Treasure Hunt

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Hi I struggled on deciding how to end our learning journey for 2017. I apologise for taking long but  I will be going on holiday to my sister and will only start blogging again in January 2018.

 As we near the end of the year I thought we would end with a treasure hunt.

Our Lord’s Word is our treasure,  as you know this blog is to encourage us Christ-Followers to know our Lord and what He has called us to through His Word. 
In this year we have have journeyed through 7 books of the Bible, 1&2 Timothy learning to engage and be aware; the gospel by Mark learning who is this Jesus; the promise of the Help; learning about about our inheritance and trusting our Father  1 &2 Peter; then we learnt about grace and the purpose of the church Ephesians and last we endeavoured to learn more about our faith in Hebrews.

All the scriptures above are from Colossians. 

I have deliberately randomly selected them from the book and my hope is that you will read the book to find them and know where they are in the book.

No other book explicitly teaches that Jesus is fully God.

The fullness of the Father lived in our Lord and in our Lord's death the Father reconciled us to Himself.

Enjoy the rest of the year and see you in 2018.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Peacemakers (Hebrews 12)

​ Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

One of the greatest joys of being a Christ-Follower is that we are never alone, as we read we have centuries of witnesses gone before us, and we have our Lord never leaving nor forsaking us, the Spirit always there to empower us, and our Father watching and guarding us. Then there is that whatever we go through no matter what it is our Lord has given us a family and we know we are never alone.

Hebrews 12: 3 – 11

We are reminded that we have not faced what our Lord faced on our behalf. Him who knew no sin bore our sin for us. This I believe is an encouragement for us. In realising the magnitude of our Lord sacrifices we also realise we never have to face the consequences of our sinfulness because He did. We cannot be but grateful.

We are also reminded in this portion that love is sometimes tough love and this is for our own good. Because we are loved we will be corrected and disciplined. Our Father’s goal is that we may live as we were created to and purposed to.

In lovingly correcting and disciplining us we gain. We gain the right to become partakers of His holiness, we gain His righteousness.

Hebrews 12: 12 – 17

We are encouraged to practice self-awareness, we need to know our strengths and weaknesses and we need to address those areas we know trip us up. We are urged to pursue peace, and lay aside sinfulness. If we don’t do this we are reminded that we will fall into bitterness, become fornicators, never understanding the value of our birth right and just like Esau. In Christ we are the sons and daughters of the living God, and companions and partakers with our Lord in our Father’s Kingdom. I am reminded that blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.

Hebrews 12: 18 – 29

The Glorious Company

For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

Hear the Heavenly Voice

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.

Live by faith to Overcome (Hebrews 11)

Hebrews 11: 1 - 3

Faith trusts the Father for things hoped, that which is not yet received. It knows that because of Him we have it in Him.

By faith we know and understand that we belong to Him, we know and understand that all we know and have was created by Him and given to us by Him.

We belong and are His therefore we live in Him by faith.

Hebrews 11:  4 - 7

Whatever we bring before the Father in faith will always be acceptable to Him.

Don’t begrudge the Father what is due to Him, be it time, money, talent, or yourself.

Faith spurs us on to great works in the name of our Lord.

When we act in faith we may be looked upon as foolish but because we know Him whom we belong to we find strength to go against this world and live for Him.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:  8 – 12

In confident trust of our Father we obey.

Faith results in obedience for if we are confident we surrender all we are to Him alone, and we in turn become inheritors of His promises. Remember Chapter5&6 we learnt that we are called to maturity and the mature inherit the Father’s promises through faith.

In all we do as Christ-Followers let us never forget that Him whom we serve is faithful; that is steadfast, dependable, devoted and true and these are just some of the words to describe our God. We have no excuse not to trust Him, no excuse not to confidently let go and rely on Him.

Hebrews 11: 13 – 16

By the grace of our Lord we have eternal hope. But we can imagine and by faith believe for the manifestation of heaven on earth. I realise this portion is not about now but dare imagine with me, our Father’s kingdom on this earth now.

You see just like Abraham trusted the Father for generations of children when he had none, we can trust our Father for the communities and the cities we live in. We know our Father’s kingdom is advancing and we have been given the right to ask for the cities we live in, in His name.

Hebrews 11: 17 – 39

In this portion we are reminded of the patriarchs and how they overcame.

One of my favourite scriptures is in Jeremiah. Before you were in your mother’s womb I your Father in heaven knew you. I called you and purposed your life.

We learn in detail of Moses’s life.

By faith that God would somehow save her child, Moses’s mother gave the Father the opportunity to bring His promise to the children of Israel. Moses did not taste the promise but the Lord gave him a chance to see it, he left a legacy though a legacy of faith. Imagine if our lifetime were to be chronicled. Even though I don’t know for sure as the time is near, but I believe our generation will not see the second coming but we will leave a legacy in our families, in the communities and the city we live in. What will that legacy be, my prayer is that generations coming after us would be known as carriers of our Lord’s gospel, followers of Christ who lived by faith, shared that gospel and loved extravagantly as they learnt from our generation.

When we confidently trust our Father, He in turn uses us to perform extraordinary miracles in His name.

When we confidently trust our Father, He rescues us and the requirement is not perfection but faith in Him.

By confidently trusting our Father, we can overpower evil in our lives, families, communities and cities and be instruments use by Him to reveal His righteousness.

By faith we overcome.

A superior sacrifice (Hebrews 10)

Hebrews 10

The law was only a shadow of things to come.

After He says above, You did not want or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), He then says, See, I have come to do Your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. By this will of God, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.
Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. He is now waiting until His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after He says:
This is the covenant I will make with them
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws on their hearts
and write them on their minds,
He adds:
I will never again remember
their sins and their lawless acts.
Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

We are then reminded that through the blood of Jesus, we can enter boldly the Father’s sanctuary.

We are urged to draw near to our Father in full confidence.

We are encouraged to promote love amongst one another, to spur one another in serving our Lord and to encourage one another.

We are then warned against deliberate sin.

Christ-Followers this is who we are.

For yet in a very little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.
But My righteous one will live by faith;
and if he draws back,
I have no pleasure in him.
But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life.

A superior covenant (Hebrews 8&9)

Hi there.

To those of you joining us today in our journey through this book, we are doing this to remind ourselves why we should never loose faith but always be confident in our God. How confident are you in your faith? is the question that started this quest.

Hebrews 8

Our Lord sits at the right hand of the Father,

Our Lord is of a superior ministry.

Our Lord is the mediator of the superior covenant.

In this superior covenant our Father’s laws and ways are in our minds, they are written in our hearts.

Fellow Christ-Followers we need to know and live the Word.

In this superior covenant each and every person takes ownership and is responsible to get to know the Father personally.

In this superior covenant the Father remembers no ones sins.

How then can we say I am not confident because I did this and that?

Hebrews 9

We are reminded in detail of the tabernacle and how the priests had to perform their ministry.

Our Lord the Messiah has instituted a perfect tabernacle, not man made, and by His pure blood we are cleansed from earning salvation.

In our Lord we have been freed to serve the living God.

Our Lord is the mediator of the new covenant.

Our Lord shedding His blood guarantees us forgiveness of our sins.

And just as it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment — so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

A superior priesthood (Hebrews 7)

Hi there, to those of you joining us today in our journey through this book, we are doing this to remind ourselves why we should never lose faith but always be confident in our God. How confident are you in your faith is the question that started this quest.

Hebrews 7

We are reminded of the greatness of our Lord.

He is compared to Melchizedek who was a great priest. Our Lord from chapter 5 of this book has been likened to Melchizedek and even called to be a priest in the order of Melchizedek. In Genesis chapter 14 Abram after he had rescued Lot is met by the priest and blessed by this priest; who was a great and revered priest.

As we read we learn that our Lord instituted a superior priesthood. A priesthood he holds permanently. 

A priesthood that guarantees a better covenant, for us.

Remember this book was written to Christ-Followers who still believed they needed to follow the law. 

How do we apply what we have read in this chapter to us?

Just like them we also never again need to earn our salvation. 

Our Lord is the ultimate sacrifice.

He died once and for all, all sins, all imperfections, all mistakes, all was dealt with once and for all.

Inheritance for the mature (Hebrews 6)

In the previous chapter we are called and urged to maturity, in this one maturity and its benefits are described.

Hebrews 6 : 1 - 12

What are the characteristics of a mature Christ-Follower.

They do not believe in their own works, they dont believe they earn the Father's love.
Their faith and trust is in the Father alone.
They are partakers with the Messiah carrying the gospel.
They are confident in the death and resurrection of their Lord, and look forward to eternity.
They know that only the Father is the eternal judge and trust Him.

It seems these Christ-Followers did not stop serving one another in the name of the Father but relied on the law that is they started to believe they could earn their salvation.

We are then warned about regressing from true knowledge and belief. It is difficult to come back when we have strayed. We are also reminded that our Father looks at us graciously even when we err  and desires us back with Him. 
At the end of this portion we are urged to come back in our beliefs and stop looking in and imitating but to become mature believers for only the mature inherit the promises.

Called to maturity (Hebrews 5)

Hebrews 5 : 1 - 14

Paul continues to describe our Lord as our High-Priest appointed by the Father.

Our Lord learnt obedience in suffering, we also i believe learn obedience through choosing the Father and His ways in our lives.
Following our Lord means dying to self just as He did in obedience to the Father.
Remember when He cried but said not my will but your will Father, that is our example and champion.

Dying to self is one of the most difficult aspects of our journey. This is a daily occurrence for sin is always self serving. 
When we disobey or choose not to believe what we have heard the Father calls us immature.
We do not want to be immature Christ-Followers who never grow up. We are all encouraged to seek or pursue maturity in our faith.

Rest (Hebrews 4)

Hebrews 4 : 1 - 13

We enter the promised rest by obedience, we hear His voice and obey.
When we are at rest with our Father, we no longer rely in our own works but rest and trust in the Father.
We enter rest by faith.
When we learn and know His Word we enter rest.
The Word is important for through learning and chewing on it we continually refresh and renew our hearts and mind. The truth is always before us, to direct and guide us in our journey as Christ-Followers.

Hebrews 4 : 14 -16

Paul introduces our Lord Jesus the Son of God as the High-Priest, Remember Paul is writing to Christ-Followers who had started trusting the law, their own works for their salvation. They understood the function of the high-priest as they had all their been bringing sacrifices to the man appointed by God to go and represent them. 
Our Lord was appointed by the Father as well and He is able to represent us better than any high-priest for He is the ultimate sacrifice, He is the spotless lamb of all beyond His sacrifice there is no need for another sacrifice.

In our Lord we have a high-priest who not only knows but understands every test and temptation and sympathizes with us in our need. How can we then run away from Him when we fail or stumble. 

Do not be deceived (Hebrews 3)

Hi, Not having faith in our salvation but in the law is unbelief do not be deceived. Most of us come to the knowledge of our Lord via someone else's testimony of who God is, there has to come a time where our trust is not in what a person says but what the Lord says. This can only happen when the Word is our source for our salvation. When we also have come to hear His voice and respond to it in faith.

Hebrews 3 : 1 - 6

Our Lord is our Apostle and High Priest. 
Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s household, as a testimony to what would be said in the future. But Christ was faithful as a Son over His household. And we are that household if we hold on to the courage and the confidence of our hope.

Our Lord was faithful to the Father and in Him we have gained the right to be confident in our faith.

Hebrews 3 : 7 - 19

In this portion of scripture we are reminded of the consequences of rebellion. We are reminded of the Israelites and their rebellion, and how that rebellious generation ended up wondering in the desert for 40 years and never saw the promise and the Father refused to let them enter into His rest.

So I swore in My anger,
“They will not enter My rest.”

We the children of the new covenant how can we liken this experience to ours. Remember Hebrews is written to Christ-Followers who were saved but depended on the law. The Father considers unbelief as evil and being deceived by sin. 

We also  do not rest in the Lord if we have unbelief. 
It would be stressful to always be checking every moment of every hour how our actions might get us out of salvation, or that the Lord might not listen to us because of what we did or did not do. Can you imagine the state of anxiety we will always be in whenever we want to spend time, talk, or trust the Lord about and for anything. For we essentially believe what we do earns us the right to a relationship with God no matter what we say or sing in church on Sunday. 

But if we believe we know we are brothers and sisters of our Lord, we know we are companions and partakers with the Messiah.

I dont recall ever hearing the word companion used to describe us but i like it. If we are companions then we should have the same confidence and trust in the Father as our Lord did.
Oh but Sipokazi Jesus was God and i am just me. Then consider who wrote the books we have been journeying through, he was just a man just like you and me but he heard and believed. 
But Sipokazi he was chosen by the Father. Re-read 1 and 2 Peter for we also have been chosen by God therefore we also can believe the Lord and when we believe we too just like our Lord and Paul will do many and mighty works for our Father.

Remember the gospel (Hebrews 2)

Hi, I chose this title because in this chapter we are reminded of the sacrifice of our Lord and what we gained in that act.

Hebrews 2 : 1 - 9

We are reminded to always take heed of the truth we first heard when we became followers of Christ. We are warned to never to neglect so  great a salvation and drift away. 
Our Lord sacrificed and humbled Himself to lower than the angels for our salvation. Truly what is man that you are so mindful of, what are we Father that you hold us so important that you would sacrifice in such a manner.

For in subjecting everything to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. As it is, we do not yet see everything subjected to him. But we do see Jesus — made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace He might taste death for everyone — crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering in death.

Remember we started this study to remind ourselves why we should never loose confidence in our Father or loose faith or trust in our Father. Brothers and sisters we can never earn our salvation nor can we believe that in doing things only then will our Father find pleasure in us. 

Hebrews 2 : 10 - 18

Our Lord in His death brought us (many sons) to glory. In His sacrifice, in Him and through Him we exist. For our Lord we exist, and through our Lord we are reconciled to the Father. In our Lord we have one Father, His Father, how then can we doubt who we are to our Father or how our Father relates to us. Remember our Lord reconciled us to the Father and when we studied the book to the Ephesians we learnt that, that was the Father's plan to bring us back to Himself through our Lord.

For the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying:
I will proclaim Your name to My brothers;
I will sing hymns to You in the congregation.

Again, I will trust in Him. And again, Here I am with the children God gave Me.

Our Lord shared in all we go through on this earth, He did that so that we may gain freedom from all, truly how can we go back to what we were and neglect so great a salvation. Our journey as children of the Father is about understanding and transforming through His Word. 

We need to really engage and digest His Word for we should be without a doubt.

Higher than angels (Hebrews 1)

Our Father has from long ago communicated with us through prophets at different times and in many different ways. In our time He has communicated with us Christ-Followers through our Lord. 

Our Lord is the radiance of the Father's glory.
In our Lord we see the exact nature of the Father. 
Our Lord sustains all things by the powerful word.
Our Lord has purged us of all sin, purified us of all sin.
After He did all that he sat at the right hand of the Father declaring and revealing that He is higher than the angels He was no messenger but the Son of God.

This portion reveals our Lord as the Son of God. We are doing this study to grow in faith in our Lord and God. It is fitting that we start with whom it is we believe in. We learnt as we journeyed through the gospel by Mark who our Lord is and the authority He has over all and we are reminded again.
Being a Christ-Follower our faith is not in our selves, it is not in angels, nor is it in messengers, leaders or teachers but our faith in Christ alone.

Remember when the Father declared this is my beloved in whom I am well pleased. Listen as the Father brags about His Son.

The Son Exalted Above Angels
For to which of the angels did He ever say:
“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You”? And again:
“I will be to Him a Father,
And He shall be to Me a Son”?
But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:
“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
And of the angels He says:
“Who makes His angels spirits
And His ministers a flame of fire.”
But to the Son He says:
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
And:
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
They will perish, but You remain;
And they will all grow old like a garment;
Like a cloak You will fold them up,
And they will be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will not fail.”
But to which of the angels has He ever said:
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?

A Better Way to Live

Faith is the better way to live.

6 weeks ago as a family we started a discipleship study in our life-groups. One of the first questions we were asked "how confident are you in faith?" How confident are you in our God? Most people in our group said they were not and this is because of how much they fail, things they do not do, laziness etc etc.

I did not like this for we are the gospel-carriers and if we don't trust how can we reach others. We belong to Him, our Father has done so much to prove Himself worthy of our trust and faith. Faith is trusting, if we fail to trust Him then what do we believe. What part of His Word don't we believe. 

I thought we would journey and learn about faith in the Word. Hebrews 11 is the first chapter that came to mind but we don't do standalone Bible verses so we are going to journey through the book to the Hebrews.

Hebrews was written to Jewish Christ-Followers to wean them of their dependence in the law. In our context we could say in this study we hope to be weaned of the law as well for if we only believe when we are doing good works. Are we in a way earning the right to believe in our Lord or be confident in our Lord. As the Jewish believers of the time were being taught to depend and rely on Christ alone. 

It is by grace that we have been saved none can boast and it is by that grace that we can live by faith.

Equipped and Ready (Ephesians 6)

Over the weekend we had a time of retreat for the ladies in our church and were taught deeper about grace, and what we are now equipped to do because of grace.

Ephesians 6 : 1 - 9

Children and parents are reminded to respect one another. Children are asked to obey their parents and the parents reminded not to provoke the children but to bring them up in the way of the Lord.

Employees and employers are also reminded to treat one another with integrity. Employees are reminded to work as unto the Lord and employers are reminded to treat employees fairly.

Ephesians 6 : 10 - 23

As Christ- Followers our strength is in our God. We have been provided with an amour, an amour that enables us to stand against the enemy's wiles. The Father has provided all we need to live for His Kingdom and His Kingdom. Ours is to know and take up what we have been given. As Christ-Followers we can not be passive but we are to be active and even aggressive.

Stand confidently with the belt of truth around your waist.
Put on the breast-plate of righteousness.
Shod your feet with the gospel of peace.
Take the shield of faith to quench the enemy's darts.
Put on the helmet of salvation.
Take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

Be vigilant, watchful and pray always.

In love,light,and wisdom(Ephesians 5)

Our Lord showed us the way and Ephesians 5 could be titled "live as our Lord did".

Ephesians 5 : 1 - 7

We are commanded to walk in love just as our Lord did.
We are then reminded of what we should never be associated with, for our Lord did not associate Himself with these things.
Fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking, coarse jesting. None of these things can be partakers in our Father's Kingdom. In fact these bring His wrath upon those who partake.

Ephesians 5 : 8 - 14

We are urged to walk in the light we have received from our Lord. As the Father's children we too are now children of light and is our responsibility to know what our Father's will is. To know what is acceptable in the Kingdom family. We can no longer be associated with darkness but ours is to expose and shame that darkness for the light of our God in us exposes all.

Ephesians 5 : 15 - 21

We are reminded to walk in wisdom, to deal wisely as we journey. The will of our Lord is revealed to us in our Lord and we are urged to know and understand it. 
We are reminded not to delight our selves in spirits and get drunk but to delight our selves in the Spirit of God. We are encouraged to invite and partake of His presence so much that we are intoxicated with Him. 

Love one another has been the theme in every book we have journeyed through together. Actively encourage one another. Write poems, psalms and sing hymns to one another. The joy of our Lord is our strength seek that joyful and thoughts together and individually. 
Sing and make melodies in gratitude to the Father.

Ephesians 5 : 22 - 33

Marriage is revealed to us a picture of our relationship with our Lord. Husbands and wives are urged to submit one to the other as we submit together to the Lord. Wives are reminded that the husband has been given the role of head to the family and urged to submit. Husbands are urged to love their wives as our Lord loves the church and gave himself for the church.

Knitted together (Ephesians 4)

We must remember this book is written to those new in the faith. Chapter 1 reveals who is the head and how we are connected. Chapter deals with grace and the privilege we now have because of  our Lord. In Chapter 3 we learnt that the Father all along had this plan for us so we would not doubt but be confident in faith.

Ephesians 4 : 1 - 6

In this portion of scripture we start by learning again how we are to live and love one another in unity.  As Christ-Followers we are reminded to walk in the character of our Lord. 
We walk in humility, we walk in gentleness, we walk in long-suffering, bearing one another in love, and living in peace with one another.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Ephesian 4 : 7 - 16

In this portion we learn of the spiritual gifts for the church to function. 

Apostleship
Prophecy
Evangelism
Pastoral care
Teaching

We as the body of the church will function in them for when we all function in the gifts needed we are then equipped as the body to do the work of the Lord. 
In these gifts as the body we are encouraged, we grow in unity for they knit us together and we all learn to play our part as we exercise according to what we have been given.

Ephesians 4 : 17 - 32

In our Lord we have been freed from darkness, as we learnt in Chapter 1 we are now reconciled with the Father. We are new people or new creations. In this portion we are reminded to let go of old habits. It takes time and commitment to learn new habit.
As always i prefer we concentrate on the new habits for if we know them the old fall away. 

We speak only in edification to others.
We are kind to one another.
We are tenderhearted with each other.
We are forgiving of one another.

No longer a mystery (Ephesians 3)

After reading this chapter you cant help but be even more grateful to the Lord. All of mankind is included. 

Ephesians 3 : 1 - 13

Paul first declares that he has been appointed to the Gentiles by the Father, and he has the message of the mystery that has been revealed in his age. That Christ death includes all mankind not just the Jews. We are also reminded that the purposes of the Father have been fulfilled in our Lord, that in Him the Father's plan to bring salvation to all mankind from the beginning. In Genesis Abram became Abraham the father of all nations and it is him that is recorded through scripture as the father of faith.
Then the Gentiles are reminded that they too can have confidence in the faith, being new to the faith and not Jewish. 

Ephesians 3 : 14 - 20

In chapter 1 the apostle prays for spiritual wisdom, in this chapter again he has a prayer for us. He prays for spiritual wisdom. He prays that we would have faith in our Lord, trust Him and know that we now belong to Him. He prays that we may be filled with our Lord to the full. That we may realise just how much we are loved and valued as the children of the Father.

The chapter ends with an incredible salutation, to the Father.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

By Grace in Peace (Ephesians 2)

It is by grace that we have been saved and it is through our Lord's blood that we are reconciled with the Father and have peace with Him.

Ephesians 2 : 1 - 10

We lived and walked dead to the Father but through our Lord we have been made alive. Our Father in His rich mercy and because He loved us saved us. He not only graciously saved us but He raises us up and sits us with our Lord in the heavenly places.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Our Lord came to this earth to fulfill a mission, and He left us with a mission. Part of that mission is good works in His name and for His Kingdom. In the other books of the Bible we journeyed through we learnt that motives are important, good works can be for self gain. Since we are the craftsmanship of the Father we should always be aware of our motives as we exist for nothing else but Him.

Ephesians 2 : 11 - 13

We should never forget what price was paid to allow us to enjoy the relationship we now have with the Father. By our Lord's blood we who were once so far away from the Father now have access and relationship with Him, a price paid by Him who knew no sin but became sin.

Ephesians 2 : 14 - 18

Our Lord is our peace.
In our Lord we now have reconciliation with our Father.
We sometimes forget that there was enmity between us and the Father. Our Lord purchased the peace we now have with our Father. You see our Lord when He was on earth had access to the Father by the Spirit. We also now have the same privilege that by the same Spirit we now can access the Father.

Ephesians 2 : 19 - 22

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Listen to how now we are partakers with our Lord but Him at the center of it all, the cornerstone of our faith.

In Christ (Ephesians 1)

I thought we would start on a new book Ephesians. Our unity as Christ-Followers is with our Lord Jesus and we are also called to unity with one another. We the church (Followers of Christ) are the display of the Father's glory chosen by the Father for that purpose.

Ephesians 1 : 1 - 14

Our Father chose us in Christ our Lord before the world was formed, and in our Lord we have all spiritual blessings, in our Lord we are blameless and  holy. Without us being connected to our Lord none of this is true. It is with Christ in Christ that we can claim any of this.
Our Father created us with the plan to reconcile us to Himself through Christ our Lord.

In our Lord we have been redeemed, we are out Father's inheritance, we also have been forgiven and we are made wise and knowledgeable. This our  Father did for His own pleasure. One of the greatest comforts that we gain when we are in relationship with the Lord is that we learn that we are our Father's pleasure and delight through our Lord Jesus. This kind of security and confidence gives us the boldness and courage to serve and glorify the Father through our Lord.

Ephesians 1 : 15 - 23

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

In our Lord the Father demonstrated His power but He gave all that power to our Lord, the head of the church. 

Let us always remember in all that is only in our Lord and through our Lord that we can bring glory to our Father.

Waiting for you

The Father is waiting for you

I have been enjoying women’s cricket showcased by the televised world cup tournament.

I have to admit i always thought their matches would not be as aggressive or nail biting as the men’s can sometimes be. I apologise they are just as good and gripping.

I only know this because I took the time to watch, google some of them and pick a few who I can look out for should i have an opportunity to watch.

Today’s post is to ask you the sceptic, to you who has declared it’s not for you.

Just like i took time to find out more, I ask you to find out more. Give our Lord a chance and you won’t be disappointed.  The Father is more than you can ever imagine and a relationship with Him changes your whole life. He is a kind, loving, gracious and merciful Father and one of the benefits of being in relationship with Him is peace no matter the circumstance.

I know it will be a challenge but i ask you to find a community of Christ-Followers, a church near you. Just go in, it’s OK if you sit at the back but I ask you to be willing to listen and find out. Ask for a Bible and a perhaps a short daily devotional to start you off in the habit of reading the Bible. This is essential for in your journey to knowing the Lord the Bible is your source and starting off little by little helps. It’s a big book and as you grow you will learn to value it as you let it sink in.

God our Father loves us all(including you) so much that He gave his only begotten son that we would not perish but have eternal life with Him. This you will learn and understand as you spend time with Him in His Word. There is no pressure we all journey as we understand but the more we make time and take time the more we understand.

Unfortunately but perhaps fortunately Christ-Following is not a solo journey. The next step is to join a lifegroup, or cell-group, that is a group of Christ-Followers often living close to one another meeting once a week. In this meeting they share their lives and learn together about the faith. This is important because you will learn early on there is no perfect follower of Christ and we are all learning as we journey together in getting to know our Lord and serving Him. In this group you build relationship with others on the same journey you are on. In this setting the Bible is also discussed and explored by the group. Remember we all start with zero understanding so don’t be intimidated if others are further along than you.

The Father loves us all the same and wants us all in the same way.

Only the Father knows (2 Peter 2&3)

2 Peter 2  :  1 – 17

In this chapter Peter starts to warn us about false teachers amongst us. This book was written to believers making them aware.  We then are also being warned for all scripture is for our correction and wisdom.

If you remember in our study of the books to Timothy we were warned about leaders who are greedy, and exploit the ministry for personal gain. In this we are also reminded that should we fall into the clutches of such leadership our Father is able to rescue us, just as He did with Noah and Lot. The nature and character of falsehood among as believers is also described in detail.

2 Peter  3  :  1 – 17

Every now and then you hear or read about people predicting when our Lord coming back or when the earth will end. We are warned against these teachings for they are a waste of time. We are not told to be ignorant of the signs around us but we are warned against making the when and predictions our focus.

Only the Father knows when.  A 1000 years is like a day to Him and a 1000 days like a year.

Time is in the Father’s hand don’t stress, remember we learnt in Chapter 1 that He has provided for all we will need for life and godliness. Only through Him can we learn truth not through man.

In Control(2 Peter 1)

Once again this book is dedicated to warning us about false representation of the gospel. Truth is a revelation from the Father.  In my research I also found that it was written before the books to Timothy by Paul which we started with in exploring the Word together.

2 Peter 1: 1-15

All we need to engage in life and godliness is provided for by our Father’s divine power.  We get all this provision when we get to know Him, when through faith we turn our desires to the Father only.

Premeditated acts of goodness,

 learning to know the Father through His Word,

exercising discipline,

persevering and learning to love one another; 

these not only grow our faith but bear fruit in our lives. We are also made aware that by these actions we avoid stumbling blocks in our faith.

Peter goes on to write that he wont stop reminding the believers of these things even though he knows they know them.  This he says is because in these acts our Lord is poured again and again in our lives.

2 Peter 1: 16 – 21

In this passage Peter reminds us of the moment of transfiguration, where the Father again declared to all that our Lord is His Son and in Him He is pleased.

None of scripture is from man’s knowledge or intelligence, but it is truth revealed by the Father.  Through His Spirit the Father will move men and women across all generations and races to tell and speak of His Truth.

Submit to the Father (1Peter : 5)

1 Peter 5 : 1 - 4

Peter writes to the leaders and reminds them to lead by example and to shepherd the flock.
To shepherd a flock this shows you must shepherd self first.
In our Fathers kingdom we are all disciples but we are disciples that grow to disciple others. 
Let us all grow to be good disciples of our selves and those we walk with and live amongst.

1 Peter 5 : 5 - 13

Submitting to those in authority overs us and to one another we are reminded to live in humility. My teenage niece is an example of submission but not in humility.
As we learn to love one another as we are called to, we are to learn to submit to one another wisely.
Above all our Father is the one we submit to first.
When we are submitted to the Father we resist the devil for the devil is always contrary to the will of the Father. 
Always remember fellow Christ-Follower only our Lord has the power and dominion over the devil. Stick with Him and you can partake in that victory.

Glorify the Lord (1 Peter 4)

1 Peter 4 : 1 - 6

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

This journey is about pursuit of our Lord and to learn to imitate Him. We look more into who the Word says we are and how to live. If we focus on who we were (verses 3-5) then we become too critical and feel superior to those who have not yet given their lives to follow our Lord.
In verse 6 Peter that our conduct will be judged by the world standards but we are to live according to the will of our Father by His Spirit.

1 Peter 4 : 7 - 11

Live prayerfully and lovingly. 
Depend on our Father.
Whatever gifting or talent you have exercise to the Fathers glory.
Always remember glorifying our Lord always glorifies our Father.

1 Peter 4 : 12 - 19

We are reminded to rejoice in suffering and trials. This makes us partakers with our Lord in His suffering on our behalf.
In chapter 3 we talked about living and reacting differently.
Rejoicing in suffering is of those actions, it makes no sense but as we get to know the Word we learn it glorifies our Father. Indeed what is foolish to man is wisdom to the Father. 

Called to Blessing(1Peter:3)

1 Peter 3: 1 - 7

Our conduct as Christ-followers is an example to those around us, especially those who are not yet following our Lord. Our conduct can lead them to also see the goodness of our Lord. In this portion of scripture Peter writes to husbands and wives. but this principle applies to all those around us who we have some kind of influence on. Even those in authority over us, parents, employers, leaders in our community, our consistent ways in living to honour our Lord makes them interested in who He is.

1 Peter 3: 8 - 17

our Lord is the example of behaviour and reaction in this world. In this portion Peter quotes the following portion from the Old Testament. The continuity of the Word, is amazing being practical and applicable to life. Our Father and His ways never changes and our Lord came to show us the Father and His way of living.

“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

From verse 13-17 Peter writes about suffering; our Lord's suffering and ours for His sake. We are called to be a blessing in all life's challenges and circumstances. And we are blessed when choose to follow our Lord's ways. He ends this portion with the following, it is better, if it is the will of the Father, to suffer for doing good, than for doing evil.

1 Peter 3 : 18 - 22

Our Lord who was just suffered for the unjust.
His sacrifice brings us to our Father, when we respond and turn to follow Him and His ways.

Choose to be chosen (1Peter2:11-25)

1 Peter 2: 11 - 25

We started this book and were reminded of the glorious inheritance we have because of our Lord. This chapter reminds that we have been chosen to be our Father's ambassador, His own special people, a chosen generation, for His glory. Chose because we chose our Lord.

In this portion of scripture we are taught how to behave, how we should conduct ourselves as a chosen people in the world we live in.

11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Those in power over us are addressed.

15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Those in whose employ we are under are addressed. Our Father knows the challenge of work, but we are called to honor our employers. But we are also reminded not to provoke for both sides can be in error.

20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God

We are then reminded of our Lord enduring all without blame for us. In the context of the two chapters we have read so far. We are recipients of much, upgraded but in response to all those around us that have not yet chosen the path we have chosen, let us not forget we are all we are and have all we have because of our Lord. We are called to represent the Father and to share the gospel of His Son. The world is not godly, our leaders and employers maybe unfair but our example is holy God who lived amongst sinners, submitted to authority and suffered died without sin on our behalf.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,[a] leaving us[b] an example, that you should follow His steps:

22 “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; [c]

23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer[d] of your souls.

Choose to be chosen (1Peter2:1-10)

1 Peter 2 : 1-3

If indeed you have tasted the Father's grace.
Peter mocks us, for if we indeed had tasted the Father's grace, he says we would have no malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, or evil speaking. A revelation of the Father always brings transformation, self-reflection and self-denial, and commitment to honour the Father.

1 Peter 2 : 4-5

Our Lord was chosen by the Father, our Lord is precious to the Father. The most amazing part is that the Father extends that same value to us because we have chosen to be Christ-Followers and gospel carriers. 
Our Father chooses to build us up (empower and cultivate us) into a spiritual house.
Our Father chooses to build us up to be a holy priesthood (ambassadors of His Kingdom);
this the Father did through our Lord's sacrifice. Whatever we might have decided to offer the Father, be it our lives, talents, gifts, money etc, none of it would have been acceptable without our Lord's sacrifice.

1 Peter 2 : 6-8

6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”[a]

7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,[b]

“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”[c]

8 and

“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”[d]

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

1 Peter 2 : 9-10

Through our Lord we have been elevated to be a chosen generation, a holy nation, our Father's own special people. A people chosen to proclaim our Father's praise, for our Father called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

We are now a people of the Father in who we have found mercy and grace.

 As I continue to read over and over it is incredible how much the Father has chosen to bestow on us and continues to choose to pour of Himself because we have chosen to respond to our Lord. It is glorious to be a chosen one, not because you met a criteria but because you just responded to the Father's call of love by sending His Son.