives us after His death on the cross. People nowadays would want Jesus to be alive but have to realize that if Jesus had not died, the Holy Spirit would not have come upon every person that believes. The gift, and Helper, is for all of those who have faith in Jesus.
Although we may have the world hating the believers, we have the Holy Spirit inside of our hearts to help comfort, guide, and grow closer to God.
The end of the passage is finishing up what Jesus is saying. He says to them that the words He spoke are meant to keep them from falling away. He then starts to restate the hatred of the world. People will throw the disciples and other believers out of the synagogue. He affirms the hatred of the world by saying that people will even go to measures of killing believers, thinking that it will do good to God. Jesus affirms all of these forms of hatred that will happen but closes with this:
John 16:4 — “But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.”
Jesus ends with this, knowing that soon He will fulfill the prophecy and die on the cross.
Remember these words that Jesus said to His disciples before the hour of His death. We will be hated by the world. We will be persecuted, suffer loss, go through trials and tribulations, and more. But Jesus has presented us with a gift of the Holy Spirit and a Counselor. We can only draw closer to Him through the things that happen in our lives.
Although there is the fear of being hated by the world, Jesus gives us a twist in His message and a change in the feelings.
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
Jesus will send a Helper, from the Father, to be with us. The Holy Spirit is the gift that Jesus gives us after His death on the cross. People nowadays would want Jesus to be alive but have to realize that if Jesus had not died, the Holy Spirit would not have come upon every person that believes. The gift, and Helper, is for all of those who have faith in Jesus.
Although we may have the world hating the believers, we have the Holy Spirit inside of our hearts to help comfort, guide, and grow closer to God.
The end of the passage is finishing up what Jesus is saying. He says to them that the words He spoke are meant to keep them from falling away. He then starts to restate the hatred of the world. People will throw the disciples and other believers out of the synagogue. He affirms the hatred of the world by saying that people will even go to measures of killing believers, thinking that it will do good to God. Jesus affirms all of these forms of hatred that will happen but closes with this:
John 16:4 — “But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.”
Jesus ends with this, knowing that soon He will fulfill the prophecy and die on the cross.
Remember these words that Jesus said to His disciples before the hour of His death. We will be hated by the world. We will be persecuted, suffer loss, go through trials and tribulations, and more. But Jesus has presented us with a gift of the Holy Spirit and a Counselor. We can only draw closer to Him through the things that happen in our lives.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The True Vine - John 15:1-17
A quick review before we start diving in John 15. In the book of John, Jesus makes seven “I Am” sayings. Recall them? They are good to know. Here are the first six:
“I am the bread of life” = Jesus nourishes the longings of our soul; our deep spiritual hunger
“I am the light of the world” = Jesus overcomes the darkness of the world
“I am the door of the sheep” = Jesus is the only way by which one can become part of God’s people
“I am the good shepherd” = Jesus cares about us, his sheep, so much that he laid down his life for us
“I am the resurrection and the life” = Eternal life with God can only be found through Jesus
“I am the way, the truth, and the life” = Jesus is the only Way, the ultimate Truth, and giver the eternal Life
At the very beginning of John we are introduced to Jesus’ seventh “I am” saying: “I am the true vine.” What does this mean? And what does it mean when Jesus tells us to abide in him? Before we turn to John 15, ask the Holy Spirit now to reveal God’s word and speak to you. Then read John 15:1-17.
In verse 1 Jesus describes himself as the true vine. As the vine supplies nutrients and support for the branches, Jesus is the source of life, strength, and nourishment for us. Once removed from Jesus, we will perish spiritually, like how a branch dies if cut off from the vine. Instead, we are called to abide in Jesus. To abide means to dwell in, find rest in. To abide in Christ means to continue in a daily, personal relationship with Jesus. Note that Jesus does not only call us to know him, but to abide in him. To know Jesus can be a one-time encounter, but to abide in him is a constant, ongoing process. To quote Pastor Jon, “we don’t know Jesus from afar, like a famous person, but we know Jesus as an intimate friend.” Think of your closest friend on earth. You don’t just know him/her once for all, but you are in the process of knowing that person—learning more about him/her—as you spend time together & develop your relationship. How much more we want to be in the process of knowing Jesus!
Our abiding in Christ is so important that God the Father is actively involved in the process. As the vinedresser, God cuts off unfruitful branches and prunes those that are fruitful so that they can be even more fruitful! Fruitfulness is the result of our abiding in Christ. When we find our all in all in Christ Himself, three wonderful things (fruitfulness) happen:
1. God is glorified (v.8)
2. We experience Christ’s love and our joy is full (v. 9-11)
3. Other people experience God’s love through us and vice versa (v.17)
Note that points 1-3 above cover all of our relationships (vertically with God & horizontally with people)! Just like that, when we abide in Christ, everything falls in order. Many of us are caught up with the “Christian” stuff we have to say & do, rather than being caught up with the person of Christ. But performance does not lead to fruitfulness, rather false pride. Jesus clearly tells us that if we do not remain in him we can achieve nothing of eternal value (v. 5). Examine your heart-does it find satisfaction in Christ alone?
When you seek to dwell in Christ through scripture, prayer, and community, you will be consumed with the things that are important to him. And the more you know of Christ, the more you will love him and those around you.
“I am the bread of life” = Jesus nourishes the longings of our soul; our deep spiritual hunger
“I am the light of the world” = Jesus overcomes the darkness of the world
“I am the door of the sheep” = Jesus is the only way by which one can become part of God’s people
“I am the good shepherd” = Jesus cares about us, his sheep, so much that he laid down his life for us
“I am the resurrection and the life” = Eternal life with God can only be found through Jesus
“I am the way, the truth, and the life” = Jesus is the only Way, the ultimate Truth, and giver the eternal Life
At the very beginning of John we are introduced to Jesus’ seventh “I am” saying: “I am the true vine.” What does this mean? And what does it mean when Jesus tells us to abide in him? Before we turn to John 15, ask the Holy Spirit now to reveal God’s word and speak to you. Then read John 15:1-17.
In verse 1 Jesus describes himself as the true vine. As the vine supplies nutrients and support for the branches, Jesus is the source of life, strength, and nourishment for us. Once removed from Jesus, we will perish spiritually, like how a branch dies if cut off from the vine. Instead, we are called to abide in Jesus. To abide means to dwell in, find rest in. To abide in Christ means to continue in a daily, personal relationship with Jesus. Note that Jesus does not only call us to know him, but to abide in him. To know Jesus can be a one-time encounter, but to abide in him is a constant, ongoing process. To quote Pastor Jon, “we don’t know Jesus from afar, like a famous person, but we know Jesus as an intimate friend.” Think of your closest friend on earth. You don’t just know him/her once for all, but you are in the process of knowing that person—learning more about him/her—as you spend time together & develop your relationship. How much more we want to be in the process of knowing Jesus!
Our abiding in Christ is so important that God the Father is actively involved in the process. As the vinedresser, God cuts off unfruitful branches and prunes those that are fruitful so that they can be even more fruitful! Fruitfulness is the result of our abiding in Christ. When we find our all in all in Christ Himself, three wonderful things (fruitfulness) happen:
1. God is glorified (v.8)
2. We experience Christ’s love and our joy is full (v. 9-11)
3. Other people experience God’s love through us and vice versa (v.17)
Note that points 1-3 above cover all of our relationships (vertically with God & horizontally with people)! Just like that, when we abide in Christ, everything falls in order. Many of us are caught up with the “Christian” stuff we have to say & do, rather than being caught up with the person of Christ. But performance does not lead to fruitfulness, rather false pride. Jesus clearly tells us that if we do not remain in him we can achieve nothing of eternal value (v. 5). Examine your heart-does it find satisfaction in Christ alone?
When you seek to dwell in Christ through scripture, prayer, and community, you will be consumed with the things that are important to him. And the more you know of Christ, the more you will love him and those around you.
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