JEWELS from the GOSPEL of JOHN - JN. 1:35-39 - The LEADER That Is The LAMB

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.


JOHN 1:35-39
Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God; 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

I.I.C. - IDENTITY INDELIBLY in CHRIST

The definition of "identity" is as follows from Your Dictionary:

"The definition of identity is who you are, the way you think about yourself, the way you are viewed by the world and the characteristics that define you."

Here is another one from the same source:

"The condition or fact of being a specific person or thing; individuality; the characteristics and qualities of a person, considered collectively and regarded as essential to that person's self-awareness; the condition of being the same as a person or thing described or claimed."

JEWELS from the GOSPEL of JOHN - The LAMB and the DOVE

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 1:29-34

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

JEWELS from the GOSPEL of JOHN - FIRE and WATER: JOHN 1:23-27

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

The prophets of old, born of GOD's nation of Israel, and sent to the people were shown glorious things in visions of prophecy; many of which they didn't understand, and most especially in regards to the Messiah. Some of the visions and knowledge sent to them by God revealed the Messiah as a powerful, conquering King Who would lead His people Israel into victory and rule over the nations. Other visions showed the Messiah as meek, humble and suffering a terrible, ignoble death.

THE 'SUPEREST' OF ALL HEROS, EVER!

Heroes. They are people we look up to, respect, admire, emulate and see as worthy role models. They are both real and contrived; we read about them in newspapers and watch them on television as well as follow their exploits in biographies and documentaries.

Then there is the notion of 'super-heroes' - those who stand above and beyond the normal, every day human being, endowed by one means or another with superhuman and or supernatural powers. However, whether one is talking about real life flesh and blood heroes or those of the graphic novel (comic book) super-heroes, they all share certain traits: bravery, strength, integrity, compassion, a strong sense of morality, courage, determination, fortitude and other traits besides.

MEEKNESS IS NOT WEAKNESS BUT GREATNESS - PART 3 of 3

We now continue in this third and final installment on MEEKNESS . . .

BUT before we do, let me provide a Facebook video by pastor Sonny Islas of SHINE BRIGHT Church on MATTHEW 5:5 - "blessed are the meek..."

You can watch this teaching here!

Walking worthily is walking in meekness (and lowliness) accompanied by longsuffering and forbearing one another in love. What does this “forbearing” mean? It's loving the unloveable for the sake of the LORD Who loves them. By grace, having the power to 'put up with' those that irritate and bother us, dying to self and expressing God's love towards them. Meekness is not weakness!

JEWELS From The GOSPEL Of JOHN - LAW vs. GRACE JOHN 1:14

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 1:14
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

MEEKNESS IS NOT WEAKNESS BUT GREATNESS – PART 2 of 3

Now, continuing with this series on MEEKNESS, let us examine other Scriptures before we proceed onto what the New Testament, particularly the words and deeds of the LORD Jesus Christ (the latter half of Part II and then Part III).

Finally, let's go through these seven passages from the Psalms on meekness:

We have three consecutive Psalms here in PSALMS 22, 23 and 24: they form a kind of trilogy where PSALM 22 looks back to the Cross and the Lamb of God sacrificed for our sins; PSALM 23 is of our present reality, where the LORD is our [Good] Shepherd (As in JOHN 10:11,14) and we shall have no want; PSALM 24 speaks of that time yet ahead when Jesus returns as King of Israel. Yet even here in PSALM 22 we have this promise and a hope for the meek:

PSALM 22:26
The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

JEWELS from the GOSPEL of JOHN - ALL GOD's CHILDREN: JOHN 1:11-13

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.


JOHN 1:11-13
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

MEEKNESS IS NOT WEAKNESS BUT GREATNESS – PART I of 3

"Late twentieth-century Western culture does not hold meekness to be a virtue, in contrast to the ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world, which placed a high premium on it. 
"This dramatic shift in values is problematic for contemporary biblical translation. Most modern versions replace the noun 'meekness' by 'gentleness' or 'humility' largely as a result of the pejorative overtones of weakness and effeminacy now associated with meekness. These connotations were not always predominant in the word, for ancient Near-Eastern kings were not reluctant to describe themselves as meek in the same context in which they described themselves as mighty kings. What has prompted the discrepancy between the biblical and contemporary attitudes toward this virtue?

"There are two essential components for this quality to come into play in the Bible: a conflict in which an individual is unable to control or influence circumstances. Typical human responses in such circumstances include frustration, bitterness, or anger, but the one who is guided by God's Spirit accepts God's ability to direct events (GAL 5:23; EPH 4:2; COL 3:12; 1 TIM 6:11; TITUS 3:2; JAMES 1:21; 3:13). 

JEWELS from the GOSPEL of JOHN - 1:4-11, 19-23 "The LIGHT and The VOICE"

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.


JOHN 1:4-11
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Scripture declares that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all (1 JOHN 1:5). One characteristic of light is that it manifests things for what they really are. Light brings knowledge while darkness conceals it. Light provides direction. In a darkened room, one has only to turn on a light and the eye is immediately drawn to it. Light, in particular sun light is a requirement in order to sustain life. Light inhibits the growth of bad germs and bacteria. A child may be afraid of the dark, but turn on a night light and all is well.

JEWELS from the GOSPEL of JOHN - 1:1-2, 14 "WORD"

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. These articles will not run contiguously on this blog but peppered throughout and in the midst of other articles (though some might be posted consecutively). I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

Check out the Facebook video here!

SHERLOCK HOLMES - A BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN?

OK, I thought I’d write an attention grabbing title to pique the curiosity of you readers. I think it worked because here you are! Obviously Sherlock Holmes is a fictitious character, and was never portrayed as a Christian of any kind, much less a biblical one (as opposed to a religious, philosophical or social ‘Christian’ – in name only).

“So what gives?” you might ask; “Why the title?”

There are many stories that I’ve read and loved as a child; in my lack of many friends, books were my company and the characters in those stories were like dear companions. Whether you talked about Frodo Baggins from The LORD of the RINGS or Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, I felt a strong connection to them all.
Maybe because I’m getting older now and prone to nostalgia, but after watching some made for television films in the BBC series called SHERLOCK (Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman), I got my Collective Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle off the shelf and started reading some of those old stories.

FAITH vs. LOGIC: Compatible or Contrary? Part Three

Skeptics and cynics, atheists and agnostics, and countless others throughout history have proclaimed that the Bible is an illogical book, full of errors and irrational assertions. Yet in part 2 we saw that there are no irrationalities to what the Bible plainly declares in its tenets of truth.

That somehow faith and logic are not at all compatible is the idea conveyed by humanists and evolutionists in our day; but as we showed previously, faith doesn’t go against reason so much as it merely goes above it:

“Logic and the Mysteries of Faith – Some object that the great Christian mysteries, such as the Trinity, the Incarnation and predestination violate laws of human reason. There is a difference between propositions that go beyond reason, such as the mysteries of faith, and those that go against reason. Those that go beyond human ability to reason do not go against reason. Human understanding unaided by special revelation cannot reach them. They can only be known by special revelation. Once these truths are known, their premises do not contradict other revealed truth.”

FOUNDATIONS – HOLY or PROFANE: PART 3 of 3

Since this third part includes a link to another FMF article, and others to TTUF and a youtube teaching, this last part will be much shorter, as the reader is encouraged to check out the other articles/video.

The TESTING of GOD – HEAVENS SHAKING TO REVEAL THE FAKING

Just as the Corner Stone, the very Foundation of God’s Kingdom being Christ Himself was tested in every way conceivable, yet without sin (HEB. 4:15) and remained steadfast and immoveable, so too this world and all in it will be tested: sinner and saint when the “great shaking” comes, spoken of by the prophets, most notably Haggai and Joel. Even now, there are lesser ‘shakings’ going on that test our faith.
Only those founded on the Rock will endure these shaking, and great storms that will assail the two houses represented in MATT. 7:7-28. Will you declare, as did Joshua before, that as for you and your house, you will serve the LORD (JOSH 24:15)?

FOUNDATIONS – HOLY or PROFANE: PART 2 of 3

We now continue to examine the Biblical concept of ZION and what it represents. It should be noted that ZION is the Biblical mandate and promise declared by God Himself, in which He shall furnish for His saints a Kingdom which shall endure forever. Thus the biblical form of ‘Zionism’ must be wholly embraced by the child of God.
There are those that see the mystical, kabalistic form of Zionism, promoted by people like Rothschild and former Foreign Secretary of England, Arthur James Balfour as evil, and that it is; but they mistakenly associate all forms of Zionism with this occult-motivated brand.

For an explanation of Biblical Zionism, watch this first clip on Dr. Paul Wilkinson’s presentation.

FOUNDATIONS – HOLY or PROFANE: PART 1 of 3

Any building requires a firm foundation in order to stand securely and endure. Foundations have certain requirements: they must be level and strong; they must have integrity and solidity. Foundations must have established parameters that are clearly defined and stable. If any foundation lacks these things, anything built upon it will be subject to deterioration and will be in danger of eventual collapse.

Building inspectors examine constructions for these very qualities and if any of these factors do not measure up to standards, re-construction is ordered; otherwise the building will not receive approval from these authorities. If repairs are not effected, the building will then be demolished.

FAITH vs. LOGIC: Compatible or Contrary? Part Two

In part one of this article, we looked at the different sources of wisdom (sophia) and how they differ from one another. We also looked evidential logic that is, showing the evidence of something to be true in its assertions and suppositions, can lend credibility as a source for further true things as evidence is provided.

Such is the case where the Bible is concerned; it has statements about geography, archeology, history, things pertaining to the natural sciences that are true. Since they provide evidence that the Bible is true in these areas of knowledge, it stands to reason that the Bible could likewise be true in other areas of knowledge such as morality, spirituality, the nature of reality and of higher reality and of course knowledge in regards to theology in general, including doctrines of salvation, prophecy and others.