Tag: living

MIGHT & POWER VS. SPIRIT

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

When Solomon built the first Hebrew temple which the Babylonians destroyed (586 BC – See 2 Kings 25:8–10), he had almost unlimited resources at his disposal since his father, King David, had fought many battles and collected huge spoils of war to be used in building God’s original temple. (See 1 Chronicles 26:20, 27-28) King Solomon was a powerful monarch with a vast kingdom, even ruling over some Gentile populated regions, but the Jews in the days of Zerubbabel and the prophet Zechariah had no such power, authority, or wealth!

In 538 BC, Zerubbabel, a leader from the tribe of Judah, was allowed to return to Jerusalem with other Jewish captives. (See Ezra 1:1-4) The Persian king appointed Zerubbabel as governor of Judah (See Haggai 1:1), and he began rebuilding the temple with the help of Jeshua, the high priest. (See Ezra 3:2-3, 8)

It took Zerubbabel two years to rebuild the Temple’s foundation. Construction was then delayed due to hostile opposition (See Ezra 4:1–5) and as a result, Persia withdrew its support.  For seventeen years the temple construction remained unfinished. (See Ezra 4:21) 

Nonetheless, while undoubtedly many had given up on the project, our Lord had a different / superior plan for His temple.  God then spoke to the remnant of His people in Jerusalem through His prophet in Zechariah 4:6-7:

This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”

Here in this text, the word “might” is referring to military strength, what people can do together as an army … but the remnant had no soldiers. “Power” refers to the strength of a commanding individual, but Zerubbabel’s abilities were no doubt limited, nothing like that of King Solomon! The idea of not being discouraged and trusting the Lord was at the heart of the prophet’s message.  Is it possible that the Spirit of God would enable them to accomplish something even in their apparent weakness?

There are three ways we can attempt to do the work of God:

1) We can trust our own strength and wisdom.

2) We can borrow the resources of the world.

3) We can depend on the power of God, the Almighty (omnipotent).

The first two approaches may usually appear to succeed, but the true work of the Lord is not accomplished in that manner! Only work done through the power of God’s Holy Spirit will glorify Him and endure the fires of His judgment. (See 1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

With limited resources, completing the temple looked to those Jews as impossible as moving a mountain! However, God told Zerubbabel that he would, by the power of God’s Spirit, level the mountain and make it a plain! In a similar manner, Jesus told His disciples that simple faith like a mustard seed (small but alive) could move mountains. (See Matthew 17:20; 21:21).

How often do we say that we are depending on God’s Holy Spirit? Revivalist Vance Havner (1901-1986), in commenting in that context on the methods of the modern-day church, stated:

But actually we are so wired up with our own devices that if the fire does not fall from heaven, we can turn on a switch and produce false fire of our own. If there is no sound of a rushing mighty wind, we have the furnace all set to blow hot air instead. God save us from a synthetic Pentecost!

God finishes His work! (See Zechariah 4:7b-10) God assured Zerubbabel that he would complete the rebuilding of the temple and the people would rejoice. The Lord gave a clear promise that Zerubbabel would complete the temple! (See Zechariah 4:9)

Shouldn’t this remind us of God’s promise and the true working of His Holy Spirit in us?

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (See Philippians 1:6)     

Are you serving and living in the strength our Lord supplies through the presence of His Holy Spirit? (See I Peter 4:11)  

Think about it, pray about it!                                                    

His & Yours, PF

SEEKING THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

Why do you seek the living among the dead?

That is the question asked of the women in Luke 24:5 as they stood before the borrowed tomb (belonging to Joseph of Arimathea) where the body of Christ had been placed after His public execution. They knew Jesus was dead, that was indisputable.  Yes, their hearts were tattered — their souls devastated by the tragic events of the past few days, and now they came to the place were His body had been laid … behind a wax-sealed rolling stone … guarded by Roman centurions. 

They came to honor their teacher and friend, Jesus Christ, by finishing the appropriate and customary preparation so His body could be permanently interred.  A dead Jesus, a cold shredded corpse was all they hoped for and expected to find.  In reality, they came seeking the dead in the place of the dead (among the dead, as in a cemetery) while bringing along all the supplies and spices needed to complete their arduous and undeniably emotional task.  Surely they weren’t looking for, or even possessing an ounce of hope for discovering anything different. 

According to the scripture (Luke 24:2-3), when they arrived, the tomb was open (obviously not for Christ to escape, but for His faithful followers to observe/witness), and the body of Jesus Christ somehow missing.  Nonetheless, for whatever reason, the ladies, “Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women” (Luke 24:10) still don’t get it!  It’s interesting for us to note that even His enemies, while in total disbelief, fully understood and acknowledged Christ’s well-known teachings and impassioned declarations … that death and the grave could not – in fact – would not be able hold Him! (‎Matthew 16:21; 17:9,23; 20:19; 26:32; 27:63; 28:6, Mark 8:31; 9:9,31; 10:34; 14:28, Luke 9:22; 18:33; 24:7,46, etc.) 

Every believer should carefully note how easy it was to forget the powerful, plentiful, and inexhaustible promises of our Lord.  In this case, it took the frightful appearance of two men in “dazzling clothing,” to successfully jog our sisters’ memories as the men started accurately proclaiming Christ’s exact teachings concerning His own death and victorious resurrection.  It seems the disciples had the same mental block and spiritual lapse according to Luke 24:11 where the testimony of these women was considered “nonsense” and “they would not believe them.”

What’s the problem/issue?  One might wonder, “How are the words of Jesus Christ so easily forgotten, quickly ignored, or discounted by His followers?”  At least, according to the biblical text (Luke 24:12), Peter gets up, runs to Christ’s tomb — stoops down — looks in, and sees the linen wrappings that were once upon the body of Jesus.  What was He expecting?  What does He find/witness/observe?  NO DEAD JESUS — NO CORPSE OF CHRIST’S SHREADED FLESH, but even then there is no clear statement or testimony of faith as the disciple, “went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.”

Perhaps as we approach Resurrection Sunday, we should ponder the question of how or why the words of Jesus are so easily forgotten, misunderstood, or discounted in our own everyday lives.  The truth of life in Christ Jesus, including all His powerful, plentiful, and inexhaustible promises, is that life can never be found among the dead … in/from unbelievers … in/from relationships with those that seek after all the world has to offer … in/from those that attempt to join themselves to the world … in/from a convenient faith in Christ, nor in/from the things of world themselves.  Even if one has the opportunity to pursue and gain everything our world offers, will it actually bring life?  Mark 8:36 asks this question:

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

Life is not found from the world, nor is it found in the dead fleshly works of religious law, which in essence is lifeless legalism.  Brothers and sisters, why would one seek to find anything living among the dead?  Life abundant (John 10:10) is only found, and is only available, in and through the living words of our living, risen Savior, Jesus Christ!

Jesus said,

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.  

John 6:63

Therefore, will we, as Christ’s followers, seek to find the living among the dead, or seek and turn to the living from the dead/world to find life, life abundant?

Here’s my prayer for all of us at WOF throughout the next few months:

1)      If one does not know the words of Christ, come and learn, become a student of His Word, allowing us, in cooperation with His Holy Spirit, to teach you the words of life.

2)     If one already knows His Word, let us help you apply it to your daily life, making it a truly “Living Word” for your spiritual journey and sojourn on earth. (See Hebrews 4:12)

3)    May we, His people/church, never become forgetful, allowing His words to be void. Instead let them be the very backbone and essence of the faith-based lives we breathe with our eyes fixed upon Jesus Christ!

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.  

Romans 10:17

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you!  

Colossians 3:16

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.     

I Thessalonians 2:13-14

His & Yours, by GRACE (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense),

Pastor Frank

FELLOWSHIP

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

WHO NEEDS IT ANYWAY?

Many believers have adopted such an attitude for various reasons, and offer numerous excuses of why they don’t or won’t fellowship with other believers.  Perhaps a biblical definition would help curve that attitude into something of authentic value. As with many things, a broader or better understanding often results in a new perspective.  

God has provided and revealed His direct thoughts through the Bible, but as time passes, some of His concepts have grown obscure in our culture and become ambiguous. We somehow manage to morph His intentions into our own comfortable practices, often discounting the true intent and purpose of His Word/Truth. The biblical concept of fellowship among Christians/Believers is one that has been especially confused within the framework of Christ’s Church!

Today, churches have fellowship halls, fellowship dinners, home fellowships and various fellowship groups, etc, etc. However, very few have actual fellowship … and yet for a Body of Christ (church) that seeks to be guided and directed in principle and practice by the New Testament, fellowship is absolutely essential.  The well-being and spiritual development of the entire body/church, as well as that of every individual participant, is directly impacted by the type and quality of fellowship one experiences in their church.

So, what is fellowship as purposed/intended by the Lord?  As one looks back into church history and digs into the original languages of the Bible, there are several significant facts that illuminate God’s projected meaning/intent for fellowship among His faithful.

The first fact concerns the meaning of the Greek root word “koinos.” This term is a prefix in ancient Greek from which our English word, “fellowship” or “koinonia” is derived. If you were to add this prefix to various words like “living,” “owning a purse,” “a dispute,” or “mother,” you would get words meaning “living in community together,” “owning a purse in common,” “a public dispute,” and “having a mother in common.” The root of the word “fellowship” means “to hold something in common.”

The Greek word “koinonia” would be commonly used to describe corporations, labor guilds, partners in a law firm, and the most intimate of marriage relationships.  Therefore, from the usage of the word, we can conclude that fellowship is a word denoting a relationship that is dependent on more than one individual . . . an interdependent relationship.

I Corinthians 1:9 states:

God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Note this – the word “fellowship” is never used in the biblical text concerning a relationship between humanity and deity until after God’s Holy Spirit indwells believers, making it an exclusive post-Pentecost experience/connection/affiliation!  Initially, fellowship focused in on spiritual unity, a personal relationship as emphasized in Philemon 6, II Corinthians 13:14 and Philippians 2:1.

Nobody had to come to the disciples and other new believers on the day of Pentecost and say, “Now you need to go practice fellowship.” God’s Holy Spirit had come upon all these people and uniquely formed a bond of unity!  Their inclination (not natural, but supernatural through God’s Spirit), thanks to their new nature in Christ Jesus, was to exercise it outwardly. Acts 2:41-47 speaks clearly:

So then, those who had received his (Peter’s teaching) word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

This is fellowship, not as a concept or idea, but as an action in the midst of His church! If one was to remove themselves from these activities, they would no longer be experiencing fellowship with other believers.  Fellowship was unquestionably a hallmark of Christ’s early church, yet today it’s been sadly reduced to annual potluck dinners despite the admonition of Scripture.  I John 1:6-7 presents genuine fellowship as the obvious by-product of an authentic personal relationship with Jesus Christ: 

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Let’s rediscover the truth and value of Fellowship   –PF

NEW

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

The word “new” is quite common (at least 176 occurrences) in both the Old and New Testament Scriptures … however, not insignificant! Its first appearance is a compound Hebrew word referring to “new” or fresh wine and is not associated with drunkenness.  This word speaks of a product, usually connected to God’s blessings of fruitfulness, productivity, and blessing.

The Hebrew word, chadash (khaw-dawsh’), usually translated fresh, a new thing, new, or refreshed appears 56 times in the Hebrew Old Testament text. It always refers to something recent or fresh (as the exact opposite of old) and speaks of something that did not previously exist. Isaiah 42:9 declares,

Behold, the former things have come to pass, now I declare new things; before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.

In Jeremiah 31:31-32 the Lord speaks through His prophet,

Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord.  

Ezekiel 11:19 announces God’s intentions, “And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them.”

Then, there is this beautiful, but familiar proclamation from Lamentations 3:22-23,

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

In the New Testament, 3 Greek root words — kianos; neos; prosphatos — are generally translated “new” in our Bibles and each has a different, distinct meaning. 

1. kainos denotes “new,” in that which is unaccustomed or unused, not “new” in time (as something recent), but “new” as to its style, form, or quality.  Something of a different nature/character as that which is in contrasted to its old nature/character. The Gospel of Christ brings forward and presents: a “new” covenant in Matthew 26:28; a “new” commandment in John 13:34; a “new” creative act in Galatians 6:15; a “new” creation in II Corinthians 5:17; a “new” person, after the pattern of Christ in Ephesians 4:24; a “new” union, His Church body in Ephesians 2:15. In the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle John, “new” things prevail and are to be received as well as enjoyed forever!  A “new” name for believers in Revelation 2:17; a “new” name for the Lord in Revelation 3:12; a “new” song in Revelation 5:9; a “new” Heaven and a “new” Earth in Revelation 21:1; the “new” Jerusalem in Revelation 3:12 and 21:2; “And He that sitteth on the Throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new’” in Revelation 21:5!

2.  Neos signifies “new” in respect of time, that which is recent; it is used of the young, especially in the comparative degree of something being younger.  Neos and Kainos may sometimes be used of the same thing/object, but there is a difference.  Colossians 3:10 states that believers, “have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.” In this case one would conclude that the discussion is in reference to character or nature, but “neos” is used to emphasize the fact that the believer’s “new” experience, recently began, and is still proceeding. The old man/individual in the believer … dates as far back as Adam; a “new” man has been recently birthed in respect to Adam, newly born – thus born again – a spiritual birth. (John 3:1-8)

3.  Prosphatos originally was used to signify something “freshly slain/cut/poured/happening,” as may be applied to flowers, oil, wine, misfortune, etc.

However, its use in Hebrews 10:19-20 cast a discrete and powerful message!

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new (root word – prosphatos) and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

 YES … A new and living way just for us!

I pray that the “new” will truly be alive, dynamic, and operative in you and yours throughout the New Year, 2020!                 

– His & Yours, PF