The Issue of Need

10/1/11

Greetings,

                This week we are going to talk about need. In this economy a lot of people are facing challenges that they didn’t have ten years ago. Businesses are going bankrupt, jobs are being shipped overseas, families are losing their homes and many people have very real needs in this hour. What does the Bible say about this topic of need?

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

When people think about needs the first things that will typically come to mind are carnal needs. For instance, we need food. We also need shelter and warmth. We need water to drink and we need our health. If we are deathly ill and nothing changes, we will die. It’s safe to say that at the top of the average person’s list of needs are those things that lead to death if they are not provided.

However, the Bible clearly says that God promises to meet all of our needs. This week I want to tell you where this provision is. I say where because it has a literal location and no, it is not the local loan shark (otherwise known as credit card companies and payday advance businesses). God has a literal location for all of the provisions promised to us. However, before I tell you where it is, we are going to bring unity into the conversation.

What many people do not consider is that unity is a need amongst Christians. Most of us are very happy to have our own little community. We are happy to have the freedom to do our own thing. It’s so much easier than dealing with others that act different, talk different, and think different than we do. However, without unity Jesus cannot return because the Bible says we must come to the unity of the faith. It also says that Jesus isn’t returning until His wife has made herself ready. The church, being the bride of Christ, is the wife of the Lamb. In other words, if we want Jesus to come back and wrap this thing up we need unity.

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13)

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” (Revelation 19:7)

Here is the question: If we need unity and we don’t have it, where can we get it? The answer to this question is quickly becoming one of the most important, if not the most important message arising in the body of Christ today. The answer is a message that changes everything. This message is not only the location of what we are looking for but it even becomes Satan’s endgame. This message has the power to change the reality that we experience. Have I said enough yet?

I’m dragging this out because when I tell you what this message is I want you to remember it. If I just come out and tell you the location of your needs you may dismiss it as unimportant. If I just come out and tell you the location of unity you simply nod your head in agreement and go about your day. This time I’m making you work. What is this all encompassing message that gives us everything we need?

In the passage that we opened with, the writer was speaking to monetary need based on context. This is what preceded that verse.

“Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.” (Philippians 4:15-18)

The financial gift that the church at Philippi gave to Paul was an acceptable sacrifice that was well pleasing to God. Moreover, it caused fruit to abound to their heavenly account. What some people fail to accept is that we do have an account in heaven. Our giving is credited to this account. In any case, it was after saying all of this that Paul explained the result; God would supply all of their need.

This illustrates a concept that many completely overlook. We interact with heaven on a daily basis. When the Philippians gave a gift to Paul, the transaction went through heaven even though the actual money went from their hands to Paul’s ministry. Their physical actions had spiritual counterparts and your physical actions have spiritual counterparts as well.

What does this have to do with need? In order for us to understand how we interact with heaven on a daily basis we have to change our concept of heaven. Heaven isn’t just a place we go when we die but it is a place that we are located from the moment we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. This is why the following verse is written in the past tense.

“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6)

                In the beginning of this letter I promised to tell you the location of all of your need. Here is the answer: All of your need is provided for in the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the dimension where God is king otherwise known as heaven (which is divided up into heavenly places). We have access to it as believers and we interact with it whether we know it or not. However, when we become purposeful about our interaction with it we can begin to pull all of our needs from the location where they are all provided for—even unity. This is summed up in the following quote by Jesus.

                “For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Luke 12:30-31)

Discussion

1.       What are your needs?

2.       Being completely honest, how capable do you see God when it comes to His ability to meet your needs?

3.       Do we interact with heaven now or only after we die?

4.       Where is the location of the needs that God has already met?

5.       What do we have to seek in order to access the fullness of the provision of God?

The Bond of Peace

7/9/11

Greetings,

                It’s amazing to think that we are already more than halfway through the year. We have been discussing the topic of unity in the body of Christ and hitting it from many angles. This week, we are going to discuss unity in the body of Christ in light of peace. As it is written:

“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3)

There are two types of unity among the people of God described by the Bible. One is the unity of the Spirit and the other is the unity of the faith. There is a difference. The unity of the spirit is automatically true. All Christians, regardless of age, race, nationality, or denomination have the unity of the Spirit. When we receive Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior we receive the Holy Spirit and become one with the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 6:17). Since all Christians are receiving the same Spirit, we have the unity of the Spirit. The unity of the faith will be when we come to a place of doctrinal unity in that we believe the same things that God believes.

Until we get to that final state, we are to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The unity of the Spirit isn’t going anywhere. I could yell and scream at my Christian brothers and sisters until I am blue in the face. I could reject them, or chase them away from my house with dogs. It doesn’t matter. The unity of the Spirit remains present at all times and ultimately for all eternity.

                The unity of the Spirit is above our ability to sever. It is a bond that can’t be broken. This is a good thing. Unfortunately, some people don’t see the need to keep this bond in peace. They are cruel and do dastardly things.  What they don’t understand is that this type of activity is akin to punching themselves in the face. Have you ever punched yourself in the face? When this happens, the only one that gets hurt is you.

               

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4)

According to the very next verse in the book of Ephesians we learn why we should keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. It is because we comprise one body. There is only one body of Christ. The idea that there is a Lutheran body, a Baptist body, a Pentecostal body, and so forth is hogwash. Every person that is a partaker of the Holy Spirit becomes a component of this single body.

Imagine this. One day you are walking down the street and you see a man walking backwards. Moreover, he is only taking steps with one leg. The other leg is wrapped in bandages. You go over to him and you ask him some pointed questions. For starters, you ask why his leg is wrapped in bandages. He tells you that his leg has really angered him. He was so angry that he punched, kicked, and stabbed his leg until he had to put it in bandages. Then you ask him why he would do that to his own leg. Of course, he provides an illogical explanation. In his world, his leg isn’t actually a part of his body.

The body of Christ is one body. No matter what we do, we will not be able to destroy the unity of the Spirit. We are brothers and sisters in Christ no matter what. Since we cannot rid ourselves of the unity of the Spirit, it is in our best interest to endeavor to keep this bond in peace. Don’t be guilty of foolishness like the man in our example. It is not in our best interest to try and destroy others in the body of Christ that we don’t like.

Moreover, we have to understand that the peace that we’re supposed to keep isn’t a human or carnal peace. God gives us our peace. The peace that we can keep with others should ultimately come from Him and not from ourselves.

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

This verse explains to us that it is not our peace that keeps our hearts and minds. This is good because it means that “guru Sue” isn’t the solution to your problem with your Christian brothers and sisters. Jesus Christ is your solution. God gives us His peace so that we don’t have to come up with our own. What we are supposed to do is receive His. However, we only receive it through Jesus.

Receiving the peace to maintain unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ is most effectively done through the avenue of grace. Grace is what allows us to receive Jesus Christ in the first place. We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8). Grace is unmerited favor because it is actually God’s ability given to us. God gives us His ability to be saved because we cannot save ourselves. Furthermore, we can use grace to access anything that God has given us whether it is faith, joy, peace, or anything else.

 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3)

This is how it works. God has already given us all things pertaining to life and godliness. Included among these things is the peace that we are supposed to endeavor to keep with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Since we already have these things, our focus needs to be on access as opposed to acquisition. What is the key that unlocks access? Grace. For this reason I am going to give you a simple prayer that will allow you to receive anything God has already given to you including peace. This is a wonderful tool that will work wonders in your life. All you have to do is fill in the blank.

“Father, I receive your grace to __________________________________. In Jesus name, Amen”

Discussion

1.       How are we supposed to keep the unity of the Spirit?

2.       How well do you do this in your own life?

3.       How many bodies of Christ are there?

4.       What is grace?

5.       What are you planning on using the grace prayer to receive?

The Prayer of Jesus

6/18/11

Greetings,

It is my hope that the concept of unity is becoming firmly rooted your heart. There is no way around the issue. Unity is important and it is heavy on the heart of God. This week we are going to look at evidence that unity is heavy on the heart of God. This is revealed in a prayer of Jesus that is recorded in the book of John. We are going to spend this letter looking at some of the implications of this prayer.

                The setting is the last supper. Before Jesus goes into a long discourse on various topics, He sees to it that Judas Iscariot is not present. His disciple (John) asks Jesus who it is that will betray Him and Jesus responds that it will be the one to whom he hands the bread dipped in wine. At this comment He dips the bread in wine and gives it to Judas Iscariot. As it is written:

                “Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop [bread dipped in wine], when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly… He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.” (John 13:26-27, 30)

                With Judas gone Jesus began to explain many things to His disciples, particularly things that regard the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit. In the midst of what Jesus explained He gave two comments that are absolutely mind-blowing.

                “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (John 14:10)

                “He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.” (John 14:24)

                From these two very similar phrases we glean an important concept. Everything that Jesus says comes from the Father’s heart. There is nothing that Jesus said that came from the flesh. He was what could be called “perfectly prophetic.” Every word He spoke had its origin in heaven. His words were spirit and they were life.

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)

Not only was every parable and teaching that Jesus spoke directly from the Father; every prayer Jesus prayed also revealed the heart of the Father. This is one of the main ways through which the Bible reveals the Father’s heart on the issue of unity. During this conversation at the last supper Jesus closes the discourse with an intercessory prayer. He prays about several topics. He definitely focuses on bringing glory to the Father. He also intercedes for those that were “given to Him” by the Father. However, notice how many direct references to the unity of the church are made during that prayer.

1.        “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” (John 17:11)

2.       “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:21)

3.       “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:21)

4.       “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one” (John 17:22)

5.       “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:23)

During this prayer of intercession Jesus prays that the church would “be one” five times across four verses. There are a lot of things that Jesus could have prayed heavily upon, but one of His top agendas was to intercede for the unity of the church. He was revealing the Father’s heart in these prayers. The heart of the Father is the unity of His people. Jesus shares this burden, and it couldn’t be more obvious.

When it comes to the type of unity that Jesus was praying for, it wasn’t an “agree to disagree” type of unity. In the several references to the body of Christ being made “one” Jesus prays that it would be in the same way that He and the Father are one. In Christianity, we worship the triune God. The doctrine of the Christian trinity basically breaks down to the idea that our God is one God expressed in three separate persons. These persons are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is a great mystery that is difficult to explain.

Some explain the trinity like H₂O. Although it can be in the form of water, ice, or vapor, it is the same molecule regardless of manifestation. I also like to use a Gelatin example. I can let gelatin set with pieces of fruit in it. When it is served I call it “dessert”. There is only one desert. However, the gelatin dessert has pieces of fruit in it that are not gelatin, yet no less part of the single dessert being separate from the gelatin but equally essential to the composition of the dessert. There is also the chain link example. I can have a single chain composed of three individual links. There is no chain apart from the links, and the links cannot be severed from the chain. It is one chain with three separate links.

In any case, Jesus compares the type of unity He wants within the body of Christ to a type of unity that is impossible to fully explain or understand. He wants us to be one in the same way He and the Father are one. Can you wrap your mind around that? In a world where there are over 1000 different denominations and groups all declaring themselves Christian, is it feasible to say that Jesus is actually to be taken seriously? Of course it is.

I am going to prophesy that this prayer will be answered. Will my prophesy fail? Don’t count on it. It doesn’t matter what we see among Christians today or experience in our own Christian walks. There will come a day when this prayer is answered, and this day will come before Jesus returns for His church in His second coming. The answer to this prayer will come hard and fast and will probably leave as many heads spinning in the kingdom of darkness as it will in the kingdom of light. However, it will not leave your head spinning because you know it is coming. Unity will not be stopped, God will honor the prayers of His Son, and we will be part of the answer.

Discussion

1.       Why do we know that Jesus communicated the Father’s heart

2.       Do you feel that you share the Father’s heart on the issue of unity? Why or why not?

3.       What does Jesus’ prayer for us to be one in the same way He and the Father are one mean to you?

4.       According to Jesus’ prayer, what other fruit will unity bring about?

5.       Is it okay to settle for “agreeing to disagree” in regard to long-term efforts to introduce unity into the body of Christ?