aware – Page 11 – Alaska Bible Teacher

Walking With Him in The Garden

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“When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the manand his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.”

Genesis 3:8

I honestly have never had the wonderful experience of strolling a lush garden with my Father. At least not totally. But when I’m engaging the Word, pressing in to comprehend a passage, it’s as if I’m truly walking in His orchard with Jesus.

But there is something more to this.

This word “pardes” is also an acronym. The rabbis taught that there are four levels of understanding as we peer into a passage.

P’shat–the surface or literal meaning of a verse or passage.
Remez– the symbolic or applied reason of the Word. How it connects with my daily life.
Drash–how it fits into other parts of the Bible, forming a purposeful teaching.
Sod–a hidden meaning that resides “underneath” the verse. This seems when the Holy Spirit gets really involved in the way I live. (Some would say “mystical.)

Now I’m not sure that every passage reaches the “sod” level. (Maybe we’re not really aware?)

When we truly study God’s Word it’s as we walk in the garden. He reveals Himself to us. The Genesis story shows us where we can find Him. The important thing I suppose is trying to hide from God’s presence. We can’t.

We must come to our Father, and learn to walk with Him. The Bible is the best way to fellowship with Him.

“Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Genesis 3:9

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Mixing Authority With His Mercy

“On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. ³⁸And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. ³⁹And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. ⁴⁰And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”

⁴¹Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” ⁴²While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

⁴³And all were astonished at the majesty of God.”

Luke 9:37-43

All of this takes place immediately after Jesus’ transfiguration. He has shown Himself to be God, wrapped tightly into manhood–He’s fully and completely the Word made flesh. He is the Creator, and He is holding the universe together. Who really can fathom this?

Overflowing with immense strength, yet also enveloped in unfathomable kindness.

He meets this desperate man, a man who is carrying incredible weight, a burden that had taken over his life. Jesus steps into a theological circus, after all, the scribes had shown up, and the disciples were disputing with them. The terrible need of the demonized boy had been forgotten.

The disciples had tried to free him, they really had.

Let’s face it, between the gathering crowd and the arguing scribes, they were overwhelmed–completely out of their element. Defeated, they didn’t know what to do. (Isn’t this a description of much of today’s church?)

The father of the demonized boy was desperate. He watched the bizarre scene unfold with tears in his eyes, yet he knew he had no other answers. He despaired but continued to wait. What else could he do?

Sometimes we as the Church stress theological niceties, and look beyond the awful needs around us. We would rather debate than serve. We prefer to assert rather than meet the incredible pain around us. How sad is this? We constantly meet terrible pain, and we choose to reside in some strange theological bubble of our own making.

When Jesus comes down from glory on the mountain, He immediately faces off with a desperate man and a demonized son. This father is terribly overwhelmed–the disciples had made a try (or two or three) and yet couldn’t free the boy. The demons had ignored their efforts and laughed at attempts to free him. These particular demons decided to stay inside this boy. The disciples could do nothing about it.

But when Jesus shows up, all hell breaks loose. Literally.

There is amazing power here. Jesus, already shown to be God on the mountain top, now declares His authority over the ugliness of the darkness. He absolutely demolishes the works of Satan. He steps forward and they must retreat.

Jesus dismantles the evil and decisively frees the boy.

The passage ends with this, “And everyone was amazed by the greatness of God.” We can connect this power to what we observed on the mountain peak–His Words are strong enough to keep the world in its position! He is the All-Powerful One, full of intense mercy who has decided to walk by our side. He fights against darkness and liberates us. He loves us.

“But have we Holy Spirit power – power that restricts the devil’s power, pulls down strongholds and obtains promises? Daring delinquents will be damned if they are not delivered from the devil’s dominion. What has hell to fear other than a God-anointed, prayer-powered church?”

Leonard Ravenhill

Speaking His Language

“The girl asked Peter, “Aren’t you one of Jesus’ disciples?”

“No,” he said, “I am not!”

“The police and the household servants were standing around a fire they had made, for it was cold. And Peter stood there with them, warming himself.”

John 18:17-18, Living Bible

The Galileans had a distinct accent. Just as we easily identify someone from Texas just by the tone and cadence of their speech, Peter had that distinct drawl that told everyone that he came from the same province as Jesus. It was something he couldn’t hide.

Peter was a very different man in his three years of being with Jesus. And you might say that had transformed him–you might even say that he was now a marked man, the enemy was now quite aware of him. He was no longer a captain of a small fishing boat looking for a catch. He was now the leader of Jesus’ disciples.

The entire text (18:15-18) reveals a confrontation that Peter had with a servant girl, and we hear him making a bald-faced lie. At this very moment, Peter was fulfilling the “promise” that Jesus had predicted (Matthew 26:31-32).

What was going through Peter’s head at that moment? She was a simple servant girl, perhaps one who ministered at the gate of the high priest’s home. It’s interesting that she is the first one to question Peter’s duplicity. Most likely she was just doing her job, watching and listening. She was probably quite alert.

It’s easy to point our finger at Peter.

He was a coward, and when he was put on the spot he bailed. People hate cowards–we extol those who take a definite stand against evil. But he was frightened, scared of being connected with Jesus–the man on trial. There was much at stake here.

We also speak with an accent. I know it might be a stretch–but being with Jesus has fundamentally changed us. Our lives now have a specific dialect that others hear, we’re not the same people that we once were.

We open our mouths and others hear the Kingdom of God. (Such as it is.)

Sometimes I try to pretend that I haven’t been with Jesus, and I’m very ashamed of that. Like Peter, I stand with the others and choose to warm myself by their fire, and I try very hard to make myself inconspicuous. But all I have to do is open my mouth, and I betray who I really am.

It’s hilarious, but even servant girls know that I belong to him.

“To stand before the Holy One of eternity is to change.”

Richard Foster

When Pain is All You Can Think About

Sometimes we live in darkness. We suffer and it’s hard. We mentally accept God’s grace and His love for us, but in our heart we remain untouched. Pain saturates everything it seems. We seem to go through the motions, but deep down we’re convinced that we’ll never find the light that so many claim to have.

Are we “cursed?”

Pain fills our life. We live with something that is persistent, and our hope is a day when it’s all over. Psalm 88 is our Psalm. Nothing is sugar-coated. It is raw and unabridged. It’s pain under a microscope. That Psalm is yours.

For my soul is full of troubles,

and my life draws near to Sheol.

I am counted among those who go down to the pit;

I am a man who has no strength,

Psalm 88:3-4

20 Quotes for the Believer at Christmas

Some quotes on the meaning of Christmas:

He was created of a mother whom He created. He was carried by hands that He formed. He cried in the manger in wordless infancy, He the Word, without whom all human eloquence is mute.

–Augustine

There were many who saw the babe, but did not see the salvation.

–Author Unknown

For the Christ-child who comes is the Master of all; No palace too great, no cottage too small.

–Phillips Brooks

Rejoice, that the immortal God is born, so that mortal man may live in eternity.

–John Hus

His poverty was so great that He was born in another man’s house, and buried in another man’s tomb.

–John Boys

It is here, in the thing that happened at the first Christmas, that the most profound unfathomable depths of the Christian revelation lie. God became man; Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the incarnation.

–J.I. Packer

Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.

–Corrie Ten Boom

The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the Incarnation.

— J.I. Packer

There were only a few shepherds at the first Bethlehem. The ox and the donkey understood more of the first Christmas than the high priests in Jerusalem. And it is the same today.

–Thomas Merton

Christmas is based on an exchange of gifts, the gift of God to man – His unspeakable gift of His Son, and the gift of man to God – when we present our bodies a living sacrifice.

–Vance Havner

The idea that there’s a force of love and logic behind the universe is overwhelming to start with, if you believe it. Actually, maybe even far-fetched to start with, but the idea that that same love and logic would choose to describe itself as a baby born in shit and straw and poverty is genius, and brings me to my knees, literally. To me, as a poet, I am just in awe of that. It makes some sort of poetic sense. It’s the thing that makes me a believer, though it didn’t dawn on me for many years.

–Bono

The central miracle asserted by Christians is the incarnation. They say that God became man.

— C.S. Lewis

Infinite, and an infant. Eternal, and yet born of a woman. Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman’s breast. Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms. King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph. Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son.

–Charles Spurgeon

Carols stir us. Holy words inspire us. The golden glow from the manger warms us. A little religion at Christmas is fine. But that glow in the manger comes from the Light of the world. It exposes evil and either redeems it or destroys it. The babe in the manger is far more than an object for sentimental sighs. He is the Son of God who must be accepted as ruler – or confronted as rival.

–John G. Stackhouse, Jr.

It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas when its mighty Founder was a child Himself.

–Charles Dickens

Christmas is for children. But it is for grown-ups too. Even if it is a headache, a chore, and a nightmare, it is a period of necessary defrosting of chilled hidebound hearts.

–Lenora Mattingly Weber

Hark the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn king.”
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.

–Charles Wesley

This Gospel anticipates a world far different from C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, where it is “always winter, and never Christmas.” The promise of the Gospel is that it is “always Christmas.” To be “in Christ” is to enjoy each morning as a Christmas morning with the family of God, celebrating the gift of God around the tree of life.

–Kevin VanHoozer

The spirit of Christmas needs to be superseded by the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal. The spirit of Christmas is sentimental; the Spirit of Christ is supernatural. The spirit of Christmas is a human product; the Spirit of Christ is a divine person. That makes all the difference in the world.

–Stuart Briscoe

Here’s a side to the Christmas story that isn’t often told: Those soft little hands, fashioned by the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb, were made so that nails might be driven through them. Those baby feet, pink and unable to walk, would one day walk up a dusty hill to be nailed to a cross. That sweet infant’s head with sparkling eyes and eager mouth was formed so that someday men might force a crown of thorns onto it. That tender body, warm and soft, wrapped in swaddling clothes, would one day be ripped open by a spear. Jesus was born to die.

–John MacArthur

Learning Christmas Again

“This Gospel anticipates a world far different from C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, where it is “always winter, and never Christmas.” But the promise of the Gospel is that it is always Christmas. To be “in Christ” is to enjoy each morning as a Christmas morning with the family of God, celebrating the gift of God around the tree of life.”

–Kevin Van Hoozer

Christmas can be a torment for many. I have no doubt it brings grief. Family, friends, finances– mixed liberally with heavy doses of materialism and politics will always bring us issues. The music and decorations seem like nothing more than mere Novocaine (which doesn’t always work). Stress builds up. And we want none of that.

Being mentally or physically ill often accentuates these issues.

I’m not sure why exactly, but suicide increases during this season. Perhaps the challenges Christmas brings just overwhelm a person who is struggling hard just to make it.

“Christmas is for children. But it is for grown-ups too. Even if it is a headache, a chore, and a nightmare, but it is a period of necessary defrosting of chilled hidebound hearts.”

–Lenora Mattingly Weber

As I think about Christmas, it is helpful for me to see it as a “mirror.” It is my own reflection and it’s not always pleasant. What we see, is who we are. If we have issues in our own life, the Season will just magnify them. But this doesn’t mean it’s bad, far from it.

I’m convinced that in all of this, there is an opportunity for us to grow.

There is a real chance to connect to “Christmas.” The very idea may seem strange. But Christmas can be an exquisite treat. It is made by mixing love and truth in generous portions. Our discipleship needs this holiday. I really do need Bethlehem.

I had to learn Christmas.

When we truly process this, we’ll find Christmas. And honestly, it is more than a holiday. For the Christian, it is now a special time. And yes, there will be times when it is trying. Refuse to let that happen. Stop and look for God’s presence.

For me Christmas is becoming a time of great joy and anticipation. Jesus has come for me!

“The universal joy of Christmas is certainly wonderful. We ring the bells when princes are born, or toll a mournful dirge when great men pass away. Nations have their red-letter days, their carnivals and festivals, but once in the year and only once, the whole world stands still to celebrate the advent of a life. Only Jesus of Nazareth claims this world-wide, undying remembrance.”

“You cannot cut Christmas out of the Calendar, nor out of the heart of the world.”

Anonymous

Little Christs

“For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”

Acts 11:26, ESV

Some have suggested that the word “Christian” (grk. christianos) was meant as a slur or insult. It meant little Christs, or mini-Christs. Perhaps that was the best the unbelievers came up with. They identified believers in Jesus and slapped a label on them that was supposed to mock and demean them.

But guess what? The early Christians loved it!

The disciples very quickly adopted it as a great explanation of their new identity. It became a badge of honor. The early Church of disciples became known as little Christs. This now identified them, and they wholeheartedly embraced this new nickname.

From all that I’ve read I see Antioch as a pretty interesting place. It was a city of almost 300,000 people and it had some major Roman temples, and amphitheatres. The city was fully entrenched in the economy and military of the empire. Antioch was regarded as the eastern capital of Rome.

After heavy persecution in Jerusalem, Christians moved north and made Antioch their home base.

This verse (Acts 11:26) tells us that Paul spent a considerable amount of time there teaching the church. After a generation or two, Ignatius of Antioch took over leadership of the Church. By 390 AD the city had almost 200,000 believers!

I’m not sure why, but the word “Christian” is only used 3x in the N.T. (Go figure?) Just maybe the letters of Paul and Peter predated the new label? IDK.

“Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.”

C.S. Lewis

To be a mini-Christ is a pretty profound calling. I think of the 12 being sent out by Jesus to heal and announce the arrival of His kingdom in a new way. In essence they duplicated Jesus’ ministry. (Matthew 10:5.) The more we know Him, the more like Christ we become. (Matthew 11:29.)

Now don’t get me wrong, we are definitely NOT little gods. No way! We are simply broken people who battle sin and must be filled with the Holy Spirit constantly. (Acts 13:52.) In no way, shape, or form are we anything more than human.

And yet we also are little-Christs!

His Spirit comes when, in our neediness we make room for Him in our hearts and minds, and simply ask in faith. Your faith must be humble, and never ever, be proud or arrogant. We are called to reveal the heart of Jesus to an unbelieving world.

Persecution, in its different intensities, will also be present for mini-Christs. Jesus repeatedly warned us to expect it.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33, ESV

So where do we go from here? Mother Teresa once said, “Calcuttas are everywhere if only we have eyes to see. Find your Calcutta.” It’s probably closer than you’ve ever imagined. Open your eyes and receive the reality of being a little-Christ sent out into this world.

Just like Him.

David and Goliath, Reloaded

Physically there was no comparison.

Goliath was almost 10 feet tall, a warrior since birth–we read of his armor–he was like a Sherman tank. And David was just a very small, skinny boy–nothing more.

Young David stood and looked at Goliath face-to-face. (If it’s been awhile, you can read of this encounter in 1 Samuel 17.) My guess is that Goliath preened and strutted into the field of battle, and the boy David was stepping up for his very first try at hand-to-hand combat. David is called a “youth” in Hebrew, which means anyone from infancy to adolescence.

And that’s when Goliath begins to blaspheme loudly. Perhaps that’s what giants do best.

He boasts. He mocks. He believes he is superior, and his arrogance seems to know no bounds. In his mind the center of the universe is the Philistine army, and he is their champion. He is contemptuous of everything else–physical or spiritual.

Essentially all you need to know is that Goliath is a human wood chipper.

Everyone who has faced him has been destroyed. No one has ever survived. But he has never met David before. And Goliath knows nothing of the living God. It amazes me, but David never backs down, his reaction to the ‘human mountain’ of Goliath was to run directly at him.

This is an astonishing faith!

“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground”.

1 Sam. 17:48

Many of us face our giants. They come with many names, some are called guilt, pride, doubt, or despair and lust. And they come with many other names as well.

Satan our enemy has marched out on the field of battle, arrogant and supremely confident of his ultimate triumph over us. I suppose that should terrify us. Over the years we’ve been indoctrinated to accept sin’s control, and our inevitable slavery–with a spirit of timidity.

We’ve been rightly told that there are enemies that can destroy us.

As believers we are especially hated in the spiritual world of darkness. Our destruction is inevitable in the mind of the evil one. Satan still expects to win over your soul, but Jesus stands as our advocate shielding you. I believe you are saved because He really did die for you.

Our own particular favorite demonic ‘monster’ is real and brutal.

Yet so many believers are intimidated, listening, and then surrendering to the boasting of the giant. The warfare dimension gets nullified, and soon becomes irrelevant. Despair reaches us and has the full intention of taking total control. It’s never satisfied with just a little bit.

David ran to the battle–to face the giant who was standing right in front of him.

He passed through the dark intimidation and influence to approach Goliath. There was no doubt to cloud his mind. David took a spiritually aggressive position, he took on the fear, and then ran directly at the giant Goliath. His spirit was untouchable. This is the boy who wrote Psalm 23.

Some of us stare down our giants repeatedly, over and over.

As believers, we might struggle. We can turn our hearts over to despair. Sometimes we actually make ourselves available to the enemy’s workings. When we do this the enemy spreads his influence to others through us. And any confidence we might have through faith is dissolved into doubt and confusion.

But the victory we have in Christ allows us liberty, through the Blood of Him who defeats our own Goliath of despair. We can run into the battle. We fight our giant, but we’re never defeated.

“Soon the battle will be over. It will not be long now before the day will come when Satan will no longer trouble us. There will be no more domination, temptation, accusation, or confrontation. Our warfare will be over and our commander, Jesus Christ, will call us away from the battlefield to receive the victor’s crown.”

Thomas Watson

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57, ESV

Still Standing, Still Running

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.”

“And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

Hebrews 12:1

“Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.”

Philip Yancey

Just on a general basis, life can be terribly hard. I have had to face down so many enemies. Most all of them have been health issues, some critical. I know that there are many others that have also been besieged. To stand, and run with endurance takes the Holy Spirit (+ our weakness).

We’ve been called to stay standing, and to continue running.

The Bible is rich with verses that encourage believers to persevere, remain steadfast, and endure through hardships. Here are 10 promises that will never fail.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” Hebrews 10:36
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,” Romans 5:3
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12

“To learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.”

George Mueller

“As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” James 5:11
“Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” Hebrews 10:36, NLT
“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:13
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,” Romans 15:5
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4
“But if we must keep trusting God for something that hasn’t happened yet, it teaches us to wait patiently and confidently.” Romans 8:25, LB

Somehow I just realized that “joy” must be found. The race is long and hard. If you are really a believer, you will run for the rest of your life. Challenging, yes. But the Holy Spirit will give you His joy. “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Neh. 8:10.)

“The only true conqueror who shall be crowned in the end is he who continues until war’s trumpet is blown no more…. Christian, wear your shield close to your armor and cry earnestly to God, that by His Spirit you may endure to the end.”

Alistair Begg

The Present Tense Jesus

All we really have is the present moment. The past is gone, you can’t change it. The future isn’t here yet, we really have no idea what it’ll bring. But we have the now, and Jesus reveals Himself to us, right now.

This doesn’t mean the past or future is irrelevant or unimportant.

God redeems our past, and our future as believers are filled with His precious promises. This is no small thing. We learn from our past, and believe Jesus will be there for our future. I cannot or won’t diminish this. Both our past, and our future, matter. We learn (reflect) and trust (faith).

But Jesus often refers to the present moment. For instance, in the Gospel of John, the Lord uses the immediate now to explain who He really is. (There are seven of these here and now verses.) He says I am, and that is right now.

Notice: Not I was, or I will be, but now in this present moment, Jesus says, “I am.“

Due to grammatical rules, “I am” must be translated, from the original Greek, as present tense, and 99% of every Bible translation agrees. “I am” is right now, in the present tense. Not I was, or i will be. (Sorry, I am being redundant here.)

The Seven I AM Statements of Jesus as found in John’s Gospel.

“I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)
“I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)
“I am the door [or gate] of the sheep.” (John 10:7, 9)
“I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14)
“I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
“I am the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5)

Because these characteristics are neither past or future we can be confident that these are in the now. We know that God doesn’t change, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8.)

So, when you wait on God, it’s all in the present moment.

The “I am” is now. When He states “I am the bread of life,” we understand that Jesus wants us to come and dine, right now. When he says, “I am the good shepherd,” it is meant for me being in His flock, right now.

Why does this even matter?

Well first of all, it gives us confidence that Jesus is our present tense Savior. He is always there. Furthermore we’re not trapped in the distant past or the nebulous future. We only have the now– this present moment. When this present moment happens, it slides into the past.

I guess this idea is a bit of a shocker for me.

Living in the now and gripping on Jesus when I pray and worship, or read the Word gives me the powerful sense that He is present. He’s now focusing on me. I do admit that my past life has been terrible, I can’t live there, and my future, well, it only builds on the now.

It has taken me almost 40 years to see this.

Moses understood this concept. ^“God said to Moses, “I am who I am.^” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14.) These emancipated slaves needed the present tense “I am God” to lead them every step of the way. They needed Him every morning–everyday.

Be aware of Him in this present moment. Jesus is waiting for you. It’s time to press into the Lord of the now. I believe He can’t wait for you to join Him. He stands at your door, and knocks. Please let Him in.

Question: What does it mean for Jesus to be in the “present tense” in your life?