Normal Activity

In this age of reason and computer type logic we far too often (if not completely) dismiss supernatural intervention in our lives (I also believe that by our dismissal we also dismiss or restrict supernatural intervention INTO our lives).  We take what we see or experience as: luck, weird, “unexplainable” or mysterious and either ignore, dismiss it or some even get real weird and freaky. 

To me it has become a no brainer.  It is not paranormal (Paranormal is a general term (coined ca. 1915–1920) that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation") beyond scientific explanation? sure, but it definitely should not be outside the range of the norm.

John 1:51 And he (Jesus) saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Please note: the words hereafter, see, ascending and descending.  You may want to stop and contemplate what possibly went on and what the disciples could have seen and experienced  as normal.

(For those of you that just refused to contemplate, can I say meditate?, we miss so much of the relationship that the Father has for us.  Most have lost the art of sitting still and can no longer hear that still, small voice within because of the busyness of activity and thinking, plotting and worry.  Quieting the mind can do wonders for communication with the Father.  Ever been around or have a relationship with someone who continually talks? It gets obnoxious, distracting and the relationship cannot go  far because it is very one-sided.  That is what our minds and prayer time has become... talk ,talk, talk or yak, yak, yak.  To put it not so nicely you need to shut up! (Your mind and mouth)  It seems the old adage that I heard as a child fits well…  “God gave you one mouth and two ears, so you need to listen twice as much as you speak”).  Maybe we should stop and contemplate that!  Can I say meditate?  We miss so much of… (I could say it again and again).  You really do need to learn and practice this lesson.

When you start to talk about angels in the past (Old Testament) or future (Revelation type stuff) people (even some Christians) accept it, but to bring it up as a current event ??  My, my.  “Wasn’t there a movie about you?  Something about a flight above a bird’s dwelling or something?”  (For the slow of mind or young in age, its... “One Flew Over the Coo Coo’s Nest”)

Before I close this for today and you go and meditate consider this…

Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them (or to them) who shall be heirs of salvation?

I DO

Let’s take a quick look at two things that made Jesus effective in His life before the cross.

John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

He had a relationship with the Father to the point where He witnessed that the Father taught Him.  So He had communication between Himself and the Father

A few verses earlier He says that He speaks the words that He had heard the Father speak to Him.

John 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

How much more effective we could be if we would take the time in developing our relationship with the Father ourselves so that we could hear clearly and easily.

John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

In John 5:19 we see that Jesus saw and did.  It is a development of His spiritual life.  We can do the same but it does take time and effort.  What was Jesus doing from age 1-30? Besides growing, He was cultivating His relationship with the Father.

Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour  with God and man.

He did not have all the things necessary until He learned and increased with God.  I have frequently found people that think because Jesus was the Son of God  He always knew and could always do anything.  Jesus, Himself testifies to the contrary, He was continually receiving help and instruction from the Father.

  So often we get impatient when things don’t happen with us spiritually as quickly as we think it should.  The apostle Paul spent three years in the desert where he spent time learning.  My question for you is what are you doing today to increase in wisdom, stature and favour with the Father?

A Price for Freedom Pt2

    There is always a price paid for freedom.  The ability to go to the store 10 minutes away before buzzing across town to get to work comes at a price, if nothing other than just the cost of running your car.  The gas, insurance, the wear on tires, oil changes etc. we do it so often we forget about that it costs $3.50 to go out of our way to get a $4.00 item.  How about the person that drives 5 miles out of their way to get gas $0.05 cheaper per gallon.  They spend $1.40 in gas getting to and from (if they get 25 mpg) plus wear and tear to save $1.00, if getting 20 gallons.  It is such a quick trip in our mobile society a lot of us don't even consider the cost involved "to save money".
In the same way, we get so used to the freedom that was paid for by Jesus Christ. We not only forget the cost but forget the freedoms we have received by the price paid.  Knowing this, the Godhead put it down on "paper" for us to find. Lets look at a well known verse.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave (the price) his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.(the freedom)

Now let's look at one that I would bet you haven't heard preached on (at least in dealing with it in context).

Mt 17:25... And when he (Peter) was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

 If you check out the previous and following verses and do a little checking you can come to a pretty safe assumption that this was a temple tax although it is possible that it could be some other civil tax, but that is really not a big concern.  Jesus is not only talking about the financial conditions of this current physical world but also of the spiritual world that was to be (all previous saints Abraham, David etc were servants of God not children, but we were made children (the freedom) by the death and resurrection of Jesus (the price)).


Ga 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son (freedom); and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ (price).

What is the freedom in the previous verses? It is from owing a tribute, a tax or a percentage because you are a "child of the King".  Can we say tithe?  Remember the children are free! If you aren't a child you better pay your tithe because you are a stranger and you owe it! Stranger to who? God of course! Jesus was informing Peter that there was a change in thinking and truth or reality coming. Why don't we sacrifice animals to cover our sins? Because the price was paid!  Why don't we owe anything to the Father? Because the price to make us children was paid! How about Malachi?

Mal 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

What curse do we have?  After all:

Ga 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law (the freedom), being made a curse for us (the price): for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: 

 If there is anything we owe it is to love, that is to be our motivation to act and to follow after Him.
Why we don't hear about this from the pulpit?  It would interfere with not only the pastors income (so they think) but also the support of "their vision".  Any proper teaching and instruction in the Word will lead people into a serious relationship with the Father instead of just playing around in the puddles (most of today's "believers") they will drive headlong into the river of God.  Any giving that comes from us will come because of relationship and an inward change and not from mandate.  You life is to be that which flows out of relationship not commandments.  You are to be led into decisions or choices out of gratitude, love and your relationship with the Father.  This relationship thing with the Father may seem odd to you as it first did with me (because I was raised with Jesus, Jesus, Jesus - not that there is anything wrong with Him) but Jesus Himself said that He came to bring us to the Father that we would be one with Him.  A true relationship with the Father (Abba Father or in today's language "Daddy, Daddy") leads us to be generous and giving "children".  After all our new DNA comes from the Father remember: For God so loved the world that He GAVE..."  Our relationship leads us to give to others including those who instruct and watch over us.  It is in our new nature.  Note here: the Word does support this but does not talk about paying for the church"s buildings or utilities, nor does it say that we are to have a "church building" (maybe to be talked about in a later can of worms).
If you must and you are the kind of person that absolutely needs a set amount it is no longer 10% but 100%!  Your choice. Just saying...