Tag Archives: glen-jackman

Eternal Life

Death has passed unto all men: Learn how to be ready.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NIV)

No matter what our age we have this in common with all men: We all are one day closer to death and the grave. We are closer to eternal life, or eternal damnation. Some emphasize a hell, others view the final lake of fire that the unrepentant who do not accept Jesus will face as their final judgment.

  • Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned”. (Romans 5:12 NIV) The good news of the gospel is that death does not have to be the end of the road.
    Though we die physically we have an eternal dimension to our spirit that God gave us at birth. Indeed, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NIV) You can make an exchange from a hopeless death and the final fires of judgment by making a simple exchange, if for nothing else for personal gain. God will start with you right now, wherever you are if you can accept what Jesus is offering you. The text reads, not death when you believe “but the gift of God” which is “eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
  • Make the Exchange You can make an exchange from a hopeless death and the final fires of judgment by making a simple exchange, if for nothing else for personal gain.

Death is a result of sin Speaking to Adam, the first man, God said:

“Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from…The very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you’ll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you’ll get your food the hard way, planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you’ll end up dirt.” (Genesis 3:17-19 MSG)

  • The ancient prophet Job noted that life is fleeting. “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope. Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again. (Job 7:6-7 NIV)
  • Every person will face death. “We’ll see death soon enough. Everyone does. And there’s no back door out of hell”. (Psalm 89:48 MSG)
  • The death of Christians is precious in the sight of God. “Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones”. (Psalm 116:16 NASB)
  • Christians enter perfect peace with God at death. “Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. (Isaiah 57:1-2 NIV)
  • Christians are welcomed into the presence of the Lord Jesus when they die. “And while they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, Lord Jesus, receive and accept and welcome my spirit!” (Acts 7:59 AMP)
  • God provides eternal life. “God’s gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master”. (Romans 6:23 MSG)
  • When you believe in Jesus Christ, you never really die. “Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying”. (John 11:25 NLT)
  • Jesus will raise everyone who has died. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him”. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NIV)

Make the intelligent choice: Using the stock market as an analogy

For men approaching or in retirement, it is important that our investments do well. It often comes down to good choices when you weigh your investment options. Compare this to believing or not believing the Bible when it states that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life and all created life. Death and judgement without Christ could be viewed as a market crash! Conversely, life in Christ can be viewed as your life prospering, getting better and succeeding abundantly. Again look at the hope here: “in Christ all will be made alive”! That’s not a bad personal investment – better than buying into a good stock versus being a sucker to buying a lousy stock.

  • Why death is like a deadbeat investment. Again look at the hope here: “in Christ all will be made alive!” That’s not a bad deal. Like selling off lousy stock to buy good stock. Bad stock sucks the life out of your portfolio. Good stocks eventually pay off long term. Don’t get hoodwinked by the crowd of cowards who prefer popularity over repentance, and staying obstinate in disbelief. Simply sell the lousy stock, and repent. I prefer the end-game, in the profitable margins of the market of life. Just don’t buy the crappy stock offerings that other unbelievers might serve up.
  • Simply repent. Why would anyone remain in the sin of disbelief instead of repenting and accepting Jesus as your loving Saviour? Accept the profitable margins of eternal Life. Just don’t buy the crappy mental-stock offerings that other unbelievers might tell you will win and make you spiritually prosper. Dump that deadbeat investment. Like a smart investor weigh your options.
  • Living in heaven is better than living on earth. “It’s what we trust in, but don’t yet see, that keeps us going.” (2 Corinthians 5:7 MSG) Death is not the end of a person’s life, it is a transformation to renewal in Christ. We may not understand how this will be physically achieved. It is easier if you see the creator as in control of all atomic physics in time within a limitless spatial universe. All true mathematical formulas and scientific theory are under His control.

The offer is for your taking simply by believing. As the creator, Jesus is given full control over his universe, and over death. This is very important to understand before you die, in order that you also may have eternal life:

“For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live'”. (John 5:21-25 ESV)

We all must prepare our spiritual life for death. My own dear mother held to the hope that Jesus, as He promised, had a place prepared for her. (see John ch. 14) Our hope in Jesus caring for our soul after death: “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NIV)

“And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again but not to deal with our sins again. This time he will bring salvation to all those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28 NLT)

  • All our boasting will end. We don’t know how long we’ll live so let’s not boast about tomorrow: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:13-14 NIV)
  • God will destroy death. “He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4 CEV)

If you have any comments or would like me to visit with you or pray with you, please write Glen Jackman.

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Humility: a Christian’s Primary Representative Virtue

The seat of humility is not to be found in our face, talk, or dress, but in the heart. – Wilhelmus Brakel

I have with great interest read Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essays on our potential to be representative men or women as depicted in great and good souls of the past. His profound quotes stir my mind to live on a higher plane: “A great man is always willing to be little.” 1

The realm of humility in action is manifested in our relation with our neighbour. Humility is the disposition of the heart of the believer toward his neighbour. By having a correct judgment concerning ourselves we neither elevate ourselves above our neighbours’ condition, nor desire or convolute to be elevated by others.

Love for our neighbour is the fountain of all those virtues we are to exercise toward him, but it is humility that adorns these virtues. However excellent the performance of virtue may be, if there is pride in the person who performs this duty, such performance will reek and be entirely without lustre. Therefore, a believer who in the way of holiness wishes to live to the glory of God and render the church honourable must strive to be humble. 2

True humility can only to be found in a Christian believer. Any humility otherwise will prove to be a prideful legalistic charade or the opposite, despondency. An unconverted person is not united to Christ from whom, all virtues issue. It is the Lord who teaches humility and is the example: “Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). A believer has the principle of life in Christ, to learn and live out a victorious representation of the Lord’s virtues empowered by His Holy Spirit. (James 1:9 NLT). In fellowship with the Lord Jesus, you’ll know Him and behold Him, and in faith be united with Him. Thereby you will learn this from Him and your representative humility will be led by the same Spirit as His. The heart being led by the Spirit is the seat of humility. (Philippians 2:5-11; Romans 8:14 NLT)

The seat of humility is not to be found in our face, talk, or dress, but in the heart. It is also not solely and essentially to be found in the intellect, even though the intellect is functional in the exercise of humility in knowing the nature and beauty of this virtue and presenting it to the will as such. Instead, the essential function of humility is in the will which embraces, loves, and delights itself in this virtue. We are to be like Jesus, that is, “lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). 3

I am thankful for the mind of Wilhelmus Brakel, from whom I developed the idea of a Christian being a representative disciple of Christ in manifesting the virtue of humility, with reference to his neighbour, and to the Lord as a servant.

1 Ralph Waldo Emerson

2 Wilhelmus Brakel, The Christian’s Reasonable Service, Joel Beeke, Reformation Heritage Books, Grand Rapids

3 ibid

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Humility: As Taught by Jesus

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29 ESV); and “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ (Matthew 20:26-28 NLT).

Scripture reveals that Jesus Christ, while on earth, lived a life of humility. He laid open His heart to his disciples in verbal teaching and to us now by scriptural reference.  His lessons on humility which he repeatedly taught, inferred that Christians are to be just as humble as He was. Let’s look at Christ’s teaching on humility to get a gist of the seriousness of this virtue so often overlooked by Christ’s followers. To understand Christ as Creator will help you perceive why he laboured so intensely to teach behavioural values to men and women. (Colossians 1:15-20; John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-4). Since we are created by God, we are highly potentiated created, humans.

Here are several lessons:

Christ’s view of the poor and meek. In the Beatitudes with which the Sermon on the Mount opens, He speaks “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” and “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:3, 5) To the poor, who have nothing in themselves — to them, the kingdom comes. To the meek, who seek nothing in and of themselves — the earth will be theirs. The blessings of heaven and earth are for the humble. Here in our earthly life, humility is the secret of spiritual grace.

Jesus asks Christians to take humility seriously. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29 ESV) He tells us that the spirit of humility is an attribute which we can learn and receive from Him. Humility and humbleness of mind and manner of life are what He explains. We learn via His Spirit’s leading when born again. Our minds must be humble and calm — in these states of mindfulness, we will find perfect rest of soul. Humility is to be evidence of our deliverance from the world’s distractive ploys to trick us to put ourselves first. When freely led by His Spirit, we properly enjoy our salvation in discipleship — doing His will as He leads day by day.

Modesty begets Greatness. A few of the disciples were desiring to be the greatest in the kingdom and agreed to ask the Master, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Luke 9:46). The Lord set a child in their midst, and said, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4) Further, “…the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.” (Luke 9:48) True heavenly-mindedness, the chief of the graces, is humility.

Self-righteous self-elevation is disdained by God. The apostles John and James expressed this when they asked Jesus to sit on His right and left hand when he goes back to heaven, the highest place in the kingdom. (Mark 10:35-45) Jesus referred such query to the Father’s authority. Their mission was a redemptive mission that would culminate in the Lord’s supreme humiliation  — death on the cross.  These men must be prepared to go on and build on Christ’s teaching of the importance of loving others. This is the essential message of the new covenant that Jesus taught in His Gospel

Loving others begets Serving others: “…whoever wishes to be first among you shall be the servant of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:44-45) Humility, as seen in the life of Christ, as the one who came down from heaven to serve, will be the primary standard of glory in heaven. The lowliest mindset is the nearest to God. Primacy in the church is promised only for the humblest. Conversely, a pompous attitude among a church leader stinks of power-tripping. The silent movie of the 20s reveals Joan of Arc being asked theologically devious questions by politically motivated priests determined to judge her as a heretic, which culminated in her being burned at the stake.

Who Is the Greatest? Even during the last supper, the disciples still disputed who should be the greatest. Jesus said, “let the greatest among you become as the youngest and the leader as one who serves.” (Luke 22:26) The unpretentious life which He presented to us as our example, the power and gentle spirit in which He bore insult to bring our salvation, is the only demonstrative humility that can influence today’s’ Christians to be servants to others.

Speaking of the Pharisees and their love of the supremacy. Christ said once again: “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:11-12). Humility is the only path to honour in God’s kingdom.

God will humble the proud. On an occasion, in the house of a Pharisee, He taught the parable of the guest who would be invited to come up higher (Luke 14:1–11), and ended with: “…everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” The demand is apparent: there is no other way. Self-abasement alone will be exalted. At first, this may appear difficult because our pride will prefer domination to some degree.

Don’t be too proud of your biblical knowledge. After the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Christ spoke against self-exaltation again: “…everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14). In the temple, in the presence and worship of God, everything — even knowledge of doctrine is worthless unless pervaded by a deep, true humility towards God and men. The Pharisees were educated in the scriptures above the average Jew in the days of Christ. Never should we feel more exalted due to our theological knowledge.

Be supportive and help others when the opportunity arises. Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14). The symbolic message of foot-washing is to defer to help others, not look to be exalted nor pampered by others. Christ’s absolute authority and example, every thought, either of obedience or conformity, make it quite evident: humility is the primary essential element of discipleship.

Men sometimes speak as if humility and meekness would rob us of what is noble and bold and manlike. You can see this attitude in movie episodes of “The Game of Thrones”. There is a Machiavellian spirit of tribal one-upmanship; a devilish desire to usurp and control others at all costs.

Is it your heart’s desire to understand humility? If we realize that self-will is a problem that we all must deal with. Our lizard brain 1 is a destructive mindset harmful to mankind. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead us to envision a better understanding of humility. Church fellowship, our peace and joyful appreciation of our kindred unity in Christ, is possible when mindful of this significant primary teaching.

Humility reveals character growth in grace. Presenting the character trait of humility represents evident progress — of a maturing, abiding relationship with Jesus — sanctification in our Christian growth. Based on this study of the teaching of Jesus, no place in the church will be too low, no service beneath our stature. Let us happily prove the like-minded fellowship with Him who spoke, ‘I am among you as a servant.’

Jesus, the meek and lowly One, calls us to learn of Him the path to God. Let us study humility until our heart agrees: My one need is humility. And let us believe that what Christ shows, He gives by His Spirit; what He is, He imparts. As the meek and lowly One, He will come in and dwell in the open-minded, humble heart. 2

1 The lizard brain term is a metaphor for the self-willed, lustful human mindset that prefers political manipulation, violence, domination, retribution, and sexual perversion.

2 Glen Jackman’s summary edit of Andrew Murray’s thinking. This is from Humility: The Beauty of Holiness (pp. 11–16). New York; London; Glasgow: Fleming H. Revell. (1800) In the public domain.

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Humility: A proper attitude to Systematic Theology

Peter tells us, “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” ’ (1 Peter 5:5).

Those who study systematic theology will learn many things about the teachings of Scripture that are perhaps not known or not known well by other Christians in their churches or by relatives who are older in the Lord than they are. They may also find that they understand things about Scripture that some of their church officers do not understand, and that even their pastor has perhaps forgotten or never learned well.

In all of these situations, it would be very easy to adopt an attitude of pride or superiority toward others who have not made such a study. But how ugly it would be if anyone were to use this knowledge of God’s Word simply to win arguments or to put down a fellow Christian in conversation, or to make another believer feel insignificant in the Lord’s work. 1

James’ counsel is good for us at this point: “Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God” (James 1:19–20). He tells us that one’s understanding of Scripture is to be imparted in humility and love:

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom … But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity. And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13, 17–18)

Systematic theology rightly studied will not lead to the knowledge that “puffs up” (1 Cor. 8:1) but to humility and love for others.

1 Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 33). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

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Seek first the kingdom of God and all blessings will follow

Scriptural Meditations Part 2:  God moves in His natural kingdom to bring blessings my way when I seek him first. He alone is the Great Rearranger who moves upon the atomic nature of the universe; giving ideas that bring forth results for the provision of his own children.

  • I am recognizing that all power, wealth and honour comes as directed from you Yahweh; you created everything in heaven and on earth; everything good is of Your Kingdom and I am exalting you as the head over all. 1 Chronicles 29: 11-12
  • All good things related to my life’s needs are coming my way for provision because I seek first our Lord’s kingdom and His righteousness. Matthew 6:33
  • My God is an enabling God who activates nature to manifest and change form by faith for his children when asked. Psalm 107: 29; Joshua 10: 11-13; Jonah 1: 10-17; Matthew 8: 23-27; Mark 4: 38-40; John 21: 4-12; Matthew 21: 19-22; Exodus 3: 1-4, 15: 3-5; 1 Kings 18: 36-46
  • My Lord hears my prayer claiming his covenant promises that he puts in my heart and mouth and then acts on my behalf to bring justice my way. His hand is not shortened, that he cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that he cannot hear; He sets up a standard against my enemies to protect me. Isaiah 59:1, 16, 19
  • I have courageous action-based faith that Yahweh will give me the tools to prevail to give me success in all my ventures despite major obstacles in life or business, just as He gave David victory over Goliath. 1 Samuel 17: 45-53
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Prayerful meditations for God-directed blessing in life

Scriptural Meditations Part 1:  Over the years in ministry and business life, I believe I have succeeded abundantly based on trusting the Lord’s blessings. My meditations include this kind of prayer-based thinking. Here I share only a part of a large document of scriptural prayer meditations on many life and business subjects. I am also careful not to advocate a prosperity gospel, yet in my mind, I must trust the Lord for the provision of life’s necessities and recognize his blessings when accrued.

  • I confidently trust, lean on, and rely on Yahweh/Father God, that I will be supported when I declare His righteousness in His entire kingdom on earth among the nations; because He will not hide His face from me, as He listens to me when I cry out to Him, who alone is my help. Psalm 22: 4, 5, 9, 22, 28-29, 30
  • I joyfully dance in the Lord being established with strength and boundless prosperity. Psalm 30: 6, 7, 11; Psalm 122: 6-7
  • I am calm and courageous speaking wisdom from an understanding heart, submitting godly thoughts to musical meditations expressing my inherent redemption as He guarantees to receive me into my inheritance of eternal life.  Psalm 37: 30-31; 40: 3, 9-10; 49: 3-5; 7-8. 15
  • The Lord increases my family’s peace, protection, and firm prosperity increasing in proportion as we trustingly take refuge in Him; He makes our right and just behaviour shine like the noon-day sun in all effects of causation. Psalm 37: 4-7; 11, 19; 22-26
  • I am committing my works unto Yahweh and my thoughts and plans are established and succeed. Proverbs 16: 2-3
  • I order my thoughts, conduct, conversation, and actions in the will of Yahweh’s Word and his entire revealed will, and manage my decisions to not wander from his commandments; and I, therefore, am rewarded by inheriting all your promises. Psalm 119: 1-7
  • I am succeeding, increasing my business sales, selling continuously and vigorously in the marketplace, making entire penetration in my field of business expertise, because as a partaker of the divine nature, all my natural springs issue from you and you are able to make all grace abound toward me that I may have abundant provision in all good things. 2 Peter 1:4, Psalm 87:7, 2 Corinthians 9:8
  • God reveals my moment of timing with regard to my life purpose with all the plans clear before me as with Moses, including what I am to preach regarding His current truth. John 9: 3, 4, 22, 13-34
  • God keeps His secrets and protects my business and life purposes from idea-theft of ungodly men. 1 Sam 21: 12-13
  • I trust Yahweh to give me Spirit led insights like David when he said “I knew it” regarding anyone who would tell one of my business secrets. 1 Samuel 22: 22; 23: 9-12
  • I am waiting to see what God is going to do for me in all my business ventures. 1 Samuel 22:3; Genesis 31: 10-16, 50: 18-21
  • As a sinner, I have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 1:9
  • I am a son of Yahweh attested to and confirmed by Jesus Christ. Psalms 82:6; John 10: 34-36; Romans 13: 1-2
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Easter Egging or Experiencing the Cross?

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.  Philippians 3:18

We all must earn to surrender to the deeper dimensions of the cross so that nothing can block the Lord’s presence and power in our life!

Jesus Christ died not so that you would recognize a historical fact. Or memorize a particular doctrine. Or continue with life as is. No, Christ’s death was God’ s decisive deed in your life, conquering sin once and for all. The cross beckons you every day, with the power to transform every detail of your existence as you begin to see Calvary from God’s perspective. 1

1 Henry Blackaby

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Life App: The Miracles of Jesus – Part 1

Here we have a list of the miracles of Jesus as a study reference. Jesus told the apostles to perform similar miracles that He had done, as He sent them out two by two to preach the Gospel. And as we look at Jesus healing, we will suggest guidance from the Epistle of James with regard to how elders are to interpret and proceed with anointing the sick.

Cleansing a Leper Here we see the willingness of Jesus to heal a leper who initiated coming to Jesus on his own. (Matt 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-41; Luke 5:12-16)

Life App: We might see that this is one case similar to Jame’s counsel for the sick individual to call for the elders. (James 5:14-15) Yet further study will reveal that interpretation to call an elder may be ambiguously understood.

Healing a Centurion’s Servant (of paralysis) Here we find a Roman centurion with faith enough to come to Jesus and ask on behalf of his servant to just say the word, and heal him. Jesus recognized the leader as a man of faith and healed the servant from a distance. (Matt 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-13)

Taking initiative by proxy Here we see the initiative being taken by a compassionate man who is in authority over his servant. Though it is an ancient example, of acting on behalf of another, it speaks to me about the power of the hierarchy of church-eldership-led potentiation to act to anoint, which I feel should come from the most clear-minded leader, when a sick person is in an emotional state of overwhelming decision-chaos: losing sleep, rescheduling etc.

Falling into Decision Overwhelm A difficult process of weighing lots of advice coming from medical doctors aiming to have you decide to act now as they lead. In this way, the medical profession may get ahead of the church ministries. Medical doctors have their place and I do not demean them. My emphasis is to take the Christ-centred initiatives first to pray over and anoint the members in need.

Life App: What if the sick person was entirely healed when anointed a day before seeing the doctor before procedures begin? Or if begun, one might need to ask: how soon can we anoint this man or this woman?

Healing Peter’s Mother-in-law It is noteworthy that, James and John, friends of Simon and Andrew, “appealed to him” on behalf of Simon’s mother-in-law. An effort “on her behalf” was to get Christ close to her, and seeing her dilemma, he healed her. (see Matt 8:14-15; Mark 1:29-34; Luke 4:38-41).

Life App: Friends and relatives as spiritual partners often need to help an ill person with their spiritual resolve and clarity during times of medical crisis. A tired mind cannot think with the same bandwidth as a well well-rested untroubled mind.

Healing the Sick at Evening Notice that friends and family brought the sick and demon-possessed to Jesus and He healed them. (Matt 8:16-17; Mark 1:32-33; Luke 4:40-41)

Life App: There was a local effort to get the sick people before Jesus to be healed, once they were aware of Jesus being in the region. The tipping point was that the potential for healing was now. Today, Christ empowers godly elders to anoint the sick in the name of Jesus, to engage healing believers by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Demons Entering a Herd of Swine  When Jesus saw the demon-oppressed man, he immediately began saying to him: “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” The demon possed man was incapable of asking for help so Jesus initiated the dialogue, which led to the man’s healing and desire to be with Jesus. (Matt 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39)

Life App: Elders will encounter sick people in states, which make them unable to call to an elder for anointing. It is my belief that an elder once aware of this, should then take the initiative to go and anoint the person even if they are in a comma.

Healing a Paralytic Here is a group of people collaborating to get a sick person healed. They acted quickly, engineering a way to get the paralysed individual in front of Jesus. (Matt 9:2; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26)

Life App: Here we have a group of men bringing a paralytic to Jesus. The scriptures note that “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.’” The action of getting the man front and centre with Jesus revealed faith, which resulted in Jesus healing and forgiving the man.

Raising the Ruler’s Daughter (Matt 9:18-19, 23-25; Mark 5:22-24, 35-42; Luke 8:41-42, 50-55)

Life App: Here is a case where the daughter was dead when Jesus arrived. Jesus said to Jairus, her father, who fell at Jesus’ feet, indicating his respect for Christ’s Sovereignty: “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” (Luke 8:50 NIV)

In this case, a father who was also a synagogue leader quickly took the initiative of faith to find Jesus. Today we have Jesus with us via His Spirit and can call on him to heal the sick without any excessive time passing.

The use of Anointing oil 

The eldership of the early church was told by James, as we can ascertain that the disciples were told by Jesus to use oil to anoint the sick people they encountered (Mark 6:13); whereas Jesus did not use oil to anoint. He did use his own spit and mud.

Life App: Oil use indicates a representative ministry of the Lord. The eldership of the church is the leading Royal Priesthood of Christ in the current New Covenant period, anointing the sick on behalf of and in the name of Jesus. (James 5: 13-18) Be aware that if taken literally elders may expect a sick person to request anointing on their own, without guidance relative to the context of the situation. In some cases, a sick person may never have perceived the aspect of personal responsibility to ask as per James 5:14; or if legalistically perceived by the eldership, may be misapplied theologically, determining that the member’s anointing may be deferred.

See also Life App: The Miracles of Jesus – Part 2 (in progress)

 

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Divine guidance can save you much grief

“The Lord will guide you into all the truth” applicable to you. (John 16:13)

To live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and be led in all your most beneficial ways one must learn the discipline of ongoing listening for the direction of the Lord and acknowledge His methods of opening up our viewpoint to see the right way to walk. David won most of his battles because he always wanted to hear God’s view first (Psalm 27:7, 11)

We live in a world order which is becoming increasingly difficult to hear God speak to us through His Word, or the “still small voice” (Isaiah 30:21)

This is increasingly true when you are surrounded by excess talking and clamour while facing a choice when in need of information that may be yet unknown or purposely held back from you by men who feel superior in education, religion, or health care. For example, it was found out that many hysterectomies were unnecessary in the 60s yet many a doctor ran ahead with multiple surgeries even when it was known it was unnecessary. No one should hold back pertinent information because money per operation is a primary goal. I see this mindset continues today in some disciplines.

We must not trust every word of others or the feeling within ourselves, but cautiously and patiently try the matter, whether it be of God. Do not give ready heed to every news-bearer, for they know man’s weakness that it is prone to evil and deceptive in dialogue. It is supreme wisdom, not to be hasty in action, or stubborn in our own opinions. It is essential wisdom to not believe every word we hear. An obedient life, submissive to the Lord, makes a man wise toward God and gives him experience in many things. The more humility and obedience within and without to God’s will, the more knowledgeable will he be in all things, and the more shall his soul be at peace. 1

Amidst others of rank, where you cannot hear yourself think let alone hear God speak it is hard to make a rational decision. Montaigne noted in his essay on presumption: “occasions surprise me and move me contrary to my premeditation”. The smartest contemplative person can be derailed from original rational thinking in a few minutes of chaos under decisional pressure.

This is particularly true if we replace the guidance directly from God with an: if, then, else flowchart, which I am prone to do because I have been trained in writing computer code. I learned the hard way that this can be like rolling the bones or tossing the dice without rational thought versus the leading of God directing as we pray for guidance in His Word and discern what light He has on the subject at hand. Dreams even if frightening, where warnings can come in the wee hours can save you from a bad decision. If the Spirit of Christ leads in either of these two methods sit up and go to your journal and immediately write down the leading and ask what this means – it is vital to do this before it is lost. Carry your journal and ponder the guidance and take it to heart and change course if necessary.

As a Christian resist the temptation of trying to find things out only on your own.

When the founder of Buddhism was bidding his followers farewell, he said: “You must be your own light”. When Socrates was about to take that fatal cup one of his disciples mourned that he was leaving them orphans. When Jesus was about to ascend to heaven He said of the Holy Spirit, “if I go I will send him to you” (see John 14:18; 16:5-7,13; Luke 1:79; John 10:4)

Divine guidance is only available to Christians, who obey the directives of and rely on the Father in Heaven. Such obedience offers: Peaceful quietude (Psalm 23:2), good decisions (Psalm 25.9, 32:8), lifetime guidance (Psalm 48:14), wise counsel (Psalm 73:24), internal divine directions (Isaiah 30:21, John 16:13), lead amidst uncertainties (Isaiah 42:16,48:17).

Praise the Lord for His amazing grace. May He lead you into the paths of a peaceful life in all your decision making away from the chaos of mankind who can ruin your choices and bring regret for not taking the time to listen in the quiet hour with the Lord Jesus Christ in His sacred scriptures daily.

1 Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Glen Jackman modern edit

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Humility: Exemplified by Jesus

‘I am among you as one who serves.’—Luke 22:27 NLT.

In the Gospel of John, we see Jesus frequently speaking of His relation to the Father, presenting the spiritual motives that guided Him. His consciousness of the power and the guidance of the Holy Spirit linking Him to his Father’s mind — echoed by how He acted kindly and gently among men — proved the clearest picture of humility ever lived among humankind.

Though He is the Son of God in heaven, as a man upon earth, He took the place of entire subordination, giving God the honour and the glory which is due to Him. And what He taught so often was made true of Himself: ‘everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.’ (Luke 14:11; 18:14)

Listen to the words by which our Lord speaks of His relation to the Father — see how frequently He uses the words not, and nothing, of Himself. The not I, in which Paul expresses his relationship to Christ, is the very spirit of what Christ says of His relation to the Father: “The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (see Galatians 2:20) Jesus taught self-abnegation by the way He lived. Hover over these texts to see each one of His statements relating how the Father led Jesus as He sought to reconcile humanity to God: (John 5:19, 30, 41; 6:38; 7:16, 28; 8:42, 50; 14:10, 24)

The above scriptures reveal insight into Christ’s life and work. They tell us how it was that the Almighty God was able to work His mighty redemption work through Jesus. They show what mindset Christ’s enlightened consciousness viewed His dependence as a man, respectfully reliant as the Son upon the Father. They teach us about Christ’s essential nature and life as a man while His work of redemption was accomplished. He was nothing, that God might be all. Jesus resigned Himself, His will and His powers entirely for the Father to work in and through Him — as He offered us reconciliation, mercy and grace. Of His own power, His own will, and His own glory, of His whole mission with all His works and His teaching,— of all this He said, It is not I; I am nothing; I have given Myself to the Father to work; I am nothing, the Father is all.

This life of entire self-abnegation, absolute submission and dependence upon the Father’s will, Christ found to be one of perfect peace and joy. He lost nothing by giving all to God. God honoured His trust, and manifested all for Him, and then exalted Him to His right hand to administer the kingdom, beside Him, reflecting the majestic glory of this fact: When God reaches out to us to bring us to Himself, by seeing Jesus, we recognize that the Father is waiting in love, to bind you to Him in love. And because Christ had thus humbled Himself before God, and God was ever before Him, Jesus also found it possible to humble Himself before men, and to be the Servant of all. His humility was simply the surrender of Himself to God, to allow Him to do in Him what He pleased, whatever men around might say of Him, or do to Him. The primary purpose of this demonstration of humility was to draw all men to Himself and thereby to the Father.

It is in this state of mind, in this spirit and disposition, that the redemption of Christ has its virtue and potent effectiveness. It is to bring us to this disposition of self-abnegation that we are perceptive to and taking on the mind of Christ. This is the true self-denial to which our Saviour calls each of us: the acknowledgement that self has nothing good in it, except as an empty vessel which God must fill, and that any claim to be or do anything self-warranting may not for a moment be allowed. It is in this, above and before everything, in which the conformity to Jesus consists, the being and doing nothing of ourselves, that God may be all.

Here we have the root and nature of true humility. It is because this is not understood or sought after, that our humility, individually and in the church is so superficial, and lacks vitality. We must learn of Jesus, how He is meek and lowly of heart. He teaches us where true humility rises to find its strength—in the knowledge that it is God who works all in all, that our place is to yield to Him in perfect resignation and dependence, in full consent to be and to do nothing of ourselves.

Christ came to reveal and to impart to us, by example—a life which fully honours God, that came through death to sin and self. If we feel that this life is too high for us and beyond our reach, let this felt inability, drive us to seek it in Him; it is the indwelling Christ via His Spirit who will live in us, this meek and lowly life. Without abiding in Christ, we can do nothing useful in His kingdom. (John 15:5)

If we long for this, let us, above everything, seek the secret of how God works on this earthly plane among humanity. Every moment God works all in all; the mystery, of which, every child of God, is to be the witness — that we are nothing but a vessel, a conduit of lovingkindness, through which the living God can manifest the riches of His wisdom, power, and goodness.

The root of all virtue and grace, of all faith and acceptable worship, is that we know that we have nothing but what we receive from our Creator, and bow in most profound humility to wait upon God for it.

Christ’s life manifested a pure conscience, an existential humility witnessed by the very spirit, demeanour and tone of His whole life. Jesus was just as humble in His intercourse with men as with God. He felt Himself the Servant of God for the women and men whom God made and loved. As a natural consequence, He counted Himself the Servant of men, that through Him God might do His work of love. He never for a moment thought of seeking His honour or asserting His power to vindicate Himself. His whole spirit was that of a life yielded to God to work. 1

It is not until Christians study the humility of Jesus which he taught as the very essence of His redemption, as the very blessedness of the life of the Son of God, as the only true relation to the Father, that we will begin to understand the first and the chief of the marks of the Christ within us.

1 Glen Jackman’s summary edit of Andrew Murray’s thinking. From chapter three of the book Humility: The Beauty of Holiness New York; London; Glasgow: Fleming H. Revell; in the public domain.