Tag: Christianity

God’s Sovereignty: Control

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

Knowing the Truth of God’s Sovereignty

Here is a shortlist of questions to ponder today:

  • Does God’s ability to use someone mean God approves of everything that person does?
  • Are Spiritual gifting and spiritual maturity not the same thing?
  • Can God have a purpose for a person long before that person understands or fulfills it?

No, no, and yes.

God’s using someone specific or some specific action to accomplish His Sovereign Will is not tied in anyway to His blanket approval of all that person does. How do I know this? Because every human being that has ever lived or will ever live is flawed. We sin. We make mistakes. We make poor or bad choices. And while God allows us the freewill to make these choices, He does not negate or cancel the consequences of our choices. When He uses us in spite of ourselves to accomplish some portion of His will either for us, for someone else, or for the world, this demonstrates God’s sovereignty to control the events directly related to His will on earth.

Spiritual gifts and spiritual maturity are definitely not the same thing. Just a quick read of the letters the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians should help us see this. In reality spiritual maturity is directly related to how closely aligned our will is to God’s will. Spiritual gifts is a whole other discussion. People often think gifts of the Holy Spirit relate only to vocational choices like preaching, teaching, singing, playing musical instruments etc. However, as it relates to the correlation of spiritual gifts to spiritual maturity, I would turn your attention to Paul’s list in Galatians.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  ~Galatians 5:22-23

When the Holy Spirit of God transforms a human heart to exhibit all of these attributes of God into an individual life, then spiritual maturity is the by-product of that transformation.

And finally…

There is a little pamphlet that I used in college as a tool to have spiritual discussions with my classmates. It began with “God loves you, and has a wonderful plan for your life…”

The truth of God’s Sovereignty is that not one single person alive now, has ever lived, or will live, is on the planet by a random act of procreation. God has placed you here for a reason. We often don’t even get to know what the reason is. Sometimes we do. Most often we don’t. However, there are things we can know about the “why are we here question” though. The first is that you are here as a creation of God, to know Him and His great love for you. Exhibited in God the Son’s coming to reveal God the Father’s nature to humanity, the Son gave His own life, so that we might not just know who God is, but actually become part of His family forever.

The Control aspect of God’s Sovereignty is that He creates every human with the capacity to know Him, choose Him, love Him and serve Him. The Freewill aspect is that He doesn’t force you to choose Him or His will for you. Understanding this also brings spiritual maturity or spiritual immaturity. For those who are transformed by God the Holy Spirit when they accept Jesus the Son as their Savior, a lifetime of learning, growing, trusting and serving can take place. For those who shake their fist at God’s love and refuse His mercy, grace, and love often spend a large portion of their existence continually asking a “why” question that can only be answered, “Because He chose you, but you didn’t choose Him.”

If you want to know more about how to say yes to God’s mercy, grace, and love, I would like it if you would email me, and we can chat offline about these truths.

Am I Really Free?

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

Knowing the Truth of God’s Sovereignty

I was having a conversation this week with a friend about God’s Sovereignty. The idea in question was “Do I choose Jesus, or does Jesus choose me?” These are exactly the kind of questions which tickle my mind with excitement. Here’s my short, one-word answer. “Yes”. The Scripture to support this answer is Ephesians 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.”

The wording of this verse is extremely rich with nuance which some eyes never see. People just read the words. But look closely at verse 3. There we find:

  • the Blessed ONE which is God the Father
  • who is also the ONE which sends the blessings
  • then the blessed ones, all Christ-followers
  • the blessings, all things spiritual
  • the location of the blessing, heaven
  • and the Agent of the blessing, Jesus the LORD

Wow! All that in one verse. Talk about word-smithing, the apostle Paul knew how to communicate! But a true Christ-follower needs to nail down all this information solidly in their hearts and minds for verse 4 to have full impact.

God created mankind with freewill, beginning with Adam and Eve. God the Father, the Creator, gave the first couple only one command. HE told them not to eat the fruit of a certain tree in the Garden (was it really an apple? how do you know?) God the Father expected them to choose to obey Him. He also told them what would happen if they didn’t. “…for on the day that you eat it you will certainly die.” There was a blessing in obedience, and a curse associated with choosing to disobey. But both of the first humans had the free will to choose.

Did that change when they left the Garden?

No. Here are just a few verses to demonstrate God the Father continues giving people a choice to serve Him, or serve themselves.

Deuteronomy 30:19 (Moses speaking for God to the Israelites)
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants…

Joshua 24:15 (at the end of his life)
If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Matthew 23:37 (implies the people in Jerusalem had a choice)
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings… and you were unwilling.

Acts 4:11-12 (Peter talking to the people in Jerusalem at Pentecost 50 days later)
He is the STONE which was rejected by you, the Builders, but which became the Chief Cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.

YES! You really are free… to CHOOSE for Yourself

However, you should also know, the choice you make comes with ramifications. Making the wrong choice doesn’t free you from the unexpected consequences or the unintended results of your own choice. While making the right choice brings ultimate freedom which Jesus defined this way.

John 8:31-32
So, Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

So… does God choose us, or do we choose God?

Yes! From eternity past God has intended all along to give you the choice to believe in Him and become part of God’s family right here, and right now. The added benefit being eternal life and never being separated from God again. He chooses you! Now it’s up to you.

If you choose to believe in the claims of Jesus… that He gave His life for yours so that you could say yes to God’s grace, then you can become a part of God’s family today! He’s made His choice, now it’s up to you!

Want to know more?

If you want to know more about how to choose God, send me an email and we can chat privately about it. I’d love to hear from you!

There’s a Good Reason

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

Knowing the Truth of God’s Sovereignty

Agreeing with the title of this article takes a certain amount of perspective. Which is sometimes hard to have when a person finds themselves in the throes of uncertainty, pain, or loss. When a loved one is lying in a hospital bed, when your sports season is over because you have a torn ACL, when the money runs out, when you hear those words you thought you’d never hear, “we’re finished”… it is hard to believe from any context, that there’s a “good” reason.

And yet, believing that there is a good reason depends mostly on which foundations a person builds their life. If there are no absolutes, if everything is relative and subjective, a person may wander in and out of happiness like some meandering river that follows the contours of the earth on a path of least resistance, making its way ever so slowly to a lake or the ocean. Sea level is the farthest the river can go. Its existence will be swallowed up by the vastness of the ocean. Where the waves are endlessly pulled and pushed, governed by the moon’s gravitation producing low tides and high tides.

There’s a good reason for these tides.

The power of the moon results in the oceans bulging on the side of the earth that faces this orb in our sky, as well on the opposite side. Then as the earth rotates different land masses pass through these ocean bulges resulting in the cycle of low tides and high tides. These tides shape coastal ecosystems creating habitats for species both under and above the water. They are also instrumental in nutrient distribution and the movement of sediment which support marine food networks. These tides drive breeding patterns, life cycles and migrations, not just for fish, but for birds and mammals as well.

Even in this description we see good reasons for events that might otherwise seem indiscriminate and meaningless. Simply sitting on a beach watching the endless repetitions of wave after wave while peaceful to some, may be senseless to others.

Some perspective.

The apostle Paul tells us that if we are “in” Christ Jesus, we are no longer condemned. Condemned to what? We are bound as humans to be negative, sinful people. God says do it one way, and we say, “I’ll do it my own way.” Doing things the human way often leads to bad choices, resulting in unexpected results, and unintended consequences.

However, in Romans 8 Paul gives us the definitive discourse of what happens when we build out lives on the solid foundation of the promises of Jesus. As adopted sons and daughters we are able to know God the Father and can actually call out to him “Abba! Father!” when life seems so uncertain. Paul says that whatever situations we face, whatever trouble or sense of loss, whatever suffering, that all combined over a lifetime the sum total cannot be compared with the glory of Jesus revealed in us. In Christ we have God the Holy Spirit who intercedes when we can’t even utter the words, “Father…”

So What’s the Good Reason?

Paul asks that same question, “What then shall we say to these things?” It’s a rhetorical question. The apostle’s question says, “You should know this answer by now. But since you don’t I’ll tell you again.” Then he follows with three more rhetorical questions.

“If God is for us, who is against us?” “Who will bring charges against God’s elect?” “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?”

As if to hammer this whole foundational truth “There’s a Good Reason” into our hearts by sheer force of words, Paul concludes chapter 8 of his letter to the church in Rome this way.

Romans 8:35-39

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or doubt, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor another created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The good reason, the best reason perhaps, is knowing that whatever situation we face, whatever loss or persecution for our faith, not one single event or person will ever separate us from God’s love. We are His children. He sees our pain and suffering and He is moved by it. He delights in our joyful celebration of life. He desires for us to know He is still in control of all that happens to us, and He isn’t going anywhere. He will see us through it all.

Knowing this frees me from the condemnation of always wanting to know “Why?” Knowing this allows me to live freely in the midst of my human limitations, failures, pain, and losses. Knowing this brings joy in the midst of sadness, smiles instead of frowns of despair. Knowing this allows me to love those who would kill me, and pray for them urgently. Knowing this and living on this foundational truth, brings great glory to Jesus. By glorifying Jesus, I bring glory to God.

Now, that’s a good reason!

The Sovereign Strength of God the Father’s Arms

Dr. J.D. Wilkins3 Comments

Psalm 68:19-20
Blessed be the LORD, who daily bears our burden,
the God who is our salvation. Selah.
God is to us a God of salvation; and to God the LORD
belong ways of escape from death.

This is Ben & Spencer. When they arrived at church yesterday, I noticed them immediately. It wasn’t difficult because Ben is a big man. But that wasn’t what drew my attention. The moment they arrived in this spot, just to the front and right of us, Ben opened his arms and Spencer practically jumped into his arms. For the entire time of the music and singing portion of Worship, Ben held Spencer the whole time.

He was singing in Spencer’s ear. Ben was kissing his son’s face. He was smiling and holding on to his son for dear life. Nothing could have separated them.

Ready for the rest of the story?

Ben took Spencer out to the foyer about half way through the sermon time. Kid’s have their limits after all. So moved by the photo I had captured, I made my way to the foyer ten minutes later to talk to this loving dad. After introducing myself, I asked Ben’s permission to use the photo, showing him the image on my iPhone. Ben was very open and after agreeing, asked if I would like to know why that picture is so special. Sure, how could I not.

Ben shared with me that his son had been in the hospital for several days this past week. He wasn’t doing well and getting worse the doctors were baffled and could not isolate what had caused him to become sick. Tests were run, and the waiting begun. Then suddenly, without explanation or medications to explain it, Spencer was completely healed. Whole. Well. Smiling. Laughing. You should see this face! Such a beautiful little boy.

God is our Father

The Sovereign God of the Universe has made a way for us to know Him just like Spencer knows his dad. God the Son, Jesus of Nazareth, The Messiah, our Deliverer, came to earth to live and die so that all humanity would have a way to be a part of God’s family. In fact the apostle John said it this way, “But as many as received Him, to the them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” What name? Jesus.

Today Jesus invites you too. You can become part of God’s family. Believe in the claims of Jesus. He came to give His life for yours. Believe in the name of Jesus, He is Jehovah Rapha, the ONE who heals. Allow the healing power of Jesus to flood your body, your mind, your soul, and become a child of God today.

Trust me when I say, there is no greater feeling on earth than to know and sense the presence of the loving arms of God the Father, wrapping you up, lifting your up, smiling at you, and singing in your ear! Trust Him today.

What’s a song lyric that has stuck with you forever?

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

It’s an iconic song. It describes a large portion of my life. It has never been far from the fingertips of my brain. In 1968 Harry Nilsson released an album titled Aerial Ballet. On this album was a top hit song written and sung by Nilsson. ONE.

”One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do 
Two can be as bad as one 
It’s the loneliest number since the number one”

Most of my life, while I had friends who hung out with, and mostly included me, they all would probably still reflect on our time together and describe me as a loner. For the most part I lived alone while attending college . When I became “two” and got married, even from the get go it seemed the two of us lived separate existences and often passed like ships in the night. For 13 years in the high tech industry I flew around the county going to meetings, then was stuck by myself in a hotel room waiting to travel again or for the following day to start, which held yet another series of meetings.

When I left the secular world and went into ministry, The first church I pastored was essentially a one person office at the church, with me as the sole staff member. We had part time people who helped with music, and custodial work, and secretarial duties, but mostly for all those endless hours I spent in the office I was alone. The second church was a little better. It was a three person staff, with a secretary we all shared. There was some camaraderie there, but most of that time was alone time as well. The third church was one a friend of mine and I planted. Just two guys out knocking on doors, meeting people and gaining a foothold in a 55+ gated community. It was hard work, and much of it was done in my office, which was in my home, alone.

Some might read these words and see them as describing a truly depressing world. However, the complete opposite is true. The song lyrics stuck with me because by the time I hit the road traveling, I was used to being alone. By the time I started pastoring I had even more experience with aloneness, and often found comfort in knowing it was just me and God.

Weren’t you sad?

Well, that would be an easy deduction wouldn’t it? And I would never say all that time alone didn’t take a toll, on me and my family. The solace of it all was knowing that I was in fact never alone. It was indeed just one human person, me, but there was always another person present though unseen. I happen to believe that God’s Word is without error. I also believe that when God says something, that I can take whatever He says is as an absolute fact, and always true. Which brings me to…

A Second Song lyric that has stuck with me

As a small child I grew up learning to sing in church. The song “Jesus Loves Me,” has always been the anchor song from my childhood, when I turned blue and sang Harry Nilsson’s One.

Jesus loves me, this I know,
for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong;
they are weak, but he is strong

Even as an adult man I love this song for its simplicity, its foundational truth-telling, and its comforting message. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” is a promise from God found in the Bible, specifically in Hebrews 13:5 and Deuteronomy 31:6. Whether you are a young child, with child-like faith, an adolescent straining for maturity, a young adult making your own way for the first time, or a seasoned veteran life-liver with wisdom just oozing from your presence… Harry Nilsson’s “One” doesn’t have to define you or your existence. There is ONE who is greater than Nilsson and all the others would-be philosophers of life. His Name is Jesus. He loves you, and is near to you now. Call His name, come to Him for strength and salvation.

A Unique Name of God

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

Knowing the Truth of God’s Sovereignty

Since last time, I wonder if you have thought about your favorite name of God revealed in Scripture.

Here are the primary, or most used, main names of God in Scripture:

  • Yahweh (LORD) — God’s personal, covenant name meaning “I AM” or “Self-Existent One”
    (Exodus 3:14).
  • Elohim (God) — A majestic plural name emphasizing God’s power and creativity
    (Genesis 1:1).
  • Adonai (Lord, Master) — Highlights God’s authority and lordship
    (Psalm 110:1).
  • El Shaddai (God Almighty) — Focuses on God’s all-sufficiency and strength
    (Genesis 17:1).
  • Jehovah Jireh (The LORD Will Provide) — God as provider
    Genesis 22:14).
  • Jehovah Rapha (The LORD Who Heals) — God as healer
    (Exodus 15:26).
  • El Elyon (Most High God) — God’s supreme sovereignty
    (Genesis 14:18).
  • Abba (Father) — Intimate, personal name used by Jesus for God
    (Mark 14:36).

There is another name however I stumbled upon in those ancient days of Seminary where I studied the works of great evangelists, preachers, and teachers from the past. Charles Haddon Spurgeon as an English Particular Baptist preacher from England, preached a sermon in 1863 with the title “The Jealous God.” It’s worth a read, and you can probably find it online. That day at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in Elephant and Castle, London, which opened for worship in 1650 and originally seated 6,000 people, Spurgeon’s text was Exodus 34:14.

“-for you shall not worship any other god, because the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”

Does this verse take your breath away. It should.

Jealousy

Today this word carries a lot of baggage with it. Often used in a negative connotation, it refers to thoughts or feelings of insecurity or fear. It implies a concern over the lack of certain possessions or relationships. It may present itself in demonstrations such as fits of anger, resentment, inadequacy, helplessness or disgust.

However, there is a second way to see the word, not conforming to most of current societies thoughts. Jealousy also means “close vigilance.” Seen in biblical text with the Greek word (zelos) it means “tolerating no unfaithfulness.” See where I’m going with this?

The Jealous God

Exodus 34 discusses the replacing of the original stone tables which God had carved with His own finger (Exodus 31:18) which Moses broke in Exodus 32:19 as a burst of outrage at the people’s sin. What’s interesting in chapter 34 is that God is speaking these actual words, they are not original to Moses own thoughts and recollections.

Imagine it. God has descended from the cloud at the top of Mount Sinai. He passes in front of Moses and began speaking in verse 6 and didn’t stop until verse 26, then told Moses to write it all down. It took 40 days and 40 nights where Moses worked the stones to restore the Ten Commandments.

What exactly is God Jealous of?

  1. God is Jealous of His deity.
  2. God is Jealous of His Sovereignty.
  3. God is Jealous of His Glory.

It’s clear His name should rightly be called Jealous, because He says “You shall have no other god except me. I alone am God.” All other would-be deities are fake news. They mean nothing, they are nothing.

It is also clear His name should rightly be called Jealous, because just as Joshua warned the Israelites, “You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your wrongdoing or your sins iIf you abandon the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and destroy you after He has done good to you.” Joshua 24:19-20.

And finally, it is clear His name should rightly be called Jealous, because He says, “I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to idols.”

Today

Oh, that’s just ancient Old Testament history stuff. The year is 2026, and things have changed. Right? Wrong! Scripture teaches that “Jesus Christ (GOD the Son) is “the same yesterday and today and forever.” The irrefutable truth is that God is still Jealous today. Jealous that we revere Him as God, the ONLY God. Jealous that we align our wills with His Sovereignty. Jealous that we not try to rob God of the glory He alone deserves, by attributing the things of God as outdated, or irrelevant today.

The Sovereignty of God can be seen in all of the names listed at the beginning of this article. We’ll examine this more in a future article.

Next Time…

Have you ever wondered why good things, prosperity, success, and wealth come to evil people while true believers lack many of these same things? Do bad things happen to Good people and good things happen for Evil people? How does God’s Sovereignty fit into all this?

Buckle up. We are diving deeper into the pool by discussing God’s absolute authority over…. well, you’ll see!

1st Principles

Dr. J.D. Wilkins1 Comment

Knowing the Truth of God’s Sovereignty

Last time I ended with a question: “How does the image above reflect the sovereignty of God? Then I closed the article with this statement: “Having the Mind of Christ will help us see this image differently…”

Symbols & Types

In the Gospel accounts of Jesus life the recorded stories describe for the reader a Messiah so committed to His people that He walks among them, eats with them, talks with them, shares a room in their homes, and essentially insinuates Himself into every fiber of the Hebrew existence in the 1st century. I wonder sometimes. Why do people find it such a bizarre thought that Jesus probably wants to do that exact same thing with us?

One of His methods of teaching spiritual principles to people who lived in a dark fog spiritually was to use an introductory phrase. He would often say, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like…” or “The Kingdom of God is like…” Matthew’s gospel describes the first version and Luke’s gospel describes the second. However, they are called “Parallel Gospels” because Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell many overlapping stories each from their own viewpoint. Luke obviously got his material from someone else, but let’s not get bogged down with that detail just now. Let’s focus.

How many times in a day do you hear the word “Like?” Better still as you walk through the next week listen to your own words and see how often you use the word “Like.” To me, as a septuagenarian, it seems anyone under the age of 40 uses the word like a million times a day. See what I did there? For those of a certain age “like” seems to be used as a filler word while the speaker tries to figure out what to say or where to go with the conversation.

Jesus didn’t use the word this way. Jesus was a master storyteller and spoke to common, everyday Hebrews about things they could readily recognize from the everyday existence. He pointed to objects or things or situations out of real life, then showed them how that related to the kingdom of God. Most of the time we call these stories Parables. In this way he spoke in symbols and types so that only those who really understood the story could understand the underlying spiritual message being presented. Some got it, some didn’t. That’s how it goes with parables. You can’t overthink it. You either get it, or you don’t.

The Umbrella of God’s Sovereignty

In the image above God’s Sovereignty is LIKE an umbrella covering the earth. The umbrella covers time (in our construct of human time) from the creation of the universe until the end of time when Jesus returns. And make no mistake here, He is returning! He is fast like peanut butter! Again, that’s a discussion for another time.

The umbrella covers all of time. God is Sovereign and in Control of all things from eternity past to eternity future. This means that God’s authority over mankind is based in the fact that He created us, and all that we see. I know there is someone out there who is going to say something like, “God didn’t create my Tesla, Elon Musk did.” Oh, but you see, God created Elon Musk, gave him the genius mind to dream and create and make a difference in the world. So every time you press the button to start your electric vehicle you give glory to God not Elon Musk!

And now we’re back to it. It’s simple really. Unless you have the Mind of Christ, none of this makes any sense to you. It’s just so much gibberish from an aging hack who thinks he can tell you how to think, and what to believe. Oh, but if you have the Mind of Christ, you might just feel a tingle in your toes, that feeling of excitement when you begin the first step in a journey towards the truth!

Under this umbrella of God’s Sovereignty all of human history and all of human future exists.

In what way?

There has always been the constant struggle between the concept of God’s Sovereignty vs. Human Free Will. I’m not going to lie, this is pretty deep stuff. And it is not a topic easily handled in a three to five minute blog post. So, I won’t even try. However, I will offer a starting point for you to think about and process until next time.

Under the umbrella of God’s Sovereignty, God “allows” some things to happen, and God “designs and intends” some things to happen. This is very much like a sticky wicket, so go slowly here. Remember the Apostle Paul’s words, “Who has known the mind of the LORD, that he should instruct Him?” Since we are not God, do not see what He sees, or know what He knows, we do not get to decide whether something happening, whether good or bad, is by God’s allowance or His design. That understanding is reserved for God.

When bad things happen, I’ve known Christ-followers who immediately ask, “Why is God punishing me?” When good things happen that same group of people begin raising their hands and saying “thank You Jesus!” For example, a deadly disease that begins with the letter “C” strikes and the first question gets asked. But, what if God isn’t punishing the person at all? What if this awful malady has attacked the person’s body simply because they are human and live on planet earth? In this case at worst, God’s Sovereignty allowed this to happen, for some reason known only to Him. Does this in any way diminish His love for that person? No, certainly not.

Or, suppose it’s a hot summer day in the heat of the noonday sun, and the person drives to get groceries, hoping beyond hope to get a parking spot close to the front door of the supermarket so they don’t have to walk too far in the heat. Low, and behold, a spot opens up right near the front door! This is when the second thing happens, “Praise God!” But, what if God simply “allowed” the person to find the parking spot open, and remain open until they found it? Does the parking spot mean that God loves them “More” than other people? No, certainly not.

It all seems so confusing unless you are a true Christ-follower, and have the mind of Christ. A Christ-follower in either situation described above will say, “All I want Father, is to know you like you know me. I want to be a part of your kingdom. And I want your will to permeate every aspect of my life, right here, right now. Because this is where I am.”

In this way, and in this prayer, the true Christ-follower brings great glory to Jesus, and thereby to God the Father.

Next Time…

One of the ways we discover the true nature of God is by looking at his attributes described in His many names recorded in Scripture. For instance, Jehovah Jireh, means “the LORD who Provides!” I wonder what you favorite name of God is from Scripture?

Next time, I want to introduce to you a name directly related to God’s Sovereignty that I wager none of you has thought about…

God’s Will

Dr. J.D. Wilkins4 Comments

Knowing God’s will seems a daunting task to say the least. Paul the apostle said to the good folks at Corinth, “Who has known the mind of the LORD, that he will instruct Him? (I’m leaving off the good part of that verse for a moment, but we will come back to it). 1 Corinthians 2:16

I’ve known some folks during my life who thought they knew what was best for me. They often told me what clothes to wear, how to cut my hair (I wish I now had some hair to cut). Well-wishers I’m sure, they would suggest I change the way I think, or feel, or behave, to match their own preferences about the human existence. I even had a good friend who would intentionally, but playfully say, “Speaking officially for God…” then proceed to correct my mistakes according to the good Dr. S.P.H.

Perhaps as we begin this journey it would be good to remind one another, me to you, and you to me, what Jesus spoke to the crowds one day about how we should pray. But first, let’s remember the specific words he used, “Pray, then, in this way.” Many teachers and preachers have ascribed to the idea that this is some kind of magical or mystical prayer, which when recited verbatim obligates God in some way to hear their prayers for anything else they might desire. I am not so naive, and I don’t want you to be either. He spoke this introduction as a way to clarify his previous maxim. Listen again to what he said before this instruction.

“And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:7-8) In such a simplistic way the Master is telling the crowd, God is all-knowing, all-seeing, all-aware of everything about you. Meaningless repetitions does not sway Him or His will.

So Jesus, the Master, gives us a MODEL of how to pray.

Acknowledge Him, revere His name.
Ask for His kingdom, and His will right now, right here, wherever here is.
Ask only for what we need today.
Forgive people.
Keep us from temptation.

Five simple thoughts of how true Christ-Followers are supposed to order their lives. But let’s just focus on the one critical verse in the model, verse 10 in Matthew chapter 6.

“… (Father)…Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

In it’s essence, the one praying must understand the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-aware attributes of God’s nature in order to align the prayer’s will with the will of God. You see, Jesus knew something these early listeners didn’t, so He was breaking new ground with them. He was teaching them to think outside the box of their normal conventional Hebraic thinking that had been compromised by local pagan practices. Pray it loud, and use as many words as you can possibly utter, and maybe God will hear you. Jesus was telling them that God was tired of His own people not really understanding the nature of dialogue with their own Father.

They all knew the ancient scriptures passed down in both oral and written ways. For instance these are just a few things they already knew about God their Father.

Ancient Teachings

Nehemiah 9:6
You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You.

Isaiah 45:5
I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides ME there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known ME.

Isaiah 40:26
Raise your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the ONE who brings out their multitude by number, He calls them by name. Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing.

Yes, all those Jewish listeners knew the scriptures by heart. They heard these truths from the rabbis teaching endlessly in schools and synagogues, “Beit Kneset” or “house of gathering.” They were so familiar with the words that when God the Son came right up next to them on the hillside that day, they still didn’t recognize Him as Messiah.

Where do we go from here?

The Master went slowly with those who should have recognized Him but didn’t. He taught them what the elders of the Hebrew faith should have been teaching but weren’t. How to have a meaningful dialogue with the Creator of the Universe. So, I’m going to take this lesson to heart for this study. I’m going to go slowly. I may suggest you examine some things that may be uncomfortable. I long for and hope to make these truths, perhaps revelations to some, interesting and not boring.

I started this introduction with the Apostle Paul addressing the Church in Corinth. “”Who has known the mind of the LORD, that he will instruct Him?” Now let’s look at the good part. The last part of this verse says:

“But we have the mind of Christ.”

What Jesus was communicating to the Hebrew people on the mountain that day is, “I’m right here, let’s talk about what is important to you.” He didn’t say it that way, that’s my own interpretation. I truly believe He was suggesting to those who really needed to hear it that God cared about them more than they could possibly imagine. The same message is true today.

The beauty of God the Father’s plan, in sending God the Son to earth, was to open an endless communication agency for all mankind to the Creator. In Jesus’ actions, His death and resurrection, His teachings, His healings, His forgiveness and His grace, God the Father was saying “See, I’m right here. And I care more than you could possibly ever understand.”

The Mind of Christ

The “understanding” of what Jesus was teaching then and now is for those who are “In Christ.” The “world” referred to in Scripture, are those folks who have never believed nor trusted in the free gift of Grace offered in Jesus. These folks often go on about their lives not believing there is a God, or if there is, that He doesn’t care about them personally. It is for certain a sad and miserable existence.

“But God…”, I love those words.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

But God… in fact, does want us to know exactly how to communicate with him. That’s why Jesus gave this model prayer to the Hebrews… but also to us. NOT as a mantra. Not as a magical incantation. Not as some mystical process of existentialism. What a great word huh? No, Jesus gave us this prayer as a model because this is how Jesus always prayed, and always lived while on earth.

Think about it. Remember it. Do it.

Acknowledge Him, revere His name.
Ask for His kingdom, and His will right now, right here, wherever here is.
Ask only for what we need today.
Forgive people.
Keep us from temptation.

This is the Mind of Christ. This is the Will of God… to align my will to His. Not His will to mine.

Next time…

How does the image above reflect the Sovereignty of God?
Having the Mind of Christ will help us see this image differently….

C, C, & A

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

via Acceptance

members-only

C, C, & A …  churches, country clubs, and acceptance.  Acceptance is important to almost all of us.  We all want to be included.  We all gain a great deal of our self esteem or self-perception from those who accept us.   Or, we take a huge hit personally when we are rejected.  It doesn’t matter whether it is churches, country clubs, a sports team, a club, a university, fraternity, sorority, or picking teams for Red Rover, we all seek acceptance.   Every game, team, or group has their own dogma, ideology, doctrine, code or creed to which we must adhere in order to be accepted.  We must accept and incorporate these beliefs into our fiber of life, or we are deemed unacceptable.  The paradox of acceptance, is the challenge to accept in order to be accepted.

One would think that joining a country club would be pretty simple.  Pay the initiation fee, commit to pay the monthly dues, and adhere to the club’s rules and you’re in.  However, while this may be true in some smaller clubs, the reality is that there is a selection committee who deems which of all the applicants are worthy of club membership.  These folks determine if the applicant is acceptable or not.

One would think that joining a church would be pretty simple.  While some churches make it extremely easy, others are virtually impossible to join even when compared to country clubs.  In this case most churches don’t require an up front initiation fee, but expect and often demand a financial commitment to support the church.  Indoctrination to the church’s beliefs is standard in many churches large or small today, known as “new member orientation.”  Often before a person can have a place of leadership in the church they must attend the classes and pass inspection so to speak.  I get it.  The church wants to make sure all their leadership is on the same page doctrinally, so they don’t confuse the churches message to guests or other members.

I guess my question is:  Is this how God designed it?  Is this how it was supposed to be?  Was there supposed to be some kind of acceptance process to be included as part of the church?  You only have to go to the book of Acts in the Bible to know the answer.

In Acts 15:1-35 the Council at Jerusalem were to answer a very basic question:  “What must a person do to be saved.”  Or put another way, “Who receives acceptance into the Faith?”  The question was raised because there were those not Jewish coming to accept Christ as Lord by the thousands as Paul and Barnabas went bout preaching the gospel.  So there was dissent in the ranks of the early church about who was acceptable.  The Jewish leaders wanted to impose “circumcision” on the Gentile men coming to faith, as a condition of acceptance.  In the end, the Council determined acceptance would be based on: abstaining from food sacrificed to idols, abstaining from sexual immorality, abstain from eating anything that was strangled, abstain from blood. [See Acts 15:19-21]  This was the first acceptance criteria for outsiders (Gentiles) to be included in the largely Jewish entity known as the Church.  For my more detailed bible study on this passage click: The Council at Jerusalem Acts 15_1-35.

Acceptance in the long run is not determined by the church.  Acceptance is determined by God the Father.  His terms for acceptance of any individual into His family (what we euphemistically call The Church), is more than clear in His Word.  Here are the terms of inclusion:

John 14:6
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

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

Romans 5:8
God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!

Romans 10:9-10
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

These passages are the entrance exam to be included into God’s family.  All who accept these conditions, commit to them, believe them dogmatically, and yield their life to these truths… receives acceptance from God.

No other earthly entity can add to these or take away from these and still be called a church.  If they do… they are a country club, social club, fraternity, sorority, or some such other thing… but not a church.  Is that harsh?  Maybe so.  But God will be straightening this out someday for everyone.  I hope it is pretty soon.

 

 

 

 

Trendy

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

via Swarm

What we called “fads” when I was growing up (think bell-bottom jeans, chia pets, and disco dancing), are more likely today called trends.  However, it might just as easily be called “mob mentality” as people swarm to what’s hot at the moment.  Some easy examples might be: the stock market, fashion apparel, automobiles, music, and yes… religion.  Let me be clear.  I said religion, not Christianity.  Not many people today rush to join the movement of TRUE Christianity.

world-religions

Pundits like to lump all faith models together in a box, and call them “religion,” and in so doing deny there is ever really any difference in any of them.  Whether it’s Islam, Baha’i, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Sikhism, Unitarianism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Native Spirituality, Judaism, … or Christianity… pundits say they are all the same.  They say it’s a swarm mentality that draws us to these flames.  I contend that the religions of the world have only one thing in common.  Humans are created with an awareness of God, and have tried since the world began to worship the Creator, but in twisted man-invented ways.  Humans in their core DNA are hard-wired to worship something, or someone, so in the absence of wealth, fashion, cars, and music… they create deities of their own design.

Within the construct of each world-religious system, there are variations and themes which spread their influence in thousands of different directions.  Following the trends of ancient peoples, in the 21st century it is often “fashionable” (I call it swarmy) to announce your inclusion into one of the “newer” or “more ancient” religious systems like Scientology (newer) or Satanism (ancient).  People swarm to a widely-shared but short-lived enthusiasm for something new.  Until the next “new” thing comes along.  Or until the fallacy of the bandwagon they hopped onto fails to satisfy their need for new.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus had thousands of followers swarming into every tiny village and town He wandered through.  They all sought to catch a glimpse of the miracle-working carpenter who taught the Torah and read the Prophets with authority.  The swarming, teeming crowds became so strong at one point that He had to get into a boat and push off shore just a bit to keep from getting trampled under foot. [Matthew 13:2]  Most of the crowds from His first year had abandoned Him by the third year, and were no where to be found in the end.  Thousands cheered and celebrated as He entered Jerusalem on Sunday before Passover.  Thousands yelled and cursed Him, as He carried His own cross through the streets to Golgotha.  Do you see the “swarm” mentality in this historically accurate narrative?

It takes more commitment than a “fad” mentality to be in relationship with the Creator of the universe.  Jesus told one woman, “But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.  Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him.  God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” [John 4:23-24]  These words apply today, at least as much as when they were spoken, perhaps even more.  Combine this thought with what Jesus said that night he was arrested, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” [John 14:6]

These two foundational truths compel us to seek more than a fad, more than a trendy spiritual answer.  We find it only in the ultimate reality of Jesus’ words to one of the Jewish leaders named Nicodemus.  John 3:16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and ONLY Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”   Jesus died for the swarming mass of humanity.  When Jesus said “everyone,” everyone means me.  Everyone means you.  It requires more than just being part of the swarm.  Stepping over the line of faith, and believing these three verses, receiving the grace offered in Christ, is a personal commitment.  It is how a person fulfills their created purpose.  Living in this grace and extending God’s glory, is what true worship means.  It requires more than just being part of the swarm.