Testimony of the Father

Testimony of the Father
Life & Light Community Church
Message from 3/11/2023

Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” So, the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.
John 8:12–20 (NASB95)

For us to fully understand what is happening in today’s passage, we need to understand that the statements of Yeshua likely reflect Daniel 7:9-14.

“I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire. “A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened. “Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire.

As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time. “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.”
Daniel 7:9–14 (NASB95)

This passage speaks of thrones, in the plural, being set up – one for the Ancient of Days, and one for the Son of Man. This idea of co-sitting in heaven, in the position of power, is an important idea in the process of development that reaches its high point in the New Testament. This is a picture of Yeshua, the Son, seated next to the Father, the Ancient of Days.

The Judean Jews claimed to be experts in Torah knowledge and interpretation. Let’s not forget, these Pharisees have already called the crowds who follow Christ ignorant of the Law, the is, lacking knowledge. But Yeshua tells them because they denied the valid testimony of witnesses, they are disqualified from having any opinion about Him. They have missed the fact that He comes from and has been sent by the Father. It is His Father who gives the confirming witness about Yeshua and the Testimony of the Father is true.

When Jesus proclaims, “I am the Light of the world,” the Pharisees accuse Him of testifying about Himself. Because they judge according to the flesh, they do not know that the Father has sent Him. Because the Pharisees do not know His Father, they do not understand that the Testimony of the Father is true, thus, Jesus can judge, and His judgment is true.

Yeshua testifies of Himself when He says, “I am the Light of the world.” Because the Pharisees continue to judge according to the flesh, they cannot understand that the Father who sent Him, also testifies about Him. Thus, Yeshua is not alone, and the Testimony of the Father is true, meaning Yeshua is the One whose judgment is true.

In this message, we seek to answer the question, “What are the implications of understanding that the Testimony of the Father is true, for the Christ follower?”

The implications of understanding that the Testimony of the Father is true, is to understand that when Yeshua says, “I am the Light of the world,” means to know Yeshua is to know the Father – “the Great I Am.”

1). The first implication of knowing that the Testimony of the Father is true, is to know that Yeshua is not alone – the Father is with Him.
Yeshua, and the Father who sent Him, both testify about Yeshua.

When Yeshua declared, “I am the Light of the world,” He was applying the high calling of Israel to be the light of the world to Himself. In essence, Yeshua was claiming divinity – He was claiming to be God. In the Bible, “light” is a symbol of the holiness of God. Yeshua is not merely a light, or another light, He is the One true light – He illuminates the truth, gives people spiritual understanding, and reveals God to all people and what God has does for us. This also defines the unique position of Yeshua as the true light for all people, not just for the Jews.

In staking His claim as the Light of the world, Yeshua makes two great promises to His followers – first, those who follow Him will never walk in the darkness, and second, they will have the light of life. When a person comes to Yeshua in faith, they are walking in His light. We no longer walk in the darkness, that is, we no longer walk blindly in our sin and need for forgiveness, instead, Yeshua guides us in life’s path and into eternal life. “Follows” in the Greek languages is a continuous action – we must “keep on following” Yeshua to have the light of life. The meaning, purpose, and significance of life cannot be seen or known apart from Christ.

The Pharisees level the false charge that Yeshua has no witnesses. Yeshua knows the Law requires two witnesses to be a valid testimony. Yeshua is the first witness, and His witness is true. Everything He has said and done is meant to bring glory to God and lead people to worship, honor, and serve the Father. His actions bear witness that His claims – that He was sent OF and FROM God – are true.

The second witness is the Father who sent Him and God’s witness is true. God has clearly acted in and through Yeshua – His life, words, and work demonstrate the presence and power of God. The confirming witness for Yeshua is God Himself – the Father and the Son make two witnesses, the number required by the Law. Once again Yeshua meets the requirements for the Law. Yeshua does not disagree with the law that says two witnesses are needed for a valid testimony. Instead, He simply claims His testimony is true because He knows where He came from, and He knows where He is going. Yeshua comes from the Father and only speaks the words that come from the Father. When Yeshua spoke, He testified for Himself and because He spoke the words of the Father, He testified for the Father as well.

The religious leaders do not understand that the Father and the Son are together – they lived in each other and were with each other. Even though the Son came from the Father and was sent by the Father, the Father who sent the Son came with Him and provided testimony for Him. Yeshua came down out of heaven, sent from and by the Father. Human eyes cannot penetrate or see the spiritual world – the spiritual dimension must come into the physical dimension and that is exactly what Yeshua has done. As often happens, when a witness is presented, the opposite side seeks to discredit the witness by attacking their person, thus breaking the power of the witness. “Where is Your Father,” is most likely referring to the accusation of the illegitimate birth of Yeshua. Yes, it is possible they were simply asking why Joseph is not making an appearance to give his testimony, but that is highly unlikely. What is more probable is that the Pharisees are, once again, judging according to the flesh – by appearances – in other words, they want physical proof!

As Christ followers who have placed their faith and trust in Yeshua, we do have a few advantages in our favor. We have the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament, which record the actions of God in human history – including the physical birth of His Son in the physical realm. We also have other witnesses – family members, church members, friends, and even our own experiences – which make our faith very personal. Just the same, we need to guard our hearts that they do not become hardened to the evidence that continues to mount as a witness to the Father-Son dynamic of God and Yeshua.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

What evidence do you have that you continue to walk in the Light of Yeshua? If none, what must you do to change this?

What evidence do you see, in the world or in others, that the Father and Son are indeed together? If you see none, why do you think this might be?

When was the last time you caught yourself asking the Lord for physical evidence? You know, “Come on, Lord! Just give me a sign!”

The implications of understanding that the Testimony of the Father is true, is to understand that when Yeshua says, “I am the Light of the world,” means to know Yeshua is to know the Father – “the Great I Am.”

2). The second implication of knowing that the Testimony of the Father is true, is to know that Yeshua is the only One who has judgment that is true.
Yeshua is the only One who does not judge according to the flesh!

The Jewish religious leaders are, once again, judging by human standards – they are judging by the flesh – because they do not know of the divine origins of Yeshua. People tend to judge according to the flesh – by what they see – because they seek physical evidence, however, Yeshua cannot be judged simply by the flesh – by physical appearance. These Pharisees are no different, they too seek physical evidence – because they are judging by appearance – they seek to see Yeshua’s Father.

The tragic fact is, they do not know Yeshua or His Father – those who do not believe do not know Yeshua. They can see Yeshua standing before them as a man, but they can only know Him by what they see – as a man. “Where is Your Father,” is like saying, “Bring on this other witness. We would very much like to speak with him!” Yeshua affirms that they neither know Him or His Father – their unwillingness to “know” Yeshua while He is among them, prevents them from knowing the Father, who was just as truly among them.

Yeshua has a Father-Son relationship with God – He knows God in a very intimate and personal way as His Father. He has come from the presence and “household” of His Father. Yeshua has, in fact, come down from the spiritual dimension – He alone knows the facts of the spiritual world. The authority that Yeshua has comes from the Father – by implication the Judean Jews have no authority, therefore, they are rendered powerless to judge.

The Pharisees rejected His claim and refuse to accept Yeshua as Messiah, as Lord, so naturally, they do not know Him, for the only way to truly know Yeshua is to follow Him as Messiah, as Lord. The Pharisees miss the fact that Yeshua has been sent OF and FROM God. This means Yeshua has come from the spiritual dimension into the physical dimension making Him the only One who truly knows both dimension. Yeshua is truly the only One who can judge impartially – not by appearances or according to the flesh, by the will of the Father.

The Pharisees will not see the Father as they have demanded because the Father is in Yeshua – those who do not believe do not know God. No one has ever seen God – at any time – the only way to know God is for God to reveal Himself. God must come from the spiritual dimension into the physical dimension. This is exactly what Yeshua has done – He has come to reveal God the Father to all people! Yeshua did not come to judge but to save, so Yeshua reserves the right for Himself to judge. The Son of Man has been given authority to judge, and when that future day of judgment comes, Yeshua will judge according to the Fathers will. So, we could say that while Yeshua did not come to judge, His coming forced a decision – and a rejection of Yeshua led to judgment.

Far too many Christ followers believe the lie we are not to judge others. The fact is, we are to judge others, but we are to do so without hypocrisy. In other words, if you call someone out for lying, you had better not be lying yourself. If you call someone out for stealing, you had better not be a thief! We are especially to judge the actions of those in the church – again, without hypocrisy. We can NEVER judge someone heart, but we know right from wrong, and we are to call out wrong actions – in other words we are to call out sin. But this is to be done in love and with gentleness, never with the intent of causing harm or hurt. A gentle correction will help the brother or sister in Christ return to the Lord and their former calling. This is the lesson we learned last week, never call out sin in hypocrisy!

Questions for discussion/reflection:

When was the last time you caught yourself judging someone or something simply by human standards, according to the flesh? If you have not, what steps do you take to prevent this?

Is there some part of your life you are rejecting Yeshua as Messiah? If so, what steps do you need to take to change this? If not, what steps have you taken to prevent this?

What steps are you taking to continue to grow in the knowledge of both the Father and the Son? If you are not, why?
The implications of understanding that the Testimony of the Father is true, is to understand that when Yeshua says, “I am the Light of the world,” means to know Yeshua is to know the Father – “the Great I Am.”

People today are very willing to acknowledge the greatness of Yeshua as a man – but not to acknowledge Him as God. By human standards, Yeshua was the greatest man who ever lived. But human standards are not enough to explain and help us understand the true identity of Yeshua. Calling Yeshua “great” is faint praise, at best, in the light of His identity as God. Simply admiring Yeshua as a great leader or teacher falls short, as well. Our response should be to adore Yeshua as Lord and Savior.

This is one of the reasons John mentions the treasury – it is in close proximity to ALL the Temple officials and guards. Remember, last week I mentioned the challenge pit before the Pharisees and scribes was like that of drawing a line in the sand and daring them to cross that line. Well, Yeshua has crossed that line! Notice the progression of this conversation – it began in Galilee and moved to Judea; from Judea it came to Jerusalem; it then moved from the streets of Jerusalem to the Jerusalem Temple, finally it has moved from the grounds of the Jerusalem Temple into the very heart – the seat and symbol – of the Temple authority – the treasury unit.

This is a direct challenge to those who consider themselves experts in Torah knowledge and interpretation – you need to know Me before you reject Me. In our day, this is a direct challenge to those who see Yeshua simply as a great man – you need to know Me before you reject Me. For people to truly know God, He must reveal Himself in the physical dimension. This is what Yeshua has done – He is the revelation of God to humanity. He has come in the flesh as the “visible image of the invisible God,” thus, the only way to truly know God is to know Christ.

The task now falls to us – we must be the visible image of the invisible Christ. We must live our lives – in thought, in actions, in words – in such a way, that people “see” Christ in us. We bring peace where there is chaos; we offer forgiveness where there is no forgiving; we bring hope to the hopeless; we bring purpose to those wandering aimlessly; we bring value to those thought to be worthless; we show people the significance of life when life doesn’t seem worth living. But, perhaps our most important task is to love those deemed unlovable and to love them like the end is near. We must make Christ known!

Ours is a difficult task, for when God does come and a person does not accept and believe in Him, that person will never get to know God. We must be diligent in doing our part to make Christ, and our Great God, known to all those we meet.

We do all things for the glory of God, through Christ our Lord,
Amen and amen.
Next Week: John 8:21-30

Caught in Sin; Released by Yeshua

Caught in Sin; Released by Yeshua

Life & Light Community Church

Message from 2/25/2023

Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.

Everyone went to his home. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him.

But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again, He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”

                                                                                  John 8:1–8:11 (NASB95)

Before we begin I’d like to make one comment about this passage. Most all Bible translations note that John 7:53-8:11 is not found in the best manuscripts of John’s gospel account. There are many reasons to believe this story was added to this account late but most biblical scholars agree this is an authentic story, even though it was not recorded in the original Gospels. That being said, this is a passage of contrasting lives – we see the quiet worshipful life of Jesus, the turbulent and judgmental life of the religious leaders, and we see the dark guilt and nature of all humanity.

The secret to the calm and peace in the life of Yeshua is because He manages to get alone with God the Father. The Mount of Olives is a favorite place to escape the crowds and draw close to the Father. Here He is able to meet face-to-face with the Father for strength and encouragement and to be alone with His disciples.

It is early morning when Jesus begins teaching at the Temple. John says the people were coming to Him and He began to teach them. In the Greek translation, “coming” and “teach” indicate this is a continuous action. The people “kept coming” and Jesus “kept teaching.” In our passage today, the teaching will be, ultimately, on forgiveness and freedom from sin. In this teaching, the woman caught in adultery is a picture of all humanity; likewise, when forgiven and set free, she is, once again, a picture of all humanity, for we too have been Caught in Sin; Released by Yeshua.

Having been caught in adultery, a woman is brought before Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees say she must be stoned, according to the Law of Moses. In an unexpected twist, Jesus says those who are without sin are to cast the first stones against her. Slowly, those who condemn her, turn to leave. She was Caught in Sin; Released by Yeshua and commanded to sin no more.

The woman caught in adultery pictures the sin of all humanity. Only those who are without sin can bring condemnation against another. There is only One who can condemn us, but we must remember, we were Caught in Sin; Released by Yeshua, guilty, but now forgiven and set free, commanded to sin no more.

In this message we seek to understand the implications of being Caught in Sin; Released by Yeshua in the life of the Christ follower.

The Christ follower must beware of condemning another in hypocrisy.

1). When the Christ follower has been Caught in Sin; Released by Yeshua, we were once guilty but must now guard against vindictiveness and seeking revenge.

We must be careful that our self-righteousness and criticism is not coming from a lack of love.

The guilt of every person is portrayed in this passage. It is easy for us to focus on the sin of others, while completely overlooking our own sinfulness. The religious leaders bring a woman caught in the act of adultery, a very serious sin under Jewish law. Now, we all know it takes two people to commit this particular sin, but it is only the woman who is brought forth. We are not told, and we have no idea, what has happened to the man. However, it is NOT the woman we need to focus on but the SIN.

The sin pictured here represents the sin of every person – all people of all time. All sin is a work of darkness. All sin is dark, and most sin is done under the cover of darkness or shrouded in secrecy. In most cases, people think their sin will not be discovered – that no one will ever know. However, in the vast majority of cases, sin has been or will be discovered – as careful as a person might be, they still slip up or make a mistake, not to mention all sin is seen by God. Also, notice WHEN this sin took place. It occurs during a Feast, in a party like atmosphere where men and women are brought together by drinking and dancing. Such an atmosphere can lead even those with the best of moral intentions to corruption.

Some of the witnesses are guilty of a different sin – vindictiveness and revenge. Vindictiveness is the intent to cause anguish or hurt. It is a strong desire to “get back at” someone. Revenge moves from intent to action. This is the act of inflicting hurt or harm on someone; we retaliate for an injury or wrong from that person. It is unlikely this woman and her male counterpart were seen by the scribes and Pharisees – they are much too strict in their rules and regulations. Whomever these witnesses were, they wanted to strike back at this woman.

The point is this – the witnesses against this woman were sinners as well. They were vindictive and revengeful, seeking to have her exposed in a public fashion. Under Jewish law, what should have happened, the woman should have been kept in private, held in custody, until judgment was passed. Instead, she is dragged before the public to expose her sin, shame her, and then punish her. As the woman is dragged to the authorities, people would naturally become curious and follow along. The Jewish religious leaders saw an opportunity to test Yeshua. So, they drag the woman before Yeshua hoping to discredit Him.

If Yeshua did not find her guilty, He would be too soft on sin. If He found her guilty and should be stoned, He would be breaking Roman law which did not find adultery a sin worthy of death. The Jewish leaders would criticize Him for lack of mercy and love, compassion, and forgiveness. No matter what Yeshua would say, the Jewish religious leaders would use this to discredit Him.

The dark nature of all humanity is seen in the sin of these leaders and the crowd seeking to join in the public exposure of this woman. They had a hard, self-righteousness and condemning spirit. A spirit of self-righteousness that lacked forgiveness; criticism that lacked love; judgment that lacked compassion. They had a spirit of censoring that lacked understanding; condemning that lacked restoration. They had a spirit of savagery that lacked caring; destroying that lacked a second chance, and they had a spirit that had a deceptive purpose – they sought something to trap Yeshua into saying something they could use to discredit Him. On top of all of this, they are hypocrites! They felt they were better than this woman – free from any sin serious enough to be exposed in public. They even went so far as to use Scripture to support their right to condemn her.

These religious leaders have failed this woman. They have failed to give her what each and every one of us has needed at some point in time – to be embraced and pulled OUT OF THE SIN AND HURT griping us. They completely failed to keep this sin quiet – to keep it out of the public eye and say nothing to anyone except the one caught in sin; and they failed to begin the ministry of restoration and reconciliation to God and those hurt by the sin. Yeshua, however, refused to give in to the people – the religious leaders, the witnesses, and the public – He refused to give them what they wanted.

Instead, Yeshua bends down and silently writes in the dirt. We are not told what He writes, so there is no sense in speculation, but this does give Yeshua opportunity to take a breath, to think through the situation. It also forces the accusers to repeat the charge. Perhaps this would help them see their lack of compassion. Whatever the case might be, we can safely say that Yeshua brought calm and peace to a chaotic situation. In His silence, peace came over the entire area – and then He speaks. What Yeshua has to say is unexpected at the very least. “You are right; the law says she is guilty and should be condemned to death. Let those who are without sin among you be the first to cast stones at her.” I would imagine you could hear a pin drop.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

What are you doing to guard against wanting to “get back at” or “retaliating against” someone for a hurt or wrong they have caused? If not, how do you fight this temptation?

How do you keep from lacking forgiveness? Or lacking love? Or lacking compassion? Or lacking understanding? If you lack none of these, what steps have you taken to prevent this from happening?

 In a situation filled with chaos, what do you do to remind yourself to stop and take a breath, before speaking? If you do nothing to remind yourself, why is this?

The Christ follower must beware of condemning another in hypocrisy.

2). When the Christ follower has been Caught in Sin; Released by Yeshua, we are forgiven and set free.

We too have been commanded to go and sin no more.

Yeshua remained silent, allowing His statement of blunt truth to sink into those who surrounded this woman. He upheld the Law, so no one could accuse Him of being against the law. But, neither did He excuse the woman’s actions. He simply stated those without sin must be the first to cast a stone against her. At this point, there is no need for further argument. You might say that Yeshua has drawn a line in the sand and dared the scribes and Pharisees to cross that line!

Think about this for a moment – imagine what might happen if someone begins to lift an arm to cast their stone at the woman. As they prepare to cast their stone, someone in the crowd might recognize them and say, “Hey! Wait a minute! I know your sin! Put that stone down!” Even the pious Pharisees could not take such a chance and had to step back to save face. The trap set by the scribes and Pharisees has snapped shut – but it is the scribes and Pharisees who find themselves trapped!

Slowly, beginning with the elders, everyone begins to drop their stones and walk away. Apparently it is true, with age does come wisdom, for the elders know their sin and are the first to stop, drop, and leave. Finally, after the last person has gone, this woman stands alone before Yeshua. No one could claim the sinlessness needed to condemn her. Yeshua exposed the hypocrisy of her accusers, and they have all turned and walked away – now all aware of their own sinfulness.

Once again, this woman is a picture of all humanity. First, there are no accusers, at least not among mankind. No human can condemn this woman then, or now. This remains true for each of us, even in our sin, there is no person alive today who can condemn us. Secondly, the woman, like each of us, stands alone before Yeshua. We stand naked before Him, striped of all righteousness, for none of us possess righteousness in ourselves. Finally, the only One who is perfect, who remains sinless, is Yeshua – both for this woman and for us.

Put yourself in this woman’s shoes for a moment. Certainly, she heard Yeshua state she is guilty of breaking the Law – she has been condemned and sentenced to death, but those who were supposed to execute her punishment have turned and left because of the blunt truth stated by Yeshua. None of them were without sin and could not throw a stone at her! Well, except for one person – Yeshua. What might have been going through her mind? “He is still here. That means He is sinless, right? Is He going to stone me?”

I can imagine this woman jumping – startled at the sound of His voice – “Where are they?” The realization that she stands before Yeshua – alone and frightened – sinks in. “Does no one condemn you?” A slight shaking of her head. “No Lord, no one.” Then He speaks again, “Then neither do I condemn you.” But Yeshua doesn’t leave it at that, “Go. From now on sin no more.” This is what happens to each and every one of us – for any and all persons – when we come before Christ, confessing our sin in repentance. We are forgiven – freely – and then set free. But Yeshua doesn’t stop there with us either. We too receive the command, “Go. From now on sin no more.”

Questions for discussion/reflection:

When was the last time you found yourself standing before Yeshua, naked and striped of all righteousness? How did you react? If you haven’t been, why hasn’t this happened?

Think of a recent time of confession before Christ. How did you react when He said, “Neither do I condemn you.” If you have never heard this, why do you think this might be?

What steps are you taking so that you might, “Go. From now on sin no more?” If you are not taking any steps, why?

The Christ follower must beware of condemning another in hypocrisy.

Yeshua is the only One who has the right to condemn us or forgive us. He is the only One who is righteous, the only One who is perfect, the only One who is guilt-free, He is the only One who is sinless. Therefore, He alone is worthy and able to stand in judgment. God hates sin, we can make no mistake about that. Yeshua stands ready to forgive ANY person, but confession, repentance, and a change of heart are the properly prepared ground for forgiveness.

Our intentions must be to not sin again. That does not mean we will never sin again, nor does it mean that God expects us to never sin again. What it does mean is that God expects our lifestyle to no longer be a sinful lifestyle. This is willfully living in sin – not the unintentional sin or the occasional fall – this is living life in sin, knowing it is sinful and separates you from God. Our desire should no longer be to live for ourselves and our pleasures, but to live our lives wholly and fully for God.

None of us are perfect, we will stumble and fall from time to time. But with the help of Christ and His Spirit living within us, we can overcome the sinful desires and cravings of our flesh. We must remember we are a work in progress, God has not finished His work within us yet. Each day we strive to take a step forward in our spiritual growth – we will not mature overnight. Remember, our faith is a marathon – it takes a lifetime to come to maturity in Christ – so we must pace ourselves to prevent spiritual burnout and to run the race in such a way that we win this lifelong race of faith.

Live in His word; rest in His presence; pray often; bring peace in chaos; forgive freely; practice understanding; show compassion; care for those around you, wherever you might be, but above all this, love others like the end is near.

We do all things for the glory of God, through Christ our Lord.

Amen and amen.

Next Week: John 8:12-20

The Names of God Pt. VII

The Names of VII

Life & Light Community Church

Message from 2/18/2023

Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.

“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

                                                                          Romans 10:12–13 (NASB95)

In Hebrew thought, a name was not just a way of identifying a person, it was a way of revealing that person’s identity and essence. The same is true with God, but God’s identity is not revealed in just one name but in many. Each name is like a curtain hung upon a window, as we draw back that curtain the view behind the curtain becomes more fully known. So, it is with the names of God, as we draw back the curtains on His name, we gain a more fully developed picture of who God really is.

When Moses asked God who He was, he wasn’t asking what he should call God. No, what Moses wanted was for God to describe Himself. He is not just God. He is the eternal God. He is the God of Israel. He is a God of compassion. He takes notice of the storms His people face. Moses asked for a name, he was given an expression of God’s relationship with His people, and so, the Christ follower too must seek to know and understand this One we call Father, for there is far more in a name than just a title.

Scripture tells us that “those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13 NASB95) But which name are you calling upon? Yes, that’s right, the Lord God has more than one name. The Names of God, which we are looking at today, are found in the Old Testament. Each name reveals a different characteristic or attribute of God. These names were revealed to those who needed God, a specific part of God, at that moment of time. There are some amazing things revealed about God in His names and those things help the Christ follower develop a deeper faith.

The Names of God brings the Christ follower into a deeper relationship with the One who created them, the One who makes the whole, and the One who has overcome the world and won the victory over sin, death, and the grave.

In this message we seek to understand how The Names of God help the Christ follower develop a deeper faith.

1). The importance of the name Jehovah-Shalom in the life of the Christ follower.

The meaning of this name is The Lord our Peace.

Jehovah-Shalom is the God with which we have inner peace and harmony; He defeats His enemies to bring us peace. In Judges 6:22-24 we find the story of Gideon. Gideon has had a face-to-face meeting with an angel of the Lord. Gideon is seeking proof that God is with Israel and to understand why all that has happened to Israel had to happen. Gideon believes that God has abandoned Israel and left them to the hand of Midian. However, after receiving instructions from the angel of the Lord, Gideon questions how Israel can be delivered by him, for he is from Manasseh, and in fact, the smallest family of Manasseh.

God speaks to Gideon, promising He will be with him, and Gideon asks the Lord to wait as he prepares an offering. Following the instructions given by the Lord, the offering is prepared and then consumed by the Lord, thus opening the eyes of Gideon who then acknowledges that he has seen the Lord face-to-face. The Lord greets Gideon with a greeting we see often in Scripture, “Peace be with you; do not be afraid.” It is at this point Gideon builds an altar to the Lord and gives it the name “The Lord is Peace.”

In Isaiah 9:6 we find one of the most well-known Advent passages, this one listing the names of Messiah – among them and most notable for us is “The Prince of Peace.” He is the One who brings peace in its fullest sense – wholeness, prosperity, and tranquility. Individuals can now know His peace and one day – at His return – the world can experience His peace as well. However, it is in Numbers 6:22-24 where we find the first use of this name, it comes in what has become known as the Aaronic Blessing or Aaron’s Benediction.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.”                          

Numbers 6:24–26 (NASB95)

He is the God who gives us peace, regardless of our circumstances, our surroundings, or our afflictions.

As Christ followers, we can also point to Yeshua as the One who brings and gives peace to those who place their trust and faith in Him. In John 14:27, we find Yeshua walking with His disciples to Gethsemane, as He walks He gives them His peace – not peace as the world gives but the true peace that goes beyond our understanding. Following His resurrection, Yeshua greets His disciples with, “Peace be with you.” Finally, all four gospel accounts offer a perspective on Jesus calming a sudden storm on the seas.

Three of the accounts include Yeshua walking on water, while Luke has an account of Yeshua sleeping as the storm rages around the small boat that contains the disciples and Yeshua. All four stories are meant to show the power that Yeshua has over nature but there can certainly be an application that Yeshua is able to calm the storms of life, for Yeshua came to destroy the works of Satan, our enemy, thus bringing peace because our enemy has been destroyed – and we all know how our enemy likes to use the everyday events of life to brew up an unexpected storm!

Questions for discussion/reflection:

How is Jehovah-Shalom defeating His enemies, in your life, to bring you peace? If not, why do you think this is happening?

How are you experiencing peace that goes beyond our understanding during this season of life? If you are not, why do you think thinks might be?

Where do you need the peace of Yeshua in your life today?

The Names of God help the Christ follower know the One who called them into fellowship on a deeper, more personal level.

2). The importance of the name Jehovah-Shammah in the life of the Christ follower.

The meaning of this name is “The Lord is There” or “The Lord is My Companion.”

The second name we will examine today is Jehovah-Shammah. God’s presence is available to all who are obedient and love Him; His presence is no longer bound to the Tabernacle or Temple. In Ezekiel 48:35, we find a description of the New Jerusalem. This description will be seen again in Revelation 21:12-13, as John describes the end of the ages and the revelation of Yeshua Messiah. God revealed the name of the New Jerusalem to Ezekiel, “The Lord is Here.”

Psalm 46 is yet another Scripture that reveals the name of our Great God. This is a psalm of trust and thanksgiving for the One who is our refuge – a place of safety, security, and peace – a place where God Himself dwells for “He is in the midst of her, she will not be moved.” This is where we find the throne of God, a place that is unshakable, undisturbed, and filled with the power and majesty of God.

As Christ followers, we can draw on the promise of Yeshua to be with us always, to never leave us as orphans, and to send us a Helper to guide us into all truth and to remind us of the words of Yeshua. This is, of course, the promised Holy Spirit who dwells in those who love and obey the commands of Yeshua. With the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, Christ followers are never alone, for Yeshua has kept His promise to be with us always. In Revelation 21:3-4 John is given a revelation of the new holy city – a city where the Tabernacle of God will be among His people, for God Himself will live there and wipe away every tear; there will be no more death, crying, mourning, or pain. There will be no more sun or moon, no more need for a lamp, for the Lord God Himself will illuminate the city and His people.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

How is Jehovah-Shammah illuminating your world today? If He is not, what has caused this disconnect?

How are you experiencing the presence of Jehovah-Shammah during this season of life? If you are not, why?

How is Jehovah-Shammah helping you deal with or remove suffering during this season of life? If He is not, why do you think this might be?

The Names of God help the Christ follower know the One who called them into fellowship on a deeper, more personal level.

3). The importance of the name Jehovah-Tsidkenu in the life of the Christ follower.

The meaning of this name is “The Lord our Righteousness.”

The final name we will examine today, and in this series, is the name Jehovah-Tsidkenu. He is the One who imparts His righteousness onto those who call on His name. In Jeremiah 23:5-6, we find the Lord God has been lamenting to the prophet over the way the shepherds of Israel have been destroying and scattering the sheep of His pasture. The Lord God promises to raise up a shepherd who will shepherd His people. The Lord declares the raising up of a righteous Branch from David. He will be a King and will be successful; He will act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety, for His name will be “the Lord our Righteousness.” We also find a sister verse to this in Jeremiah 33:16.

In Ezekiel 36:26-27 we find the promise of a new covenant with Israel at the end times, but this also applies to the Christ follower, because of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, for those who have placed their trust in Yeshua as Messiah. In the new covenant there is the promise of a new heart and a new spirit – one that will be placed within people – His Spirit will cause us to walk in in ways, obey His commands, and place our trust fully in Him.

For the Christ follower, we have already experienced the coming of the Holy Spirit. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul reminds us that Christ has become sin for us, on our behalf, that we might become His righteousness – the righteousness of God in Yeshua. Romans 3:24-25 reminds us that through Christ we have redemption – in the righteousness of Christ, God passes over those sins that have been previously committed. Yeshua has paid the price for our sins, for we have all fallen short of the glory of God.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

How are you experiencing Jehovah-Tsidkenu as justice and righteousness during this season of life? If you are not, why?

How are you experiencing a new heart and a new spirit in Jehovah-Tsidkenu today? If you are not, why might this be?

How has Yeshua, Jehovah-Tsidkenu, given you His righteousness that you might stand before God the Father, white as the new fallen snow? If He has not, what steps do you need to take to correct this?

The Names of God help the Christ follower know the One who called them into fellowship on a deeper, more personal level.

Yeshua has promised that He would never leave us alone, and through the names of our Great God, we learn this is absolutely true. Whether it is through Jehovah-Shalom as He imparts His peace to you, or through Jehovah-Shammah as He reveals His presence to you in some new way, or through Jehovah-Tsidkenu as He creates a new heart and a new spirit within you, imparting His righteousness on you, to make you able to stand before God the Father, we are never alone.

The love, care, and concern our Great God has for each of us, goes beyond anything we can every expect to experience here on earth, it will only be when are with Him and able to see Him face-to-face, that we will fully begin to realize just how great His love is for us. Until that day we must persevere, we must continue to draw on His great strength, call on His Spirit to guide us, and above all, love our brothers and sisters in Christ, as a witness to the love He has for all people, even those who are currently rejecting Him.

Until His return, there is always hope for those who are hopeless, there is love for those deemed unlovable, mercy for those who are merciless, and forgiveness for those who refuse to forgive others. Our job, our responsibility as Christ followers, is to love like the end is near, for love is the true mark of the Christ follower. Love for those in the family and then love that brings those outside of the family, into the family through the love of Christ.

We do all things for the glory of God through Christ our Lord,

Amen and amen.

Next Week; John 8:1-11

Divided Over Christ

Late January and early February have been tough on our little church, but God has been faithful and seen us through the storms of life! I apologize for the lack of postings, but we are back and fully charged!

Divided Over Christ

Life & Light Community Church

Message from 2/11/2023

Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.

“Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet.” Others were saying, “This is the Christ.” Still others were saying, “Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”

So, a division occurred in the crowd because of Him. Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him. The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” The Pharisees then answered them, “You have not also been led astray, have you? “No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? “But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed.” Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.” Everyone went to his home.

                                                                                  John 7:37–53 (NASB95)

It happens every Fall, in households across the country. We call it “a house divided.” The husband and the wife (or brothers, or brother and sister) are split, not in a marital, or relationship spat but in a dispute that is as old as time itself. The husband says he is right, it is his year! The wife disagrees, stating it is her year and he is going down for sure. The husband and wife remain in a heated battle for, at least, a week, and then the one who wins the battle, has bragging rights for a year. What is this dispute that separates family members for more than a week? It is the football game between two bitter rivals, one supported by one family member, the other supported by the spouse or other family members. It is simply a house divided, but today we are looking at a different kind of division.

The division we are looking at today, will again bring division to some homes, but it will also, absolutely, cause division in neighborhoods, cities, states, and even entire countries. We see this division in two groups within the passage we are examining today, the crowds and the Pharisees. This division will end up as the cause of death for many and be the saving grace for others! What could possibly cause such a division to occur and affect so many people? In a word, Yeshua, Jesus the Christ. This is the one name that mentioned in a room full of people, will cause the entire room to be Divided Over Christ.

Jesus invites those who thirst to come to Him for rivers of living water. As He speaks about the Spirit, the crowds argue over His identity. Some say He is the prophet, others claim He is the Christ, and still others claim He cannot be the Christ because He comes from Galilee. Even the Pharisees are Divided Over Christ as they seek to finally seize Him.

As Christ followers, we have received the Spirit because we have believed in Christ. Even in our day, many are Divided Over Christ, not because of where He is from but because we claim Him to be more than a man, more than a prophet or great teacher, and because He is the only way to the Father and eternal life.

In this message we seek to answer the question, “Why is it important for the Christ follower to understand the dangers for those who remain Divided Over Christ?”

The dangers for those who remain Divided Over Christ is that they miss His true identity and the opportunity for eternal life.

1). The danger for those who remain Divided Over Christ is they will not receive His Spirit.

The world does not recognize the Spirit, does not know the Spirit, and cannot receive the Spirit.

This final passage in chapter 7 finds Yeshua at the Feast of Booths, it is the last day of the feast known as the Last and Greatest Day. This Feast celebrated God’s care, protection, and provision during the desert wanderings. There is a ritual performed during this feast we need to know about to help us understand what is happening here. For seven day, in the morning, the priest carried a golden pitcher of water to the altar. As he neared the water gate, a shofar, a ram’s horn, was sounded. They made quite the show of bringing the pitcher of water into the Temple each morning! This was followed by the singing of psalms of praise and worship to God for the Fall harvest. Citrus fruit was used to symbolize the harvest just gathered.

Depending on the source one uses, this was done for six or seven days, on the eight day there was no water brought in, but on the seventh day the ritual was performed seven times to show the emphasis and concentration on prayer and worship. We should also note that the Sadducees were opposed to this ritual, this was fully a Pharisee-based ritual and following the singing a prayer was given for rain. This added element carried the meaning of the feast beyond the traditional emphasis of the desert experience. It is against this backdrop that Yeshua stands on the last and greatest day of the feast and cries out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.”

In crying out this statement, Yeshua is talking about the Holy Spirit, which John points out hasn’t been given yet because Yeshua had not yet been glorified. What then, is the purpose of making this statement? Yeshua states that it is those who believe in Him, as the Scripture said, that will receive this river of living water. Many believe that Yeshua may have been partially quoting a Psalm here but there are two other passages that actually fit this passage better. The passage Yeshua is quoting likely comes from Ezekiel 47:1-12. Here Ezekiel describes a river flowing out of the Temple – an angel who has accompanied Ezekiel measures the river as it grows increasingly deeper. Following this there is a vision of the future described by Ezekiel.

The desert region, along with the Dead Sea are seen to be flourishing. Because of this river of living water, the desert would become a place of life and healing. Zechariah 14:14-20 is a parallel passage to Ezekiel with one slight difference. The river of living water begins to flow in two directions – east and west! This passage also mentions one other important detail – this is an end times prophecy; the surviving nations will gather each year in Jerusalem to celebrate this very feast – the Feast of Booths. How does all of this tie into the Holy Spirit? Yeshua is the Source and Giver of Life. He is not only the source of water He is the Source of Living Water. This also make Him the Source of the Holy Spirit.

Yeshua says it is those who believe in Him that will receive the Spirit. This began with the Feast of Pentecost, a spring feast, found in Acts 2, and now comes as part of the new creation when a person believes in Christ. Why is it significant that Yeshua states it is those who believe in Him who receive the Spirit? As Yeshua prepares His disciples for His death and return to the Father, He teaches them about the Holy Spirit. This comes as the disciples are walking with Yeshua to the Garden of Gethsemane in chapter 14:15-17 of John. Here Yeshua spells out, quite clearly, why it is important to believe in Him, in order to receive the Spirit. In this passage the Spirit is called “another Helper” and “the Spirit of Truth.”

As He walks with His disciples, He explains that the world cannot receive the Spirit, they cannot see the Spirit, and they cannot know the Spirit. Why exactly, can the world not receive, see, or know the Spirit? Because the world has hardened their hearts towards God. When this happens people can no longer hear the call of God on their life. The world has rejected God the Father and/or Yeshua, the Son of God. If the world rejects the Source of the Spirit, how would they be able to receive the Spirit? The world calls evil good and good evil. Taking credit away from the Spirit and giving it to another is not only blasphemous, it is also spitting in the face of God. For these and many other reasons, the world simply cannot receive, see, or know the Spirit.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

How are you experiencing Yeshua as a river of living water during this season of life? If not, why do you think this is so?

How are you being a river of living water for others during this season of life? If you are not, why?

How have you experience the Holy Spirit as Helper or Spirit of Truth during your faith journey?

The dangers for those who remain Divided Over Christ is that they miss His true identity and the opportunity for eternal life.

2). The danger of those who remain Divided Over Christ is they continue to be deceived about the truth concerning Christ.

The world cannot know the truth concerning Christ because it cannot receive the Spirit of Truth.

Because the world cannot receive, see, or know the Holy Spirit, the world is unable to know the truth concerning Yeshua. We have two examples in this passage – the crowds and the Pharisees. After hearing the words of Yeshua, some in the crowds are convinced He is the Prophet. Others hear the words and are convinced He is indeed the Messiah. Finally, there are still others who hear and are convinced He cannot be the Messiah because He does not come from the right place. These three examples are what we still see in people today. Those who believe He is the Prophet are hearing the call of God on their life but have not fully responded to that call – something is holding them back, there is still a lingering doubt.

Those who say He is the Messiah have fully heard the call of God on their life and have responded to that call. They can no longer ignore the evidence and have cast aside all fear and doubt to fully place their faith in God as Father and Yeshua as Messiah. Finally, there are those who say He cannot be the Messiah because no loving God would allow evil in the world. These have hardened their hearts to the point they can no longer hear the call of God on their lives, and they are fully ignoring the evidence God has placed before them. Yeshua is rejected outright because He does not meet the right requirements.

Not only is there division in the crowd concerning Yeshua, but there is also division within the Pharisees concerning Yeshua. In the Pharisees we also see three examples of what we can find in people today. The officers, who are really Temple priests, return without Yeshua and the Pharisees accuse them of being led astray. The officers are impressed with the way Yeshua speaks or teaches. But the Pharisees see themselves as the true teachers of Israel because they are fully educated. They are the experts in the Law, not a carpenter from Galilee. What we find in people today are those who think Yeshua is just a great teacher but nothing more.

Some of the Pharisees call those in the crowds accursed and not knowing the Law. Here the Pharisees turn their anger against those in the crowd who believe Yeshua to be the Messiah. They cannot possibly know the Messiah because they do not know the Law as the teachers of Israel do, they are under a curse and do not have their right mind. The word accursed also expresses a strong dislike or anger towards someone or something. People today will say that those who follow Christ are simpletons or have a simple mind. It is a faith for the weak and uneducated. Finally, some of the Pharisees assume none of the Pharisees or those in leadership have begun to follow Yeshua. These are the people who are in charge of teaching and leading Israel, they have the experience, the knowledge, and the expertise to know the Messiah when they see Him, and the Messiah will not come from Galilee. The objection to Yeshua today is not where He comes from, but we claim Him to be – the only way to the Father. Many of the Pharisees reject Yeshua and miss the truth about Him because they know one thing – He is from Galilee.

As Christ followers, we will meet all kinds of people in our faith journey. Some will have some faith but not enough to be fully convinced Yeshua is the Messiah. Others will have faith in Yeshua as Messiah and have fully placed their faith in Him. And still others will reject Him outright because He does not meet the right requirements. There are those who think Yeshua was a great teacher who lived a great life, but nothing more. Others will claim our faith is for the simple minded, who are weak and uneducated. Finally, there will be those who reject Yeshua outright because He cannot possibly be the only way to heaven or to the Father. We must be prepared to answer all of these objections and many more, and the only way we can do that is to stay close to Messiah, to live in His word, and follow His ways. Our lives should be our best and strongest witness, not our words.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

Which objection to Yeshua are you having the most difficulty dealing with during this season of life? If there are no objections, why do you think that is?

Where do you need the Spirits guidance and wisdom in dealing with objections concerning Yeshua? If none, what have you done to prepare for these objections?

How are you preparing to deal with some of the objections you are facing? If you are not, why?

The dangers for those who remain Divided Over Christ is that they miss His true identity and the opportunity for eternal life.

There will always be division among the “crowds” concerning Yeshua. What there must not be, what there cannot be, is division among His followers. Yes, I know, we have plenty of division among Christ followers, all one needs to do is look at all the different denominations in the world and it is clear there is division among those who follow Him. But those who are hearing the call of God as we near the end of the age and the return of the Christ, these are the ones who must come together and put their differences aside and find a way to bring peace and love back to those who follow Christ. Love is the one mark, the true mark, of those who follow Him. Their love for one another stands out most of all, especially in a world that is so full of hatred and intolerance right now.

What can we do? We must be a praying community. We must continue to pray for one another daily, lifting one another into the very presence of God so He might touch us all. We must also strengthen one another. We support, love, and encourage one another whenever we are together, spurring one another on through the battles of life. We must also be praying for other Christ followers. First, those Christ followers we know are stuck in a church that is slowly slipping away from the message of Christ and into “another gospel,” as Paul has warned us will happen. But we must also be praying for those Christ followers who are looking for a new church home, especially those whom God might be preparing to bring to this ministry. Finally, be alert. Listen to what the Lord is saying. Be prepared to be obedient to what you hear. And above all, love with the end in mind.

We do all things for the glory of God, through Christ our Lord,

Amen and amen.

Next Week:  

The Names of God Part VI

The Names of God Pt. VI

Life & Light Community Church

Message from 1/21/2023

Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.

“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

                                                                         Romans 10:12–13 (NASB95)

In Hebrew thought, a name was not just a way of identifying a person, it was a way of revealing that person’s identity and essence. The same is true with God, but God’s identity is not revealed in just one name but in many. Each name is like a curtain hung upon a window, as we draw back that curtain the view behind the curtain becomes more fully known. So, it is with the names of God, as we draw back the curtains on His name, we gain a more fully developed picture of who God really is.

When Moses asked God who He was, he wasn’t asking what he should call God. No, what Moses wanted was for God to describe Himself. He is not just God. He is the eternal God. He is the God of Israel. He is a God of compassion. He takes notice of the storms His people face. Moses asked for a name, he was given an expression of God’s relationship with His people, and so, the Christ follower too must seek to know and understand this One we call Father, for there is far more in a name than just a title.

Scripture tells us that “those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13 NASB95) But which name are you calling upon? Yes, that’s right, the Lord God has more than one name. The Names of God, which we are looking at today, are found in the Old Testament. Each name reveals a different characteristic or attribute of God. These names were revealed to those who needed God, a specific part of God, at that moment of time. There are some amazing things revealed about God in His names and those things help the Christ follower develop a deeper faith.

The Names of God brings the Christ follower into a deeper relationship with the One who created them, the One who makes the whole, and the One who has overcome the world and won the victory over sin, death, and the grave.

In this message we seek to understand how The Names of God help the Christ follower develop a deeper faith.

1). The importance of the name Elohim to the Christ follower is to help us identify the One who created all things.

He is the Creator, Giver, and Sustainer of all things – all things are held together by Him.

Elohim is the most common of the names used for God. It is the plural form of “El”; most likely this name is used to explain the plural of majesty or excellence. It is the name that conveys the creative power, authority, and sovereignty of God. This is the name used when referring to God in His relation to creation. Elohim can be understood as the All-Powerful Creator. He is the God who knows all, creates all, and is everywhere at all times. He is the all-powerful creator of the universe.

The most well-known passage of Scripture to include the name Elohim is found in Genesis 1:1-3. “In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth.” This is the name of God used throughout the Genesis creation account, including when God created human beings. In Deuteronomy 10, we find God speaking to Moses when Moses returned back to the top of Mount Horeb to receive the Ten Commandments for a second time. It is in verse 17 where we find out more about our great God.

Elohim is said to be the God of gods and Lord of lords, showing His excellence over all other gods. And Elohim is shown to have no favorites and to take no bribes. In this we see both the compassion and excellency of Elohim. His compassion is seen in forgiving Israel and giving His commands a second time, though this time Moses must do the work of carving out the stone tablets before God inscribes them once again. His excellency is seen in not playing the favorite with anyone, nor can He be bribed by anything, from anyone.

Finally, in Psalm 68 we find a psalm of victory, likely written for David’s march back to Jerusalem with the Ark of the Covenant. In this psalm there are seven names of God used, including Elohim. The number seven, signifying perfection or wholeness, gives us the full picture of the excellencies and power of our great God.

As Christ followers, we read the first words of John’s gospel account and we are immediately drawn back to Genesis and the creation story. We know Yeshua as the Word at creation, active in creating and sustaining the universe. We know from His life that He had no favorites and took no bribes from anyone. Included in His miracles or signs as John calls them, we see His power over nature as He turns water to wine, feeds thousands with just a few loaves of bread and fewer fish; He walks on the water and calms the storms. Part of the mission for Yeshua was to reveal the Father to all people and this He has done in a very real and personal way.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

How are you seeing the creative power of Elohim during this season of life?

In what way is Yeshua revealing Elohim to you as you continue in your faith walk?

The Names of God help the Christ follower know the One who called them into fellowship on a deeper, more personal level.

2). The importance of the name Jehovah-Nissi to the Christ follower is to remind us that the victory has already been won.

In Yeshua, the world has been overcome and sin, death, and the grave have been defeated.

The name Jehovah-Nissi means the Lord our Banner, or the Lord our Miracle. This name is meant to remind us that God alone provides for our victory over the flesh and our enemy, Satan. This is the name Moses used for the altar he built after defeating the Amalekites at Rephidim. This is the first of three Scripture references we will look at to gain a fuller understanding of Jehovah-Nissi. Exodus 17 recounts two very important points for us. First, the beginning of chapter 17 of Exodus recounts the people complaining about the lack of water. God instructs Moses to strike a rock with his staff and He will provide water. Moses strikes the rock and water pours from the rock, enough for all of Israel. In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul reminds the church that all those in the desert ate the same spiritual food and, more importantly for us with our passage today, all drank the same spiritual drink. Paul tells the church that rock was Yeshua, Jesus.

The second part of chapter 17 is where the name Jehovah-Nissi finds its meaning. In this portion of the chapter Amalek has come against Israel. Moses instructs Joshua to choose men to fight for Israel and in the morning he will go to the top of the hill with God’s staff. As Joshua fights against Amalek when Moses raises his hands, Joshua prevails. But as the arms of Moses tire and he allows them to drop, Amalek prevails. Aaron and Hur come to the top of the hill and place a stone under Moses so he can be seated to watch the fighting and they lift his arms, one on each side, so that Israel prevails against Amalek. God instructs Moses to write in a book, to be remembered and to instruct Joshua, that God promises to wipe out the memory of Amalek. Jehovah-Nissi was the Banner, which can also be translated as rally point, for Joshua and all of Israel.

Deuteronomy 20 also serves as a reminder to look to God when you are facing an enemy that vastly outnumbers you. Do not be afraid for the Lord God goes with you into battle to fight for you. Moses goes on to list men who should not enter into battle. These are exemptions meant to make it clear that it is God, Jehovah-Nissi, who fights for Israel, and He alone gains the victory over their foes. Finally, in Isaiah 11 we find the shoot of Jesse, a branch from his roots, prophesied. Verses 10 – 11 tell us that this Branch will become the rally point for the remnant of God’s people. They will come to this Branch for rest, and this rest is said to be glorious.

As Christ followers, we know that Yeshua is the Branch of Jesse and we do indeed find rest in Him. He is also our Banner, our rally point, and our miracle, for each of us, in our own right, is a miracle in Yeshua. He has taken us from the hand of the enemy and set us on the path of righteousness because we have placed our faith in Him. He has fought and overcome the world that we might have victory over our sinful flesh. His work on the cross put an end to the enemies work in our lives, for now we can stand in the victory He has already won.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

How is Jehovah-Nissi acting as your rally point in this season of life?

How are you finding rest in Yeshua during your faith journey?

The Names of God help the Christ follower know the One who called them into fellowship on a deeper, more personal level.

3). The importance of the name Jehovah-Rapha to the Christ follower is to remind us of the One who makes us whole.

He is faithful to complete the work He has begun in us.

The final name we will examine today is Jehovah-Rapha. The meaning of this name is the Lord who Heals. He is the God who can heal us physically, spiritually, and emotionally. This is the name that is proved by Yeshua as He heals the sick, blind, lame, and in His casting out of demons. In Exodus 15, right after the Lord has parted the Rea Sea for Israel to escape the Egyptian army, we find the people complaining about the lack of water, for the waters of Marah were bitter. Moses cries out to the Lord who shows him a tree and instructs him to cast the tree into the water. The tree makes the water sweet, and the people drink of the water freely.

After this, the Lord make statutes and regulations to test the people. He encourages the people to heed the voice of the Lord God and to do what is right in His sight, and to hear His commandments, then He will put none of the diseases on them which He had put upon the Egyptians, for He will be their healer. In Psalm 103:3, we are reminded by the psalmist that God alone removes our sin and heals our diseases. He redeems our lives from the pit, a life that was once headed on a path to death and surrounds us with lovingkindness and compassion. Finally, in Psalm 147:2-5, and particularly verse 3, we find the psalmist recounting the Lord’s care for His people. Verse three tells us that He heals the brokenhearted and binds the up their wounds.

As Christ followers, all of us have read, and perhaps some of us have even experienced, how Yeshua came to heal the sick, cause the blind to see, make the lame walk, and set free those captive to sin. We read in John that He heals a man lame for thirty-eight years. He will heal a man born blind, also found in John; in John chapter 4 His conversation with the woman at the well sets her mind free from whatever demons might have held her captive, so much so, that she returns to tell the people and the entire city comes out to see Yeshua. Finally, in chapter 11 Yeshua will raise Lazarus from the dead! And that is just the accounts found in John’s gospel message. We could go on and recount how Yeshua has healed each of us, but the message is clear, Jehovah-Rapha is our Healer!

Questions for discussion/reflection:

How has Jehovah-Rapha made a bitter situation sweet, simply by your calling out to Him?

How are you experiencing being set free in Yeshua during your faith walk?

The Names of God help the Christ follower know the One who called them into fellowship on a deeper, more personal level.

Each of The Names of God reveal a new characteristic or attribute of our great God. I do not believe it is a stretch to say that all of us have experienced Elohim as the all-powerful God who knows all, creates all, and is everywhere at all times. How often have you sat in awe at the beauty of a sunset, or sunrise, and silently given thanks to the Lord? Or how many times have you experienced Jehovah-Nissi providing you victory over a sinful element of your flesh? Maybe an addiction or habit you needed to break to draw closer to Yeshua? And how many times have you come before the Lord seeking healing from some ailment, illness, or affliction that is simply too big for you alone? Our great God is wonderful and complex. His love for us is far deeper than we may ever understand and as the day draws closer for His return, that love and care for His people will continue to be seen by all who call on His name.

We do all things for the glory of God, through Christ our Lord,

Amen and amen.

Next Week: John 7: 36-53

The Danger of Rejection

The Danger of Rejection

Life & Light Community Church

Message from 1/14/2023

Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.

“So, they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?” The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him. Therefore, Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. “You will seek Me and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” The Jews then said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He? “What is this statement that He said, ‘You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”

                                                                                 John 7:30–36 (NASB95)

Last week we studied The Danger of Judging by Appearances, seeing how the Pharisees viewed two deeds through the same point of Law and applied their already developed methods differently. Yeshua has challenged the Pharisees to apply these methods consistently. The Pharisees have judged two deeds by their appearance, one seen as a responsibility, the other seen as a way to enhance a person’s station or status in life. The people in the crowd exhibit the same tendency to judge by appearance as some begin to believe Yeshua is the Christ, while others say it is not possible because they know this man.

In today’s passage we encounter the second danger Yeshua is warning the crowds and the Pharisees about – The Danger of Rejection. The teachers of Israel have long taught that they, the Jewish people, are the chosen of God, and this is true. What they have missed is the mission of the Messiah to make God known to the entire world – all people, not just the Jews. The danger here is that rejecting the Messiah means they are rejecting the One who sent Him, and in this rejection, they make the place where God can be found an unapproachable destination.

While some in the crowd began to believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Pharisees hear them muttering and see a troublemaker. So, the Pharisees and the chief priests, in a power play of authority, send officers to capture Him. However, Jesus is clear, He is with them for a short time, but The Danger of Rejection means they will seek Him but not find Him, because they cannot come where He is.

As Christ followers, we must be prepared for the time when the world will see those who follow Christ as troublemakers. We will be wanted, hunted, and put in jail, because we remain obedient to a higher authority. As time grows short, we must warn others of The Dangers of Rejection, for the end result is eternal separation from the Father and the Son.

In this message we seek to answer the question, “Why should the Christ follower be aware of The Dangers of Rejection?”

As Christ followers, we are called to obedience to a higher authority – an Authority which the world has rejected, which only leads to eternal separation from the Father.

1). The Christ follower must be aware of The Dangers of Rejection because one day we will be seen as troublemakers.

Yeshua has warned us to be prepared to be hated by a world that hated Him first.

The Pharisees continue their pursuit of Yeshua after He has challenged them to apply their already developed methods to the Law consistently. Once again, John tells us that “His hour has not yet come.” We see the people in the crowd once again begin to believe in Him, this time pointing out the numerous signs He has performed. And once again, we find the Pharisees at the fringe of the crowd, listening to the mutterings of the crowd, and then, in a power play displaying their authority, they send officers, yet again, to capture Him. It is becoming increasingly clear that the ruling authorities, particularly the Pharisees, have rejected Yeshua outright, as the Messiah.

At the heart of the matter is the fact that Yeshua refused to come to the ruling council and seek their permission for His ministry. The Pharisees believe they are the gateway to God the Father, not some carpenter from Nazareth, and they have every intention of putting His ministry to rest, once and for all! While the Pharisees have taken the lead in opposing Yeshua, they are working closely with the chief priests. After standing at the fringe of the crowd and listening to the mutterings of the crowd, they have had enough and have, apparently, persuaded them to send officers for His arrest. The tipping point comes as those in the crowd begin to believe in Yeshua as the Messiah, even mentioning His numerous signs. They are fully opposed to Him and reject Him as the Messiah.

Emotions are at a fever pitch, and at one point, the Pharisees thought they had enough popular support to make a public move against Yeshua. They have miscalculated the division within the crowd and the impression Yeshua was making on those in attendance. There appears to be much confusion about Messiah and the crowds have moved from questioning the education of Yeshua to the number of signs He has performed, many saying the Messiah will not do more than He has already performed. And yet, the Pharisees and the chief priests, those who make up the Sanhedrin, are clearly opposed to Yeshua and have branded Him as a troublemaker, to be rejected as the Messiah.

Throughout the gospel accounts, Yeshua prepares His disciples for His death and the trouble they will find because they have believed in His name. Two of these times occur in John, and we will examine them more closely when we get to them, but for now they add confirmation to what we find in our passage today. In chapter 15 and 16, Yeshua and the disciples are walking to Mount Olive and the Garden of Gethsemane. As they walk Yeshua tells them plainly that should they find hate in the world, it is because the world first hated Him (18-19). Then in chapter 16, Yeshua again speaks plainly in telling His disciples, “In this world you have tribulation.” But Yeshua goes on to say He has overcome the world.

It is clear that Yeshua wanted those who follow Him to know that this is not an easy life. He never promised us that it would be easy, but He does promise to be with us until the end of the age and He has promised to send us the Helper, the Holy Spirit, also known as the Spirit of Truth, to lead us into all truth and to remind us of the teachings of Yeshua. We will not find peace in this world. Never. The world has no idea what true peace is, and it certainly cannot provide what it does not know. We are to be prepared to be hated because this same world that hated Yeshua, will, indeed, hate us for believing in Hs name. Because the world has rejected Yeshua, they will reject those who follow Him and the message they bring.

Questions for discussion/Reflection:

How do you sense the world opposing Yeshua today? If you do not, why is this?

How do you sense the world, or at least the people you are associated with, opposing the message you bring? If not, what have you done to prevent this?

Where are you beginning to get a feeling of being hated because you are a Christ follower? If not, why do you think this is?

As Christ followers, we are called to obedience to a higher authority – an Authority which the world has rejected, which only leads to eternal separation from the Father.

2). The Christ follower must be aware of The Dangers of Rejection because rejection makes eternal life an unapproachable destination.

When the world rejects the Christ follower, it rejects our message and our God.

The Pharisees make a power play and send officers to seize Yeshua. Sensing this to be the case, Yeshua makes a statement that only adds to the confusion of the people. “You will seek Me, and you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” What in the world is this man talking about?! Where can He possibly go that we cannot go? Many thought He was going to the Greeks, but this is not simply the Greeks by nationality, the people thought He was going to Jews who acted like Greeks, the Hellenized Jews. This is what they meant when they said the Dispersion among the Greeks. But Yeshua has something entirely different in mind. Yeshua has just told the crowds and the Pharisees on the fringe, that He answers to a Higher Authority, the God of Israel.

We see this rejection of Yeshua and His disciples elsewhere in the gospel accounts as well. In Luke’s account of Yeshua returning to Jerusalem for the last time, the crowds greet Him with the shout of Hosanna, the Pharisees take issue with this and demand that Yeshua rebuke His disciples. There are numerous times we read of the Pharisees condemning Yeshua for healing on the Sabbath, for eating with tax collectors and sinners, or for allowing a known prostitute to clean His feet with her tears, wiping them clean with her hair. It is plainly clear that Yeshua does not fit the expectations the Pharisees have of the Messiah. Yeshua has been clearly branded as a troublemaker.

Going back to the power play by the Pharisees, this is not the first time they have made such a play. Back in chapter 1 of John we see the Pharisees have sent priests to John the Baptist to interrogate him to find out his identity. Again, they want to know who has given him authority to begin a ministry without getting their permission. In both cases, it is the priestly authorities, the Pharisees, and the chief priests, who are involved. These authorities do not really wish to know the Authority that has sent Yeshua, for time and again when He states, “My Father,” or “the Father and I,” these same men accuse Him of blasphemy. The real issue remains He has not gotten their permission and they will not stop until He submits or ceases His ministry.

The answer provided by Yeshua is no ordinary answer, for if you listen and look closely, Yeshua tells them He is returning to the Father, and more importantly, they cannot come where He is! Think about this implication for a moment. To be Jewish and told that you cannot come to the place where God is to be found would simply be earth shaking news. Remember, the teachers of Israel taught they were God’s chosen people, and so they were and are, but they misunderstood their mission as a light to the nations, and further misunderstand the mission of Yeshua as Messiah to the world. It was understood that those who were not Jewish were completely separated from God. Now they hear that because they reject Him, God has become an unapproachable destination!

There is a warning here for both the world and the Christ follower. The warning for the world is rather obvious, reject Yeshua and you risk the promise of eternal life. There is only one way to the Father, one way to receive eternal life, one way to enter the Kingdom of God, one way to overcome sin, death, and the grave…Yeshua, the Son of God, the Messiah. That message is and has been clear for many for a very long time, it is, in fact, the main reason so many reject Christ and Christianity, for the belief that He is the ONLY way to the Father. The world today wants things the way they want them, when they want them and on the terms they want them, end of story. No one will tell us how to get to heaven and see God. But what about the Christ follower?

The warning here comes in the plural, warnings. First, there is coming a time when we will be seen as troublemakers. The examples I mentioned make this clear. I know it is hard to believe while living in this country, the greatest country the world has ever seen, but it is true. We are already seeing the changes starting to happen and, as we read in the Scriptures, it is only going to get worse. In Matthew 10:34. Yeshua Himself says, “Do not think I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace but to bring a sword.” Simply put, the mission of Yeshua is to be filled with tension, persecution, and even death. The second warning has to do with how we handle our faith. We still face the danger of rejecting Yeshua at the end of our lifetime, under the stress and strain of persecution, facing our own death. We must remain strong and firm in our faith, even as we face persecution and possible death, for we must remain obedient to a Higher Authority – God the Father, Almighty Creator and Maker of Heaven and Earth.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

How have you sensed rejection because you remain faithful to Yeshua? If not, why do you think this is?

Where do you sense confusion over your mission for Yeshua? If none, how have you gained clarity?

Where do you sense tension or persecution as you try to remain faithful to a Higher Authority?

As Christ followers, we are called to obedience to a higher authority – an Authority which the world has rejected, which only leads to eternal separation from the Father.

As Christ followers, what do we do with this information? How can this help prepare us for what the future holds? First, we must remember that, when you find opposition, it is not the person who opposes you, it is the spirit behind that person who opposes you. Paul taught us that we do not fight against flesh and blood, rather we are fighting against the powers of darkness (Eph. 6:12). Second, remember the message you take with you is counter cultural, it goes against the flow so it will naturally create tension. Thirdly, remember it is hard to be hated, but hatred cannot harm you or kill you. Our suffering does not match the suffering Yeshua experience on our behalf. So, take courage for Yeshua has overcome the world.

Fourth, remember this is not a personal rejection of you but a rejection of the One you represent. If you believed exactly as the world believes you would be readily accepted, but you are different, you have been called into the Light of the Christ and it is this Light that is being rejected. Fifth, if you are finding confusion concerning your mission, seek clarity through prayer, reading and studying the word, talking to other trusted Christ followers, and then pray some more! Finally, we are never to be subject to an evil or immoral authority – at any level. We always answer to a Higher Authority – it is His will we seek; it is His will we obey.

We do all things for the glory of God, through Christ our Lord,

Amen and amen.

Next Week: John 7:37-53

The Dangers of Judging by Appearances

The Dangers of Judging by Appearance

Life & Light Community Church

Message from 1/7/2023

Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.

“The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?” Jesus answered them, “I did one deed, and you all marvel. “For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they? However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from.” Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. “I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.”                                                                         John 7:20–29 (NASB95)

Let’s do some quick review to remind ourselves of what has been happening around Yeshua. Chapter 5 opens with Yeshua attending a Feast of the Jews. The feast is unnamed so we are not sure which feast this might be, but it is not one of the seven Feasts to the Lord, celebrated each year by all Israelites. Yeshua arrives at the Sheep Pool at Bethesda and heals a man who has been lame for 38 years. Rather than rejoicing with the man for his healing, the Pharisees accuse him of breaking the Sabbath. When the man figures out it is Yeshua who has healed him, he tells the Pharisees and the lengthy conversation we are studying begins.

In chapter 6 Yeshua attends the Passover Feast and as He travels the area, a large crowd begins to follow Him. Testing His disciples, Yeshua asks how they can feed so many people. The crowd numbered 5,000 men plus women and children. The disciples think only in terms of human devises and taking the small offering of five loaves of barley bread and two fish, Yeshua feeds the people with twelve baskets leftover. The crowds follow Him to Tiberias where He makes His “I Am the Bread of Life” statement but the people grumble because He says they must eat His flesh and drink His blood.

We now arrive at chapter 7 where the brothers of Yeshua attempt to convince Him to show himself to the world. The Feast of Booths is at hand and the brothers cannot think of a better time to show the world He is the Messiah. Yeshua tells His brothers it is not His time, and He will not be attending the feast, but they should go alone. Yeshua arrives later, about mid-week, and begins teaching at the Temple. As He teaches the people begin to wonder how He can speak this way when He has not been educated. The controversy begins when Yeshua says His teachings are not His own but come from God, the One who sent Him. Which brings us to our passage today.

The final question from Yeshua to the crowd is “Why do you seek to kill Me?” The reaction is that Yeshua has a demon, meaning He is insane. But as we will learn in our passage, Yeshua has been calling out the inconsistencies of the crowd, as well as the Pharisees, when it come to the interpretation of the Law. The warning here is clear and very much needed even today, we must be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearances.

Accused of having a demon, Jesus contrasts circumcision to keep the Torah, to healing a man on the Sabbath. The Dangers of Judging by Appearances comes into focus as the people declare they know where Jesus is from, but no one will know where the Christ is from. Jesus points out the people do know Him, but they do not know the One who sent Him.

As Christ followers, we must be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearances, for the way people judge is inconsistent and relies on personal opinion rather than a right understanding and the consistency required for judging rightly.

In this message we seek to answer the question, “Why must the Christ follower be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearance?”

The Christ follower must be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearances because our personal opinions have a way of clouding the truth.

1). The Christ follower must be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearances because they will cloud our inconsistencies.

The Christ follower must be consistent in their witness to the world.

This entire controversy and conversation started with the healing at the Pool of Bethesda, near the Sheep Gate. This healing was done on the Sabbath and the Pharisees take exception to this. Yeshua is at a Feast when the healing occurs, but the feast is unnamed. There are only two other feasts the Jews observed, and both are in Winter months. Chapter 6 happens during the Passover Feast or in the Spring and chapter 7 happens during the Feast of Booths, or in the Fall. So, this could be nearly a years’ worth of conversations and controversy surrounding one healing on the Sabbath.

What we must understand is that Yeshua is NOT arguing with the Pharisees about the legitimacy of the Law or the Torah. In fact, Yeshua agrees with them on the point of Law they accuse Him of breaking. What He is arguing about is their interpretation of the Law they are accusing Him of breaking. Yeshua understands and agrees that the Law of Moses must be kept, even if it means performing a circumcision on the Sabbath. A person is brought into covenant relationship with the God of Israel, making them whole spiritually. If this is true, then how can making an entire person whole on the Sabbath be wrong? Does this not bring them into a covenant relationship with God? Or at least, back into a covenant relationship? And certainly, it makes them whole both physically and spiritually.

Here is the point of contention for Yeshua, the inconsistency in interpreting the Law. Yeshua is not calling them to repentance or out of legalism, He is calling out to apply their already developed methods more consistently! For example, in Matthew 12, Yeshua challenges the Pharisees concerning the practice of helping an animal that has fallen into a pit or ditch on the Sabbath. The Pharisees find this acceptable because it is the responsible thing to do when caring for an animal, something that is helpless. Yet these same Pharisees condemn Yeshua and the practice of healing an entire person – one who is more valuable than any animal – on the Sabbath.

It is this inconsistency that is being called out. One good deed, that of helping an animal fallen into a ditch or pit, is acceptable as it is a responsibility on caring for the animal, but to heal the entire person is not acceptable as it might be seen as an act to enhance one’s station or status. Yeshua is challenging the Pharisees to see both the act of circumcision – done to meet a religious and ceremonial need for people and the healing of a person to meet a deep, desperate need for that person – in the same fashion. The Pharisees have judged two deeds by appearances – one deemed acceptable because it is a responsibility, the other deemed unacceptable because it is seen as a way to enhance a person’s status or station in life.

As Christ followers, we are in the same dangers as the Pharisees. For example, how many times have you been given the evil eye, or perhaps given the evil eye, over the way someone has come into the church dressed? Or perhaps someone has taken exception to the translation of the Bible you choose to read and study. How many times have you looked upon someone who claimed to be a Christ follower and thought, “As if!” There are many, many ways we can judge by appearances, these are but a few. The point is, we are all in danger of falling into the temptation to judge someone by the appearance of things.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

When was the last time you thought, someone was trying to “sound smarter than they really are?”

What point, or points, of our faith are you applying inconsistently?

When was the last time you openly judged someone completely on their appearance? Either in the church or someone out in public?

The Christ follower must be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearances because our personal opinions have a way of clouding the truth.

2). The Christ follower must be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearances because they can keep us from the One who called us.

The Christ follower must stay close to Yeshua so they can truly and fully know Him.

At this point the people begin to put things together, they are finally beginning to realize who this is that is teaching. This is the One, who just moments ago they accused of being insane, who the Temple authorities have been seeking to kill. Some in the crowd, however, have an issue with Yeshua as the Messiah. They know where He comes from. We have mistakenly thought that the crowd was talking about His knowing His parents, but that is not the case here. The teachings and miracles of Yeshua are well known by this time. The issue is that Yeshua has not sought the approval of those in Jerusalem. In addition, there is the belief that when the Messiah appears it will be suddenly – there is no more suddenness with the ministry of Yeshua now.

Yeshua has been known for some time now – almost three years – because of this, He no longer fits the candidate checklist of the people, or that of the Pharisees. So, when the people begin to grumble stating that they know where Yeshua is from, it seems He agrees with them. “You both know Me and know where I am from:” But Yeshua goes on to explain that they really do not know Him as well as they might think. Christ has been sent by Israel’s God, but Yeshua tells them plainly the One who sent Him is true whom they, the people, do not know, and He knows Him because, Yeshua says, “I am from Him.”

The people claim to know more about Him than they really do. He has not come of Himself. He did not come to bring glory to Himself. He did not come to build a following or a new movement. He has been sent with a specific message and He has been sent on a specific mission. He has come to reveal the Father to all people, beginning with the lost sheep of Israel. He has come to make the Father known by bringing glory to the Father. He has come preaching the Kingdom of God is at hand, and as we learned in chapter three, the Kingdom will be open to the world, not just the nation of Israel. Yes, the nation of Israel is expecting the Messiah to come but they truly had no idea what to expect when He arrived. They did not know as much about Messiah as they claimed because they did not know the One who sent Messiah.

As Christ followers, we must be careful to stay close to Yeshua. We must be in the word daily, reading and studying, so that we can truly and fully know Him. We too face the danger of thinking we know more about Messiah than we truly do, just as the people in the crowds. If we simply take the word of the pastor in the pulpit, or the teachings of the church, or the accepted doctrine of the day without exploring, researching, testing, and praying for clarity, we are in danger of allowing our personal opinions to cloud the truth of God’s word. We must communicate, talk with our Savior. We must be a praying people, taking every care and concern to our Lord and Savior. We must stay close to our great God so we can truly and fully know Him.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

The people had an issue with Yeshua as Messiah because they know Him – He had become too familiar. What part of God’s word – His commandments and teachings – have become too familiar with you? If none, how do you keep this from happening?

The people thought they knew more about Christ than they really did. When was the last time you thought you knew something about Christ only to find out you were wrong or did not have the entire truth?

What are you actively doing to stay close to Yeshua? If nothing, why?

The Christ follower must be aware of The Dangers of Judging by Appearances because our personal opinions have a way of clouding the truth.

The point of this message is not to point the finger at anyone or to call anyone out for something they have done. The point here is to provide a warning that we all face this same danger. It is easy to judge things or people by their appearance. I bet most of us do it every day without even thinking about it or knowing it. It seems to be just a natural part of the day and how we operate. But if we take the time to examine our own motives, we just might find we are doing it far more often than we care to admit.

For the Christ follower, there are precautions we can take. We can make the effort to see people through the eyes of Christ. If we can see people as sheep looking for a shepherd, we just might be able to understand how they are feeling or understand why they are acting as they do. If we can stay in the word and ask the Lord for clarity and guidance as we read, we might find that we can make a difference in someone’s day, week, or even their life. A simple kind gesture, made in the love of Christ, can turn a day around or flip a life upside down. The point here is simple, take a beat, take a deep breathe, or count to ten and then look at things again. Look beyond the appearance of things. You might find those harsh words spoken to you by someone else were actually a spiritual attack meant to get your focus off what God has been calling you to do. You might find the one who seems dressed inappropriately or in dirty, untidy clothes, is deeply hurt and seeking what you already have – the love of Christ.

This message is meant to call you out of your comfort zone, to keep your eyes on Christ, to read, study, and meditate on the word, to research, test, and seek guidance and clarity from the Lord, and above all, to love others with the end in mind, for we all face The Dangers of Judging by Appearances.

We do all things for the glory of God through Christ our Lord,

Amen and amen.

Next Week: John 7:30-36

Made New in Christ

Made New in Christ

Life & Light Community Church

Message from 12/31/2022

Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.

“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

                                                                  2 Corinthians 5:14–17 (NASB95)

Well, here we are, ready to “turn the page” on the calendar once again. In fact, by the time many of you read this message, it will already be 2023. Hope seems to spring eternal with the prospect of a new year. Every year, people around the globe look to the New Year with hope for a better year, whether it be in finances, health, love, or work environment, we look to the New Year as if the changing of a number can make a difference in what happens to us during the coming twelve months.

For many of those who look to the New Year with such hope, they are sadly disappointed when the New Year fails to produce the hoped for and anticipated “betterment” of their situation. The truth is, nothing will change if we simply “turn the page” or change the number of the year in which we live. No, it is not that simple. Real change needs to come from the person, not the calendar page or the number of the year. For those who are Christ followers this is especially true, for those who follow Christ have hope for change because they have been Made New in Christ.

Paul reminds the church at Corinth that the love of Christ controls those who follow Christ. Because He has died for all, all have died and must now live for Him. They recognize no one in the flesh but now see a new creature; the old has gone and new things have come because they have been Made New in Christ.

As Christ followers, we must remember the death of Christ was for us. We are identified in His death; He rose that we may now live for Him. We no longer see the old self but the new self of all those who are Christ followers, for those who follow Christ have been Made New in Christ.

In this message we seek to answer the question, “What is the importance of being Made New in Christ for the Christ follower?”

Made New in Christ means the Christ follower is clearly a new person in Christ with new attitudes, new actions, and speaking in the way of love.

1). Made New in Christ means that the Christ follower has died to the old ways of life.

Gone are the ways of the world and our selfish and self-centered ways of thinking.

There is one great reason for the hope the Christ follower has and that is the love that Christ has for those who follow Him and now lives in them, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to control them. The Greek word used for “control” means “to hold together” or “to hold fast.” If we really want things to get better, if we want to see a change in the New Year, the simple truth is, WE need to be better, WE need to change and then things around us will get better. For those who follow Christ, our hope is found in Christ alone. He is the “glue” that holds our lives together, He enables us to hold fast during the storms of life. The love of Christ is what holds us together as we seek to leave behind the old ways of life we once knew. It is the love of Christ that helps us hold fast as we put new things into practice.

As Christ followers the death of Christ was for our benefit. It is through His death that we gain victory over death, the grave, and sin. Through this death we are able to die to our old self, the self that thought only about what was best for “me” or “what’s in it” for me. We are able to put aside our old attitudes of selfishness and self-centered thinking. We put off the anger, bitterness, and rage we held for and against others. We put away the old way of thinking as the world does and then acting upon those thoughts without regard for our consequences, either to ourselves or those around us. We take off the willingness to cater to the sinful desires and cravings of the flesh – the old self as to die in order for real change to happen in us, for us, and around us.

The Hebrew word for year is Shannah. This Hebrew word offers us an interesting insight into the change we have such hope in for the New Year. This word is also the root word for “second,” as in “the second time” or a “repeat.” Very often, those who look to the New Year with hope for change, continue to make the same mistakes they made the year before, and the year before that, and the year before that and… You get the point. We can live the New Year as if it is the second time around for the same thing, or we can find a way to make some meaningful change. It is far easier to continue in the ways that are known and comfortable to us and continue to see the same results, results we know and have grown comfortable with, even though they may be tiresome. But then again, we always have the next New Year to look towards for real change…right?

As a Christ follower, the implications here are real and they are difficult. We have been identified with Christ in His death. This means the old self has died, it must cease to exist. We must put on the new self and remove the old, worldly, self-centered, and selfish ways of living life. If you have not changed after coming to Christ, you need to take a long hard look at what is happening, or not happening, in your life. If you are the same angry, bitter person filled with rage, ask yourself why? If you are still looking upon others in lust or envy, ask yourself why? If you still seek what is best for your first and care little about the consequences to others, ask yourself why!

Questions for discussion/reflection:

How is the love of Christ holding you together during this season of life?

What aspect of the “old self” do you still need to die to or put off? If none, what steps are you taking to continue to “die to self?”

Having been made new in Christ, have you made changes that are noticeable to others? If yes, list a few for your own benefit and encouragement. If not, why?

Made New in Christ means the Christ follower is clearly a new person in Christ with new attitudes, new actions, and speaking in the way of love.

2). Made New in Christ means that the Christ follower has put on the new self and a new way of life.

We put on the new things of the new self and see others through the eyes of Christ.

Having been identified with Christ in His death also means we are to be identified in His resurrection, the rising up of the new self. If putting off the old self is difficult, then putting on the new self is near impossible! Why? We all know old habits die hard. Establishing new actions that become new habits is just as hard, but we have the added stress of the world around reinforcing those old habits we wish to break. Our sinful cravings and desires of the flesh will not go away easily. The good news is that we are not alone in our battle. We must never forget that we are fighting a battle in which the war has already been won! Christ stands in victory for those who follow Him, we simply need to learn to stand in HIS victory!

We no longer need to see others, including ourselves, according to the flesh, according to worldly standards, or perceptions. Now we can see others through the eyes of Christ because we have been made new in Christ. Gone are the old attitudes, the old behaviors, the old way of speaking! We must now put on the new self, complete with new attitudes, behaviors and speaking. As Christ followers it is our goal to become more like Him, to become Christlike in every area of our lives. Our attitudes must be like His attitude. He was obedient to the Father, so obedient He went to the cross to die for all people. Our behaviors must become like His. He was loving, gentle, and showed compassion to all, but He was never afraid to be fully honest and to rebuke others in love. We must also learn to speak in the way of love as He did. Love does not sugar coat the truth, but explains it fully, honestly, and in gentleness.

The new self is being molded as you grow in Christlikeness. It has no preconceptions of what must be; it holds no personal agenda of what must happen or how you must get to where you are going; it has no previous pattern to hold it in check or define its boundaries. The new self finds its identity fully in Christ. Any preconceived ideas must be based in and on Him; any agenda must be in obedience to the Father and the Son and all they have taught us; any boundaries are set by Christ and where He leads and what He desires for us. The new self is, essentially, a blank canvas ready for new ways of thinking, doing, and speaking.

Which brings us to the next interesting aspect of the Hebrew word for year, it also means “new” or “second chance.” The New Year is just that, it is NEW. The New Year is meant to be a blank canvas, an opportunity for you to make the changes that need to be made to have a “second chance” at the hope for change you saw in the New Year. You must now choose to change the way you make your choices and choose to do things differently, or you can choose to continue in the same old way, doing the same old things, and then look to yet another New Year with empty and false hopes.

For the Christ follower, we have been identified with Christ in His death, that is the difficult part for us, dying to self. But we have also been identified with Christ in His resurrection. This is the new self, the rebirth of us as Christ followers. Gone are the old attitudes of anger, bitterness, and rage, to be replaced with happiness, joy, and peace. We love others because He has loved us to the point of dying for us. So, we must die to our own agenda and think of others first. We must think differently than the world and we do so by see others through the eyes of Christ. We see the lost looking for and needing a Shepherd. We see the hurting and the sick searching for a Healer. We see the hungry and thirsty looking for the Bread of Life and Living Water. We have been changed from the inside out because we have been Made New in Christ!

Questions for discussion/reflection:

Where are you struggling the most to “put on” the new self? Why? If not, what steps did you take to make change easier?

What steps are you taking to continue to grow in the new self? If none, why?

Do the people who know you best see the changes that have come with the new self? If so, how? If not, why?

Made New in Christ means the Christ follower is clearly a new person in Christ with new attitudes, new actions, and speaking in the way of love.

Change is never easy and that is especially true in the church. There is a reason we are compared to sheep so often in Scripture. Sheep are hardheaded and stiff-necked animals. They prefer to go their own way, regardless of the circumstances or consequences. They will drink from dirty, parasite infested waters and eat from the worst possible food sources, just to fill their own desires and cravings. Sound familiar? Do we not become hardheaded when we disagree with something that will change how things will be around us? Are we not stiff-necked when we are opposed to a change that upsets our comfort zone? Do we not seek our own way first! We eat and drink for our pleasure and seldom consider the consequences of what we are putting into our bodies.

The point is this, you are a NEW creature in Christ. You have been made NEW through His death and resurrection. You are a blank canvas, ready for new attitudes, new behaviors, and a new way of speaking. The war has been won, only you can make this battle as easy, or difficult, as you choose. The old self must die if you truly want a better you…or a better year. The new self must come to the front and show those who know you best the changes that have come through your life in Christ. If the old you is the only you that they see, something has gone terribly wrong. If the love of Christ is not seen in you, if it does not hold you together, then you need to ask yourself some very difficult questions. We are at the doorstep of a new year, just as you are at the doorstep of a new you. Only you can decide how good – or how bad – this year and this new you, will be. In Christ you have been made new; in Christ you have been given a second chance, a blank canvas to create, to change, to overcome. You must choose. Will this be a second chance, or just a repeat of the same mistakes and choices that have always been?

We do all things for the glory of God, through Christ our Lord,

Amen and amen.

Next Week: 7:20-29

Word of the Father

Word of the Father

Life & Light Community Church

Message from 12/24/2022

Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ ”For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

                                                                                  John 1:14–18 (NASB95)

Have you ever had to try and explain something you really know nothing about? It’s not easy, is it? To have any chance of making sense at all, you need to do some quick research to get, at least, a working of understanding of the subject you are trying to explain. And even then, you really have no idea what you are talking about, you just don’t want to sound like a complete idiot and make a fool of yourself.

But what happens when someone asks you to explain something you are passionate about? Man, now is the time you can get excited! Finally, someone has asked you about something you truly know and love! Now you can make known some of the little-known facts and tidbits of your favorite subject. Now you can show others why you are so excited about this subject. Now you can lead others to the inside scoop of your subject. In our passage today, we learn that the Word of the Father came to explain the Father as only He could, for He alone fully knows the Father and can make Him fully known to others.

The Word became flesh to dwell among us; He showed people His glory as the begotten of the Father. John testified about Him, and all have received from His fullness. The Law was given through Moses but through the Word of the Father, grace and truth have been realized, for He came to explain the Father.

The Word became human to live with those He created. From the Son of God, we have all received more grace than we deserve. The Law was given to people through Moses, but through the Word of the Father, grace and truth have been realized, as the Son of God made the Father known.

In this message we seek to understand why the Word of the Father is important to all people.

The Word of the Father put on flesh to live with and as those He created.

1). The Word of the Father is important to all people because all people have received from Him.

He came full of grace and truth and all people have received more grace than they deserve.

For the Son of God to put on flesh meant He had to take on the human form at a specific time, in a specific place, and to a specific people. This is exactly what has happened with the begotten Son of God. We are told earlier in John’s gospel that He came to His own, meaning Israel, specifically, Judah, being born in Bethlehem. He put on flesh to live among those He created, to share the human experience with them. In the Greek, the word “dwelt” means to tabernacle or pitch a tent. Quietly literally, we could say that Christ pitched His tent among humans to live with and as they lived. Those who lived with Him saw His glory, glory that comes from the Father. This glory shines with grace and truth.

This grace and truth fill Christ, there is room for no more grace or truth to be found in Him for He is full of grace and truth. Just as you cannot squeeze another ounce of gas in the tank of your car when it is full, so you cannot squeeze another ounce of grace or truth in Christ – He is FULL, to the brim, of grace and truth. Grace can be understood as kindness or blessing, while truth can be understood as certainty or real. Today we understand grace as unmerited favor and truth as sincerity and integrity of character. In Christ, grace and truth can be seen in all their fullness and scope.

John tells us that we have all received from His fullness. All people have received from Christ – not just those who lived with Christ as He pitched His tent among them. All people have received life from Christ. He is the creator, sustainer, and giver of life. This means that every person EVER conceived has received life from the Creator of life – Christ, the begotten Son of God. This also means that the abundant life and eternal life are available to all people – even though so many choose to reject this offer, it is available to those who come to Christ, acknowledging Him as the Son of God and Lord and Savior of the world.

This also means that every person EVER conceived has received light from Christ. Each person has been given light that will produce life and growth. More importantly this light will shine in the darkness to expose sin that separates people from God the Father. It will reach into the darkest recesses of the heart and expose the thoughts and intentions of every person. This light also cleanses, burning away the impurities of sin. We are called to walk in the Light as He walks in the light. This glorious light means we never walk in darkness again and leads to eternal life found only in Christ.

What does this mean for the Christ follower? It means we treat all people as valuable because they are! Each person ever conceived has life and light given to them by Christ; they are made in the image of the Father; this alone demands we treat all others with respect. We are called to love others as He has loved us, fully and unconditionally. Our love for other Christ followers is to be seen by all people that they might be drawn to Christ. Christ came, putting on flesh, to live with and as those He created. In His fullness He has given us more grace than we deserve. In turn, we are to give grace to those we do not feel deserving of grace; we love those who are called unlovable; we respect those who disrespect us, all in the name of love – the love shown to us by the Word of the Father.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

How are you showing grace to those around you in this season of life? If you are not, why?

How does your life express the truth of who Christ is in your life? If it does not, what steps can you take to correct this?

Where do you need the Light of the Word in your life today?

How are you expressing the value of those you meet? If you are not, why?

The Word of the Father put on flesh to live with and as those He created.

2). The Word of the Father is important to all people because He came from the Father to explain the Father.

He came from the very bosom of the Father to make Him known to all people.

John concludes this passage by reminding us that no one has ever seen God but the One who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. The word used for “explain” here means to show the way. The word “explained” is a compound Greek word, coming from two root words, the first root word means from or from out of; the second root word means to lead. In our context here, Christ has come from the bosom of the Father, John has told us He is in the bosom and being sent from the Father, obviously, He must come from the bosom – only One who knows the Father fully can make Him fully known. In a real sense, Christ has led people to the Father. He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The way to the Father, the truth of the Father, and the life of the Father.

When the readers of John’s gospel read, “He is in the bosom of the Father,” they may have been reminded of the story of Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham. Or perhaps today’s reader is reminded of the place of “the disciple Jesus loved” at the final Passover meal in the Upper Room. Both are vivid pictures of love and comfort, care, and concern for another, but perhaps it is also a vivid picture of the mutual love of the Father and the Son, and most importantly, the Sons utter dependence on the Father. Christ came to “explain” the Father and part of this explanation must include the deep love the Father has for all people. Yes, God is a holy God. Yes, God hates sin. Yes, God will one day do away with all sin. But He has sent His Son to show us, to explain to all people, the deep love He has for all those who bear His image.

These vivid pictures of the Father and the Son should cause all Christ followers to pause and think about how they are showing the love of the Father and the love of the Son to those they meet. The one distinguishing mark of the true Christ follower is the love they share amongst other Christ followers. The Word of the Father came to “explain” the Father and part of the explanation offered is the deep love the Father has for all people. As Christ followers, we carry the Light of Christ within us, for He has called us into His glorious light. We, as Christ followers, know the Life that leads to the Father and eternal life. Most importantly, as Christ followers, we know the Way to the Father, and it is our responsibility to share with others that the Way is found only in the Word of the Father.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

Does your love for your fellow Christ followers show love, care, and concern for them?

How are you showing those you meet, who may not know the love of Christ, the deep love the Father has for them?

How does your life “explain” the power of the Father in your life? If it does not, what steps do you need to take to change this?

How are you making the Father known to those you meet? If you are not, why?

The Word of the Father put on flesh to live with and as those He created.

How does the Son “explain” the Father? He explains the Father as the Creator, Sustainer, and Giver of life. Through Him all things have been created, nothing has been created without Him and He alone holds all things together. The Son explains the Father as the Light of the world. His light gives life to all people. He has called us to walk in His light, meaning we never have to walk, live, or work in darkness again. His Light cleanses, exposing our sin and cleanses us that we may stand before the Father, clean and holy through His Sons redeeming work. The Son explains the Father through the sinless life He lived, fully God and fully man. He lived His life as a human being, in the flesh, living with and as those He created, yet He committed no sin, remained obedient to the Father, and sacrificed His life that all people might have eternal life. There are no excuses, for anyone, for the Word of the Father has come to make the Father known to all people. His life, His love, His care, and concern for all people have pointed the way to the One who sent Him from His very bosom, the Father, God Almighty.

All that remains is for you to decide. No one can make this choice for you. You either believe the Word of the Father, sent to explain the Father or you do not. You either accept Christ as the Son of God, or you do not. The Father has been explained, His attributes ad clearly seen in the Son. He has a deep love for you, and He waits for you to come to Him. Time is short. Repent of your sins, turn from them to Christ, acknowledge Christ as the Son of God and believe in Him for eternal life.

We do all things for the glory of God, through Christ our Lord,

Amen and amen.

Next Week: 2 Corinthians 5:14-17

The Love of Christ

The Love of Christ

Life & Light Community Church

Message from 12/17/2022

Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

                                                                               John 13:34–35 (NASB95)

Love is a universal obsession in our country. We love people, places, and things. Just name it and we have a love for it. We love our sports teams, our food, our hones, our jobs, our cars, our spouse, our boyfriend, or girlfriend, we even love our pets. We have learned that we all have a love language. It fills us up when we are down, we expect others, especially our spouses to know our love language and we to know theirs. Love has even infiltrated our music. “She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah.” Or “You are the love in my life, you are my inspiration.” Everyone knows, “What the world needs now, is love sweet love.” So, if you “Heard it in a love song, can’t be wrong!” This love gives us the warm fuzzies, like a pair of comfortable pajamas on a cold winter’s night. But this love doesn’t reach down to the core of our soul – this love doesn’t fill the gaping hole in our soul.

In the greatest act of love ever seen or experienced, the kind of love that fills the gaping hole in our soul, was made available to all people. However, before this act could take place, the One who performed this act, spoke to His followers, giving them a commandment to love one another. But this love is not the normal love we experience as human beings. No, this love goes far deeper, for the kind of love we all seek, the kind of love this One expects from His followers, is The Love of Christ.

Jesus gives His disciples a new commandment, to love one another as He has loved them. For all men will know men will know they are His disciples, when they show The Love of Christ to one another.

As Christ followers, we are called to love others as we ourselves have been loved by Christ. By showing The Love of Christ to others, all people will know we belong to Him.

In this message we seek to answer the question, “Why is The Love of Christ important in the life of the Christ follower?”

As Christ followers, we love our brothers and sisters in Christ so fully and unconditionally, that those who see our love know we belong to Christ.

1). By showing The Love of Christ to other Christ followers, the Christ follower shows how they have been loved by Christ.

The Love of Christ loves other Christ followers fully and unconditionally and then spills over into the world around us.

First of all, we need to see and understand this commandment is given to the followers of Christ. It is not given to those in the world. Chapter 13 takes place in the upper room, at the last Passover Supper shared with the disciples, before it moves outside as Christ and the disciple’s journey towards Gethsemane. The commandment to love one another is a call to love as Christ has first loved us – we are to love with the love of Christ. This goes beyond loving your neighbor as yourself. This commandment has been given to the disciples of Christ first, and then to the church through those disciples, and through the church to each individual member.

Secondly, this commandment has NOT been given to the world, it has been given to the followers of Christ. We cannot expect those who do not know Christ to be filled with His love. If people in the world have not known Christ and experienced His love, how then, will they know what His love is like? Because this love is to be seen by all people through His followers. We will discuss the importance of this in our second point, but we are not to hide this love. It is to be clearly and plainly seen by all people we meet, pass-by, work with, live with, eat with, and a multitude of other daily activities. This love must be seen to be affective.

If this love is the love of Christ, then this is the love of God Himself. This love can only be placed in the hearts of the Christ follower by the Holy Spirit. This is NOT the love the world shares between neighbors, brothers, friends, or even lovers. This is not the emotional feeling called love shared by the world. This is a much deeper love that goes to the depth of the soul and fills the gaping hole we all seek to fill.

When we become Christ followers, the Holy Spirit begins the work of creating a new person, from the inside out, we become a new creation in Christ. The love of Christ is love that – causes us to hunger for God and God’s people, to share in fellowship and family relationships; this love shares the same life with all Christ followers – the abundant life and eternal life. The love of Christ binds and ties the Christ followers together in life and purpose; it shares needs, blessings, joys, sorrows, and gifts together. This is love in which all Christ followers have a shared, universal experience.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

Where do you sense Christ calling you to share The Love of Christ during this season of life?

What area of your life needs a new infusion of The Love of Christ?

How have you experienced The Love of Christ among other Christ followers?

As Christ followers, we love our brothers and sisters in Christ so fully and unconditionally, that those who see our love know we belong to Christ.

2). By showing The Love of Christ to other Christ followers, the Christ follower shows they belong to Christ.

The Love of Christ proves we are His – learning from His examples and being obedient to His commandments.

I mentioned in our first point that the love found in the Christ follower must be seen by all people. Now we can discuss why this is important. This type of love can only be found in the Christ follower because it is placed there by the Holy Spirit. Part of the new creation includes a new love founded in Christ. This new love is far different from the love shared with your neighbor, friends, family, and those you work with. This type of love is the mark of a true disciple – of a true Christ follower. The Love of Christ loves fully and unconditionally; it loves indiscriminately and inclusively, and it loves universally. This love starts with the Christ follower, but it does not stay there. It is the norm for love in the community of the Christ follower, thus it must be a love that is seen by all people.

This is love created by the Holy Spirit and placed in the heart of the Christ follower. The Holy Spirit can melt and mold the heart of the Christ follower to other Christ followers. This is a commandment for the Christ follower, and while the Holy Spirit creates this love in the heart of the Christ follower, the Christ follower must receive this love. When the Holy Spirit creates this kind of love in the Christ follower, it is love that binds the heart of the Christ follower to the lives of other Christ followers; it ties the life of the Christ follower to the same purpose of other Christ followers. This is love that causes us to surrender our will and be of one mind with other Christ followers; it causes us to understand and empathize with other Christ followers. Finally, this is love that causes us to put the needs of other Christ followers above our own needs, it causes us to deny ourselves.

Love is more than a simple warm feeling; it is an attitude revealed in our actions. How can we love others Christ followers as Christ loved us? We help when it is not convenient; we give when it hurts; we spend our energy to benefit others before ourselves; we take hurt from others without hurting back or complaining. This type of love is meant to bring unbelievers to Christ and keep Christ followers strong and united in a world that hates God and all things related to God.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

How are you showing The Love of Christ to all people? If you are not, what can you do differently?

How are you loving fully and unconditionally? If you are not, what steps need to be taken so you are loving in this fashion?

How is your love strengthening and uniting other Christ followers?

As Christ followers, we love our brothers and sisters in Christ so fully and unconditionally, that those who see our love know we belong to Christ.

Far too many people in the world depend on their feelings or trusting their heart to define, feel, and spread love. Scripture teaches us that our hearts and feelings cannot be trusted. Most days our hearts and feelings can change in a matter of hours, some days in a matter of minutes! No, we cannot trust our hearts or our feelings. This is why The Love of Christ is so important to the Christ follower. Do you think any of us might be here today if Christ had trusted His feelings in the Garden of Gethsemane? I highly doubt that. But having experienced all things human, Christ knew not to trust what He was feeling as He prayed that night. In fact, He said “Father, Your will be done.” Because He sought the Father’s will, love has won out over all things. Now we too have this deep love inside of us, placed there by the Holy Spirit.

We no longer need to trust our hearts or feelings because we know we have the capability to love others as we were first loved by Christ. We can love fully and unconditionally, regardless of our feelings, circumstances, or situations we face. The Love of Christ is an attitude that begins with love for other Christ followers, seen by all people, and then flows out to the world around us. Because of this love, we have the ability to impact the lives of those who do not know The Love of Christ, while strengthening and uniting with our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is love. That Christ died for us, even while we were in sin, that we too can love others as He loved us.

We do all things for the glory of God, through Christ our Lord,

Amen and amen.

Next Week: John 1:14-18