Love Fulfilled Ministry

“ Watch out!” Jesus told them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees... ” 1 T he Pharisees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. But he replied they could interpret the appearances of the sky, but not the signs of the times? only a wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given except the sign of Jonah. Jesus would explain the leaven, so would Paul.   The sign given would be the death and resurrection of Christ.  " For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here. ” 3 Jesus performs a sign, feeding four thousand people with seven loaves, it had to be good bread, it was from heaven, but they must have not been too hungry with all the leftove...

" and having come he proclaimed the gospel, peace to you who were afar and peace to you who were near ." 1 The message of the gospel is peace to both the Jew, who was near, and the Gentile, who was afar. To understand what this peace means we look at the surrounding scriptures. The Jews were kept under the law until Christ, so for them peace has a somewhat different meaning, one can say a different dividing fence, wall, or barrier. The Gentiles were strangers and aliens, 2  and " were by nature children of wrath. " 3  Christ proclaimed the good news to both, " peace to you who were afar and peace to you who were near ." 4 " indeed, he himself is our peace, having made both one and the  barrier of the fence  broken down, the  hostility  in the flesh of Him,  the law of commandments in ordinances annulled , that the two he creates in himself into  one man ,  making peace ." 5 The dividing wall could be seen as separation because of the s...

"Now, however, the righteousness of God apart from the law is manifested, witnessed by the law and the prophets. Moreover, the righteousness of God through faith of Jesus Christ toward all believing, no indeed there is no distinction..." 1 This word for manifested is phaneróō , "I make clear, visible, or manifest" (from phṓs, "light") – properly, illumine, make manifest (visible); (figuratively) make plain, in open view; to become apparent ("graspable"). What is being manifested? but the righteousness of God by faith. There was a righteousness by the law, it was for those under the law, but now there is no distinction, no one will be justified by works of the law, but by faith made righteous before God. Jesus came in the fullness of God, of Grace and Truth, He was the Word that created all things in the beginning and he was the Light of the World, in the beginning there was Light. We can say the new covenant was the original covenant as the ...

" For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness...  " 1 How to establish a cloak of covetousness .  First we start with authority, it would be an autocratic leadership, establish a "divine right" authority from God. Enforce your authority with the letter of the law, rules and regulations, using the fear of punishment, all from God of course. Make it all about serving the organization, sacrificing for the good of the mission, shame those who do not. Finally, seek the glory of men, to show all the good works you are doing, this will feed the organization. Establish a cloak of covetousness, all for  personal gain. "... For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery ." Absolute authority. Top-down leadership is often called autocratic leadership as it depends on absolute authority. Everything flows down, vision, rules, teachings... of course this is fine to a poi...

" Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me, ( eth)  his holy name ." 1 Lets look at what the scriptures say about the soul. This word for  soul , speaks of man as a living person;  the breathing substance or being,  the inner being of man . The scriptures speak of the soul having desires and passions, of the heart, as  my soul rejoices,  my soul loves. The soul can have  appetite , a  hungry soul, thirsty soul,  "For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things." 2  It speaks of the loneliness of the soul, how the soul is alienated from, a weary soul. As we learn more about the soul let us have understanding into what it means bless the Lord O my soul. This word for  within me , qereb, means "inward part, midst." It is safe to say a soul that dies without Christ will spend eternity from God. Jesus said one must be born of the Spirit. While this new creation, born of the Spiri...

Let me know your ways that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight. Consider too, that this nation is your people. And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest. 1 To find favor in God we must know his ways. Here Moses is questioning God, How will I know that you are with me? We ask this question today, we know we are to put trust in God, leaning on his understanding to direct our ways, and that such will guide us, but how do we know we are on the correct path? the same question can be asked how do I know his will or purpose in my life? If we relate his ways to his will and his will to his presence in our lives then we can ask how do we know we are in his presence? “ My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest. ” We shall know when we enter into his rest. God had told Moses to lead his people into the promised land but he would not go with them, because they were stiff-necked people, lest he consume them. 3  But Moses inter...

" Well done, good and faithful servant! over a few things you were faithful, over many things will I set you, enter into the joy of your master ." 1 This word for good is agathós , it means to be inherently (intrinsically) good, good in nature. It describes what originates from God and is empowered by Him in their life, through faith. How is a servant good? by faith. It is by faith we please God and that faith without love is nothing. Jesus said, labor for food that doesn't perish. By faith we enter into the joy of the master, by faith we please God. " And without faith it is impossible to please him, it behooves the one drawing near to God to believe that he exists and to those seeking him, a rewarder he becomes ." 2 God's people should be all about faith as it is impossible to please Him without faith. Men stand before God because of grace, it is by faith in Christ they can approach Him. He is a rewarder, as we learn to trust in him we learn th...

" Be not conformed to this age but be transformed ..." 1 We have heard how we are not to be conformed to this world, but do we really understand what this means? This word for conformed is sysxēmatízō (from sýn, "identified with" and sxēmatizō, "having outward shape") – properly, assuming a similar outward form. This word is a derivative of schema and system which English words we use today. This word for transformation is metamorphóō (from metá, "change after being with" and morphóō, "changing form in keeping with inner reality") – properly, transformed after being with; transfigured. Transformation thinking is not focused on outward shape or appearances, conformation, but on the inward growth of individuals. " in schéma found as a man he humbled himself becoming obedient unto death, even death on a cross ." 2 This word for schéma is often translated as appearance , form, fashion – properly, exterior shape (form); (f...

“... a strong city, God appoints salvation as walls and defenses, appear at the gates, come enter righteous nations, that keep the truth, whose mind stays on you, guarded in perfect peace because it trusts in you...” 1 The prophet speaks, for a strong city God builds walls of salvation, bulwarks of defense not only for those within, but for those without, she is salvation for those that are righteous and for those who keep truth these will enter her gates. She is guarded in peace as within her walls, within the land, dwells righteousness and justice, which effect is peace. A lofty city is brought low but a strong city trusts in God and is salvation for the righteous, is benevolent, and is a haven for truth and understanding. “... trust in Jehovah forever, for in God Jehovah, we have an everlasting Rock .” 2 A city who trusts in God. On the dollar bill is stated "In God We Trust" it is a statement of trust not in the dollar but in God. A strong city finds her strength...