Love That Surpasses Knowledge

“and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—

that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 3:19

 

How can you know something that surpasses knowledge?

Isn’t that difficult if not impossible?

I mean if it surpasses knowledge it tells me that it is a love greater

than knowledge is able to comprehend.

So again, if that’s true, how can you know this love?

We begin to know it as our spirit is made alive in Christ Jesus.

It is known not through study but through communion.

It is by that intimate walk with God that we come to know His love.

I remind myself of this truth by looking at the first part of the word: knowledge.

It reminds me that it is more than head knowledge (or as some might say book knowledge).

I could have a library that rivaled any on the earth but not one of those books could come close to helping me know the love of God that flooded my spirit when I invited Him into my life.

May we all continue to grow in our knowledge of that love

 through our courtship with Him who is love!

A prayer meant for you and me

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

“Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching.” (John 17:20)

A few verses earlier in John 17, Jesus prayed passionately for his disciples.  He knew His time on earth was short and there were a few petitions He wanted to make to His father on behalf of His disciples while He was still with them.

He prayed for their protection and unity (v11).  He prayed that they may have a full measure of joy (v13).  And He prayed that they may be sanctified - dedicated, consecrated, made holy (v19).

But, Jesus didn’t just prayer for His disciples. He prayed for “all those who will believe,” past, present, and future.  That includes you and me!

It’s like I can hear those prayers still echoing in Heaven.  Even though the words were spoken 2000 years ago, His prayers are just as active, alive, and powerful now as they were then.

Jesus asked His Father for all those things on our behalf – protection, unity, joy and to be set apart for the Master’s use.

So, be encouraged today!  And, don’t take Jesus’ petitions on our behalf lightly.  He could have asked the Father at any time, but He purposely made them within earshot of the disciples, so they could hear them, be encouraged, and record them for us to hear.

Have a Seat and Listen…

"And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. "

Ezekiel 3:10

 

 

 

The last sentence of yesterday’s blog said this:

He delights to talk with you.

Maybe you have no problem agreeing with that statement but you still struggle because you are sure His form of ‘talking ’ is to take you to the wood shed and

“apply the rod of instruction to the seat of understanding” as the old-timers used to say.

We certainly could talk about the need and benefits of discipline.

There is certainly a time and place for that.

But think about this –

The same God who created every star in the universe and universes beyond, the same God who filled the seas and the skies by His Word, the same God who created all of that and  yet declared His greatest creation, man, to be “…very good” – that is the same God who delights to talk with you.

God has known you and me from eternity.

His love for us cannot be measured.

He truly does delight to talk with you.

He has created you with purpose and with gifts to share.

He wants you to know that so that you might live a fulfilled and blessed life.

And through the use of those gifts He has given you might help others to live that fulfilled and blessed life.

Remember this – Jesus perfectly revealed to us the Father’s heart.

We are told in John Chapter 3 that Jesus did not come to condemn the world.

So too is the Father ‘heart-to-heart’ with you.

He does not come to condemn.

He comes to lift you up.

He comes with life.

No reason to be ill-at-ease in His presence.

Have a seat and listen…

‘Parked’ in a Quiet Place

 

 

 

Some days there seems to be no inspiration, no anointing when writing the blog.

On other days I am woken up with sentences in my spirit ready to be written down.

So what to do on the days when the well seems dry?

You pray, you listen for His voice and you go to His Word.

Make no mistake, God has no problem making Himself heard.

You place yourself in places where you are able to hear His voice.

The same is true whether we are talking about an important life decision

or your daily ‘alone’ time with God.

There are places we can ‘park’ where it becomes difficult to hear His voice.

Don’t park in front of the distractions of life.

Those distractions may be different for each of us.

It is like parking in the middle of Times Square in New York City amongst all the clamor, noise and activity and then declaring our desire to be there in order to seek quiet solitude with God.

The two are not compatible.

In other words, ‘ain’t gonna happen!’

There will be times of struggle and chaos when God makes Himself known and heard above the din.

But we also must seek out the places where we quiet ourselves before Him.

Quiet yourself.

As much as is possible, remove the distractions.

And then…

…listen for His voice.

He delights to talk with you.

The Sustaining Truth of His Love

 

 

Can you top that?

The love of God!

No, nothing can.

In our darkest moments we can be assured of His love for us.

His love does not change.

It is not diminished when we fail or more potent when we please Him.

It is perfect love.

No wonder we have a difficult time grasping it.

We parse out natural love based on performance.

Supernatural, divine love is so much higher and greater than what we know as earthly, natural love.

Have you failed Him?

He loves you.

Have you failed Him miserably?

He still loves you!

Have you been betrayed deeply by others who have professed their undying love for you?

His love will never betray you!

Some are suspicious of a love they deem too good to be true so they reject God’s love.

How truly sad that is.

Today, make it a point to thank God for his love to you.

Don’t wait until you ‘feel it’.

Let His love abound to you as you work, play or come into His presence in worship.

He is worthy!

The truth of His love for you will sustain you even in your darkest hour.

 

 

Who Does God Love the Most?

 

 

Who does God love the most?

Is it Billy Graham?

No?

I know, It’s Mother Teresa!

No, not her either?

Oh, wait a minute – I know; how could I miss this –

Of course it’s Jesus!

What do you mean, it’s not Him either?

Now you’ve really got me thinking – who could it be?

The answer is…are you ready for this…

All of them and none of them!

You see, Jesus spoke these words in the High Priestly Prayer of John 17:23

 

“I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.

Then the world will know that you sent me and

have loved them even as you have loved me.”

 

Gods’ love is perfect.

Gods’ love is complete.

God’s love doesn’t need to be improved upon.

He loves as with the same love that He loves His Son.

We cannot earn His love and He does not have different levels of love based on your value.

He values each and every one of us that He has created.

So who does God love the most?

Look in the mirror to find out and then hand that same mirror to the brother or sister next to  you!

What wonderful love!

 

Is God Sovereign?

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta and it is a wonderful scriptural summary/review of the sovereignty of God:

He answers to no one.

“The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths." (Psalm 135:6)

His power has no limit.

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted." (Job 42:2)

He knows everything.

"Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit." (Psalm 147:5)

He sees everything.

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13)

He owns everything.

"The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters." (Psalm 24:1-2)

He sustains everything.

"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17)

He was, is, and always will be.

"Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." (Psalm 90:2)

Is God sovereign?  You bet He is!

 

 

 

Called? Then What?

“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.”

Luke 9:1-6

 

There was a call.

There was an impartation.

There was a sending out.

But there were also specific instructions.

Sometimes we “go” after the call is received missing the impartation, the sending forth and the specific instructions.

How unwise and dangerous is that?

What Jesus imparted to them was power and authority.

One can only imagine the results of trying to do what God has called you to do without having His power and authority to do it.

Can you say “Failure!”

The instructions He gave were specific and limited.

There were things they were not to take that one would normally expect to take when setting out on a “mission.”

There were also instructions on how to respond when facing difficulties (unwelcoming towns).

God’s power and provision would be manifested not only through them but also to them as they obeyed His instructions!

Have you been called?

Then don’t set out without the impartation and the instruction God wants to give you.

The scriptures are filled with examples of those called by God to a specific task but also given the instructions necessary to fulfill that call.

Have you been called?

If so, has He imparted His power and authority to you for your assignment?

 Are you listening for His specific instructions before setting out?

 

A Life Worthy of Imitation?

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:9

 

Consider the statement above that Paul writes in his epistle.

Can you make the same statement to those watching you?

Can others put into practice in their own lives what they learn from you?

How about what you impart to others or (here’s a tough one) the words you speak to them?

Is your life always profitable for others to imitate?

While I would like to speak those words I must be honest – I cannot.

Was Paul without sin?

No, he was not.

But the trials he endured, the struggles he faced were never wasted.

It was through each of them that he grew to become more and more like Christ.

How about you?

In the midst of a struggle or trial are you a good teacher?

When you are afflicted are you still able to impart life to others?

What words are spoken when you are betrayed by others?

What does your life reveal to others when nothing seems to be turning out right for you?

You see Paul could say to others “When you find yourself behind bars – rejoice in Him!”

Why?

Because He and Silas had learned that lesson well.

You can read all that Paul faced as he served the Lord in the Book of Acts and in his epistles.

But the wonderful news is this –

That same grace available to Paul is available to you.

The call may not be the same but the power working in Paul can also be at work in you!  

Reveal the Father

One final question to ask as we discuss the sovereignty of God –

Who did the sovereign God delegate authority to on the earth?

Genesis 1:26-29 gives us the answer:

“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image,

    in the image of God he created them;

    male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”

 

God is the chief being of the universe with the supreme power of the universe and He has delegated that power through a decree of His word so that the sons and daughters have authority to expand His kingdom on the earth.

 Are you a son or daughter of God?

Have you become a citizen of the Kingdom of God through the way made possible when Jesus died on the cross?

Do you understand the Great Commission we have been given is not just a message we speak but also a message we live before others?

Does your life compel others to come into the Kingdom?

Do you exercise His authority in the earth?

Jesus walked in that authority.

Others were drawn to the Kingdom, not through force but because He revealed His Father, the King, in a way they had not known or seen before.

May our lives do the same!

His Word Stands Eternal

“All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.”

Psalm 119:160

 

We have been learning about the sovereignty of God by asking a series of questions.

First we asked: “Is God Sovereign?”

The answer to that was “Yes!”

Then we asked: “How does the sovereign God use His power?”

And we discovered that He has chosen to delegate that power to His children.

So here we are we a third question:

Does God keep His Word?

Yes!

God keeps Hs word.

Let’s review just a few of the many scriptures that declare it –

Isaiah 40:8 “The Word of God stands forever.”

Malachi 3:6 “I the Lord do not change.”

Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Take the time to look into the Bible and you will find many, many more that declare that God keeps His Word!

So we have asked and answered three questions concerning the sovereignty of the King of the Kingdom and this is how we can summarize it –

 

God is the chief being of the universe with the supreme power of the universe and He has delegated that power through an unchanging decree of His Word!”

God is all wise and He makes no mistakes.

There is purpose in all that He does.

We will continue to look together at His purposes for His children as we explore and learn of the sovereignty of God.

Let His word dwell in you richly…

 

His Personal Representatives

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Let’s take for example an ambassador of the United States.  It’s a position appointed by the president to travel the world and visit foreign countries with a sole purpose – to represent his president and his country.

The ambassador also has the authority to speak on behalf of the president and even negotiate treaties and polices with other nations

However, in order to know what to say and to ensure it aligns up with the beliefs of his commander and chief, the ambassador needs to stay close to his president, spend a lot of time in his presence, study his polices, and understand his values, so that he doesn’t say anything while in a foreign country that could misrepresent his leader. Misrepresentation would not only reflect negatively on the ambassador, but also on the person that sent Him.

As Christ’s ambassadors, we are called to do the same.  We carry that same weightiness and responsibility.  We have been given authority to go into all the land and propagate the principles, values, and desires of our King and His Kingdom.

God has chosen to use you and I to make His continued appeal to the world, so that others may “lay hold of the divine favor” He is offering to mankind.

But like a US ambassador, we must spend time in the king’s presence and study His word, so we can closely align our values and principles with His.  We must live our life in a manner that reflects the heart and desire of our King.

Does your lifestyle, values, words, and actions align with your spiritual commander and chief?  Do they represent or misrepresent Him?

God has entrusted the spreading of His gospel of love to you and me.  He has called us to be ambassadors (His personal representatives) for the Kingdom of God.  There is no greater honor.

 

A Shelter in the Storm

“You have been …a shelter from the storm…”

Isaiah 25:4

 

 

 

My son and I were hiking today in a state park called Stoney Brook.

The drive from our home was about 90 minutes long under a gray, cloud-covered sky.

There was no rain for the trip so we felt confident setting out on the ½ mile gorge trail.

No sooner had we put our left foot in front of our right than the sprinkles started.

Not to worry though, the tree canopy above was like an umbrella protecting us from the mild showers.

But…perhaps a ¼ mile into the hike and the heavens opened up!

Gorge on one side, rock wall on the other side.

Where to go?

There, as we rounded the bend was our shelter in the storm.

A rock outcrop that was just high enough to duck under.

The picture above is what became our actual ‘shelter from the storm’.

My son snapped the picture on our hike back.

David spoke over and over of God becoming his hiding place, his rock, his fortress, his shield and buckler.

God is our shelter when we face the storms of life.

Storms come to all of us.

Those who know the Lord will find Him to be their shelter.

Do you know Him?

You will not face a life free of the storms but you can know Him who can protect you through them.

When we got back to the car my wife could not understand how we were dry.

She expected us to come back, wringing out our clothes and sopping wet.

We were excited to tell her about our shelter from the storm.

Do you have that same shelter?

His Power At Work Within Us

“…that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.

We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

II Corinthians 5:19b-20

 

 

If, as we discussed previously, the Lord is sovereign and if God is the supreme being and supreme power of the universe, let me ask you another question.

How does the sovereign God use that power?

Does He use those powers as a dictator?

A dictator is someone who exercises absolute power and control over others.

No, that would not describe God.

He does not have absolute control over us.

He has given us free will and the power to make choices.

Does God abdicate the use of His power?

Has He relinquished His throne, His rights, His claim or His responsibility?

No, that would not describe God.  He is a personal Father involved in the affairs of man, particularly in the lives of His children.

Could it be that a sovereign God could delegate the use of His power?

A delegate is a person designated to act or represent another or others.

Hmmm, that sounds like the God of the Bible!

God is the chief being of the universe with the supreme power of the universe and He has chosen to delegate His power.

We have become delegates – or if you will – Ambassadors of His Kingdom.

He chooses to delegate His power to His children –

 

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,

according to his power that is at work within us,”

Ephesians 3:20

 

Sovereign Lord

“How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you,

 and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.”

II Samuel 7:22

 

 

 

The word sovereign is defined as: having supreme rank, power or authority.

So let me ask you a question.

Is God Sovereign?

The word sovereign speaks first of position.

The word sovereign speaks secondly of power.

God is sovereign because He is the chief being of the universe

with the supreme power of the universe.

There is no one greater or more powerful.

There is not even a close second.

Being an atheist or an unbeliever does not change the sovereignty of God.

His existence, His supremacy, power and authority are not diminished because you don’t believe in Him.

I may choose to believe the sky is green and the grass is blue but that doesn’t make it so.

God is sovereign with or without my believing it to be so.

Declaring this truth inevitably raises questions about Gods power and our wills.

Questions we need not stumble over.

We will look a couple of them more closely in the coming days.

 

Jeremiah 32:17

“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”

Ezekiel 34:31

“You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God,

declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

 

In Your Midst

“nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the

 kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Luke 17:21

 

 

 

Why should we preach the Gospel of the Kingdom?

Yes, I know we are commanded to by Jesus, but why?

Why would He command us too?

We must not forget this: The Kingdom of God must be expanding because there is no greater Kingdom in existence.

Knowing this to be true why would we not want others to be a part of that Kingdom?

Of course we would.

Let me ask you this – Is the kingdom of darkness greater or better than the Kingdom of Light?

Of course it isn’t!

What about the kingdom of man?

Just look around and it becomes easy to see that God’s Kingdom is far greater than anything we have built.

As a matter of fact, it would be selfish of us to know and believe in the Kingdom of God and not want others to join us in it.

We have preached a Gospel that has us getting saved by the skin of our teeth and holding out for heaven – if we can just make it until then!

God did not send His Son to die so that you and I might just squeak through the pearly gates.

Jesus said that He came to give us abundant life and He wasn’t just talking about later.

We have lived so far below the inheritance purchased for us.

The Gospel of the Kingdom is a message of full, victorious, abundant life NOW and for eternity.  

We must stop holding out for the ‘someday’ and begin to walk in the fullness of life that is ours now in the Kingdom of God.

Are you walking in Kingdom life today?

 

 

No Fighting Allowed

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” John 18:36

In God’s kingdom, we don’t fight, we lay down our lives.

In a world where it’s all about fighting for your rights and getting what’s coming to you, the principles in God’s Kingdom are the polar opposite.

Jesus didn’t fight against the political system or those in authority, even though he was mistreated and wrongly accused.  He didn’t call down an army of angels to exact revenge or right a wrong.

Instead, He surrendered.  He willingly laid down His life.  To Jesus, showing love was more important than clinging to His position or wielding His authority as the Son of God.  He chose to reflect the love of the Father to the world.

As citizens of His Kingdom we are called to do the same. God’s Kingdom is a collection of undeserving citizens (us) who continually reflect their King by showing unconditional love to an undeserving world.

A citizen of God’s Kingdom says “not my will, but your (God’s) will be done.” (Luke 22:42)

A citizen of God’s Kingdom says “I consider others more important than myself.” (Philippians 2:3)

A citizen of God’s Kingdom says “go the extra mile, turn the other cheek, give up your coat.” (Matthew 5:38-42)

We belong to a different Kingdom, God’s Kingdom, one that is governed by different principles.  In God’s Kingdom we are not called to fight.  We are called to lay down our lives.

Is That You?

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

Psalm 119:130

 

 

I love the way this verse is phrased.

The “…unfolding of your words…” implies orderliness.

God’s word is not ‘slapped together’ haphazardly.

There is intention and purpose behind every word.

Jesus spoke of this order, purpose and intention when he said:

“For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”,

Matthew 5:18

Men, inspired by the Holy Spirit, made those “…strokes of a pen…” that Jesus spoke of.

God’s word is ‘put together’ in such a way that it can be ‘unfolded’, i.e. studied, meditated on and applied in our lives.

It implies searching out His word in the way that you might study a treasure map.

But the rewards of His ‘treasure map’ are far greater than silver and gold.

His word gives light and understanding.

It answers the important questions of:

“Why am I here?”

“What is my purpose?”

“What is life all about?”

God’s word addresses the past, the present and the future for humanity.

But, as you unfold it, it also addresses your past, present and future.

Some people look to the stars for these answers, some look to their ancestors and some look to achievement, education or culture.

But none of those can compare to what God has hidden in His word for the man or woman willing to unfold it.

Is that you?

Friends in High Places

“You are my friends if you do what I command.”

John 15:14

 

 

 

“If you’re my friend, you’ll do this for me!”

Have you ever had your arm (and your will) twisted by someone holding that statement over your head?

You do something foolish that you would never have done had the challenge not been presented in the way it was.

Some might read the quote from Jesus above and think to themselves:

“Isn’t He doing the same thing?”

“Isn’t that manipulation or guilt that Jesus is trying to use”

To that I can confidently answer a resounding NO!

You see the one who commands us is holy, righteous, just and perfect.

His commands are good, right and true.

We need never feel abused or misused when we obey the commands of God.

What we will ‘feel’ and know is the love and friendship of God.

A true friend is one who looks to the best interests of their friend.

 No one has your back like God.

His commands are for your benefit.

Sometimes – in the moment – that might not seem true.

But God’s perspective is so much greater than ours is.

His commands are purposeful and beneficial.

…And the icing on the cake?

The one who keeps His commands has friends in high places!

Aliens Among Us

“Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away.

 Behold, the fresh and new has come!’

II Corinthians 5:17

 

 

Nope, my title is not to suggest that I am tackling the topic of immigration in this blog

 and I am not talking about visitors from Mars either!

The truth is Jesus Christ made possible a creation of humanity that was

never on the earth before.

We are a new creation when we are in Christ.

Listen to how Peter addressed it in his epistle:

“Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers and exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires, the passions of the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul.”

I Peter 2:11

You and I are “…aliens and strangers and exiles…”

Our citizenship, our allegiance, our longing is for a Kingdom not of this world.

But we are not in this world simply biding our time until we are taken up to glory.

We are a people of purpose.

That purpose, as we have recently spoken of is to see His Kingdom come on the earth and His will to be done.

That purpose sets us apart from the passions and desires of this world.

We have so much more to live for than riches, fame or power.

We can live for Him and bring His influence, rule and reign in our lives and in our spheres of influence.

No, we don’t have an antenna sticking out of our head, we are not green and we did not arrive here on a spaceship.

Nonetheless, we are a uniquely created race to fulfill the will of God on the earth.

Aliens, strangers and exiles…

 

An Invisible Kingdom Made Visible

“Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Luke 10:9

 

I think you would have to agree that to someone with no spiritual sight it is difficult to see an invisible God and His Kingdom.

That is where you and I come into play.

With our words, deeds, actions, in fact with our entire lives we are – as visible creatures – to make the invisible evident.

We are to live in such a way that those outside the Kingdom can see into it.

Beyond just merely peering into it, as salt and light we are able to make them desire it.

A bit of personal testimony here –

I cannot tell you what scriptures were spoken the night I surrendered my heart to the Lord in June of 1974.

I can tell you that I saw in those who brought the message a love and a peace I had not known.

I saw in their lives something I desired.

The truth is (I know it now but didn’t grasp it then) when anyone is confronted with the love of God it is difficult to turn back.

You see, their lives made evident the invisible Kingdom to me.

Did I have the understanding then that I have today?

Of course not!

But I had the Kingdom made real to me as never before and that night I became a citizen of an invisible Kingdom.

Jesus came to earth and made the invisible evident to all.

We are called to no less.

May the unbeliever have no option but to say:

We believe that the Kingdom of God is here among us!