In Conclusion

 Sunday was Resurrection Day. What a joyous day, Christ died and rose again. Just like He said He would. He also promised He would return. It made me ponder, to I live in that truth? Just like I know we will celebrate Easter every single year, and just like Christmas, do I hold tight to the same promise He made that He is coming back again?

We live in a very chaotic culture right now. One that is producing mass fear and hysteria and hate. Both within and outside of the church. Yet, we can do something about it. Here is my challenge, both to myself and to you. It is a 40 day period until Ascension Day. Consider this a second "lent," period. For me- I have felt super convicted about time wasted. If Jesus is coming back, it is a 90% reality He will find us on our phones and not with our lamps burning. 

Never before has there been such an easy way for false teaching, for idolatry for heretics to spread their cancers among us. And we delight in it. I myself waste hours scrolling. It is truly a waste of our God given vapor this side of eternity. Yet its never too late to do something about it. What would happen if our diet changed from social media to feasting in His Word?

I am signing off for the next 40 days. Yes I will miss all the baby announcements and fun posts and good sales. But- my heart needs a check up. My longings need to be re-centered. My heart needs to be calibrated. This will most likely be the last time I am even using blogger as the goal this spring is to finally be captain of my own ship! ( Our domain) LOL. 

This summer: STUDY ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!!!

We will be starting with a book called "How to Eat Your Bible," by Nate Picowicz. You can order it here.

We will then go to a second book after which we will talk about later this spring. I am so excited to spend time with you all encouraging one another to delight in His Word.

Lastly, I am not pausing on social media for the sake of it. I encourage you to pause with me. I will be meditating through Luke 12, which addresses so many things. So many. Read it with me. Chat about what you are learning. Read commentaries on it. Listen to sermons on it. Let it fill your heart with joy and conviction and motivation. 

May we be stewards of the good news of Jesus Christ. 

John 18-20

Read: John 18-20 Sing: The Power of the Cross & The Lord is my Salvation 

Today will be the last entry for the week. Come back Monday and Tuesday as we wrap up and I lay out a challenge for all of us.

Today is Maundy Thursday to many. Allow this weekend to be Holy. To be reverent. To not be normal. Commit yourself to prayer, to seeking, to moments of quietness. Its part of why I am not writing anymore for the week. I myself, would like the time. In light of studying 14-17 going into 18-20 is incredibly heart stirring.

My final thought for today is that Jesus is who He says He is. In chapter 18 there is one moment I would like to focus on. Jesus declares Himself, "I AM He."  The men in the garden fall. Christ could have destroyed everyone in that moment. In fact, scripture teaches us it is through Christ alone they are even being sustained. ( He upholds the universe by the word of His power Hebrews 1:3). 

Christ willingly laid down His life. He was the propitiation for our sins. He was the sacrificial lamb. And he laid down His life while we were yet sinners.

Jesus is who He says He is. And that means that Jesus changes everything. Has he done that for you in yours life? Have you declared Jesus as Lord and Savior? Have you repented of your sins and turned to Him?

And if so.... Do we live this out? Is Jesus our Lord and Salvation? Or do we try to walk hand and hand with the world while hand in hand with Him? I cannot urge you enough- to get in your Bible more. To saturate yourself with scripture and truth. Not on an media fed daily feed.... but into the Word. The full counsel of God. Be so soaked in Scripture that nothing else has the ability to pour out of you. 

*This is a hint at whats coming this summer as next week I will introduce an exciting summer study to consider being a part of!

Dear friend- may His grace draw you nearer each day. He is Risen! He is risen indeed.

John 17

 Read: John 17, Sing: The Power of the Cross & The Lord is my Salvation

Jesus prays for the church.

As we end today with our formal study it is remarkably fitting to leave off on our precious Savior praying for us. Its overwhelming. We get a snipette of what it looks like as Christ as our Mediator. Jesus transitions as He says, but also for those who will believe in me through their word. That is you and I friend. And all that have come before us and all who are yet to be called. All of us. Christ was thinking of and praying for us before His crucifixion. This is humbling, encouraging, shocking and awesome. He cares for you and for me. 

We could spend our whole lives studying these chapters 13-21. The Gospel. Truly the greatest thing that ever occurred in the history of mankind, and salvation the greatest gift ever given and ever received. Oh that our hearts would yearn for His goodness all of our days. That we would live in this great satisfaction that we are redeemed! In Matthew Henry's prayers even today it says: Give us to draw water with joy from these wells of salvation, Isaiah 12:3(ESV)  and now, O LORD God, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servants be established forever, and do as you have spoken. 1 Chronicles 17:23(ESV)

My heart is overwhelmed as I think of the weight of praying scripture through the Word's of the Lord the hours before the cross. Oh that we would draw with joy from the wells of salvation! That we would be satisfied in Him! That Jesus would be enough!!! That Jesus would be our Yes and Amen!

Jesus ends His prayer "I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." This last statement is truly incomprehensible. Jesus came to glorify the Father, to make His name known, and then to show us the love of the Father that we may be partakers of it. He offers us not just salvation but union with the Father. Forgiven and adopted. 

My heart soars and breaks at the same time. A portion of the prayer Jesus says, " that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know you sent me and loved me." 2020/2021 has driven so many wedges in the church. Some that had been looming at the door and needed doing, some that simple reveal our disgusting sin nature and selfishness. But when I look, my heart grieves. Stats came out yesterday revealing less than 50% of Americans consider themselves affiliated with a church.(the article lumps in synagogues and mosques with this. Read article here.) That means there has never been more work to do, nor in the past 80 years the church deemed maybe as something not worth being part of. Are we teaching the gospel through our love of one another? We are so hell bent on ourselves that we can't see eternity. May we repent of this. May we stop insisting on our opinion being heard, and start praying for the gospel to flow out of our hearts and mouths and lives. In 100 years, what will it matter most...that you were able to share the good news of the Gospel through out love for one another.

Girl- go to heaven tired. Be exhausted, spent, overflowed and broken nailed....for His sake alone. To God be the glory, Great things He has done! So loved He the world that He gave us His Son!  May our broken country be moved by our praises. May we pray constantly and may the love of God be our motivation. May it start in our home. Jesus IS enough. 

The night before His death, Jesus prayed to the Father, 2000 years later, those who profess Christ are beneficiaries of that prayer. His disciples went, and preached the good news.  May this Easter we be brought back to the Cross, and the empty grave, and reset ourselves and our hearts that they may draw with joy from His Salvation.

John 17:12-19

 Read: John 17  Sing: The Power of the Cross & The Lord is my Salvation

Focus is on John 17:12-19

I love the chart that was attached to today's reading. It comes out of the John MacArthur commentary. I enjoy the break down and understanding of High Priestly Prayer. Today we will consider the prayer for the disciples joy, sanctification, and their mission.

Verse 13 "that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves." Matthew Henry makes these comments:

Observe,

• (1.) Christ earnestly desired the fulness of the joy of his disciples, for it is his will that they should rejoice evermore. He was leaving them in tears and troubles, and yet took effectual care to fulfil their joy. When they thought their joy in him was brought to an end, then was it advanced nearer to perfection than ever it had been, and they were fuller of it. We are here taught,
• [1.] To found our joy in Christ: "It is my joy, joy of my giving, or rather joy that I am the matter of.' Christ is a Christian's joy, his chief joy. Joy in the world is withering with it; joy in Christ is everlasting, like him.
• [2.] To build up our joy with diligence; for it is the duty as well as privilege of all true believers; no part of the Christian life is pressed upon us more earnestly, Phl. 3:1; 4:4.
• [3.] To aim at the perfection of this joy, that we may have it fulfilled in us, for this Christ would have.

It is utterly outstanding to think the Son cared about his disciples having the fullness of joy through Him. He lay with the cross before Him, yet Jesus, cared for those who are His. 

Verse 17: Sanctify them in truth, your Word is truth. Oh that this would be our prayer. The term sanctification is to be set apart. Jesus is praying that the disciples would be set apart through His truth, His word. The task that lay ahead of these men, was great, yet Jesus is greater. 

Jonathan Edwards states in his resolutions #28 "Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of them." This resolve seems a fitting way to find ourselves sanctified in truth. 

And finally John 17:19 Jesus prays for the disciples mission. "even so I have sent them..." The disciples, unknown to them, were about to embark on one of the greatest movements the world has ever known. They walked with Jesus prior to the Cross and would be given the awesome responsibility to testify of His Resurrection. They would get to be the first to share the good news of the Gospel. Jesus prays for their joy, their sanctification and then their mission.

I find myself really chewing through this today. As a believer in Christ, do I find my joy in Him, do I desire to be sanctified through Him and His Word and am I on mission to share this glorious truth with others? 

John 17 Holy Week

 Read John 17 Sing: The Lord is my Salvation & The Power of the Cross

John 17:6-19 The prayer for His disciples, particularly the eleven apostles.

It should be noted this prayer is particular but not exclusive. As always the Word is living and active. The notes will focus though on the beauty of the prayer for these men, and the fulfillment of the prayer. 

I am leaning heavy on my notes today from my Bible (Reformation Heritage Bible- Editor Joel Beeke) The following is an exert from John 17:

    *6-12 Manifested thy name: Revealed the glory of God in the Gospel. The disciples were chosen, 'election produces obedience' We see- that saving faith receives Christ as the One appointed by God to save sinners and give them eternal life, as Peter confessed (Mt 6:68-69). 

   *v11 Holy Father- A title of God found no where else in scripture, appealing to His supreme majesty and compassionate love- "keep them in thine own name" Preserve them (the disciples) in the faith by the Gospel revelation of who God is. Unified in Christ with one another.

Lets pause here today. There is a lot to understand about what is going on. Jesus is praying for his disciples. This is truly incredible as persons who have the full counsel of God we can read and know the whole story. We see this answered. In John 14-16 we see these men asking questions, still not certain of themselves. We see in 18 that they will scatter. They are fearful, they are very much human. Yet, Jesus knew. He knew before and this is why moments before His own death He is praying for these men- because what they would face they could not do on their own. 

They are about to see their King Crucified. The man whom they followed- killed. They had to live in the time after the death and prior to the resurrection. Can you imagine the darkness? Jesus knew. 

Then, these men, would be charged to go and share the Gospel! A glorious responsibility and a death sentence to all but John. Jesus knew. 

And He prayed. He went to the Father and prayed on their behalf. He had love and compassion and cared deeply for those that were His. We will see this further tomorrow and as we continue Wednesday with the end of chapter 17 as Jesus prayed for the church ( yes including us today.) Why? Because, Jesus knew. He knew how much we needed Him, before we and the disciples did. That without Him we cannot, but with Him- we can do anything that He asks of us. We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. 

As we enter Holy week, may we strive for and look for areas we can try and make it more holy. It does not need to be a pious thing, or a religious thing. Make it a Jesus thing. The King of Glory came and died...and rose again! How can we better give our time, or thought life, or devotion or money or resources to Him? How can our lives testify of His truth better? May we pray with confidence in Christ this week. In everything, in every deed may we seek His glory. <3

John 17 Sermon

John 17:4-5

 Read: John 17; Sing: God the Uncreated One

Today we will be covering two days worth of material. So this is our break, our catch up and our meditation till Monday. Looking ahead we will try and finish John 17 by Thursday so that we can be in 18-21 over Thursday through Monday. This year we will finish up our study the week AFTER Resurrection Sunday.

John 17:4-5

There have been so many thoughts, and verses, and moments of tears and humility and awe as I read this text. So many. Today I yet again come trembling to scripture realizing just how great our God is. He truly is awesome in wonder and deed. He is King Forevermore!

"I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father. glorify me in your presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed."

Jesus has accomplished His task. We have already heard him say that the hour has come. Centuries of prophecy, generations of men have longed for this moment. Heaven came down, He had come to set men free. "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do." Wow. I can't even comprehend fully this statement. So many thoughts rush to my mind. I think on Colossians 1 and Hebrews 1 immediately, that He is the image of the  invisible God, He is the glory of God, the EXACT imprint of His nature; and by Him and through Him were all things made that were made, and He upholds the universe by the Word of His power. This is Jesus Christ. Son of God. In my bible subtitles these portions of scripture are labeled "the preeminence of Christ, and the Supremacy of God's Son. I am overwhelmed even to think of these thoughts. Yet these thoughts are exactly what we should be meditating on. How different would our opinion of and life after Christ be if we delighted in just these few Scriptures alone?

This passage for some reason continually has lead my mind to thinking on Jesus' interactions with people that had demons, or even Satan himself. Perhaps it is because I am in Luke in my private quite time aside from our study, but perhaps not. I am embarrassed by, quite frankly, the demon's recognition of the Son of God and their immediate obedience to His authority, especially when I think on my own recognition of Christ and obedience to Him. Have you ever wondered why they call out to Him immediately in fear? Over and over we hear them shout "Son of Man, what have you to do with us?" The recognize Jesus because...THEY KNEW HIM before. Demons are fallen angels. They once were with Him in heaven. They knew Jesus on earth because they knew Jesus in Heaven. They also understood His power and authority. Not one of them told him no. He said come out, they did. Satan, in the wilderness was the one who had the gall to press Jesus' position; to no surprise as he has been hell bent on authority and equality with God since Eden and before. He even uses God's own words manipulated to persuade him. "Throw yourself down for it is said he has commanded angels concerning you..."(Matt 4:6) Jesus does not retort with His own opinion, pay very close attention here, Jesus EVERY TIME answers back with the Word of Spirit and Truth- He uses Scripture. Every time. Jesus could have used His own words, and in a way he does....because He is the Word. He quotes the Old Testament to combat the schemes and the lies of the devil. May we be very wise to observe this pattern and practice it in our own lives. 

I bring up this point because Jesus in His prayer asks the Father to glorify him in the presence with the glory He had before the World existed. Before man, before sin entered the world and set the trajectory for this hour. Christ is eternal. In light of this, I want to close, with John 1...it is hard not to even weep as I type it out. Consider deeply now, as to why John started the book with this, and the gravity as we hear Jesus call out to the Father.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All thins were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Amen.

John 17:1-3

 Read: John 17, focus is on 1-3; Sing: We Long for that Day

John 17:1-3. 

Again, I find myself at a loss as we study this text together. The hallowedness felt is...overwhelming. The Lord communing with the Father. We will never even be able to full comprehend the sacredness of the truths being shared as we study this passage. We are finishing the portion that would be considered within Jesus praying for Himself.

v3 All of my study notes point to the fact that this truth needs to push us past an intellectual knowledge but an experiential knowledge of Christ. A note in my study bible reads, " The Puritans and Reformers loved to preach on John 17:3...they understood that this word "know," as used in this context, meant an intimate kind of knowledge that involved a deeply personal and abiding relationship with God in Jesus Christ."e 

Augustine has expressed it this way,"who created us for Himself, so that our soul is restless unless it finds its rest in Him."

This is a perfect play to pause for reflection today. To asks ourselves do we know the Father? Do we know the Son? Not know because we go to church, and grew up in a Christian family, or listen to christian music or attended a christian college. That means nothing. KNOW, because we have come to abide in Him and He is us. We have become grafted into His vine, we are His sheep, and He knows us by name? 

I love the saying going to church makes you as Christian as sitting in a garage makes you a car.  You can do all the things, but it doesn't make you a child, because only Christ's blood can do that! Oh what lavished love and grace on us! That He would die for us while we were yet sinners so that we could be His. 

Jesus points out what eternal life is here, "that they would know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." Not one or the other, both and. 

I am including 2 sermons today, one on this passage and then one we heard Sunday on 1 John 2 about how to understand if you are in Christ. 

May we take the time in this broken, weary world; to rest in His presence. To be faithful in Him who is able. And to know Him more.

John 17:1-5

1 John 2 How Can I know I am a Christian