GRACE TO JUDGMENT

Karen was talking to a very misguided lady recently about suicide who said, “thank God for forgiveness,” well Karen was mortified at her words, but knowing the lady who get offended at the drop of a hat and is a know it all Karen moved on in the conversation. Later we discussed it and I felt the LORD say, here is a topic that needs to be addressed. I really love it when the LORD gives me an article this way. Wel, the lady was right “thank God for forgiveness,“ but once our life is over, once we close our eyes in death God’s grace and forgiveness is no more applied to our life, next for ALL dead (as some time or period) is judgment. I guess there is more confusion out there in Christiandom about judgment after death. I mean the Catholic religion believes in purgatory where you can pray or pay (indulgences) sins away from the dead to get into heaven and there are many other mainstream religions who pray for and pray to the dead to get the dead into heaven. But that is not what the Bible says happens in death, Paul in Hebrews (I believe Paul wrote Hebrews) writes “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27) This sounds vividly clear to me, we die and then we are judged. It does not sound like there is time for God’s grace to be extended to the dead. Now at the time of our death there are two types of people: those who accepted the finished work of the cross in their lives and Christ dwells within them and the second type those who did not accept the finished work of the cross in their lives and Christ does not dwell in them. Simple. God made it simple for us. Depending on whether or not Christ dwells in us will determine where we shall appear before God to be judged. If Christ dwells in us then we shall appear at the “judgment seat of Christ.” “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10) Here, Paul is talking to Christians in a letter to the Church in Corinth. That would be “ALL” Christians will appear before the “judgment seat of Christ” to receive the things done in the body (while on earth) have they be good or bad. So, some Christians will receive some bad things from the LORD for their actions on earth and some Christians will receive some good things from the LORD. I wonder why we think (oh I know, because we are taught that) when we stand before God at the “judgment seat of Christ,” He will pour out His blessing on us? Well, no it says, “whether it be good or bad.” We as Christians are NOT going to get away with things that are not sin that would keep us out of heaven, but need to be cleared in our lives before we can “enter in to the joys of the LORD.” Things like, bad attitudes and character flaws that are not sin, but displeasing to the LORD. Now, I know this is correct because John writes, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4) But, what are the people doing crying in heaven? That is right, they are at the “judgment seat of Christ” and God has dealt with the many things that Paul talks about in Romans, coming short. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) Now there is an “and” a conjunction which means two thoughts, things that are a sin and things that cause to “come short” of God’s expectation and “the glory of God” that are not sin. God has dealt with these “coming short” issues and our sin has been dealt with by our acceptance of Christ in our lives and now we can enter in to where, “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” I do not know about you my friend, but I am not looking forward to this time at all. And there is the second type of people. Here John writes not about Christians, but people from all of the ages who has not accepted Christ. Notice there was no time here for God’s grace and mercy, no time for God to forgive them. Their life was over and now it was time to receive from God what they have done in their body. And of course, the one thing they did not do in their body (while on earth) was accept Jesus Christ as their savior. John writes, “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books (God is keeping track) were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” (Revelation 20:11-14) For them it was too late, no time for forgiveness they squandered their time on earth (in their body) they were judged by God and received their reward, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15) It was too late, no grace, no mercy, no forgiveness. I will be honest I am puzzled to why people, like the misguided lady Karen was talking too, believed things not written in the word of God? Again, salvation is simple. God has given us a Book, the Bible, to study so that we may come to know Him and His ways. God has asked us to spend some time with Him so we can learn how much He loves us. Well, I guess this lady does not study the Book, the Bible, God has given us to know Him and does not spend time with Him to learn how much He loves us. Maybe that is why this lady gets offended at the drop of a hat. In Galatians Paul was dealing with some folks like this lady who first believed in what he taught, but others (Paul called them Judaizers) came in and taught another message that contradicted what Paul taught so Paul had to write a letter, what we call the Book of Galatians, to get the Church back on track. In Chapter 5, Paul writes, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.” (Galatians 5:9-11) Or a little bit of sin will cause the entire body to sin. But in verse 10 Paul uses these words, “otherwise minded.” I think this is the problem with this misguided lady and most Christians who get off track from the Word of God, the Bible, because they get otherwise or of another mind. Others are able to put another mind, a thought, or a line of thinking in their mind that is contrary to the Word, the Bible, of God. This is what the Judaizers were doing telling the Christians in Galatia they need to add circumcision and keeping of the feast to grace to be saved. Paul said, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Galatians 3:1) They were “otherwise minded.” When we get “otherwise minded” we make the offense of the cross not popular, not acceptable, we go after messages of a hip Jesus, the shadow and not the substance, and when this happens we have no desire to identify with the death and shame of the cross in our lives. We do not want to hear the truths in the Word of God, the Bible, or even read them, but we go after the latest fad, the latest thinking, the latest concept which always ends in confusion, frustration, and isolation as with this misguided lady. The opposite of “otherwise minded” is single minded where we have a heart and mind for the Word of God, the Bible, and for Him and Him alone. Single in purpose and focus, single vision. Singleness of heart towards God. I received an email one day telling me why I should leave the ministry. It went on and on telling me how wrong I am and ended like this “and you never change your message.” Well, I thought what a compliment. So, I wrote only this back. “Truth never changes no need to change!” Written by David Stahl

HOME GROUP MEETING 21 NOV 23 JOHN 4:27-37

37And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. Commentary: In the kingdom of God the members of the body of Christ are the same kind. They all are being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. To these members different tasks are given, yet of the same Spirit. Each believer receives of the Father a portion never the whole. Each is to operate in the confines of ability that has been given to them by the grace of God. When one moves away from the portion they do much harm and damage to themselves and others in the body of Christ. We need to stay were God has put us. If not when we step into another area to attempt to minister or relate to others in we will not have the wherewithal to successfully accomplish what we are improperly attempting. 

38I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. Commentary: The disciples had a chance to see far beyond the physical farmland. Some laborers will harvest without having to sow because before their time others sowed and did not harvest. And some believers will never make the effort for harvesting we are can be strenuous work. Wind in the House of Islam. 

39And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. Commentary: The Samaritan woman harvested out from her testimony. Remember she left her water pot maybe she too was willing to forgo natural thirst for the spiritual. She just told it the way she saw and experienced it. God needs no help from us making up things to make Him seem bigger, braver, smarter, just tell the truth and the hearer will receive faith. 40So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. Commentary: The more the town folks talked with Jesus and listened the more they discovered about Him. They were thrilled with Jesus and asked Him to take up permanent residency. Jesus will always stay where He is desired. The people Jesus visited again and again were people who desired His presence in their home. If we build Jesus a home He will dwell there. 

41And many more believed because of his own word; Commentary: Jesus had a ability to communicate the woman did not have. He spoke only those words that the Father told Him to and had the Spirit without measure. So too in our lives if we speak and are filled like Jesus. 

42And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. Commentary: The wealth of truth the woman did not have to give the people was discovered in Jesus. They were convinced by the word not by tricks or gimmicks. Personal conviction must not be based on another's conviction. A believer can stand more firmly upon what they know than upon what another believer knows. 

43Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. Commentary: The harvest was based on witnessing and not signs and wonders as the Jewish people want. Therefore, it is written "after two days" two being the number of witness. It was the will of the Father for Jesus to go to Sychar, but not to spend a lot of time there. One would think He would take up permanent quarters, but no. God usually moves one when things are going great. If we live to get we have failed. If we live to give grace characterizes our life and we are endeared to many. 

44For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. Commentary: When Jesus started His ministry, He left for Galilee because He was not welcomed in Nazareth. A minister must have a place where their message is received. A pastor must have a receptive congregation or he will be ousted. Nazareth treated Him like Jerusalem there was no room for Him. 

45Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast. Commentary: The perception of the Galileans had at the feast became the foundation for the acceptance of Jesus in their own country. Unlike the Samaritans the Galileans accepted Jesus based on what he did rather than what He said. For the fulfillment of the word Jesus had to go to Galilee. 

46So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. A certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. Commentary: Remember the first trip Jesus promised to bring joy (new wine) back to the Jewish people and not Israel. The servants (not the rich folks) remembered what He had done so His message would be well received. Maybe He would do twice as much this trip. Opportunity knocked twice. 

47When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Commentary: The talk of the town was what Jesus did in Jerusalem instead of His last trip to Cana. But a successful ministry inspires hope. We are not sure if the servant was a Jew or Gentile, it did not matter, (black, white brown, green) it does not matter, Jesus did not hesitate to meet the need (just like the first miracle) if the man was a Gentile. Jesus was sent to the Jews.

THE BODY OF CHRIST (PART FOUR)

COMMUNION OF THE BODY OF CHRIST 

 “I speak as to wisemen; judge ye what say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body ofChrist?17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. 18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? (1 Corinthians 10:15-18) 

 I really like what we call the communion table or the last supper. Did you know the setting of the communion table is always set in strife, confusion, and ambition? The day before Jesus entered Jerusalem (for His crowning moments, His death and resurrection of His ministry) to observe the Passover feast with the disciples a dispute over who would be the greatest (also in Matthew 18:1 and Mark 9:34) in the kingdom and who would sit on Jesus’ right hand arose, “And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, 44Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. 45But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying. 46Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.” (Luke 9:43-46) We have already discussed the spiritual heart condition of the Body of Christ at Corinth, but in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Paul uses the communion table to bring peace, correction, and reconciliation. Paul kept talking about doing this in the remembrance of Christ or the re-membering. Now I was not there but, but I think Paul selected His words particularly, because we must remember he was not at the original Lord’s supper with the other disciples. Now I do believe Paul was talking about remembering the precious work Christ did on the cross for us and for us not to treat as not sacred, but at the same time the Holy Spirit was doing a work in hearts and lives of the people, a “re-membering” of the Body of Christ gathered. A bringing together again from the strife and division that was painfully present, as Jesus used the Passover feast to bring correction and peace to the disciples. I do not believe Jesus was instituting a tradition, custom, or ordinance (what we call the Communion Table) to observe every time we gather, weekly, monthly or whenever. But, He was doing something greater. As the disciples (and us) partook of His flesh (bread) and blood (wine) they were taking into themselves the life of God and as they partook they were remembered back to Christ and His Body. The communion table and remembering of the Body is spread for three reasons: to endure persecution, undergo correction, and be reconciled to God and man. Polycarp was Bishop of Smyrna (today known as Izmir), a city on the west coast of Turkey. The letters to the “seven Churches in Asia” at the beginning of the Book of Revelation include a letter to the Church in Smyrna, identifying it as a Church undergoing persecution. Polycarp is said to have known the Apostle John, and to have been instructed by him personally in the Christian faith. Polycarp was denounced to the government, arrested, and tried on the charge of being a Christian. When the proconsul urged him to save his life by cursing Christ, he replied: “Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” The magistrate was reluctant to kill a gentle old man, but he had no choice. Polycarp was sentenced to be burned to death. As he waited for the fire to be lighted, he prayed: “Lord God Almighty, Father of your blessed and beloved child Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of you, God of angels and hosts and all creation, and of the whole race of the upright who live in your presence: I bless you that you have thought me worthy of this day and hour, to be numbered among the martyrs and share in the cup of Christ, for resurrection to eternal life, for soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. Among them may I be accepted before you today, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, just as you, the faithful and true God, have prepared and foreshown and brought about. For this reason and for all things I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal heavenly high priest Jesus Christ, your beloved child, through whom be glory to you, with him and the Holy Spirit, now and for the ages to come. Amen.” Suddenly, a voice from heaven rang out, “Polycarp be strong..” The fire was then lit, but as the flames reached Polycarp they swirled around him, nary a flame touching him. Shortly thereafter a soldier stabbed him, by order of the magistrate, but as his blood ran out of his body it extinguished the flames, and he died. His friends gave his remains an honorable burial, and wrote an account of his death to other churches. Make no mistake my friend the communion table is set in sacrifice. The greater the communion the greater the sacrifice required of us and please know God gets to pick the sacrifice. Like persecution, communion and correction goes hand in hand. As the Lord was saying, “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24) the disciples did not understand what He was saying to them about communion. They were not feeding upon Him, they were feeding upon their own ambition and desires. During this solemn feast they debated among themselves who would be the greatest. They went out, not for the better but for the worse. They were weak and sick and that weakness was reflected in many ways. It was seen in Peter and others when they boasted they would die for the Lord. We too, like the Corinthians and disciples before them can miss the life God has for us to share with others by our neglecting communion with times of correction. We too come through the doors of the building bringing attitudes and sin that would have been corrected if we truly would have supped with the Lord. Our lack of feeding on Him causes the feast to be contaminated with the leaven of malice and wickedness. We must realize and not be the one person who brings such into the communion service because of our waywardness, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” (Galatians 5:9) instead,  "Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:8) Personal correction by the Lord and communion with the Lord is to be the basis of the communion of the saints. Each individual must examine themselves to see if there are ungodly things present in their heart. Each individual must feed on the Lord so that they can be filled with sincerity and truth. Correction is the beginning of communion with God and the saints. True communion is a feast of the life of God passing from one saint to another resulting in the increase of the Body. The Spirit of God then can flow from one to the other blessing, enriching, and strengthening the Body collectively. Then we can go out from the meetings we have come together for the better. Some give, others receive, some feed, others eat, some bless, others are blessed, but all are increased in God. Written by David Stahl

HOME GROUP MEETING NOTES 24 OCT 23

26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. Commentary: Sign seekers can neither be satisfied with truth or signs. There was a foundation of hunger and expectation in the woman that could hold such revelation. This foundation was not in the Jewish people as a whole therefore they (Jewish people) could not receive what the Samaritans could hold. Jesus tells her He is the Messiah the only person He told. 

27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? Commentary: The disciple arrive and find their Teacher out of order. God at times will give us encounters with people who think we are out of order. Those who are not led by the Holy Spirit will never understand why. 

28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Commentary: Even though Jesus wanted a drink the woman left her water pot. Now she has something new and fresh, something deep a new revelation to share with her neighbours. Her heart must have been pounding after all the Samaritans have been waiting for centuries for the Messiah and she was the one to discover Him. 

29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Commentary: Her faith enables her to believe Jesus is the Anointed One and to tell her neighbours in her town. Our faith is to overflow and affect others. Great faith is established and will endure unto perfect faith which is the completion of faith and is the bringing into reality or action that which was the object of faith. 

30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. Commentary: The town's people respond to a woman of ill repute. When the light of the Gospel is turned on one's past is overshadowed by the brightness of Jesus. The town folk leave with a great expectation to see the Messiah and a favorable response from Jesus. 

31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. Commentary: The natural urgency was offered by the disciples, but it could not compare to the spiritual urgency of the people. Man's attempt to find satisfaction in the natural is pitiful in comparison. 

32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Commentary: Jesus explained why He was refusing the food, but the disciples did not understand this mysterious statement. Jesus was so occupied with the will of the Father He had no desire for physical food. The greater the spiritual filling and satisfaction the less the desire and hunger for other things. 

33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Commentary: The disciples tried to figure things out, but their lack of spiritual discernment caused them to fall short of understanding. They could not know the source and substance of Jesus' fulness. The disciples again and again insisted in the natural realm, like most of us unless they have been brought into the spiritual realm. The disciples inquired among themselves in vain. 

34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Commentary: When a believer fulfills the will of the Father they are so full there is no appetite for anything else. Even valued fellowship with a friend disappears into oblivion. Doing the will of the Father is one thing but finishing the task He has given you is quite another. Running the race is one aspect of faith, but finishing the race is something else. The successful end far outweighs doing the will of the Father. Only those believers who endure to the end will be saved. 

35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. Commentary: There is something far more important than a physical harvest and that is the spiritual harvest. Jesus tells his disciples to look around at the surrounding field, He was not talking about the physical hills. They were to look beyond the Jewish hills and look to the countries of the Gentiles into the spiritual realm. The disciples and the Jewish believers were looking at Jerusalem so a great persecution arose and scattered them to other lands. God has His way of getting His way. Sadly the disciples never got Jesus' words maybe the persecution could have been avoided. 

36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. Commentary: The one who reaps gathers rewards into eternal life as so with the sower, thus they both can rejoice at the harvest. Oddly enough the disciples sowed nothing, but had the privilege to harvest. In persecution and distresses for the Gospel we are often caught up in distresses and self-pity because we cannot see beyond the well.

THE BODY OF CHRIST PART THREE

                                       THE BUILDING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.” (1 Corinthians 12:27-31) Jesus said, He will build His Church, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) What a wonderful thought to know we do not have to do anything here. Now Jesus did not say He was going to build His Church on Peter, but “upon this rock I will build my Church.” What rock was Jesus talking about? Was it Psalms 118:22, Jesus “the chief Cornerstone that the builder rejected?” Yes, but not really. It was the revelation Peter had of Christ. “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:16-17) The Body of Christ is always built on revelation and not physical things. Revelation is the measure of how much of God is in us. The Church is not built on flesh and blood, nor can the strong arm of ability and intellect build spiritual growth and development within us. John drives this point home in His Gospel, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6) God has given “The Body of Christ, and members in particular” His goods to build His Body so that He can show us a more excellent way. What way is this? What way are we going now? “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) We are going our own way and not God’s way. We have turned from God’s “excellent way” to our own selfishness and ungodly desires. Thus, God set some of His spiritual goods in the church. Now please know these spiritual goods of God have been placed within the Body of Christ before time eternal. Here in Corinthians Paul was re-teaching the Body of Christ at Corinth these truths again because they (like sheep) have gotten off track. “Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.” (1 Corinthians 11:17-18) These spiritual goods of God has been given to us not so that we can see who can get the most power or ability in God, but to minister (be a servant to, a slave) to the Body of Christ. And so that we will have the ability in God to recognize the “more excellent way” of God’s eternal everlasting way we must walk with Him. Now for God to build there must be a building program we must willfully enter into. It is like the word discipleship. For disciples to be made there must a dedication and commitment by people to the discipleship process to be made a disciple. So too for us to be built by God through His spiritual goods, we must willfully enter into God’s building program. Please know God does not build on another’s foundation. God begins His building by first tearing down. What a strange way to build. God will tear down in us everything that is not of Him in our lives. He will pull down all of those strongholds (something we lean on for strength) in our lives that we have allowed into our lives. All of the unstable thinking, unstable attitudes, unstable dreams and visions, unstable plans, all that is unstable in us He cannot build His character and nature in us. God will put down all of our religious thinking and pious approaches to God. All of our religious customs and traditions that keep us from making a Godly heart-felt approach to God. All of our emotional and mental ascent that leaves us falling short of the glory of God. Our glory has been touched and built up, but God’s glory has not been touched nor His heart. Make no mistake my friend coming into God’s building program will help bring God’s greatest objective into our lives. It is painful when God begins to put His finger on things, that are not of Him, in our lives. It is painful when God begins to expose us for what and who we really are. It is painful when we discover who we really are, not who we want to be or think we are, or even what we tell people we are, but who we really are. My friend it will kill us. But that is okay again this is another objective of God. This revelation of our self as compared to Christ happens as God is able to build His character into our lives as we enter into His building program. As we allow God’s work in our lives (our choice not God’s) and use the spiritual goods he has given us, we will begin to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18) Paul talks about two Bodies of Christ; one in Corinth and the other in Antioch where the name “Christian” was first spoken. The question is which church do you want to be built like? In Corinth we have learned, “Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.” (1 Corinthians 11:17) In other words Paul was saying it would have been better if they would not have come together to worship God in spite of every work of the Spirit in operation. And the other church was Antioch, “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, 11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.” (2 Timothy 3:11) Which church would you want to be? Most would say, Antioch until God begins to take them through His building program. Look at what happened to Paul at Antioch, “long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, and afflictions” who would want this when we can have our flesh and emotions satisfied like at the Church of Corinth? The one’s who desire to be developed and not delivered. We read the word “delivered” at the end of 2 Timothy 3:11 and think God has removed Paul out from all of these bad things in His life, but not so. Oh no my friend the contrary is true. Nowhere in the Bible did God deliver anyone from “persecutions and afflictions.” Daniel went into the lion's den. The three Hebrew Children went into the fiery furnace. Jesus had to go to the cross, in spite of Him praying if it be the will of the Father for this to cup to pass from Him so be it. We are built by God as He is allowed to develop us through tough and fearful areas and situations sin our lives. All of God’s spiritual goods (listed in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31) are for the perfecting and establishing of His Body so that we will be able to discover the more excellent way God has for us to go. Written by David Stahl

SILENCE AND HUNGERS

We must come to the word of without a basis heart, no preconceived ideas a blank slate to write on our heart. In Psalms 42:7, David writes, “Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.” A deep desire for knowing Him with us that reaches out to God. And as we respond to God’s call to us we will come to know Him. Open your spirit! Do you hear His call tonight? One of the things that will drown out the call of God in our lives is a love for the world and ourself. In 1 John 2 John writes to his “little children,” “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:15-17) The only reason John gives us not to love the world is because if we do then the love of the Father is not in us. We cannot be saved. We cannot love the LORD and the world. We must hate one and love the other. No neutral in God! Either we are moving forward in Him or we are moving backwards. Either we are moving into God or we are moving out of God. Now it says love NOT the things in the world too. Things like: technology, cell phones, TV, social media (Facebook etc.) even so-called Christian media on You Tube, etc. Love not these things, but fall deeply in love with Christ and His word. We NOT to love the distractions of the world: sports, cooking, work, hunting, fishing, fashion, movies, etc. Either we love them and give ourself, time, and resources to them or we will give ourselves to God. We cannot give ourself to both. John knew this. To prevent these things and distractions of the world from overwhelm spiritually we must allow God to silence these things in us through His dealings and judgements. Silence our hungers and thirst as best seen by our words, our desires, and our thoughts. Do you know where the sea of glass is? In Revelations John writes, “And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal:” (Revelations 4:6) Do you know what the sea of glass is? It is sea which is smooth; it is never disturbed by waves. We never see a storm on the sea of glass; it is calm. This is the condition before the throne of God. It is not in the world. We can so relate to the rulership and dominion of God, so live in Him that we live in tranquility, even through a storm. Now that is not denying the storm. We can have peace in time of war and we can have war in a time of peace. We can be in a storm when everything is calm or we can be calm when everything is stormy. We can even be alone in a crowd. It all depends upon where we are in the life of God. It all depends upon which is gripping our heart, the storm or the faithfulness of God. There is a place of silence in God that brings us to nothingness. A place where we have nothing to say. There are three types of silence: a silence of words, a silence of desires, and a silence of thoughts. The first is perfect. The second is even more perfect and the third is the most perfect. In the first, the silence of words, there is virtue (strength) that is acquired. In the second, the silence of desires, quietness is obtained; and in the third, the silence of thoughts . . . this is our goal: the internal recollection of all of our senses. To lay hold of the silence of thought is to arrive and abide at the center of our being where Christ dwells. Not by speaking, desiring, nor reasoning do we reach the central place of our inward walk, that place where God speaks to our inward man. It is there that God communicates Himself to our spirit; and there in the inmost depths of our being. He teaches us Himself. He guides us to this place where He alone speaks His most secret and hidden of His heart to us. We must enter into this through all silence if we would hear His divine voice within us. Forsaking the world will not accomplish this, nor will renouncing our desires. No, not even if we should renounce all things created. What then? Rest God major goal in our lives is found only in this threefold silence, only before an open door where God may communicate Himself to us. It is in that place He can transform us into Himself. This transformation of our soul consists not in speaking to God nor in thinking on God, but in loving Him greatly. And how is this love acquired? By means of a perfect resignation to God faithfulness to us and this threefold silence. This tremendous truth of the faithfulness of God can carry us through a wilderness, even a war. This anchor can hold us steady through life’s storms. This enlightenment can take us safely through the darkness.

THE BODY OF CHRIST (PART TWO)

THE EQUIPPING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” (Ephesian 4:11-12) 

We see God’s great objective brought out in Ephesians 4. The Spirit and even all of the personality gifts relate to the edification of that unique strange mystical group of people the – Body of Christ. I am so glad all direction in is the Head – Christ. Here in my body, God does not expect my hands to be my brains. He expects them to serve what my mind directs. When we get over into thinking the church is a building, ministry, or organization we also can forget Christ is the Head of the Body and therefore there should be nothing originating in us; only receptivity to perform and do that which is actuated and directed from the Head. We run around doing things for God maybe that is why we often are feeble in our approach to God with our mind or emotions instead of knowing how to live from the Living Head. We try to produce what we think the Head wants to produce, but the Head wants to make the program. He only asks us to function as members, not as the Head. It seems to take us a long time to find this out. We are so used to directing from our own natural self – our own head directing what our body is to do. All direction; all programs anything that is worthwhile at all must originate in God. God must have us the Body through whom He executes and moves upon the earth. What a great burden that would take off of our hearts and lives if we could ever believe and learn this central truth. The Churches in the Book of Revelation have a work complex, instead of a worship (bow our head to the ground) complex. We must stop shoving the Body of Christ out into the world with artificial objectives such as: trying to bring the world to the Lord, cleaning up politics, and getting everything ship shape. Where did that come from? From religious traditions of denominational doctrines of men. It is not about doing something for God but about becoming something in God. So, in the Body of Christ, it is easier to do programs and activities than to abide, evolve, and become. God is after us becoming like His precious Son Jesus Christ. The Body is made of raw material; redeemed humanity. God’s emphasis is upon building a Body, and not upon redeeming the world. He has placed the personality gifts there, “FOR the perfecting of the saints, FOR the work of the ministry, FOR the edifying of the body of Christ:” The equipping of the Body is so that the Body can mature and grow spiritually, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Ephesians 4:13-14) Coming into “the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” is our objective in this life. Make no mistake this objective is God’s objective and reaching it will kill us dead spiritually, but that is okay this is another objective of God, us dying so that He may live. 11. John shares Jesus’ words, “Verily, verily (another double imperative), I say unto you, "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” (John 12:24-26) Where are we going? The same place His Father took Jesus, to His death! There is no greater work in our life than us falling into the ground and dying to our selfishness and self-seeking for when we lose our life (our desires, our emotions, our plans, our life) God can now live through us.. Our spiritual death is God’s opportunity to life. If we lose our life for His sake we shall find eternal life. God equips the Body of Christ not to live, but to die. How much faith do we need? Just enough to believe God can raise us (like Jesus) from the dead. Experiencing loss in our lives is a great teacher. Our gain in God is measured in our loss. How much of the world and self can we lose? At that same measure of loss so is the gain in God we experience no more no less. “The unity of the faith” is not worked in the Body by coming together to eat or fellowship, we have prayer breakfasts that will never develop unity within the Body of Christ, but all enduring the same hardships, persecutions, tribulations (with the same heart condition) and the like will develop unity within the Body of Christ. The loss is the common denominator, now we have something in common on which God can begin to build His character in us, our loss. As we come into “the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” We will be able to function and operate as God does, flow with the Spirit and each other. We will be able to become correctly fitted into the Body of Christ and take our place where God has ordained us to fit in to support the overall structure locally and globally. We will be able to, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16) We will be able to “speak truth in love” and not lies, guile, and deceitfulness. We will be able to grow up and not be a baby needing the milk of the word. Paul shares these word to “those in Italy” perhaps Rome, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:12-14) We will be able to give God a return on His investment in us. Did you know God is looking for a return on His investment in us? Not in money. He owns the cattle on a 1000 hills and the hills, but God is looking for a return in our giving to others as He gave His Son. Giving is at the heart of the Gospel. And we will experience eternal life now on earth, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) We – the Body of Christ will not have to wait to experience heaven, we can have heaven on earth now

THE BODY OF CHRIST PART ONE

The Body of Christ is a mysterious living and breathing organism of a collection of people that feeds the life of God to each other and to other people in the world. When the husband comes home from work and finds his wife has had a bad day he reaches into his heart and breaks off some compassion, longsuffering, or love and feeds it to her. The production of these things are developed in us as we function correctly within the Body of Christ. Each member supplies its only part and function in a synergetic affect to make up the entire Body where everyone gains from it. It and provides a nurturing and caring arm of God's love to the world and is THE representative for God on earth. First it is a mystery. The Scriptures are full of verses that tell us of this amazing truth. Paul tells us in Romans, "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began," (Romans 16:25) The understanding of the Body of Christ is a mystery and like all mysteries of God the understanding must be received by revelation or we will never be able to see the depth and impact this group of called out people from this world can have on affairs of the world. in 1 Corinthians Paul writes, "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:" (1 Corinthians 2:7) The Body of Christ is a mystery of the wisdom of God in the affairs of man. They are hidden to wise, but to the poor in spirit God floods His wisdom without measure. In 1 Timothy again we read, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Timothy 3:16) It cannot be explained it is a mystery, but you know it like truth when you see it. It is a collection of people that God expects to live Godly before Him and the world. To best define the Body of Christ I believe it would be best to define what it is not. The Body of Christ is not the church. Again, the Body of Christ is not the church it is the expression of God on earth. We use this term "church" to mean so many things in God, but it pales in comparison to the function and application of God's intention for the Body of Christ upon the earth. The verses in Romans 12:5-18 above is the blueprint of expectation of God for the Body of Christ and a blueprint for our daily living. In these verses we find seven qualities (verses 5-8), seven characteristics (verses 9-13), and eight admonishments (14-18). When you get time I would ask for you to study these verses for these verse are what God is looking for in the Body of Christ. GOD’S MAIN OBJECTIVE “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:46-47) There has always been a main objective towards which every manifestation of God moves. The Church, the Body of Christ. The Church is not a building, denomination, philosophy, or even a ministry (Strong’s #1248, service, ministering, especially of those who execute the commands of others even at your own cost) Ministry is about being obedient to God’s word to us in doing what He desires us to do and not going and doing things for God on our own. What was the burden of Paul’s prayer? It was for spiritual growth and development of believers, the Body of Christ. It was not for bringing in the kingdom and getting this world set straight, nor was this the object of Jesus’ prayer. Jesus’ prayer was bringing out of the world as many as possible into salvation, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:” (John 17:20-22) Jesus said, “Go ye to the ends of the earth “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:” (Mathew 28:20) not to Christianize the world, but to evangelize the world. And having evangelized the world to gather them together in what He calls the Body of Christ, the “Church” (Strong’s #1577) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly. The Body of Christ is not physical but spiritual, a living expression of God and His love for those people in the world who still labor under the bondage of sin and death in their souls. We do not become a member of the Body of Christ by repeating some words as most denominations teach, nor through our faithful attendance or giving, but by partaking of eating Jesus’ flesh and the drinking of His blood. Jesus taught us this truth, “Verily, verily (double imperative no exception or other way), I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.” (John 6:53-58) We become what we eat of. If we eat of the world we become like the death (in our thought life and every relationship we enter into) of the world, but if we eat of the flesh of Christ and drink of His blood we will become bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh. This is God’s great objective for us; to be bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh. As we partake of Him (take Him into our habits, customs, traditions, our lives) we are transformed from horrible darkness and ignorance into the glorious light (revelation – God’s measurement of our authority) and salvation (knowing God, which includes eternal life, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3), but is much more) not to become popular, rich, handsome, or even to go to heaven like most Christian leaders teach, but so we can become like Christ whom we eat of. When Satan was before God he answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.” (Job 2:4-6) So too is the testimony of Satan for each person that abides as a member of the Body of Christ. In spite of losing all (except his wife) and enduring all Job’s confession was, “Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; 7Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. 8I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: 9Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number:” (Job 5:6-9) How could Job say such things? Maybe it was because of God’s testimony of Job, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect (Strong’s #8535 complete, mature, selfless) and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth (turn aside or depart) evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.” (Job 2:3) This is the place God desires for all of us to come. Unless we eat of His flesh and drink of His blood this will never be our testimony by God. Unless we eat of His flesh and drink of His blood we will never become a part of the Body of Christ. Written by David Stahl

TYPE OR SHADOW OR SUBSTANCE

Karen and I have a friend who has never been to church before so we said we would wait outside of the church (which transforms a high school gym into a place to gather people) and attend. As I told her, "misery loves company and we would love to suffer with you." Well, we suffered alone she never showed up, but that was okay maybe it was for the best. We kind of knew what we were getting into, a big (maybe 300 folks) seeker-sensitive church, no lights except on stage, gallons of coffee, smiles, peace and welcoming signs, and a message about a hip Jesus, but no balloons. Some older lady tried very hard get me to take a cup of coffee, but I was waiting for our friend and Karen. Well, our conversation, in hind sight, did not go well especially when I was told I had to go to the big blue tent outside and get my free gift. Not sure of the Bible translation the Pastor used, but when he linked Christmas (lights, reindeer, and Santa) to the Gospel and started showing pictures of "South of Border," "Bucees" a Texas gas station chain, and a Chick-fil-a in NY, City, while speaking on "The Wonders of Christmas" and since our friend did not show up, I looked over at Karen and she already packed up so we left. You should have seen the looks we got. Way too much seeker-sensitive for us. Basically, the seeker-sensitive church (for those who have never heard of the term) tries to reach out to the unsaved person by making the church experience as comfortable, inviting, and non-threatening as possible. The hope is that the person will believe in the gospel. The idea behind the concept is to get as many unsaved people through the door as possible and the church leadership is willing to use nearly any means to accomplish that goal. Theatrics and musical entertainment are the norm during the church service to keep the unsaved person from getting bored (as they think) as in a traditional church. State-of-the-art technology in lighting and sound are common components of the seeker-sensitive church, especially the larger ones. But, John tells us, "Love not this world and the things in it. (John 2:15) things like all of the theatrical and musical entertainment and make no mistake my friend the "true Gospel message is very threatening to our self. Again, way too much seeker-sensitive for us. All of the "things" used to get the unsaved people through the door: the music, coffee, free gift, non-threatening conversation, and the like are what some people would call types and shadows of Christ. but no they are not. They are just gimmicks, tricks, and marketing ploys to hook people to come to church and then count on their good looks, their winning personalities, number of people in attendance, and a high-tech glitzy light and sound show, and their persuasion to convince, while not depending on the drawing of the Holy Spirit. Paul in Romans, talking about the Jews and all lost people, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." (Romans 10:1-4) Zeal in God must be broken in us or we will lead many people astray and in the end miss the mark our self. This my friend is the problem with the seeker-sensitive movement in the world, zeal for God, but no knowledge of God. Paul talks about what shadows are in Colossians 2. Here Paul is drawing a contrast in this passage between shadow and substance. He is contrasting those things that are merely a shadow of Christ (religion, the Law of Moses, zealous effort, legalism, false humility, and the like) he is contrasting those over and against the Person of Jesus Christ Himself. Paul writes, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body (substance and reality) is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh." (Col. 2:16-23) Now the words, "shadow of things to come" is significant. Paul is not talking about world events that will happen in the future. Rather, he is talking about eternal things. This is usually what the New Testament means when it speaks of "things to come," the eternal things that are coming to pass through Jesus Christ. Now, you will also note that Paul is talking about religious things in this passage. In fact, he uses an example of a shadow, God’s own law and ordinances. God gave the laws of clean and unclean meats, the Old Testament Holy Days, the calendar based on new moons, and certainly gave the Sabbath commandment. So, when we think in terms of a shadow we must not think of sin or some pagan religion. Oh No. The shadows in this passage are things which God gave us, they are in fact, a shadow of Christ. A shadow of Christ is a representation of Christ. Sure is, just as our shadow represents us. If you stand outside on a bright, sunny day, and allow your shadow to be cast in front of you, does not your shadow accurately represent you? Absolutely it does. Your shadow is an accurate outline of you. It is in your shape. It is just that it is all filled in with darkness where your body is blocking the sun. This is also the case with the many shadows of Christ. They do rightly represent Him, they are God given, but as far as they are able they rightly speak of Him. They are truth, but they are NOT repeat NOT Christ Himself. This is what Paul is telling us. Imagine you trying to give a shadow a big hug, instead of the person casting it. It could not be done. Imagine if you tried to have any kind of relationship with a shadow rather than the person. That would be utter nonsense. In fact, you can see only the shape of a person and perhaps pick up a few details of a person, from their shadow, but for the most part you cannot know many details about them. And you certainly cannot know them from their shadow. You can know only a few things about them and those few things have nothing to do with a relationship with them. In fact, without the person there can be no shadow. God gave His law and His ordinances to point to Christ. They do accurately represent Him for they are in the inspired Word of God. But, God never intended for us to settle for the shadow. He intended for us to come to know the Person. There are Christians by the millions today who know only the shadow. That is a problem to be sure, but actually it is not the biggest problem. The biggest problem is that they think the shadow of Christ is the Person. In other words, they are deceived. One of the most often used wiles of the enemy (Satan or man) is to get us to settle for less than God has for us all the while convincing us that we have all that God has for us. Some Christians are so prideful that they will not be exposed by God as coming short of what He has for them. They take pride in living in a relationship with a shadow of Christ because they insist they are special in God’s eyes and so they demand, "they have arrived." There is little or no humility or submission to God. So they will not accept being told they are less than a mature Christian. Others simply refuse to go on to the Person of Christ because it requires that they be moved out of their comfort zone. A shadow is not very demanding is it? But, neither can it bless. I hope we get the point. God does not want us to get wrapped up in even the shadow of Christ that He Himself has given. There are certainly other shadows that He has not given and those also would be things to avoid. Paul is telling us that there is reality and truth and life not merely in teachings about Christ, but in Christ Himself. You know, actually, Paul is not merely correcting Christians in Colossians 2, he is warning them. Note that. Colossians is an epistle about the centrality of Jesus Christ. And in Chapter 2, Paul gives us four ways in which Christ is all things to us. He says: "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Col 2:3), "rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." (Col 2:7), "you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Col 2:10) and "which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." (Col 2:17) My friend, Christianity is Christ in us the hope of glory. Chapter 2 is really giving us four ways in which Christ who is in us will be revealed to us and experienced by us, but you will notice that with each of these statements about Jesus there is also a warning given by Paul, lest we be drawn away from the truth. Paul says: "And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words." (Col 2:4) "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Col 2:8) "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:" (Col 2:16) "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." (Col 2:18) And yet, despite these, and so many other warnings from God, Christians rarely do beware. They almost never, "test the spirits" or even pause to question whether something is taught in the Bible. Instead, they assume that if the masses are following a certain course, then it must be right, because God would not let that many people be deceived. Well, if the world is running after you, even the Christian world, you can bet the LORD is not. We assume that if a movement is highly successful selling books, with TV ministry, going around the world, and especially if they claim souls are being won, that this must be of God, but all shadows, no substance which is Christ. We assume that if a famous preacher affirms something then he must know. Satan has absolutely succeeded, over the last fifty years, in softening up the Body of Christ to the point where many Christians will accept anything as long as it is packaged with hype, supposed miracles, and especially if it makes them feel good about themselves like the seeker-sensitive church movement. Almost never do people actually strip off all the hype, the pressure to join the crowd, and the names that affirm such movements and simply ask: "What does it really say about this in the Word of God?" And just as importantly, "What does it not say about this in the Word of God?" Paul said beware. But, again beware of what? Well, we certainly ought to beware of false teaching. We need to make sure that this does not gain entrance into our lives. However, Paul is actually getting at something more. He is saying, Beware lest you be led away from Jesus Christ as your very life! Beware lest you follow a substitute for Christ, some philosophy or law. Beware lest you be in a relationship with a shadow of Christ, instead of Christ Himself. Christian people need to hear this loud and clear: God is not going to spare us deception or the consequences of deception if we neglect to heed His warnings. One of the biggest way in which many of us error, in this matter of shadow vs. substance, is in the matter of the peace of God. Too often we think that peace is a condition of mind, or emotions. And so Christians seek a condition of mind called "peace" but, this is not the peace of God. Rather, we should seek Christ Himself. For once we see Him and walk in Him, His peace will be operative in and through us. Today there is more and more preaching on Christian TV that amounts to nothing more than pop psychology. Many teach how to be happy and achieve emotional wholeness. The goal, in many cases, is to achieve peace of mind, and the way to achieve it is to get it from God. Of course they bring Christ in to the picture and do mention obedience and faith. And much of it might sound good and indeed, some of it may have a basis of Truth, but almost all of it completely misses the point. Jesus Christ did not die to give us a happy and comfortable state of mind or emotional life. Oh No. Jesus died to give us Himself. Any happy emotional state that is of the Holy Spirit must be the result of knowing Him, and walking in Him. And why? The peace of God is the result of peace with God. And the only way to get peace with God is by surrendering to Him. Lastly, repentance is a shadow, but it is not a mechanical religious exercise whereby I give intellectual assent to the Biblical doctrines that state that I am a sinner and that I must confess and repent. People do this all the time. No. Repentance is the result of "truly" seeing Jesus Christ. That will reveal to me both my sin and the Savior. And unless I see both, it is not real repentance unto salvation. Since Christ is the substance and reality it ought to tell us that unless He is in what we are doing, it is a shadow at best. The Body of Christ is to be the expression of Christ and not a religious shadow of Christ. May God show us the difference. Paul writes as he goes on in Colossians 3, "If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory." (Col 3:1-4) Written by David Stahl

John 4:1-14 (HGM on 23 May 23)

1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, Commentary: Here is seen the development of the "he must increase" John (the Immerser) mentioned in Chapter 3. The Pharisees always kept tabs on religious activities in and around Palestine. This was certainly a picture of conflict in the eyes of the Pharisees because conflict was the way the Pharisees did business. 

2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) Commentary: Jesus never baptized one person His disciples did, but one thing for sure Jesus knew how to delegate. He trained His disciples and then sent them out to preach and perform signs and wonders. God gets His disciples involved so that He can do an inner work in them bringing them from a place of servant hood to friendship. We work the Gospel so that the Gospel can work us. 

3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. Commentary: So, Jesus left. Why did not John leave? John did not have enough spiritual discernment to know to leave. Jesus saw the conflict of the two ministries and knew His Father would not be glorified and the Pharisees would then exploit the division. We must be ready to shift gears in the LORD or He cannot use us. If called to the mission field we may not be called there our entire life. There are only two calls in the Bible: a call to repentance and a call to fellowship with the LORD. Example: Paul did not live and die in Macedonia (Act 16:6) 

4 And he must needs go through Samaria. Commentary: Most Jews take the Jordan Valley when traveling north to south. Then they usually cross over the east side of the river Bethabara (House of Crossing over) where John was immersing (John 1:28) This leading was contrary to custom and would be severely frowned upon by the Jews. So too today when we have a leading in God away from the traditions of men the Brethren frown upon it. But Samaria represents the racism, nationalism, and class status that Jesus bridges. When was the last time you went by way of Samaria? 

5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Commentary: "Then" comes only after a when. Only after Jesus (and us) are willing to move out from His ministry in Judea do we get our when. This is God's overall plan of ministry, when and then our "then." The "then" is a divine appointment destination. The when are the stepping stones. When we confess then we get our divine destination. This principle will follow us through life and even into eternity. Knowing the Father's will Jesus traveled towards Sychar. A servant may be put in a place for years before they see the reason, but faithfulness yields purpose. 

6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied (laboring) with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. (noon) Commentary: The natural always flows with the spiritual, so Jesus being tired rested at the well waiting for the Spiritual to yield an opportunity. We are brought into the Spiritual to live there as natural human beings. The LORD wants our Spiritual life to be more natural, but not carnal. We must not become over spiritualized this does more harm than good. But our life in the Spiritual must be lived out naturally, as breathing. The well usually was deserted, but Jesus had a divine appointment. 

7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. Commentary: Due to the time of day the woman wanted to avoid (morning and evening) the other women. Alone Jesus and the woman had a divine arrangement. Jesus initiated the conservation as He does with us all. He reaches out to the needy by the Holy Spirit before they can reach Him. He draws and we follow. 

8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Commentary: How odd all of the disciples were in the city buying meat. (food) God often will move well meaning disciples out of the way to get a specific work done in someone's life. 

9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Commentary: I guess the Samarian lady never talked to a Jew. Here is a "then" after a when. Jesus did not hesitate to perform the when even if it will break tradition and custom to feed a hungry heart and touch the needy. This unlikely woman was a much needed spiritual refreshing for Jesus. Often our blessings come from packages we deem unworthy. 

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. Commentary: Jesus was offering the woman two things: one a picture of His deity and two eternal life. Jesus' refreshing started when the Spirit reached out through Him to meet the woman's need. Jesus' nontraditional approach and usual answer pulled the woman from any attempt to actually draw water for Jesus. She was naturally draw by men, but she was strangely drawn to this man who she referred to as a Jew. 

11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Commentary: Now the LORD has her respect, "Sir" the Samarian woman is curious about this living water. This was a sign she was opening her heart even though she was still unaware of the truth before her, but she was unsure where this water is located, "thou hast nothing to draw with." 

12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Commentary: Even though she did not know who Jesus was her respect did not elevate Jesus above Jacob, however she did see some greatness in Jesus from the start. 

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: Commentary: Jesus was drawing a parallel between the natural and the spiritual water. The Samarian woman could not find the satisfaction in life. She came to the well day after day as she looked for satisfaction in every relationship. This woman was used to being thirsty and was seeking gratification when she met Jesus. The words "thirst again" means temporary contentment. So too in our lives. 

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Commentary: Jesus spoke a mystery to her that she did not understand. He was telling her fulfillment comes only from God. Because the Father gave Jesus life within Himself he now can impart life to others. A Spiritual principle: a man cannot give what he does not have. Unless we too have life in us we can impart life, but if not then all we can impart in every relationship we enter is death. The result is a divine quality of life not that the believer becomes divine, but now they can partake of His divine nature. The entire process in each individual is toward and into eternal life. The person grows toward many areas of divine quality entering into each area as the work of God as it is completed and the believer qualifies.

SETTING OUR MIND

Paul in the Book of Romans tells us, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." (Romans 8:5-7) But, what does the Bible mean when it uses the phrase, set your mind or affections? To answer this we have to take the phrase in two parts. We first have to understand the Greek word translated "mind" and then we have to understand the meaning of the word set. The word translated "mind" in the New Testament does not mean brains. Neither is the meaning limited to the idea of thought or thinking. It really has to do with a person’s volition or will. My "mind" – under this use of the word – is my intent or purpose. Indeed, we might even say that we are to set our intent upon or set our purpose upon – whatever we are talking about. We can see this usage of the word elsewhere. For example, we are told to, "have this mind in ourselves, as was in Jesus Christ." We are told to have, "the mind of Christ;" to, "arm ourselves with the same mind" as Christ. This is talking about the moral attitude, indeed the relationship, between Jesus Christ and His Father that was Jesus’ "mind" towards God and then, as the outcome of the "mind" Jesus had towards God. I hope I did not lose you here. Thus, in a very real sense, a person’s "mind" is who they are in intention. It is their commitment of themselves and the purpose that governs them. We are not here talking about how they have come to have the "mind" that they have, we are only talking about what the word means. The "mind" in Biblical use, in many respects, is the real us. This is important. Now, Paul tells us that we are able to set our minds on and then the alternatives of either flesh or Spirit are given. Note that we can set our "mind" on or to put it another way, we can choose to live upon and be governed by one basis or another. The meaning here is not merely that of focused thoughts or thinking. This is not so much about what occupies our thinking each day. Paul is not talking about whether we are thinking about that which is of the flesh or that which is of the Spirit. Of course, this would be loosely included because if our intentions are being set upon a certain way we will be thinking about it. But rather than limit this to what thoughts we are having it is more accurate to see it as the realm which governs us. To set my "mind" upon the flesh means that I am allowing the flesh or natural to govern me. To set my "mind" upon the Spirit means that the Truth in Christ Jesus governs me. So when Paul uses the phrase, "set your mind upon" or the phrase "set your mind upon the things…," he is talking about what we adopt as our basis for living: Flesh or the Spirit. He might as well have said, "live your life on the basis of either the flesh or the Spirit." In other words, if I set my "mind" upon the flesh or things of the flesh I have accepted the natural realm as the basis for my living. I am walking according to my natural perception. I am determining truth according to my natural thinking, and according to outward circumstances. But, if I set my "mind" on the basis of the Spirit then I am detached from the natural and living on the basis of Jesus Christ. Now, all of this is verified in what is really the summation of the passage: "Those who are "led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God." (Romans 8:14). Now the word translated "led" in this verse can mean governed. We are governed by what we set our "mind" upon. For once we set our "mind" upon the flesh or Spirit then our "mind" and all that comprises it becomes governed by either. For a saved person, this is, of course, voluntary. But it is nevertheless a fact. You know we all strive for spiritual growth and development or we should be striving towards this goal if we are serious with the LORD. But, how do we know when we have grown to a new level in the LORD? After all there is no voice from Heaven that says, good job you just have passed to a new level or there is no handwriting on the wall that tells us we have advanced in the LORD, but there are ways, I believe, ways that tells us we are moving closer to setting our "mind" on Christ and have grown in the grace and knowledge of the LORD Jesus Christ. In keeping with our article I believe one way we can tell we are moving closer to the "mind" of Christ is when we are quietly spending time with the LORD waiting on Him, no talking, no praying, no reading just sitting there quiet with our mouth shut, but in our spirit we are magnifying Him, pushing our spirit upward to the LORD in thankfulness and thanksgiving. I really believe the LORD really likes these times when we get quiet before Him. Last Sunday we were with Pastor Tek Dahal from Kathmandu, Nepal at The LORD's Table in Goldsboro, NC and he spoke of tithing our time with the LORD. Pastor Tek recommended, to start, we spent at least 120 minutes in the morning and 120 minutes at night with the LORD. That would be 1/6th of our 24 hour day with the LORD. So my thinking here, while waiting if our mind or thoughts drifts away from a current thought (which for most Believers it will) towards thinking about the things of God, instead of things of the world or self, in some fashion or another then our "mind" has been set to the spiritual realm and not the fleshly which reveals in us a spiritual growth in us from a spiritual aspect. Not thinking about something, but being directed in our spirit to think about the things of God truly speaks of us our "mind" being set on Christ. You know what we think on is who and what we really are. This thought of setting our "mind" really goes much deeper. We can now see a little more as to what it means to set one’s "mind" on the flesh or to set one’s "mind" on the Spirit. This is talking about what realm governs us. it is talking about what realm frames our perception indeed, it is talking about what realm we use to frame our perception, even of God. Which realm is our standard for Truth? To set one’s "mind" upon the flesh or upon things below means that our life is based upon that realm. For example let’s take something simple as sin. How is a Believer supposed to respond to their own sin? What are we to do with our sin? We all know the answer to that, put faith in the finished work of Christ upon the Cross. But, how many of us, despite knowing this, and despite doing it again and again, never seem to get free of condemnation and fear regarding our sin, not to mention our complete lack of victory over sin. What? Is Christ real or not? Why does our faith seem not to work? Now we will agree that Jesus Christ died for every sin we will ever commit. It is finished. This is the Gospel truth. And there is nothing, especially our sin, that can ever change this Truth. Yet the guilt, condemnation, or fear that we experience when we sin contradicts this Truth, right? In fact, we might say that everything about our natural makeup: emotions, psychic, and even our natural mind can seem to function contrary to this Truth. This Truth never changes, but so much in us cannot seem to flow with it. Indeed, there are times when we do not feel, sense, or think in a manner that flows with the Truth. We literally function whether we like it or not contrary to the Truth. Why does this happen? We are told in Romans 7 and 8. All of what I have just described those dimensions of our being that function contrary to the Truth are of the natural. And the natural "mind" in the natural man is contrary to the LORD. Indeed, is at enmity against God. We are told that those who are in the flesh cannot please God. The flesh cannot submit to God. We need to read that, see it, and believe it. Thus, all that we experience in ourselves that is contrary to the Truth is functioning exactly as God says it does. There is nothing unbiblical here. "That which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of Spirit is Spirit." (John 3:6). The Truth is all of this is the result of a faith that is in ourselves and not the LORD. We may never suspect this, but when we look for evidence in ourselves of the Truth then our faith is in ourselves. But we are looking for the spiritual man in the natural man. We are trying to find evidence of the Truth in that which God has already told us is utterly untrue. Christ in us is the only Truth we are going to find. And Christ in us is NOT US. What do I mean by that? Well, in this day and age we are more and more being taught that salvation is a matter of God doing things to us. Or a matter of God giving things to us. Or a matter of God imparting to us something that will make us better people. No! Salvation is not a THING, or something that God does to us. Salvation is Christ in us. And Christ is NOT US. You know at some point in our walk with the LORD we are going to have to, step outside of ourselves and step outside of how we feel, and outside of what we sense and ask: What is the Truth? We will find that the Truth is not determined by what we think it is nor is it determined by anything about us. The Truth is Christ. And the only way we are going to know the Truth is to know Him. Thankfully, God is working on that. What I am saying is this: The Truth is not found in us. It does not come from us. The source of all Truth is other than us and is completely outside of us. The Truth is found in Christ. Thus, if we want to know the Truth we have to know HIM. You have to have Christ formed in you. Then you will not only know Him and the Truth, but you will know what is NOT of the Truth. That is the only way to come through this matter. This is a matter of what governs us. If we do put our "mind" upon the Truth, then we will be walking in the Truth, for Christ has already died for our sin. You are simply putting your faith in Him. So we see that it is possible to set one’s mind upon the Truth – to rest one’s faith upon Christ even if everything else is presently in chaos. But do not turn this into a religious routine or a law to keep. Do not turn it into a "mind" game or an emotional condition. Oh no, it is more than all of that. This is a relationship with Christ in the Truth. I set my "mind" on things above because it is in keeping with the Truth in Christ to do so. It is the only way to walk in the Light. So when we speak of all of these matters of settings one’s mind or affections on things above, and when we talk of realizing that we must not lean upon our own understanding, it is vital that we understand that we are not talking about mental gymnastics. We are not talking about getting a psychoanalysis, or about figuring out what makes us tick. This is not about developing an emotional condition or about rousing up our imagination in a more healthy way. Rather, it is about seeing Jesus Christ. Nothing else will work. Only the true knowledge of God through Jesus Christ will do. And if we want to know how to know whether something is of us or of God, you will have to see Christ then you will know what is of Him. If we want to come to see the difference between our soul and Spirit Jesus Christ must be introduced. He will cut between the two. For hundreds of years Christian people have tried to fashion this or that system of laws, principles, and religious routine that is geared to getting us through to God. But in the end, Jesus simply said, "I am the Way." It is only through knowing Him and walking with Him solely on the basis of Christ in us that we can so much as get started. To walk in the Spirit, rather than the flesh, means to live upon the basis of CHRIST. This will mean that we will not live on the basis of our natural makeup. That won’t govern us. Neither will circumstances govern us. Rather, we will live according to Christ as we learn Christ. There is simply no other outcome of walking in the Light. Written by David Stahl

JOHN 3:17-36 (FROM HGM ON 25 APRIL 23)

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Commentary: Jesus knew the purpose why he was sent (to die on the cross for our sin) so He did not try to become the judge. The world needed mercy (like now) rather than a judge. Judgment is a neutral word with no bad or good connotation. There is coming a day when Jesus will become the judge of the world, but for now He expects us to be able to judge our world so that we do not get over in areas and sin which will lead us out of God. 

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Commentary: Since the context of this verse is world judgment this verse then refers to believing one not coming under the same judgment as the world. Because of applications of truth the non-Believer is already condemned even before Jesus passes judgment on them. They even know in their heart they are guilty before God (Romans 1:20-32) 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Commentary: In reality it is not Jesus or God that passes judgment on the world, but man's lack of response to the light and a desire to stay in their darkness is what judges man. The light of God is presented to man and in the presentation of the light is the righteousness of God. So, if the light is rejected so is God's righteousness. There is a choice God presents to man be corrected by the Light now or be judged by the Light (God) later. We will be judged by our works the evidence of our character and quality or the lack thereof 

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. Commentary: Jesus told Nicodemus those dedicated to darkness practice wickedness. They know they are not doing right, but have no intention of changing and doing right yet do not want to appear evil so they will avoid if possible any reproof of their evil ways. So they shun the light (what is good, righteous, and true) and avoid any contact with people of the light. It takes a work of God and His mercy and grace to break through the darkness and bring us to the light. 

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Commentary: The Believer (not a Christian) who walks in obedience doing what is right, living according to the Holy Spirit is well aware the production of truth in and through their life is not of himself. "That his deeds" does not refer to the Believer's motivation, but a result of their continual approach to the light. This motivation and in coming to the Light is to fellowship and commune with Him. 

22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. Commentary: Jesus leaves Nicodemus and with His disciples leaves for Judea where they rested and baptized people. In the Greek the word is "immersed" a better example of how they baptized. 

23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. Commentary: This is a telling verse. Although Jesus was on the scene making disciples and baptizing John the Baptist was still baptizing continuing his ministry. John was still baptizing because there was much water. Earlier John pointed to Jesus and lost disciples as a result. Now in spite of having no pertinent message he continues to draw disciples unto himself. 

24 For John was not yet cast into prison. Commentary: The only thing that will stop John from baptizing is a forced redirection to place where there is no water. God has to put John in a place where there was no water to stop his interferences of Jesus ministry. John rebukes King Herod having his brother's wife which ended the process and landed John in prison. 

25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. Commentary: One of John's disciples brought up a question about baptism with the Jews about purifying. It was not clear what the question was, but what was clear was the spirit from the questioner. We must be careful to take on only the spirit the Lord desires to give us. Remember the operation of truth in and through us must be characterized by grace and revelation. 

26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. Commentary: John the Baptist was perplexed about Jesus and this was seen in the disciples. Instead of insisting his disciples follow Jesus he continued in his ministry. All of John's disciples knew of Jesus and I believe knew they were to leave John and go with Jesus, but John was very persuasive and they stayed with him even as John was imprisoned. All Godly ministry leads us to Jesus. The question we will be asked is what shall we do with Jesus. 

27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Commentary: John was very noncommittal in his response. It is true a man cannot give what he has not receive, but John did not answer his disciples questions to Jesus identity, deity, and validly. John's belief in Jesus will finally come out while in prison. 

28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. Commentary: Nowhere in the Scriptures does John the Baptist give Jesus the title "the Christ" or "the Anointed One." John drills into his disciples that Jesus is the "Lamb of God" which did not deeply register with them. John still holds out his ministry, "I am sent before Him," but had no revelation of who Jesus really was. 

29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. Commentary: John had not been thrown into prison so John's faith and hope in Jesus had not blossomed or faulted. John's joy is not the fulfillment of his revelation converting words into action, but in the possibility. We can either rejoice over the revelation we have received from the will of God in our lives, but if we do not walk in it we miss the best God has for us. 

30 He must increase, but I must decrease. Commentary: John is correct his revelation is not far off. John knows he must fade off of the scene from the Light of the world, but he is not going to do anything that will hasten his decreasing. Even though his revelation is correct his sight for the need to walk in that revelation is lacking, or "want to" is lacking. He knows right, but does wrong. Sin. 

31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. Commentary: From this point to the end of the chapter it is the words of John the Apostle. Jesus' source is Heaven like no other man. His authority and power come out from His Father in Heaven thus becoming the expression of Heaven. In contrast at the same time Jesus is an expression of the earth. He bears the image of the earth and expresses earth values, and lives an earthly life. 

32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. Commentary: The perception and hearing of Jesus was heavenward. Man's is earthly not heavenly so they live for the lower level. Those who did had to turn their gaze and desires away from the earth they had to be free from earthly fetters which prevents a heavenly vision. 

33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. Commentary: The one who looks away from the earth sees and recognizes the truth and its source. Therefore, the testimony of Jesus is from the Father and the reality of Heaven is at hand. This concept is direct in ratio and proportion to our ability to receive this revelation. At the same ratio we can turn away from our love for this world and our self at that same ratio we can receive the revelation of who Jesus is. 

34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. Commentary: God sent Jesus and God sends men. Most men are sent with a portion of spiritual understanding and takes the divine principles of God in their own words (logos), but Jesus was sent without the Spirit because the fullness and wholeness of the Spirit was already given to Him. Thus the more of the Spirit in a person the greater the "rhema" (spoken word of God) comes forth from that person. 

35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. Commentary: The word "loveth" here is agape or dedication. The Father dedicated Himself to the Son. The Father's dedication to the Son is so full and complete with nothing withheld. This measure is found in the Son for the Father a forsaking of self and a desire for the will of the Father. Therefore the commitment the Father has for the Son is complete and full nothing held back. The Son did not take anything from the Father He only took that which was given by the Father. So too for us. Our commitment to the Father will measure out what He is able to give us. What a lesson for us to learn. 

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. Commentary: The extent of Jesus' relationship and revelation (both walk hand and hand) becomes the valid basis for belief. This belief is God's opportunity to lift the Believer above the earthly life to the degree that he need not abide under the Adamic curse. The gift to the believer is life eternal coming to know God (and not just going to Heaven some day) now in the present as Jesus knew God so complete and so full. God does not like disobedience. There are two things handing over the heads of those who disobey. One is the anger of God and the other is threat or danger of His anger being poured out on the one who is disobedient. Not only is anger involved, but the loss of the kingdom of God (righteous, joy, peace, etc.) and so much more.