02-09-13 BFG 6

John 15:9-17 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other."

Can you fathom this: As much as Father loved Jesus, Jesus loves us. I don't think we can ever really understand the magnitude of His love for us.

How His heart breaks when we are hearts are broken in so many pieces we can even begin to imagine how to put them back together again.

How His heart hurts when we in pain - whether physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually (those times when we feel so distant from Him).

How His heart longs to give us mercy when we have sinned... if only we would take that one small step towards Him again; how He longs to extend forgiveness and banish the shame from our hearts.

How His heart sorrows and grieves when we have lost someone we love (whether through death or otherwise).... or when we have suffered others losses ('let go' from a job, a spouse leaves, a childhood lost).

How His heart desires to extend His grace - His favor - His ability to overcome - when He sees us struggling through life on our own strength.

How His heart opens wides to comfort us when we are afraid to fill us with courage and boldness.

I could go on and on, but maybe you can think of some other ways He shows His love for us.

Jesus says that we are to remain in His love. We can jump out of it - we don't have to stay, but why would we want to leave once we found it?

He says if we keep his command, we'll remain in His love. What commands? Well, looks to me as if it's listed twice in these several verses.... LOVE EACH OTHER.

THEN he goes on to say that we are HIS FRIENDS if we do what He commanded. This love He is talking about is unconditional love. No strings attached.

I've heard it said for years (and I've even said it myself), "I love so and so, but I don't have to like them." I said that about certain significant people in my life that did horrendous harm to me. Justifying it because 'well, the Bible says I have to love them - it doesn't say I have to like them."

I know the Lord is about to do some correcting when I have that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach... and this is one of those times.

We can like a lot of things. We can like cars or motorcycles or books or certain foods or a certain game, tv show, etc. It's like saying, 'Yeah, it's... well... okay.' It could be the same with people. I like this person - so I might hang out with them. Or I don't like this person, so I'm going to steer clear of them if I have the chance.

What if Jesus did the same thing? What if He said "I like you, but I don't have to love you." Well, for one He'd be going against His own command. But more importantly, He wouldn't have died for us and we would all still be lost sinners. Can we even imagine what life would be like without God there to turn to in times of trouble or to thank in times of joy. No, died for us because He LOVED us unconditionally -- no conditions. He died for us because Father hates sin - He hates what it does to us - He hates how it separates us from Him and from each other.

Jesus says that everything He learned from the Father He makes known to us.... and a little later that whatever we ask for in His Name, Father will give us. I don't think it's a coincidence that He says this in the midst of these verses. If we ask, He will give us the a love for others that we did not ever think possible... it's HIS love that flows through us. So we can say, 'I love you' to the one we previously JUST liked.... barely. Since He loves us with such an unconditional love, and He says that everything He has done we can do and even greater things (go left a chapter and down to verse 12), then we can do this because He is the one who gives us love in the first place! He is our source.

We can hate the sin in a person (by the way, we've all sinned, as far as I know), but let's love the sinner with the love that Jesus gave us. So, if He freely gives us His love in our hearts to love others, then we CAN love others. He's proved it's possible AND He says we're His friends if we like, I mean LOVE one another. Let's be best friends with our Lord, our Savior, our God.

02-08-13 BFG 5

Matthew 25:34-45 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

I was going to just talk about the first part of this portion of scripture that came to my mind today. Then the I was 'gently corrected'.... so you have the full meal deal in front of you. I make jest, but this is not an easy topic to read or to write about, because it really involves the heart. So be prepared...

We all know John 3:16 - I want to focus on 'For God so loved the world...' Now I'm pretty sure He didn't mean the oceans, the continents, the ozone or lack of it... ok, moving right along... What I'm saying is that He love people. Father meant the WHOLE world. His love is there for ANYONE - it is freely given - no strings attached.

'You mean, he loves the person who cut me off on the way home from work?' Yep. 'How about the person who broke into my home and stole all my copper piping?' Yep. 'Ok, how about murderers and rapists?' I'm afraid so. 'Alright, surely He can't love those who hunt Christians down to kill them - like those Muslim extremists - you can't mean them, right?' Well, what was Paul doing before he 'saw the Light'. God turned him around and look what happened... everything about him did a 180. His name even changed!

A couple days ago, I said that being a friend means putting action to your words. Sometimes very practical action. Visiting people in jail or giving away food or clothing to someone in need. We may be tempted to sometimes ignore even those we considered friends when they're put away in prison for years or when their hardship lasts longer than what our patience does or when they move away and aren't in our 'field of view' any longer. Those are the times they really need friends.

Or sometimes, we may be tempted to think, it's not that bad or that someone else is probably handling it. Maybe it's someone who hasn't been to church for a weeks - maybe their known to be alcoholic or just a drifter... 'they're not really committed'.... or just maybe they're sick or they're going through some very deep painful issues... do we let them know we noticed they weren't there.

'Oh, come on, Jesus going THAT far.' Isn't He? In James 1 He says that 'religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this - to look after orphans and widows in their distress... how do we know someone is hurting if we don't ask.

What DID Jesus do? He hung around thieves and sinnes... He forgave prostitutes and healed their souls. He spent His life on sinners like us.... like 'them'. When we do it for 'them', in essence, we are doing it for Jesus as if He was standing right in front of us.

Jesus / Father God calls us friend when we do what He did.

I was just 'reminded' by a Keith Green song. Warning: This may produce tears.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik-XOVZcwow

02-07-13 BFG 4

Matthew 26:36-45 "Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners."

If we could interview Jesus about this night, how might it go? Maybe something like this:

Jesus, we know this was an excruciating time of sorrow in your life. Is it ok, if we ask You a few questions about it?

"Yes, you may ask and I will answer."

Thank You. What were you thinking and feeling as you were praying?

"Being fully God, I knew what was about to happen. I didn't want My sheep to be without a Shepherd. I wanted to stay and teach more, heal more - to - share My heart that was bursting with love for those who knew Me and for those who had never a chance to know Me. I knew all sorts of confusion and unbelief would enter into the hearts and minds of those lives I had touched and it grieved Me."

Why did you single out Peter when You said "Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ?

"I wanted to prepare Peter for what I mentioned previously. I didn't want him to have to endure the pain of denying and rejecting Me. The denial would be devastating for him, but I also knew it would not destroy him - I saw in him not a lowly coward, but a courageous warrior."

Being fully man, was there anything else You were thinking about?

"Being fully man, my flesh was warring against my Spirit. I had a choice. I could face the incredible amount of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual pain I was about to endure - I could have gone back Home - or I could have lived forever. My flesh did not want to die, it wanted to live.

What did your Spirit want to do?

"My Spirit knew what had to be done and to die was the ONLY way I could live and bring life to others. To die was the only way to bring Fathers' children back to His Presence."

Well, I'm certainly thankful and humbled by what You have done by dying a criminals death on the Cross. I am greatful because you ARE alive and for what You continue to do in our lives.

One more question, though, if You will. Why did you take Peter, James and John with you where you went to pray?

"Being fully man, I did not want to be alone. Even just knowing they were physically near me, was a measure of comfort to me. I knew Father would not look on sin, and soon I would be bearing all the sins everyone had ever committed or would commit on myself. Therefore, He would have to turn His face from Me, and I would be cut off from Him. I just didn't want to be alone."

Sometimes, our friends don't need an explanation of how they got to be where they are or answers to the questions that they ask (and already KNOW the answers to). Or when they are filled with grief or sorrow - they may not need spoken words. Sometimes just being with our friends physically is enough.... walking through a park or helping them with chores. Sometimes texting or emailing a kind word of encouragement, sometimes sitting and holding their hand in silence is enough. We should listen to the Spirit inside of us during these times... and do what He says to do or not to do.

Our Father, our Abba, or Dad loves to give us good things, His desires for us, answers to prayer - but He's just as happy to sit with us in silence when we are hurting or even when we are happy - in sorrow or in joy. So we need not fear silence.... when you're in worship or even alone in your room or even at work - take a few moments and listen to the silence of the Presence of the Lord inside.....sometimes, it really is golden.

02-06-13 BFG 3

John 13:4-5,12-17 "So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him... When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

So, let's say that we opened our eyes one morning and found out we 'weren't in Kansas anymore', but we were in the times of Christ. Our cell phone rings... oh, I mean, a courier, sent by donkey stopped at our door and told us that Jesus was having dinner that night and invited us to dine with Him. Maybe we were a ways off - on the other side of town. So, a few hours before dinner we walked to where He was having this feast. As usual we arrived just in time.... and did not have time to wash off our feet. No, Nike's were not in style back then - so our feet were pretty dirty. We were a bit perplexed because Jesus was saying something about the wine being His Blood and the bread being His Body.... and we're supposed to remember Him by this.

Then He gets up, took off His most of His clothes and wrapped a towel around His waist? We are all thinking the same thing, "Isn't that the way a servant dresses? What in the world is He doing? He has done some strange things before, but this?" He's getting closer and all the while you're thinking, "I really should've done something about my feet. This is rather embarrassing." He gets a fresh batch of water (as He has with everyone - another story for another day), and finally He's at your feet. He begins to wash them - one by one - gently and lovingly. There were a few spots where He had to scrub a little abrasively - because of that long journey). All the while He's looking into your eyes and you see the love He has for you.

When He finishes, He explains why He washed our feet. Few of us understood, until after He died and was resurrected. Our Lord had just become a servant, doing one of the dirtiest jobs of a servant. Then, He tells us that we're to do the same for each other... become their servant. God not only demonstrated His love for us by sending Jesus to where we live, but He washes our feet (He cleanses the filth that has attached itself to us) - demonstrating what a true friend does. Jesus put His words to action... He got down on His knees and 'got dirty' with His friends. Sometimes, the Lord leads us to 'get dirty' when our friends are hurting or in trouble; when they're grieving or when they've fallen into a pit of gunk. To enter the battle with that person and fight when their strength is gone or when they are wounded from the battle and are in the process of being healed. We demonstrate our friendship with God by doing what Jesus did - when we allow Him to flow through us to serve those around us.

Mark 10:43-45 "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

02-05-13 BFG 2

1 Peter 4:12-13 "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."

Let's continue this week on what it means to be a friend of God.

I asked the Lord this morning what verse I used yesterday and where I should go today. Well, He said James 4:12:13. So I went to look it up and found this verse. Yep, I was a bit perplexed also when I saw that I was in 1 Peter 4:12-13. So, I supposed He did answer both questions at the same time. James yesterday and verses 12-13 in a different book. The Lord does act in mysterious ways.....

I heard this from a friend who heard it from a friend:

There was this person who went to a mid-week worship service not so long ago rather seething inside with anger. It looked like it took every effort for them to stay in the service and not run screaming out the door (ok, maybe not screaming - that would be even more noticeable than the scowl on their face).

The music started playing and the singing started and this person just sat there until they had a thought pass through like a banner in their mind, 'Ok, it's not God's fault - so I might as well worship Him'. They got up and started to worship - at first rather grudgingly. Then this song was sung about surrendering to the Lord and raising hands as a sign of this surrendering. Obviously, this person did NOT want to raise their hands, they were open - that was enough. But soon they started to rise like an unseen force was gently lifting them up.

As related to me from this friend, as this person's hands were up and open, they saw Jesus come and stand before them. He raised His hands and placed them palm to palm with this person and looked them in the eye. He is being reported to say, 'You are sharing in my sufferings.' As this person continued to look into His eyes, they saw that He had suffered everything that they had suffered at the time it happened - and now what they were going through was what He suffered for them at that time. It was still their pain, their terror, their confusion, etc. But somehow Jesus was showing them that He knew EXACTLY what they were going through... and that they could go through it because He had already been there. He would walk with them and be there as a best friend who really knew everything about them and loved them anyway. Friends share burdens - sometimes, even bearing part of the load in prayer, in deed, etc. Sometimes it's just in being there - even in silence. Sometimes, it's getting dirty and in the thick of their battle, but a friend stands beside a friend (especially a Best Friend).

Now I know, traditionally, these verses have dealt with suffering for being a Christian. My mind automatically goes to those who are persecuted physically, even to death. In a way, I'm talking about the same thing. The enemy of our souls, the devil, satan, he wants us to think that once we become a Christian everything is all rosey from here on out... while Jesus is saying, 'don't be surprised at fiery ordeals'. Some of us have been in very fiery ordeals in the past and are just now dealing with them - so, our past fiery ordeals have become present so that God can let His healing waters flow into them. Some of us are in fiery ordeals right now - some due to our own sin, some due to the sin of others, some we may just never know why - but Jesus is saying to us today, 'You are sharing in MY sufferings. Take heart, My Glory WILL be revealed in you - and you WILL be overcome with joy.'

02-04-13 Being a Friend of God

James 4:3-5 "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?"

Yikes! Talking about a hard word! When I read the first line of this set of verses; at first, I get this sinking feeling in my stomach - like, 'oh man, this is gonna hurt'.

Why is it so easy to see the world and its desires as a friend that we can converse with, wrap our arms around, walk with, etc.? Well, the scripture does say that our flesh wars against the spirit of Jesus that is within us (Galatians 5:16-17). That's the pull, THAT'S the war the enemy wants to win... to pull us away from God by showing us how 'beautiful' and 'pleasant' the world can be... that the fleshly desires within us drive us to embrace the world. But that's not how it works. James 1 says each one is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and then once desire is conceived it gives birth to sin, and when it is full-grown it gives birth to death. The enemy sits there with a fishing pole and baits the hook with whatever our own personal desire is (what are we drawn to that draws us away from the Lord?). It stirs our desire for 'the bait' (at this point is when we should yell, HELP ME JESUS). But most of the time, at least for me, I'm drawn to the bait as the enemy is slowing reeling it in I follow and then when the demon gets me close enough to touch it stops reeling and then I bite. Now what is really insane is that when we bite the bait - we do so most of the time knowing that there is a hook there. The enemy is a deceiver, but it's our own flesh that has effectively now created a barrier between our spirit and the Lord.

So, if friendship with the world brings a barrier between us and God, then it seems logical to me that friendship with Jesus (as a friend that we can converse with, wrap our arms around, walk with, etc.) brings a barrier between us and the world. The point today is our hearts need to come to the point of longing for Jesus more than we long for the lusts of our flesh. When we walk with Him and He shows us how BEAUTIFUL He is and how PLEASANT He is - that we would be drawn to Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. That He would not only be our friend, but our BFF - Best Friend FOREVER.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pHnBJOGluE

My Soul Longs For You - Misty Edwards