A Signpost Confession

John 1: 6 - 9 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. (Amen)

My Response to the Hearing of this Word is simply: More Confession

Yes, I rejoice at the hearing of the Word of the Lord! Even a difficult word of Confession. For I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that I can do nothing apart from him (John 15: 5).

Yes, I rejoice at the hearing of his voice! His voice came in loud and clear this day. Thus I must acknowledge my lowly position: I am not all-knowing (this belongs to God) and there are many things that I do not know. With proper perspective and his vision I am able to see that I am a mere broken vessel (2 Corinthians 4 v. 7), a simple servant-teacher and human mouthpiece, filled with the voice of many waters (i.e., his voice). The purpose of this in-filling is not to satisfy my feel-good longings but it comes according to the will of the Father, in line with his perfect design and choosing, and for the fulfillment of his ultimate plan and promise to make a people for himself. Therefore, what can I do but testify to his greatness and freely water the Word of God already planted by the precious hands of my co-laborers in Christ.

Thus again, by compulsion of the Spirit, I confess that I am nothing but a mere human sent to water that which I did not plant (Deuteronomy 32: 1 – 3). Though I teach, it is God who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3 v. 7).

Furthermore, I understand John was compelled by the Holy Spirit to write down, to identify and confess his humanness as a lasting testimony in order to point to the ultimate supremacy of Jesus Christ alone.

From the start of his written testimony John makes it clear.

John existed because of Jesus Christ (John 1 v. 3). John lived for Jesus Christ (John 1 v. 7). He was defined by Jesus Christ (John 1 v. 20 – 23). He died for Jesus Christ (Luke 9 v. 9). He was nothing apart from Jesus Christ (Acts 17 v. 28). He was absolutely small in comparison to Jesus Christ – a mere human that others viewed as strange for they did not understand why he would choose to live apart in the desert for the purpose of sanctification and to be clothed with unadorned camel’s hair while feasting on insects while learning of God’s good provision and the way of a thankful heart. Again, in his own words, he was not the light (John 1 v. 8).

John then went on to speak, seek, and pray an ever-increasingly decrease of his own life so that Christ would forever be glorified and magnified (John 3 v. 30) . . . Yea, Foreverlasting it will be!

So why post my own confession for all to read?

God says, write the vision, make it plain on tablets so that a runner may read it (Habakkuk 2 v. 2). And like John I tremble at the revelation of who Christ really is . . . Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Do you see? By writing it down, there is no more confusion. Beyond any shadow of a doubt we can know our proper place in God’s kingdom and I want to go forth teaching and modeling the gospel by example. I seek a blameless lifestyle in preparation and hope that many would come to faith and believe in God’s Word because of my personal testimony. I can’t teach what I don’t live out. I must humble myself again and again.

Greatness should be ascribed to one true Son of God, Light of the World.

More Food for Thought:

John’s role, task, purpose, goal, was similar to that of a living, breathing signpost --- pointing to the Way “Make straight the way of the Lord” (done through a call to repentance) . . . pointing to the Truth Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (according to the proclamation and identification of Christ living and breathing in this world) . . . and pointing to the Giver of Life In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (telling of his incomparable Glory for all eternity that outshines the darkness of death).

John only came to testify to the light.

Salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone.

I am humbled as a witness to Jesus Christ this day.

Lord help me to step aside so that I can be a signpost to someone greater; my Savior Jesus Christ – the one I love.

Joy

Galatians 5: 22-23
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

Plain and simple: Joy is a fruit. . . it must be grown.

So let me help you understand. Joy, like all the other fruit, is grown from a small seed which is the Word of God (Mark 4: 14). It must be planted in the soil of your heart (Luke 8: 15) and then watered from heaven either by a direct downpour or some gentle teaching (Deuteronomy 32: 2) so that the roots go down deep. Then, at the appointed time, a tree will spring forth and grow. Wow! a miracle because it issues forth from God's design and exists only because of his "doing" (1 Corinthians 3: 7). He gives it life by placing his Spirit within (2 Corinthians 3: 6). Do you see? It is fruit of the Spirit. The fruit comes from Him (that is, God the Holy Spirit), and by no other means. And when the sun shines down on us because Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, and his Righteousness is lifted high like the noonday sun in our lives, our fruit begins to ripen.

So 'Yes' there is a purpose because his fruit is meant for sharing. . . . so that others may taste and see that the Lord is good! . . . and more seeds may be planted.

Aha! I'm back to Evangelism and nothing less.

Psalm 1: 1 - 3
Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

There's Something More

I can't stop thinking about the human spirit which yearns for something more. This plea is inside every human being. It's apparent in the world. It's prevalent inside all the church walls. There's no getting around it except by faith.

So I ponder this conundrum:

Why is it? . . . while many christian workers speak of a God-shape vacuum inside of us that nothing else can fill or fit, and therefore we must ask God for help; yet it remains that so many believers in Jesus Christ still yearn for something more.

My thoughts are these:

Though like a student who already knows the material I have bold confidence. I can pass this test for I read the text, studied it, memorized it, etc... I have also practiced writing down the perfect answer to any open-ended question.

Likewise, in a similar vein, I have found that valuable mainstream publishers always provide help or companion materials authored by little known individuals. They write lesson plans, examples, and answer keys to go along with their textbooks so that professors may read it, possibly use it, share it, and print it.

Yet God has done better. He is the author and perfector of our faith. He has given us something more!!

Listen to his text, study it, examine it, memorize it:

• "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever (John 14: 15 - 16).
• I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you (John 14: 18).
• Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them (John 14: 23).
  
• But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you (John 14: 26).

So the answer has already been given.

The Master is now patiently waiting for you . . . perhaps even silent and perfectly still . . . waiting . . . waiting for you . . . waiting for you to ask him for something more.

As a teaching assistant:

Let me shine some light to help expose the underlying problem of this conundrum. The conundrum is promulgated by unbelief.

Do you see it now? The question is related to your beliefs about God's own character. Do you believe what the world says? Either 'He is a harsh taskmaster with too many laws to obey' and 'He punishes' or Do you believe what God says? "I Am Who I Am" and he is "Our Father - Daddy God - who abounds in steadfast love and mercy." Both can not be true.

Therefore, I shall conclude that our belief - or unbelief - determines our response to him.

Supplementary Reading

‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’ Luke 11: 9 - 13 Ask for God's good gift of the Holy Spirit

‘Why do you call me “Lord, Lord”, and do not do what I tell you? I will show you what someone is like who (1) comes to me, (2) hears my words, and (3) acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house.’ Luke 6: 46 - 49 Take Action based upon his words.

The Master is now patiently waiting for you . . . perhaps even silent and perfectly still . . . waiting . . . waiting for you . . . waiting for you to ask him for something more.

Humble yourselves

1 Peter 5: 6
Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God,
so that he may exalt you in due time.

All God's children

Church going isn't enough!

All God's children should know they are redeemed.

• bought with a price
• bought for a purpose
  

They should also know God's deliverance from evil.

• understanding more and more what God has done in their lives
• fully knowing the extent of his handiwork in transforming a sinful heart

Years ago the LORD awoke me from slumber and spoke with a loud booming voice, "You think you're lucky but it brings death."

I knew what I had to do. I had to give up this notion of luck (good luck, bad luck, etc). I had to destroy childhood leprechauns.

The truth is Jesus saves. I can't ever save myself.

He delivers me from evil. He delivers me over and over again (from before the crib to after the grave).

My God is GREAT!

I would be hard pressed to name all the wonders he has done in my life because the list is so long.

WOW! Isaiah 43 He makes a way for his people.

R. Emanuel Exposed

A good basketball player knows to look at the opponent's belly and not their smile.

Therefore, s.imply s.poken, I see a naked man exposed.

His gut-level ruthlessness gives him away and reveals which direction he is going.

"R. Emanuel" is anti-christ in thought, word and deed;
but the MOST HIGH God speaks a better word:
JESUS, our Emmanuel

comes down from heaven
and gives LIFE to the world.

Therefore, I must confess my own sin (silently before God) and profess my faith (aloud to God and man).

• Jesus Christ gives life.
• He is the author of LIFE.
• He does not take the life of another.
• Jesus lays it down so that another may live.

Precious Jesus help us to truly love, pray and forgive our brother Rahm. Bring life to him and to our nation once again.

Do uSee what iSee? Obama can’t.

Obama can’t see past his “own glory” in the spotlight. He thinks he’ll earn an ‘A’ for ramming the S.S. (Slaughter Solution) through a temporal problem of ice-o-lated resistance. However, an ordinary citizen who stands for truth knows that ‘A’ is for abortion.

Furthermore, we the ordinary citizens of these United States understand what is true: Our current captain, his officers, and the ruling class have taken on the same mindset as those embodied (and now entombed) in the Titantic rubble. They are over-confident, unaware, and believers of the lie called “unsinkable.”

Rather than engaging in good decision making and sticking to conventional wisdom, we see lawmakers promoting a false hope. Instead of taking ordinary and precautionary measures to insure success, we see an abundance of undue pressure and effort expended in order to make reasoning men cave. This makes the whole lot of them akin to groupthink caricatures.

The warning is clear. Let’s turn from sudden and imminent destruction. Relying on a broken moral compass is simply bad navigation. Continuing along this stream of lukewarm elitism is treacherous water. Surely there is a mountain of people whose hidden cries in the womb have been heard and their pleas for justice shall not go unanswered.

Thus the continuing S.ensless S.laughter of innocent life will break the G.rand S.olidarity of the U.nited S.tates apart. It brings death to a nation.

Without vision
the people will perish.