How To Make Victory A Christian Reality

How To Make Victory A Christian Reality

            This letter will endeavor to bring forth an accurate and helpful study of one of the prayer portions of the Ephesian letter written by the apostle Paul.  The objective of this study will be to help bring forth a correct interpretation of the scripture to the every day Christian while also applying it in a helpful way to the life of the saints.  The portion of the Ephesian letter I will specifically focus on in this writing will cover the range of verses found from 3:14-22.  This letter will be a forthright attempt clarify the passage to the layman who desires to know God’s Word deeply.  The intent underlying the writing of this letter will be to shoot two arrows from one bow.  The one arrow will aim for the heart of the reader, but the other to the head of the reader also.

            Ephesians 3:14-22, “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; ¹⁷ That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; ¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. ²⁰ Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, ²¹ Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”^[1]

In the fourth chapter of the Ephesian letter by Paul, the apostle to the gentiles, waste little time before striking at the issue of application of Christianity in the believers life.  However, chapter three precedes chapter four, and before we can properly act in behavior and deed appropriate to the Christian life, we must be enabled to act in behavior and deed appropriate to the Christian life.  How does Paul believe that this powerful life can become a reality in the life of the Ephesian believers?  By praying for the them.  By praying that they would possess all the qualities of an enabling life in their Christian experience.  The prayer is given to us as such: a presentation of purpose clauses.  This establishes a pattern of clauses that will build on one another and take the believer through steps that will result in the fullness of God in their life. 

In the following progression we will see God’s instruction for starting the Christians “jet engines” as some would say.  Paul has started Ephesians by telling us about what the jet plane offers and he will finish the book telling us how to fly the jet plane.  It is here though, that Paul bridges the information and the flying lessons with instruction of how to start the powerful engines that will give the follower of Christ liftoff!  Others would say the book begins by describing the wealth available to a Christians, ends by telling us how to spend it, and theses verse tell us how to get our hands on it.[2]  No matter how we view these verses, we must understand that it is essential that we appropriate what we have available to us as Christians, before we can live a life victorious in all the way that God has planned for us.

            We begin then with the prayer itself (3:14).  Paul gives a reason he prays; it is due to the before described riches of Christianity he desired to be accessed by his readers.  We can link these words “for this cause”  back with the words found back in Ep 3:1.[3]   Prayer was a reverent thing to Paul, as well as a relevant thing.  To his knees Paul dropped, as the etiquette was in that day to show his humble reverence to authority.[4]  Prayer was the key to enlightening them (Ep 1:18), now it may hold the key to enabling them (Ep 3:14).  Once Paul’s knees became grounded in the dirt, his words became grounded in heaven.  These words became more than just a prayer, now they are scripture from which we can all benefit.  Paul addresses the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the saints that are in the family both alive and in Heaven (Ep 3:14-15).  What will follow is the first purpose clause and the first step in the enabling process.  We will divide the prayer into three parts, Gods contribution in us (3:16-17a), God’s charity in us (3:17b-19a) and God’s character in us (3:19b).  We will also introduce the prayer (4:14-15) and conclude it (3:20-21).  We will loosely following  the word ἵνα[5] which appears three times in the text[6], and will serve as a natural breaking point at times in the prayer.   

God’s Contribution In Us

            Our first heading is God’s contribution in us.  The first clause is found in the word ἵνα and it translates as that and carries a simple meaning of “in order that”.  So when Paul says he is praying for them, it is “in order that” the effects verse 16 would spring to reality in their life.  The granting of strength to the inner man of the Ephesian believers is the request of Paul.  The granting of this strengthening is of a necessity, for it must come out of God’s riches.  The word for grant is generally used in association with giving something.  God must give this strength.  We use the word grant today for bestowing a request on someone. The preposition κατά is used for the word according, and it simply means extended down.  God must extend downward to us His strength from the vault of Heaven, where His eternal inexhaustible riches proceed from His glory!  It would do us well to see our need for His riches.  We are reminded when we have strength of ourselves we are absent of His strength which is far greater (2 Cor 12:9).  The type of strength (or might) we are receiving is literally a dynamite strength.  The word δύναμις is the explosive power of God that allows us to perform spiritual deeds, and live a life that is becoming to God.  Without this might descending from the glories of Heaven to the portals of the carnal heart we would be stuck in our own strength making us very inept and poor indeed. The delivery of this dynamic strength is “by His Spirit.”  As believers, the Holy Spirit does not perch Himself far away and become impersonal to us in the place of Heaven, but rather He is close to us and in the portal of the heart!  It is the renewed inner man that fellowships with the Spirit of God directly.  Every believer has a quickened inner man in which the Holy Spirit dwells (Rom 8:9), and it is there from which Heaven delivers downward God’s strengthening power through His Spirit to our inner man.   What a marvelous thing we can see forming in a believers life when God answers our prayer for their strengthening!  It may well be true as we search for application to our life, that the greatest thing we can do for a fellow believer is pray for their spiritual strength.  For a personal application, if we are to pray that God would strengthen us, we must remember that we be yielded and submitted to God’s word, not grieving the Holy Spirit (4:30).  God does not give His victory power to rebels.

            Most English translations give us another clause in verse 17 using the word that as the opening word, but our divisions will follow ἵνα as previously mentioned, so we will keep this verse under the first heading with verse 16.  It is true that what happens in verse 17 is a result of verse 16, or a byproduct of it.  We are told numerous times in the Bible that we are in Christ.  Now we are told Christ is in us![7]  When we are strengthened in the inner man, Christ can dwell in our hearts by faith.  We must look at the dwell, and what it means, for we are aware that Christ has a resident in every believers heart.  The word dwell, is an aorist active infinitive of κατοικέω,[8] and is made of two words, oikeō which means a dwelling place and κατά which generally serves to mean down.  The word is an infinitive clause and therefore is responsible for the “that” in our English translations without the presence of ἵνα.  This infinitive clause should be seen in connection (epexegetically) with the word strengthen in verse 16.[9]  So we see a correlation with being “strengthened” to live empowered as a Christian, and Christ “dwelling” in us.  We know that Christ is resident in every believer (Rom 8:9), so the presence of Christ is not the issue.  When we take κατοικέω, and merge the meanings of the two words it is comprised of together, we get end up with an intensified meaning of dwell, one where Christ is president, not merely resident.  It would be a yielded heart where He is comfortable and at home there.[10]  He dwells in our hearts by faith.  Christ made His home there by faith, and the just live from faith to faith.  By faith we trust Him and make Him feel at home.[11]  A heart that is yielded to Christ and makes Him comfortable is a heart that is strengthened in the inner man by God’s Spirit.  When a man is walking in the Spirit, he is in the deepest intimate fellowship with Christ possible. 

God’s Charity In Us

            We will now continue into our second division, God’s charity in us.  To help us understand Paul takes us to the country and to the city.  We have an example of agriculture and architect.  Verse 17 says this, “that you (ἵνα) being rooted and grounded in love” and provides us with valuable material to dissect.  Technically ἵνα appears at the begging of verse 18 in the Greek manuscripts, but in an interlinear Bible, it will be placed here with the word “that” bringing out the purpose clause.  We are to be rooted in love.  Again a preposition will help us greatly in painting a full picture what Paul is saying.  The preposition ἐν, which proceeds the word for love, is rich with meaning.  If we were to take a pictorial approach, we would draw a circle, ἐν would be placed the middle of that circle, and we would call that circle love.  Our growing in life (rooted) and building in life (grounded) must be in God’s gracious love.  We are rooted and grounded in love at this stage of the prayer!  When Christ is at home in our hearts, our growing roots are digging deeper into the depths of His love.  As is the root, so is the fruit!  We are grounded in His love also.  Our lives not only are growing in His love; our lives are also building in His love.  A firm foundation makes for a terrific tower.  When all of our growing and building is accomplished in the love of Jesus Christ, we are then becoming His useable ambassadors indeed.  What we experience, we can then show forth.  When Christ is comfortable in our hearts, the Spirit sheds the love of God abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5).  A plant cannot grow in improper soil, and a building will not stand without a right foundation.[12]  Therefore, the necessity of an empowered life saturated with the presence of Christ’s gifted love is very clear.    

            We are invited now by Paul in verse 18 to try to measure the love of Christ.  We will segregate a verse from the others for a moment to study it.  Ephesians 3:18 reads, “may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height”.^[13]  First there is something Paul wants us to comprehend.  Some see the word καταλαμβάνω as to be translated as grasp. Paul wants us to grasp the reality of the love of God.  The KJV uses comprehend (the NASB also follow suit with comprehend) and therefore comprehend appears to be very accurate and carry the best meaning.  Grasp however, seems to be an excellent way to define comprehend, and to help us realize Paul wants us to get our minds around the vastness and depth of God’s love.  We are to understand this love (though it be beyond knowing with the mere mind).  Now, that we are rooted and built in this love, we have access to it so that we can measure it.  We can measure it because we are rooted in it.  If that be so, it is because Christ is at home in our hearts, and since He is at home in our hearts, we are of necessity strengthened in the inner man by the Spirts of God. We must start with the realization that it is only with supernatural enablement that God’s people can truly comprehend God’s love.[14]  Let us now take Paul’s measurements and see if we can frame the love of God.  First we look at two measurements, breadth and length.  Of these first two measurements, length can create a line, and when you add breadth you create have a surface.  When we add depth, the third measurement, we now have a three dimensional object.  To add a fourth measurement, height, that will bring you beyond the realm of possibility.[15]  In reality βάθος, the word translated depth, can mean either depth or height; for one gives the other.  If you measure the ocean from the bottom up you have height, if you measure it from the top down you have depth.  They are one and the same, yet Paul I think gives us the fourth measurement to imply that there is a realm we cannot get into with the mind alone, and that is the spiritual realm of God’s love.  It must be experienced through the production and reality of the Holy Spirit alone.  John the revelator only measured the new Jerusalem in three dimensional measurements (Rev 21:16).  So to comprehend the vastness of God’s love we must understand it cannot be realized within ourselves unless it comes from the experience of being rooted and grounded in the love of Christ.  His love is immeasurable, though we are to take these measurements to try and “know the love of Christ” (v19), yet while at the same time, the same verse concludes that this love passes knowledge.  I think we can find a clue in the text to help prove this point and see further what Paul is saying. The verse reads as such, “and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” The first time know is used it is the word γινώσκω.  Here the word refers to having understanding or grasping the subject.  This would be something a Christian empowered with the love of God could do somewhat, even if words failed to articulate the fullest depth of meaning.  The word knowledge in the latter end of the verse is γνῶσις.  While similar, they do carry different ideas.  The second word (γνῶσις) has with it an idea of a cognitive knowledge, where in comparison to the first word (γινώσκω), according to Joseph Thayer, carries an idea of “come to know, perceived, and feel”.  We could sum much of this up in saying this: when a person truly grasps the love of Christ, and his life is an outlet for God’s love, then he has grasped much of what it is to be a Christian. Christ is living through him, and that person is empowered by the Holy Spirit.  We understand a person can never fully arrive in this life, but a person can live in victory in this life.

God’s Character In Us

            We now find our way to our third category, God’s character in us.   The use of the word ἵνα is found in the word “that” which precedes “you may be” in verse 19.  The text now continues to tell us once we grasp this magnificent love, and are living in it as we ought in our life, we then are filled with the fullness of God.  What can this mean?  Positionally we are complete in Christ.  Practically, in this life, we can only fully enjoy the grace that we apprehend.[16] The Greek preposition εἰς, found in v19, is translated unto in the KJV.  Much light is shed on the necessity of God’s empowering us, as the way to obtain the fullness of God, by this word εἰς.  We might interject this, and it should go without saying, that the fullness of God  in every believer is perfectly accomplished in the consummation.  However, Paul appears to wish this fullness to be true in his readers now before the consummation, in this life.  What then could the fullness be if not the perfect state?   The preposition εἰς, is often put in a visual format by drawing an arrow coming into a circle from outside of the circle.  It would then be understood as something entering in from the outside of an object (or person in this case), that is not already inherently in the object (or person).  As we have preciously determined, when a person is able to grasp what is the love of Christ, through the Spirits help, then we have grasped what is perhaps the greatest attribute of God.  We then can reflect that needful quality.  (We do not to take away from holiness and other spiritual qualities by stating this point).  What Paul is referring to then as the fullness of God, is to be so compelled and full of Divine love that we are empty of all else and move only at the impulse of this great virtue.  This then, is a display of God’s greatest attribute to the world.  The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5).  The world will know we are His disciples by how we love one another (Jn 13:35).  Furthermore, we are told we can know we have passed from death into (εἰς) life because we love the brethren (1 Jn 3:14).  In 1 John 3:14 we see the word εἰς used to show we are brought into the realm of the living, and it is equally true to say that the realm of eternal life was brought into us as well!  Likewise, we must see that the process that brings us to the this loving full condition must be brought into us, or started in us, by the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer.  There is a sense in which this is already in us, in that, the Spirit who produces this love already resides in the saint.  Yet we must see clearly the profound difference between having access to this love, and possessing the attributes of this love.  God’s will for us, and Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians was that they would access this great love, live in it, and be full of it. 

            Paul does not seem to think that his prayer is too much to ask[17].  Verse 20 reads, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.^[18]”  Paul knew that God was able.  This is a lesson we always consent to but sometimes we live as if it isn’t true.  The word for able is δύναμαι, which is a verb that shows God’s actions as eminently able, able, to have full strength.  When God moves in action, we can be certain it is able action!  The action is exceedingly abundantly above our ream of asking and thinking.  It appears immeasurable, just like His love.  To be exceedingly above alone, is to fill the cup up above what it can bear.  To add “above” and say exceedingly above, it like trying to catch the ocean in a thimble.  God is able to do above not only what we say, but also above what we think.  One commentator rightly said this about the passage,

“After having exhausted all the powers of language, we may proceed to stretch our imaginations beyond the limits of distinct and accurate conception: and, provided the things be proper for him to give, and for us to receive, he can, and will, bestow them. He will do for us not only what we ask, but what we “think;” he will do it “all” and “above” all, and “abundantly” above all, yea, “exceeding” abundantly above all that we can ask or think.^[19]”

The power of God in verse 20 works in us.  Let us take heart not to forget that privilege.  It is not too much to attempt great things for God.  It is not too much to expect great things from God.  It would be too little to not pray that the lambs of God’s pasture grow into the measure of the fullness of Christ.  We serve the same God as Paul and the same promises ring true today. 

Paul breaks into a glorious praise.  This is because he has reflected upon glorious truth.  Verse 21 ends our study saying this, ^“Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.^[20]”  When we reflect on God’s word, if our face will not shine like Moses’s once did, our spirit and soul at least surely will.  From the depths of appreciation we praise Him.  He is to receive glory.  We are to honor Him fully for who He is, and for what He has done.  His person and His attributes are all together lovely.  We are to honor Him in the Church.  It is surely the job of the bride to honor and love the groom.  What we do in His power today gives Him honor throughout all ages.[21]  What He does for us does the same. 

            In conclusion, let us apprehend that which we have available to us.  Let us enter the spiritual dimension, the one where the indescribable, and immeasurable love of God reigns supreme in the hearts of His children.  Let us be strengthened in the inner man so we may have this.  Let us pray for others to be strengthened by His might.  Let us pray that we will be, and then yield fully to His word so that we may be.  May God’s Spirit now use God’s word to strengthen and change lives.      

---

^[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Eph 3:14–21). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[2] Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996. Volume 2 pg 30

[3] Ephesians A Handbook ON The Greek Text

[4] Exploring Ephesians and Philippians John Phillips pg90

[5] Ephesians A Handbook ON The Greek Text pg59

[6] Witherington, Ben, III. The Letters to Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians : A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on the Captivity Epistles. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2007. Pg273

[7] Ephesians A Handbook of the Greek Text pg62

[8] Ephesians A Handbook of the Greek Text pg62

[9] Ephesians A handbook of the Greek Text pg62

[10] Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996. Volume 2 pg32

[11] Exploring Ephesians and Philippians John Phillips pg93-94

[12] Exploring Ephesians and Philippians John Phillips pg94

^[13] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Eph 3:20). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[14] The Epistle to the Ephesians F.F. Bruce pg68

[15] Exploring Ephesians and Philippians John Phillips pg95

[16] Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996. Volume 2 pg 33

[17] The Epistle to the Ephesians F.F. Bruce pg70

^[18] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Eph 3:20). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[19] Simeon, C. (1833). Horae Homileticae: Galatians-Ephesians (Vol. 17, pp. 329–330). London: Holdsworth and Ball.

^[20] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Eph 3:21). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[21] Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996. Volume 2 pg34

A New Direction

A New Direction

Ephesians 2:2-3; 10     

      v2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 
     v3 Among whom also we all had our conversation (lifestyle) in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

     v10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them

    

     Verses 2-3 describe a person before they have converted to Christ.  We all had a god and that god was fulfilling the personal lusts of our flesh and the desires of our mind (v 3).  Prior to Christ, we were as such: If we can think it, why withhold it?  If we crave it, why not make it happen as we wish?  The only suitable thing to serve was the driving desires that swelled up within us at any given time.  If they were found to be good or bad in the sight of morals, we could justify our decisions by rationalizing them.  Who should check these cravings to keep them in place?  Why would we ever submit to any source that restricts us?  Those who serve themselves are natural.  It is the norm, as Scripture has declared it the course of this world.  There is a spirit in the air that proclaims men as gods who should serve themselves, and the prince of those desires is not the Lord but satan.  Those who walk according to this prince do so because they are his children. Those who find this way of life refreshing are the children of disobedience.  Our conversation (v 4) is to be understood as our lifestyle.  It is in stark contrast to the workings that are in the believer.

     The latter verse (v 10) describes the direction of all believers.  They have a new Master in whom they follow, and it is none other than Christ Himself!  We are made to serve good works and not be overtaken by the flow of disobedience which washes those in the world downstream. Those who are children of disobedience are creatures destined for wicked works, while those in Christ have been made new creatures to the purpose of fulfilling the Father's good pleasures.  It has been before ordained that we should walk in them.  How have we overcome and arrived at a new set of desires?  It is because we are His workmanship.  The hands of a carpenter are always building, so those hands of Jesus of Nazareth are also always conforming us into His image.  From where do we derive our ability to serve a new Master?  It is not from self effort or turning over a new leaf and committing to a new resolution.  Rather, they are created in us (v 10), and created by Christ Jesus.  The Scriptures declare "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature..." (2 Corinthians 5:17), and again Christ has said, "Behold, I make all things new." (Revelation 21:5a) Here are some contrasts that Paul lists for us to aid our understanding and give us direction as believers.

Unbelieving (v2-3)

• The course of this world - Live like the masses not retaining God's will in their minds - (v2)

• Follow the prince (satan) of the air - by being dominated by sinful desires without any way of escape (v2)

• Have a spirit of disobedience - they are contrary to God's direction (v2)

• Enact on all their lusts - without the Spirit of God to govern them, the only governing instinct available is their own heart which is tainted by sin (v3)

• Fulfill all the desires of their mind - their own opinions are their authority and not the Word of God (v3)     

Believers (v10)

• Christ's workmanship -  We are crafted by Christ and made new to be like Him obtaining His desires which are opposite of those desires we had when we were ungodly

• Made unto good works (not disobedience) - A hammer is made to drive nails, a wrench is made to turn bolts.  We are made new to live like Christ in obedience to God.  This now becomes the purpose in which we are made

• Before ordained to walk in them - God's plan through eternity past and present is that all who are in Christ live as He lived with a desire to be in submission to God's Word

• Walk in them - obeying God and loving Christ are two hallmarks of the believer - contrast this with living out our wrong desires that spring up within us.  Obedience is one way we demonstrate our love to Christ

     We do not obtain Christ by committing good works.  When our hearts are cleansed from sin by faith in His death and resurrection He moves into our hearts giving life and a new set of desires to go with that life.  The natural inclination then for a believer is to have a new yearning to follow Jesus.

Serving Now & Reaping Later

Serving Now & Reaping Later

Luke 19:11-27

Luk 19:11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

Luk 19:12  He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

Luk 19:13  And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

Luk 19:14  But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

Luk 19:15  And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

Luk 19:16  Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

Luk 19:17  And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

Luk 19:18  And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

Luk 19:19  And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

Luk 19:20  And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

Luk 19:21  For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

Luk 19:22  And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee,thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

Luk 19:23  Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

Luk 19:24  And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

Luk 19:25  (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

Luk 19:26  For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

Luk 19:27  But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

     The very starting point of this parable is to grasp the understanding of the disciples in their current thinking.  The idea that overwhelmed their minds was the thought that the literal Kingdom of God should appear very soon.  This was not the case however, for it has been 2000 years and Christ has ascended into the heavens and He has still not returned to the very earth He created.  So then we surmise quite easily that the parable is granted to prepare the misdirected disciples for a long abstinence from their King.

     First Christ would address the fact that He is going away to receive the Kingdom and would return to rule it.  He did ascend 40 days after His resurrection and will come back to rule and reign.  The parable would serve as an object lesson to the disciples no doubt.  The  obvious and recent events in the history of Jericho would play a major role in illustrating His teaching, as He is in Jericho at the time of this lesson.  This lesson would be based on an actual historical event to help them understand His lesson better, and it shall help to serve us as well.

"He said therefore, A certain noblemen went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. There was a singular fitness in the Master’s choice of a framework for his parable, which at first sight would seem strange and unreal. Two nobles, Herod and Archelaus, in that age had literally gone from Jericho, where the Speaker of the parable-story then was, to a far country across the sea—to Rome, to receive a kingdom from Caesar.

Pulpit Commentary 

     

     Herod the Greats son Archelaus, took the necessary journey into Rome (as was the official customs and duty in that day under Roman rule) to receive the official blessing to rule the area left by his father for him.  Josephus the Jewish historian records this significant event for us in his own work and writings (Antiquities of the Jews 14.14;17:9).  Many Jews hating the oppression of not being free also sent and followed after Archelaus, traveling to Rome (50 men) to lodge complaints against him.

But his citizens hated him. Again history supplies the framework. This was what the Jews had done in

Remains of Herod's Palace in Jericho

the case of Archelaus. They had sent a hostile deputation to complain of their future king before the emperor’s court at Rome. In the parable, in these "citizens who hated him" a thinly veiled picture is given of those Jews who utterly rejected the mission of Jesus, and by whose designs the Crucifixion was brought about.

Pulpit Commentary

    

     Archelaus was granted the right to rule, not as a king, but still a ruler of the land.  As you can suppose the faithful would have been rewarded, and cruelty would be given as retribution to those who stood opposed as enemies to his rule.  Archelaus was known as a cruel man, and very immoral at that.  He took his brothers wife as his own while his wife was still alive.  Augustus (Caesar) would eventually respond to the surplus of complaints that were mounting by Jews and Samaritans alike by exiling Archelaus to Gaul in 6 AD for his terrible incompetence at ruling the land.  However the Jews would have to live in his insensibilities for a time.  Archelaus was the full brother of Herod Antipas.

     The lessons will now become clear as Jesus applies this historical understanding of the Roman custom to himself.  He is going away to receive a kingdom from the Father.  The Jews and others do not want Him as their King.  However He is receiving the kingship and authority regardless of who accepts the reality.  When he comes back, He will find many types of people, caught in time and forever anchored in their spiritual condition in that day, and He will proceed to judge them accordingly.  His command is occupy, or reside in His place of business, until He returns.  Some will be doing just this very thing, and others, they will be rejecting the kingdom and rebelling against it all together.  We must be very clear, this parable speaks of rewards for work, not working for entrance into the kingdom.  To be saved it is a free gift.  To earn rewards as citizens of the kingdom, it takes being busy about the Kings service.  

     First we shall observe the ones who serve faithfully.  They invest in His work by taking what they have been given and multiplying it.  These are workers for Christ.  They serve out of love and loyalty.  They are working for the coming kingdom. In the coming kingdom they will be rewarded accordingly, and nothing will go unnoticed.  Some will be able to do greater things than other, as we all have been given gifts by the Holy Spirit, and this is noted in the parable of the talents, which is not this parable.  Here the servants are given the same amount, not differing amounts.  Each was given about 3 months wages, and the message becomes very clear, that all will be rewarded who invest in the Kingdom and it's glory.  Since we all have the same starting point (which seems to be representing the gospel - we all have the same message) to what measure you invest will be the measure in which you are rewarded. 

     Secondly there will those who do nothing with what they have been entrusted with.  They will not be judged as the rebells, but they are not rewarded on par with those who invested in the kingdom.  What they have is taken and given to another.  To him that has it shall be given, and to those who have not, what they have is taken and given to him that has (Luke 19:26).

     Thirdly, those who rejected the King will be judged by Him.  These are they who reject Christ.  Let us warn people faithfully that regardless of what the world wants or says, Christ is coming and He will be King.  Though this is the hope and joy of Christians, the world fiercely fights against the idea of His rule.  This should not surprise us though, for this is the nature of sinners to rebells against a holy God.  How sad for someone to be on the wrong side of this kingdom.  May we earn rewards by serving faithfully and spreading the good news of the gospel.  Let us serve from the heart, for that is proper motivation.  Let us serve for reward, for that is expecting motivation, but let us also serve out of necessity, for people are lost and need Christ.  How much hate must be in a persons heart to know about Jesus and mot share Him.

The Wisdom of the Olive Tree pt2

  The Wisdom of the Olive Tree pt 2

      Now we may ask, how did this tree gain such wisdom?  It may be summed up in one word, grace.  If every man was given grace as he deserved, his reservoir would be depleted beyond empty.  But our grace is not based on merit, yet rather it is based on the promise to every believer, that God who starts a work in them, shall see it to the end,  Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.  What work would salvation be if the very God who gave you freely a pardon from sin, did not also freely give you a progression out of it?  Surely some may marvel at spiritual giants in our life, and well so, wondering how they became as this wise olive tree, so deeply rooted.  We may sum up their progression in one word as well, grace.  Every man must be taken from a spiritual baby, to a spiritual child, to a spiritual adult, and finally, to spiritual fatherhood.  And this is where we so deeply desire to be.  The same God who granted increase to this tree will grant it to you as well.

     Consider now how the water feeds the olive tree; how much has God poured out his blessing
which spurred our growth?  It is immeasurable.  Now think of the many droughts seen by this olive tree.  It is interesting, that upon drought, the tree will no longer grow up visibly, yet underground it sends its own roots  deeper.  This is because moisture may be found deeper in the soil, where the sun has not yet penetrated.  If we lacked times of trouble we should never be so diligent to dig our roots deeper past the shallow things of the Word so that we may find the deeper treasures of it.  This is all done by perfect grace.  Think of the storms over many years seen by this tree.  Winds are harsh, yet the turmoil itself stimulates growth in the roots which anchor them even deeper.  Let the storm pass and we find saturation in the ground in which the tree can recover from the wind and fury of the clouds.  So is it with our souls.  By grace God shall allow wind to test our resolve, and then He quickly sends the rain of His nourishment for our own recovery.  This is all done by grace.  So be of good cheer today my brother or sister in Christ.  Salvation is of the Lord!  It is not our business to bring about growth, but increase belongs to God.  Let Him have His way with you, yield to His dealings within; and soon you shall find your self stable and wise, as the olive tree.

Wise Application

It is good to cooperate with God and not resist Him if we are His children.   As He molds us into the image of God, if we are compliant, we are blessed.  If we are resistant and rebellious, we are chastised as children in whom God wished to delight.  Though grace is wholly a work of God, we are commanded to yield to the word of God and to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives

Wisdom of the Olive Tree pt1

The Wisdom of the Olive Tree pt 1 

Judges 9:9-But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

Today it may be well with us Christians to consider the astonishing wisdom of this olive tree.  And what may we charge this credit of wisdom to?  Alas, it is charged to a rejection of what was surely a deceitful promotion.  As the story is told this parable is a distinct lesson, in that, this tree did choose to reject the promotion of kingship of the forest, to simply remain an olive tree.  To what sensible aspect do we call this wisdom?  Is it wise to reject such a promotion of position and power?  In this account, yes.  

Consider these thoughts today about the olive tree.  Why should he leave his fatness?  His fatness is defined as the oil produced from the squeezing of the olives which grew on the tree.  How greatly used this oil was in Bible days.  Olive oil anointed kings, fueled lamps, and was a staple in cooking among many other things.  By what reasoning may we say it is better to make oil than to lead a forest as a king?  Let us think in this light, is it natural for an olive tree to produce anything other than an olive?  No.  Should we expect an orange to be produced on an apple tree?  By no means.  Here we see the temptation that satan delivers to God's people: disguise a demotion as a promotion.  Get God's people busy producing anything other than what is natural for them to produce and tell them their unnatural production is better. 

     

Dear Christian, this oil of the olives represented in your life is your God-given talents and abilities. To think, your talents are distributed by the Lord's own hand for use in God's glory and in the edification of men.  See the text verse, the fatness is good for God and man.  What God has gifted the believer with should be put to use for the good of men and the glory of a gracious God.  Why should we leave our fatness to follow that which is unnatural?  Why would we leave the service of the King for the business of the world?  How can we live guilty of trading our usefulness in the body of Christ for a job that requires us to miss the Lord's place of worship on Sunday?  Do we expect God's blessing on such unnatural production?  In no way; for it is written Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

     

So we see the wisdom of the olive tree, the wisdom which saw the demotion in the promotion.  We would be better serving God as a pauper than serving the devil as a king.

Wise Application

Has God called you to a purpose?  Has He gifted you with an ability for the glory of His Kingdom?  Ask God to help you sharpen this gift to maximize it’s effectiveness and prayerfully use it for His glory in the service of the King.

What about the Missing Link?

     When people try to turn monkeys into men, it only makes fairytales look all the more viable.  We were always taught that if you kiss a frog and he turns to a prince it must be a fairytale. However, somewhere down the line (beginning at Charles Darwin) we have learned that if you add millions of years to the equation, the frog to prince idea becomes true.

     Recently, a man by the name of Lee Berger has made his way again into the mainstream media.  I say again, because since 2008 Berger has been given much attention by national broadcasters due to the finding of skeletal parts named Sediba, (later named Karabo) and now has gained national attention again due to another discovery in Africa.  This new discovery named Homo naledi, is said by Berger to be a pre-human, bipedal ape, taking us back to the root of human evolution.

     THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.  People are taught of a supposed fossil record from a young age in school.  And though it doesn't exist, it is propagated so well, so often, and so convincingly, that to even think that it could be questioned is to be ridiculed and scorned as unintelligent and unsophisticated.  And after all, Christianity hasn't always done the best job of teaching their own people of what truths science yields.  So through what seems to be a logical body of proof, the endorsement of the experts, and the peer pressure of friends, many Christians yield their faith. 

       Everyone has a presupposed bias, and it is very strong.  An experiment was done by the University of Michigan and recited by the Boston Globe on how facts backfire.  It was found that when facts confronted an ingrained error in people, most people clearly rejected the facts and then embraced the error more strongly.  Bias is the brain's way of not having to reach a conclusion every time you approach something you have encountered before.  Believe it or not that little piece of real estate, the brain uses a lot of calories when thinking through things, so therefore, we have the gift of bias.  However, bias is only as good as the truth it is rooted in.  Many paleontologists have an evolutionary bias (as well as the media) and therefore interpret facts to fit in the evolutionary mind frame.  We as Christians have different perspectives and interpret facts through the Bible.  These are opposing mindsets and will always be at odds.  But what do the facts say about the supposed missing links?

     Walter Brown, the writer of the book called In The Beginning, has a Ph.D. from M.I.T. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).  He has spent twenty-one years as the chief of science and technology studies for the Air Force due to the fact he is a very fine and reputable scientist.  Dr. Brown has called out the elephant in the room concerning the fossil records.  They do not exist.  At least not how we are told.  There are fossils of the ape kind aplenty, however, hopeful evolutionists constantly make new twists in the truths to try to re-write the fossil record according to their evolutionary bias.  Why new twists?  Because the old ones are continually disproven.  They don't stand.  Dr. Brown is not the only scientist that debunks the fossil records about human ancestors, there are many more who are constantly going to this side, seeing that studies yield no proof of evolution from monkey to man.  Whereas many laugh at Christians for their beliefs in creation, the actuality is evolutionists have given the world much more laughable material.  Riddled is their history with scams and failures, in which paleontologist found their “missing links” in the final month their funding was to run out. 

Here is a view of the fossil record:

1. Piltdown man - an admitted hoax that still exists in some textbooks.  Most are honest enough to point this out in teaching, but look at the misinformation it caused for years.  Skull fragments and a jaw bone, which the latter was artificially stained to appear older than it was

2.  Ramapithecus - was considered for years to be the largest category of traditional ape men.  The evidence prior to 1978 they built a belief on was only a few teeth and jaw bones.  Now proven an ape and probably an ancestor of the orangutan, another category of ape-like men became unfruitful.

3. Nebraska man - One tooth was found.  From it artists were hired and paintings of an ape-like man and his wife were rendered to show children (and the world) what apes on their way to becoming men looked like.  The tooth - it turned out to be a pigs tooth.  All this indoctrination built on a pigs tooth.  This shows just how determined people are to support something that has no evidence. 

4.  Peking man - was classified as homo errectus, signifying as you can guess by the name, an erect human that is biped - or walks primarily on two legs.  It is now discovered these were the remains of apes who were decapitated and exploited for food by man.  Many experts agree the homo errectus designation should have never been created.  They are still trying hard aren't they?

5.  Homo Habilis - First limb discovered, proportions found to match that of an ape, not at all like a human.  That's should be what you would expect to happen if you found an ape's arm without a strong bias.  The proportions would match that of an ape.  Therefore the classification of homo or manlike should never have been used. 

6.  Australopithecines -  This is the category where the infamous Lucy is to be found.  The initial thought of evolutionists was that the body appeared to be sized between  an ape and a man. Several precise computer studies have shown otherwise.  Inner ear bones match that of an ape and chimpanzee but not at all like humans.  A study of the knee alone led evolutionists to say that Lucy walked upright.  Now a more complex study involving more than the knee (the pelvis primarily determines how walking is done) shows that Lucy did indeed swing from trees, not walk on two feet.  It is amazing how the misinformation drew so much national media attention and the better information that set the record straight did not.

7.  Neanderthal man, Cro-Magnon, - These are human.  Again artists were paid to render drawings of these people that look in their fleshly parts less human.  Neanderthal man was hunched over, so the suggestion was he was "on the way up."  Actually these suffered from arthritis and rickets disease a disease acquired from lack of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphate leading to weakening bones.  These people were on their way down not on their way up.  It is also interesting to note the different types of human bones discovered in isolated parts of the world.  This is not evolution trial and error.  This is the same genetic isolation we see in todays world.  Different parts of the world yield different types people in the bone records.  Some shorter, some taller, some wider and etc.  This very thing is seen in todays world.  For instance, in parts of Africa the people look vastly different than Europe.  Asian people are distinguishable from Arab people.  Why is this?  Because the DNA that make up the physical features were isolated for years to geographical regions.  Men in parts of Europe are commonly taller than men from Korea.  But we are all human.  No one argues that Neanderthal man was less than human.  He just had specific traits locked in his region like we see in today’s world.  
    

 An easy and simple way to distinguish an ape skull from a human skull is if it can wear glasses.  Ears are not found on a skull, so it is up to the nose to hold a pair of glasses up.  An apes nose is all soft tissue, and a humans nose has bone.  This is why apes cannot break their nose and we can.  The soft tissue goes away but the bone remains, leaving a nose bone of the human skull that can hold a pair of glasses in place!  Sorry, Mr. Ape… no Ray-Bans for you.

8.  Sediba or Karabo - Lee Berger's previous find.  Claimed to be bi-pedal, yet the pelvis is conveniently missing which is the vital parts to determine if something can walk upright.  The missing parts were reconstructed from imagination, having no blueprint to build from.  So in the drawings, of course, you would reimagine the pelvis as being able to be biped if that fits your agenda.  This is a repeat mistake made with the infamous Lucy, who was proclaimed biped, and now is well known not to be.  A couple of years later when the name Karabo was assigned, it came complete with another imaginative computer rendering of the bones.  In the image the bones are given human-like qualities and human eyes along with neatly trimmed facial hair.  A smile is also given to proffer the appearance of a human.  The disturbing thing is that the average person will look at a picture like this and think it is reality.  Yet, the reality is the computer drawing did not even match the skull, it was drawn with purposeful deviation to make it appear more human.  What deception!  Further more, bones don't smile, nor do they tell us the ape could trim his facial hair.  Fossilized skulls simply do not retain expressive eyes, a nose, or especially a smile. 

     Now we see a new skeletal "missing link" has been found in Africa by Lee Berger.  It shall of necessity suffer the same fate as other "missing links" in due time.  I have not seen enough to examine the new skeleton and form a complete conclusion, but, if as Christians we know that God created man, we also know then that a “missing link” can never be found.  You cannot find what does not exist.  This list is not exhaustive but it is sufficient to show God's people that the Bible is true, and mankind is trying to do everything possible to get rid of God so that they will not be accountable to Him. 

     Genesis 1:27  says, " So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."  With this in mind ,Christians can stop looking in dirt to find their self-worth and start looking in the Bible.  We have a loving Creator who gave his Son Jesus to die for our sins so that we through faith in His death burial and resurrection can experience a loving eternity away from the presence of sin.   

     Amazingly, there are still many who write articles using the same stale information to support evolution that has long been proved less than factual.  It is presented as absolute truth but is far from it.  The amount of inconsistencies are astonishing to say the least, and their findings leave more doubt than answers to anyone who is without a preconceived bias towards evolution.  This bias is so severe that many evolutionists are working hard to try to create life from non -life chemicals to bolster their hopes.  Life has NEVER been shown to come from non-life, and we have never observed new information being added to DNA which causes a species to change out of its own "kind." Both of these never observed impossibilities are necessary for the model of evolution to be valid.  Though there is a lot of rhetoric on the internet, the facts are that there is no provable remains of any human evolution (monkey to man) or macro evolution, species changing species.  Many will promote MICRO evolution as MACRO evolution.  There is a difference.  Micro evolution deals with changes within the "kind".  The example of dogs getting shorter, taller etc.  Macro evolution says dogs turn to frogs or such, this has never been observed.  Mutations are a part of microevolution, mistakes from the Hox gene which works like a relay to allow or stop the production of body parts.  If a fly is exposed to radiation he may grow an extra leg or possibly gain an extra eye out of place.  This is still not addition of new information to the DNA which is necessary for evolution but a repeat of existing information already there.  This is simply the same information being duplicated or withheld by the "misfiring" Hox gene.


1. Walter Brown -In The Beginning
2. AIG answersingenesis.org
3. Ronshaugen, M, McGinnis, N, and McGinnis, W. Nature advance online publication, 6 February 2002 (DOI 10.1038/nature716)