S.O.S ?

Continuing with my look into the 13th chapter of Johns Gospel, Jesus begins His instruction with a visual aide. By the way you will need to be a regular reader for all this to tell the true story Jesus told.

He takes the tool of the servant, the towel, and begins to wash the feet of His followers. Some folks in religious circles has made this an ordinance of the church. I am not speaking against foot washing rituals in a Christian gathering I am however concerned that we miss the story Jesus was trying to convey. This is a show of humility but it says so much more. The example Jesus is leaving is one that is often overlooked. The scripture says six times in the book of “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”. He is speaking out to more than just the seven churches or gatherings he has specifically addressed. He is speaking to every human being in every age that will become a house in which God lives by the revelation of Jesus Christ. A few more times in the book of “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” there is something added for those who hear. They will eat of the “tree of life”, they “will not be hurt of the second death”, they “will eat hidden manna” and they “will be given a new name”. When you truly hear what the spirit is saying eternal life via the “tree of life” is the result, the second death which is eternal separation from God has no claim on you, you will be fed by things that aren’t seen and heard by the eyes and ears of the kingdom of this world and finally you will be given a new authority, a new character that is not of this world. Also I need to note one of the definitions of the word “name” both in the Old and New Testaments is character!!! What a difference we would see if we really prayed and performed our life duties in the “name” or character of Jesus. I said all that to say this. The major significance to the scene Jesus is displaying with the foot washing is to tell His closest followers that this example of keeping each others feet clean is a necessity for them to impact the world fo His Kingdom. A clean walk is something that has become lost in the shuffle of religious ritual and spewing of empty words. By the way this is an in house or a His House thing, it’s not our responsibility to clean up the walk of the world, it’s our responsibility to use the towel of servant hood and lift up our High Priest and He will draw all men unto Himself. When you see a little dirt in your brother or sisters walk, get out the towel not the broom.

As a post script I need to add this is not about your “personal holiness” there is no such thing. It is all about Him and His Holiness living in you and working through you. Till tomorrow……..TO HIM THAT HATH EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING!!!

Babu

It’s a fact Jesus has come. I say that not to negate the significance of His future return or down play His walking on earth about 2,000 years ago. The fact that I’m talking about is His body is here, now in the form of this New Testament body called “The Church”. In John Chapter 13 Jesus prepares His closest followers to assume the responsibility and authority of being the seed that would spawn the birth of the many members of His body. In order to successfully do that His followers needed some instruction. He always spoke in terms that could be understood by His hearers, and this is no exception. Everything Jesus spoke had at least two applications, a natural and a spiritual. Most readers of scripture read with their intellect. That is not entirely a bad thing since there is an abundance of historical, geographical, poetical and just plain interesting reading contained in the scripture. However since God is a spirit, and that part of man needs communication also, we must allow our spirits to receive along with our intellect. It has been said that a man who reads scripture with just his intellect will soon dry up. The man who reads scripture with just his spirit will soon blow up but the one who reads with both intellect and spirit will soon grow up.

After the initial gathering, the meal, Judas leaving Jesus begins the instruction. John 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. Jesus first rose from supper, He set aside the satisfying of Himself because there were others who had need, the greatest need is to learn of Him. Eph 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: He will now begin one of the most powerful teachings in all of scripture. He laid aside the outer covering that made Him appear like everyone else and revealed who He really was. If you look  ahead to the cross you will see the undergarment that was gambled for. It was a seamless garment, the one worn by the high priest. We need to expose ourselves as the priests God has now made us as His body on earth today. But before they can be awe struck by the priesthood or viewed as a haughty, arrogant position he picks up a towel, the tool of a servant. He covers His reproductive parts with the tool of a servant. He is telling His followers until people see you as a servant reproduction is harmful because we reproduce who or what we put on display. Ever wonder why we have so many folks talking PRIESTS and very few talking servant hood. They are the product of someone and what has been told and shown them.

If you are one of those who have been born into His Royal Priesthood I challenge you to put on the towel of servant hood so we can accomplish what we are here for. John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. In case you have forgotten He was sent as the house or body of God  to serve, to meet the need of the world. He served as the bridge between heaven and earth, we are to do no less.

Babu

It is a beautiful, cold snow covered Sunday morning here in our small western Kentucky town. There have been many activities canceled or postponed for the last few days due to the weather. Being a “Pastor” I don’t have the pleasure of resting on Sunday mornings, but today I found out that this is a day of rest. Most Sundays many pastors have to get up and go collect the mortgage, earn their salary and oversee the dog and pony show. What made today so restful for me was not the sleep it was realizing I don’t have to and don’t do any of those horrific things anymore. I gather with the people God has given me to provide, protect and guide because I love them and desire to share with them what God has placed in my heart, mind and hands for them. What a relief discovering the truth. Being a follower of Jesus I have stopped trying to lead people to Him my life is to provide, protect and guide those who have come to know Jesus. It seems most who call themselves Christians and not true followers of Jesus. I say that because we continue to try and lead people to Jesus when He says if we lift Him up He will draw all men unto Himself. There’s a problem. we’re leading and He desires to draw. The fact is we have lead folks somewhere, but is it the same place Jesus wants to draw them? That is not a rhetorical question. We’ve lead them in “a prayer” to “a baptismal pool or font” to “a meeting place” to “a denomination” to “a list of rules” but have miserably fail to display a real risen Lord with a body here and now on the earth. That may seem a bit harsh to some but just take a look at the condition of what we are calling “the church”. It is a Christ-less Christianity. Make no mistake I am a follower of Jesus and make no apologies for that.

One thing in two places far from each other strengthened my journey as a follower of Jesus. I saw for the first time in over thirty years of ministry the closest thing to the manifestation of the body of Christ in action in a small community in Tennessee called Rose Creek Village. And I am presently actively involved with the most awesome young couple in Africa who also display Jesus. Between the community at “Rose Creek Village” and the community at “A Future and a Hope” they have shown me how to be a follower of Jesus and simply lift Him up. I invite you to continue this journey with me and COME AND SEE!!! To Noah, Johnny and Kate I am eternally thankful for the manifestation of the risen Lord in your lives. I have seen Him and have been converted!!! With your help and the wooing of the Holy Spirit I have found that “One Thing” that hindered the rich young ruler, Just following Him.

I will return to Jesus s’ final discourse with His closest followers in John chapter 13 tomorrow…maybe.

Babu

God has given me another beautiful day to show forth His presence. Through the day yesterday and last night we received about eight or nine inches of snow. For those who don’t live in areas of the world that experiences snow you are missing a breathe taking visual experience. Plus it’s fun to play in. So much for the weather small talk, let’s talk some Jesus stuff.

I have been stuck in the Book of St. John for about a year. I have especially been held captive by what Jesus had to say to His closest followers before He was taken from them. That discourse starts in chapter thirteen and runs through chapter seventeen. Jesus begins by gathering His closest followers for a meeting to share what they are going to need to replace Him as the body that God will live in on earth after His body is put to death. God wants to have flesh (bodies) in which He, who is a spirit, can live and be made known to other men, women, boys and girls. The gathering it’s self is the first lesson I was taught. It is an indication that a coming together of the various members or parts of the body is not a suggestion but a necessity for the assembling or putting together of parts to make His body complete. Each of the followers had a part to bring and the body is incomplete when any of the many parts are not gathered. If you studied the lives of the remaining eleven (Judas was getting ready yo leave the table to betray Jesus) you would discover each of those present had specifically different parts to add in the assembling of Gods new body. If you are a follower of Jesus remember what the writer of Hebrews says in: 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. This is not a ploy to get you to a meeting so your money can be extracted and you can look at the back of someones head for an hour or so as most Christian leaders have proclaimed as “church” or “Worship”. The gathering has purpose…to build relationships, first with God by completing or making perfect His body and secondly by building relationships with the various members or parts of His body.

I think this blog has just been given a reason for being. I may be blogging what I believe the spirit of God has spoken to my spirit concerning this last discourse of Jesus to His closest followers. My prayer is that you will follow my journey to learn more about Jesus and hear His voice more clearly. John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Babu

This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. I have gotten up this morning to a beautiful snowfall. Yesterday was totally different as far as the weather is concerned. But both days are opportunities for followers of Jesus to show forth His body on earth.

I was listening to a “Christian Radio” station this morning and one of the main topics of discussion was the s.o.s. (you choose which s.o.s. see previous post) about whether New Testament offices can be held by men and women. First, one of the gentlemen needs to find out the difference between offices and gifts. This “Apostle” on the radio has determined that the GIFTS of the following passage were really offices. Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: this passage is preceded by Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. One does not have to be a brain surgeon to clearly see apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are gifts to the church not offices in the church. They are not positions of rule and rank but gifts of service to the other members of the body of Christ. This is no reference to gender or office concerning these “gifts”. There are offices in the body of Christ and two of the three “offices” have definite qualifications attached. The first of the offices is that of a priest, it is an office you must be born into or born again as we have come to term the experience of receiving Christ. All born again believers are priests. 1Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: These other two offices have the qualifications attached. The offices are that of Bishop and Deacon. So I don’t get too long with this post please read the qualifications found in I Timothy 3:1-13. Both these positions are called “offices”. The simplicity of the scripture doesn’t sell books or promote the industry of religion. Industry there’s a thought for another post.

Jesus will be returning for His bride one day but until then let’s share the Good News that God has already come in the form of a man named Jesus who became the gift of eternal life and now God abides in His new body, “The Church”. Let’s invite folks to come and see. Not see our buildings, our “gifts” listed above or our scheduled meetings but come and see God in flesh walking among men. When it happens it is an impressive site. Luke 17:20 ¶ And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.

How many of us can send out the invitation to “come and see where the Master lives” without fear of what people would think?

Babu