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.